"UP" is a downer

[Minnie_me]

I agree about letting kids be kids. But to me that means not coddling them so much and protecting them from reality. The subject matter in this movie is very real.

The subject matter in this movie is very real!??!??! My kids don't have old adventurers shooting at them with rifles! And they haven't hung from a hose attached to a flying house, either. They haven't watched someone plunge to their death, or been chased by vicious dogs (who can also talk and fly airplanes, by the way!).

 

[LoraJ]

The subject matter in this movie is very real!??!??! My kids don't have old adventurers shooting at them with rifles! And they haven't hung from a hose attached to a flying house, either. They haven't watched someone plunge to their death, or been chased by vicious dogs (who can also talk and fly airplanes, by the way!).

Oh, I am sorry, I meant "some" of the subject matter. I was talking about the absentee father.

There were kids around 3 and 5 around us who weren't sobbing and loved the movie. One exclaimed that they wanted to see it again. I guess it depends on the kid.

 

[JenM]

IMO, "Up" is NOT a good choice for very young kids! There were 2 little girls behind us (probably 3 and 5) who laughed all the way through the "short" feature about the clouds.

But they SOBBED during "Up". The villain went after Carl and Russell with a rifle -- very scary! He set fire to the house -- terrifying! Then the villain plunges to his death. Nice.

I felt the same way during "The Incredibles" -- when the villains were trying to kill Dash and Violet. It wasn't slapstick violence, either; it was scary and serious. My 4-year old hid her face through the whole thing.

It's worth pointing out that UP and The Incredibles were both rated PG, which means they were going to be more intense than the other Pixar films, which were all rated G. So, it was fair warning.

I didn't think it was any more intense than the other Disney films - keep in mind that in the very first Disney animated film a hunter was ordered to bring back Snow White's heart in a box.

 

[ChrisFL]

...or been chased by vicious dogs (who can also talk and fly airplanes, by the way!).

I used to watch TailSpin, a Disney cartoon on Network TV...they had vicious animals flying and shooting at other animals flying!!

I was sooo traumatized, I had to watch it every day.

 

[ChrisFL]

It's worth pointing out that UP and The Incredibles were both rated PG, which means they were going to be more intense than the other Pixar films, which were all rated G. So, it was fair warning.

I didn't think it was any more intense than the other Disney films - keep in mind that in the very first Disney animated film a hunter was ordered to bring back Snow White's heart in a box.

Right, I don't see why every animated movie has to be suited for really little kids...kinda like most of MK's latest attractions, actually.

 

[JenM]

And as far as "the villian plunging to his death," isn't that exactly what happened to Gaston in Beauty & the Beast?

 

[WDWBarb]

And as far as "the villian plunging to his death," isn't that exactly what happened to Gaston in Beauty & the Beast?

Yep.

 

[karly05]

And as far as "the villian plunging to his death," isn't that exactly what happened to Gaston in Beauty & the Beast?

Also, if I recall correctly, Frollo in "Hunchback," and the Wicked Queen in "Snow White," and probably several others I'm forgetting.

I saw Up for the 4th time today, I love love love it, and I don't think the "adventure" parts are scarier than some other Disney or Pixar movies. (Disclaimer - I don't have kids, though, and can't judge how they might react.) I think the "sad" elements hit harder for some people because the film involves normal people in a contemporary setting, so the issues of loss, infertility and divorce may hit closer to home. For me, though, this is a wonderful movie full of heart, laughs, thrills, yes a few tears, and characters we really come to care for. For those who haven't seen Up, unless you (collective you) know there are specific themes that you would find too upsetting (and I think the potentially upsetting parts have been spelled out pretty specifically in this thread), I hope everyone will give Up a try.

 

[Jennasis]

And as far as "the villian plunging to his death," isn't that exactly what happened to Gaston in Beauty & the Beast?

and Mufasa, and the wicked Queen from Snow White...Maleficent was impaled by a sword and Ursula was impaled on the prow of a ship. Scar was torn to shreds by angry hyenas.

Do I need to go on?

 

[karly05]

and Mufasa, and the wicked Queen from Snow White...Maleficent was impaled by a sword and Ursula was impaled on the prow of a ship. Scar was torn to shreds by angry hyenas.

Do I need to go on?

You want to talk Scary Villain Demises, I think Ursula's is one of the scariest! And I agree with the poster earlier in this thread who said "Nemo" is the saddest of the Pixars (talk about characters in Constant Mortal Peril! And I still kind of don't like to watch the very beginning of "Nemo"). Oh, and I should apologize for repeating some ideas in my post above that were already explained by previous posters. Don't mean to step on any toes.

One more quick thing: I don't want to spoil anything from Up, but someone mentioned Marley & Me earlier in this thread: Trust me, if Up had turned out anything like Marley & Me (which I've never seen and know I don't want to), I would be the one saying it was a horrible downer and I was sorry I'd seen it.

 

[Seewhatimesdone]

I can't wait to see this movie! One thing I have always loved about Pixar is that they have mature themes. It makes it fun for the kids and the parents. And as the kids get older they will learn to appreciate new things about it. So excited to see it!

 

[wdwgirl03]

I was at my cousin's graduation/going away party (she is moving to Florida in a couple weeks for one of the professional internships!) and she and a couple of her friends said they saw it and cried. That probably means I'll cry when I see it. I'm such a sap. But it does look like fun too.

 

[Mickeyistheman]

I saw UP for the 2nd time tonight and I went with my mom, stepdad and little sister (18) mid movie she said it was the best Disney she has seen.

My mother who doesn't like movies much LOVED this one. There were a few little kids and I heard them asking a few questions and I don't see what the harm in doing so. So many children today are so sheltered. I learned of death and miscarriage when I was very young. I didn't totally understand but it was explained in a way that wouldn't frighten me but why hide it?

UP is amazing and hope it wins every award that it can. The animation again was just amazing and so beautiful to watch.

 

[Missy1961]

And as far as "the villian plunging to his death," isn't that exactly what happened to Gaston in Beauty & the Beast?

Yes, I was thinking the same thing.

I haven't seen Up yet, but I plan to. I usually take my nieces & nephews (ranging in age from 5-11) to movies. I discussed the plot with the 6 yr old & the 10 yr old today, they seemed fine with it. In fact, I just watched Harry Potter 5 with them tonight--they were OK with the plot, and they fell asleep without any problems. Some kids can handle stuff like that, some kids can't.

 

[JennaTX]

I saw it opening weekend with my kids (9 and 6). The 9 year old agreed with me when I said there was some sad parts, but I'm not sure if she would have said "oh it was sad" unless I said it first.

The three of us loved the movie! I thought it was right up there with Toy Story, something very original.

I did tear up in a few spots of the movie, but there are many Disney/Pixar movies that I do cry.

I wonder if why many adults are reacting to this movie so much is because we have older parents or grandparents and are dealing with a loss of a parent/grandparent, or can see that they are getting older and this could be them.

Even though it made me cry in parts, the ending was the best. If you are an adult and can understand everything that Carl went through and then to see where he ended up....that is amazing.

As far as the miscarriage part goes, my DS (6) has not idea what that 30 seconds of the movie was about.

 

[phorsenuf]

As far as the miscarriage part goes, my DS (6) has not idea what that 30 seconds of the movie was about.

Is this the whole infertility stuff that everyone is talking about. 30 seconds out of the whole movie?

 

[RN4Babies]

That movie made me cry like a baby multiple times. I know that's the Disney way. But, it just seemed like this movie dealt with some very deep, mature subjects. I take my kid to the movies for fun and escape not to be punched in the gut. Infertility, death, absent parents are all tough subjects for a kid's movie.

My kids and I saw it earlier this week, and we all loved it! Yes, it made me cry a few times as well, but there were also numerous times when we were laughing out loud. I thought the contrast of the grumpy old man (who's a softie at heart) and the innocent, enthusiastic child was charming, and it was sweet to see the bond that developed between the two of them.

I like movies (even kids' movies) that aren't sugar coated. We've dealt in recent years in our family with infertility, death and an absent parent. IMO, it's not a bad thing when art imitates life.

 

[LoraJ]

Is this the whole infertility stuff that everyone is talking about. 30 seconds out of the whole movie?

Pretty much.

 

[Scurvy]

Is this the whole infertility stuff that everyone is talking about. 30 seconds out of the whole movie?

It isn't even that long, I don't think. It's during a montage of the couple's life together. You see them decorating a nursery together, and then looking sad while talking to a doctor (sitting by a desk, if I remember correctly), and then redecorating the nursery to be something else. (And it didn't occur to me at all that they might have had a miscarriage; I thought they had just decided to have a child and then discovered that they couldn't.) The vast majority of the montage is actually the two of them being happy together, though of course there are a few sad parts.

 

[phorsenuf]

It isn't even that long, I don't think. It's during a montage of the couple's life together. You see them decorating a nursery together, and then looking sad while talking to a doctor (sitting by a desk, if I remember correctly), and then redecorating the nursery to be something else. (And it didn't occur to me at all that they might have had a miscarriage; I thought they had just decided to have a child and then discovered that they couldn't.) The vast majority of the montage is actually the two of them being happy together, though of course there are a few sad parts.

So to most kids it would just go right over their heads.