"UP" is a downer

[JenM]

I saw the movie for the 2nd time this past weekend (loved it, again), but I overheard a conversation between two young kids sitting next to me right after the opening montage:

First kid: "Did she die??"
Second kid: "DUH!!"

So clearly not all kids are left traumatized by the movie (at least these kids weren't).

It reminded me of a story I heard a comedian tell about trying to carefully explain the death of Bambi's mother to his 6-year-old son. They saw the movie a second time, and when the little girl in front of them asked what happened to Bambi's mother, his son told her "She's dead!"

He said he never really had to worry about him at the movies after that...

 

[Cinderella94]

I love all those movies. No problem with any of them. This one felt different. Sorry, just my opinion.

I agree. This one just seemed (as someone else on this thread used) "heavier" than the rest.

 

[Darsa]

DD13 and I are going to see this tomorrow afternoon. I have tissues ready; I cry at commercials.

 

[Jennasis]

I cried during the opening flyby over the castle.

 

[mom2aredhead]

I agree. This one just seemed (as someone else on this thread used) "heavier" than the rest.

Why, oh why is everyone focusing ONLY on the short, dialogue-free montage in the beginning of the movie and forgetting about the other HOUR + that had NOTHING to do with infertility/miscarriage, loss of a spouse, etc. etc.

There were talking dogs, they dragged a house around a canyon using balloons and a garden hose...there were lots of other things going on in that movie.

 

[Cinderella94]

Why, oh why is everyone focusing ONLY on the short, dialogue-free montage in the beginning of the movie and forgetting about the other HOUR + that had NOTHING to do with infertility/miscarriage, loss of a spouse, etc. etc.

There were talking dogs, they dragged a house around a canyon using balloons and a garden hose...there were lots of other things going on in that movie.

Don't get me wrong, I still thought the movie was good. I just thought the whole movie, not just the beginning, had a different feel to it.

 

[disneyworldluvr349]

People are focusing on it because it had such a profound impact on them. The rest of the movie was focused on this man making good on a promise for his dead wife. So still sad, especially when he looses the house they painted together and her picture drops on the floor and cracks.

The end was so beautiful when he flips through the back to the the things I want to do and finds all of the the pictures of them together. It made me cry again!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Saw Up yesterday with my almost 12yo daughter. (My same age son saw it with friends two weeks ago).

We both LOVED it! (She asked if we could buy it on DVD when it comes out - definitely!)

I've said on these types of threads before: my favorite movies are ones that can take me on a range of emotions in one sitting. If a movie makes me laugh and cry, it's a good one in my book. That being said, this one definitely fit the bill.

Thanks for the discussion here as I probably wouldn't have had any interest in seeing it otherwise. Not big into animated movies. (To be honest, what really piqued my interest was the mention of infertility and death. Wanted to see what that was all about. After seeing it I'll just say I thought it was portrayed well, as part of the normal life of this man, and many of the rest of us. Obviously everyone has a different take on this.)

First, I was very impressed with technical apsects of the movie. They found a way to portray the man's entire life in a very short time, in a way we could understand - without a word being said. Brilliant. (I can see how some of it might go over a younger child's head, though.)

I didn't realize animals were in the movie - a pleasant surprise.

At one point in the movie, I felt something wet on my arm, which was on my DD - it was her teardrop, during one of the retrospectives of the man's life. But it was fine. She was enjoying the emotional aspect of the movie. (A chip off the ol block, I guess.)

Liked the overall message as well (or many messages, I should say). I did not leave feeling sad; in fact, just the opposite. Don't want to spoil anything so I'll leave it at that. Told my DH about it, I think he'll really like it as well, might even see it again with all of us. (DS liked it, too, though he never mentioned it. I asked him about it last night, and he said there were parts that "almost" made him cry, but he didn't. Yeah, right. Especially for the animal parts - yep, he just confirmed it was the part involving the bird. Knew it.)

Definitely Academy Award material.

 

[ilovefh]

My DMom went to see it before we did. She advised me not to see it if I was having a bad day. We decided to go with a group of friends. When I saw the scene in the nursery followed by the scene in the Dr.'s office I lost it! It was exactly 4 weeks to the day from our miscarriage! Whew boy did that hit home! DH tried to tell me she didn't miscarry, they just were not able to conceive, but who puts together a nursery when they aren't even pregnant yet! It was a rough night for me!!

But I don't know if kids would have picked up that message or not.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

What I thought was brilliant about the doctor's office scene, was that there was simply a prominent poster on the wall that showed a diagram of a pregnant belly. I honestly am not sure whether they were dealing with a miscarriage, or infertility. Based on what I'd previously read on this thread, I assumed infertility (which I could relate to myself). But the nursery comments make sense, so it could have been a miscarriage, too.

ilovefh

 

[ilovefh]

What I thought was brilliant about the doctor's office scene, was that there was simply a prominent poster on the wall that showed a diagram of a pregnant belly. I honestly am not sure whether they were dealing with a miscarriage, or infertility. Based on what I'd previously read on this thread, I assumed infertility (which I could relate to myself). But the nursery comments make sense, so it could have been a miscarriage, too.

ilovefh

In my shock I didn't even see the poster on the wall! My friend, who cries more than I do (which is saying alot, I am a crier!), was sobbing because she knew how I was feeling. Her boyfriend and my DH sure made fun of us!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Some interesting reading from Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Up_(2009_film)

They don't specify whether it was infertilty or miscarriage, they just say this: Unable to have children

And this: Up has received nearly universal acclaim from critics. As of June 13, 2009, Rotten Tomatoes reports that 97% of critics have given the film a positive review, based on 181 reviews, with an 8.6/10 review average

Noticed this on the credits yesterday: features the voices of Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer

Lots of other neat movie and Disney-related trivia, too.

 

[Seewhatimesdone]

I just saw it today and I have to say what a remarkable film it is. Truly wonderful. Yes the beginning was sad. But is it a downer? Certainly not. I found it very inspiring and would definitely never think twice about taking my kids (if i had any!) I can't wait to see it again. You could tell all the kids in the theater really enjoyed it; they were laughing and clapping. I think everyone really enjoyed it.

 

[faery grandmother]

I saw Up yesterday with my GD 10 and GS 5. GS is at a sensitive point so I was prepared to have to leave if this upset him, but we always go to see any new Pixar/Disney movie. I thought it was better than wonderful. GS was quiet during the beginning and asked one question when Ellie died, but did fine. But later, when his mom asked him what he liked best, he said "the parts about Ellie." I cried during the move, (and also laughed a lot), but that comment by my GS drew the biggest tear.

Bravo, Pixar.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

My whole family saw "Up." We loved it! I cried at least four times. But I agree with people who say the range of emotions is why it is such a good movie.

My DS 4 did not get any of the sad parts. He is still laughing about the talking dogs. He loved them.

My DD 7 understood that she died during the montage, but she didn't cry. I did tell her that they couldn't have babies, and that is why he didn't have any kids to support him after Ellie died.

My DS 10 got everything (or so he says), but he didn't cry. He liked the movie too.

 

[justjudy]

DH and I saw UP yesterday and just loved it! We are closer to the age of the Ed Asner character than we like to think about , have been through infertility and lost both sets of parents, and found the (many) messages both thought-provoking and inspiring. Rather than leaving the theatre feeling down, we left feeling UPlifted.

 

[Geoff_M]

Why, oh why is everyone focusing ONLY on the short, dialogue-free montage in the beginning of the movie and forgetting about the other HOUR + that had NOTHING to do with infertility/miscarriage, loss of a spouse, etc. etc.

There were talking dogs, they dragged a house around a canyon using balloons and a garden hose...there were lots of other things going on in that movie.

We saw it last night... and we all thought it was great. I liked the fact that it didn't seem like a Disney "formula" movie (other than the happy ending). I thought the opening back-story part was very original. Pixar's rendering skills just get better and better with each movie. The texture on the fabrics and animal fur/feathers is mind boggling. And when they introduced "Alpha", I laughed the hardest (I had tears streaming down my cheeks) I've ever laughed at a Pixar movie.

 

[DizBelle]

It's animated in a "kid" style, it has a kid for a main character, the trailer is shown during family movies, and it is otherwise being marketed for children. Silly of us to assume.

It has a 78 year old man as a main character and also a talking dog as a main character.

I suppose that since I'm not a kid, not 78 years old, and not a talking dog, I shouldn't see it since it isn't "for me".

Also, what is "kid style" animation vs. other animation styles?

 

[Praying Colonel]

DW and I saw it Saturday night and loved it. We can't wait to see it again, which I don't say about every Disney movie (:cough: Chicken Little :cough: ). Wise and thought-provoking, but very funny, too. I'm sure there will be lots of things we catch the 2nd time around that we missed originally.