"UP" is a downer

[sbell111]

I think that what makes these movies great is that they are made for ... <SQUIRREL!>
I think that what makes these movies great is that they are made for both children and adults.

 

[AustinTink]

Kids are not dumb. There is no sense in dumbing down their movies for them.

I agree that dumbing down is not the answer. But, I did not expect to have to explain infertility issues with my kid because he saw it in a Disney movie. I have my own problems in that area I don't need to be reminded over my $20 popcorn and coke.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Cars, and the animated vehicles, didn't bother me at all...
That's the beauty of animation!!!
My son loves Cars. Has the WII video game.
The messages include some adult themes... but nothing too heavy for kids.
Ego, Friendship, Valuing the past, and valuing others... All are wonderful and kid-appropriate messages.

However, I just sick to death of having heavy, adult, and even worse PC, messages hurled at our kids in the name of entertainment

I had been hearing that UP was really good, 'wonderful', etc...

God, am I glad I saw this thread.

Now I may be having second thoughts.

I stayed away from Happy Feet.
Was wary of the 'message' in Wall-e. Saw it, but didn't think it was that good.

Ohhhh well.... <....sigh....>

 

[Wishing on a star]

I agree that dumbing down is not the answer. But, I did not expect to have to explain infertility issues with my kid because he saw it in a Disney movie. I have my own problems in that area I don't need to be reminded over my $20 popcorn and coke.

EXACTLY.....

I know exactly how you are feeling and what you are saying.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Ohhhh, and about the trailers and how this stuff is mass marketed to little kids...

We should start a lobby for some kind of 'Truth in Advertising'!!!!!!

 

[Jennasis]

Oh for goodness sake...Bambi's mom was shot to death by a hunter. Scar MURDERED Mufasa. Marlin's whole family gets wiped out.

EVERY Disney movie has a major "heavy" element to it. Loss is a very big theme in them. The film was wonderful, poignant, funny. It is your choice to see it or not, but basing your decision off of a "I heard it was sad on the DIS" is just...well...sad.

I warned my sister to not take her BF's 4 year old. He's a sensitive little guy. So she and his dad are going to see it first to see if it's ok for him. My other nephew is the same age and very mature and he loved it.

 

[WDWorBUST]

I had planned on trying to go see it with my DD (5) and my friend and her 5 year old. We had my DD's dance recital dress rehearsal though and didn't get out in time. My friend called me and left me a message - DO NOT go see UP tomorrow before talking to me. So I called her and she just told me that she didn't want to ruin the movie for me but didn't want me to go into it unprepared. So she gave me a little of the beginning. I will still probably take DD to see it......I haven't decided for sure yet. I am grateful for my friend for warning me though. I just had a miscarriage in April and the movie would definitely have completely blindsided me if it wasn't for her.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Did you not explain death during Bambi? Or why Nemo's brothers and sisters all died? Or why there is evil in the world looking to cash in on a female's yearning (Little Mermaid)?



Life is all around us.

 

[AustinTink]

Did you not explain death during Bambi? Or why Nemo's brothers and sisters all died? Or why there is evil in the world looking to cash in on a female's yearning (Little Mermaid)?



Life is all around us.

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

 

[Ember]

I adored Up! Yes, it was sad and touching at moments. And, yes, it made me cry. But I also laughed so hard I almost peed at parts!

Two thumbs up in book.

 

[bumbershoot]

Pixar movies aren't kid movies. They are human movies.

I haven't seen any ads for UP on the channels we watch with DS, but I've seen it on regular channels.

Someone mentioned it was a trailer during Star Trek...that's not a kid movie....

It has always bothered me the element of loss or a parent death or missing in most disney movies, I don't get it.

It's a fairy tale thing. The early disney movies were based on fairy tales, and were brightened up quite a bit!

The loss of a parent is a life-changing event. If the parent loss didn't happen in the stories, there would be no story. There would just be a happy family growing up in the usual way. I never understood it either until a year after my beloved mom died and I saw how much my whole universe had changed b/c she wasn't there anymore. Then I understood, and even embraced, the inclusion of that loss in stories, because it is truly a HUGE change, and nothing is ever the same again.



Only message I saw in WallE was...people are good, will overcome adversity, and they don't want to have their lives controlled by robots, programmed by people long gone, that aren't paying attention to what is really going on.

 

[ThunderMTexpert]

I didn't read every single post, but I think I read enough..

I watched UP the other day with my 14 year old sister, even SHE said what a sad topic! Yes, the movie had some funny- even HILARIOUS- parts that every one laughed to & for the most part, I think the saddness is reserved for the older crowd. (Don't jump my case, I know kids process sadness & loss, too! I just don't think they are concentrating on the full affects of loss during a movie..)

However, I have a feeling that if I brought my grandma to see this movie, she'd be a puddle on the floor of emotions. We lost my grandpa 7 months ago, and this movie definitely struck some cords. I know everyone must move on & look at the bright side of life, which UP has moments of, but the overall theme was thick & left me thinking more of my PawPaw, not of how cute the bond ended up being b/w the old man & the little boy.

I still push that it was a kids movie, sure, but the theme didn't have to rest SOLELY on Ellie's death being the reason for his motivation. I mean, motivation, sure, love it. But, the court summons? The hospital scene, THEN, him sitting (alone) on an empty alter? It was so sad. (& I saw the "Ellie" badge coming!! Proud to say!! LOL)

I personally liked it a lot, but I would have a box of tissues along for the ride.

P.S: Is "The Incredibles part 2" just a rumor??

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I totally agree, I had no idea the theme til I read it on here. My kids have been itching to see it for months, it has been heavily marketed to kids, and I also agree, I like fun feel good movies, I dont' want to be crying, and even if it goes over the kids heads, they will notice mommy sobbing.

It has always bothered me the element of loss or a parent death or missing in most disney movies, I don't get it.

That's because most Disney movies (particularly the early ones) are based on classic stories and fairytales. If you look at modern chidlren's literature you will see a lot of dead/absent/neglectful parents. A good example of this is Harry Potter, which from the beginning deals with some extremely heavy topics including the death of his parents and the complete neglect and bullying at the hands of his aunt and uncle and cousin. Why is this such a common theme? Several reasons:

-If you look at classic fairytales in which the mother is dead and the stepmother is typically the antagonist, it has to do with society's views of women and the role of mothers in society. Men were not seen as capable of the kind of cruelty that the stepmothers inflict. Motherhood was considered to be the most sacred role a person could hold and no mother could do that to her own children. But a stepmother, a woman who dared to usurp that sacred role would have no qualms.

-Then and now well adjusted children or people do not have adventures. Kids with two parents who are good, caring parents would never be able to go on these kinds of adventures. Russell is able to go with Carl because his parents are divorced/absent from his life. Harry is in danger precisely because his parents are dead, and certainly it enables him to go after Voldemort when he does not have a true parent to keep him safe. Most of the princesses have deceased mothers and fathers who are either absent or who hide them for their own protection thus enabling them to have the adventures they do.

-You also have to consider the development of the concept of childhood. If you look at old literature for kids (read the Grimm's Fairytales, the original Pinocchio, some of the Purtain literature, etc.) you will see that these types of things would never have been marketed to children today. Childhood is a truly modern concept. Before modern times many children did not survive until adulthood. They were typically seen as miniature adults and treated thus. They were not sheltered from the harsh realities of the world the way kids are today. Read some of the early Puritan "children's" literature if you get a chance. It's enough to give an adult nightmares!

Kids do not understand these adult themes. When I saw the movie I heard the kid behind us ask why she was sad. They had no clue what the part of infertility was about. I noticed that during the "sad parts" it was adults who were crying, not children. Kids have a remarkable ability to overlook that which they do not understand. Go back and watch some of the old Disney movies that you have not seen since you were a child, or read some of your favorite children's books and you will be surprised at the dark themes and sometimes intense violence that you glossed over or did not pick up on. Even some sexual themes. Kids are utterly oblivious.

I loved UP and would not have a problem taking a child to such a movie. The kids who were in the theatre with us loved it and were laughing their heads off at the funny parts and seemed to overlook or not really understand soem of the heavier parts. That is what makes Disney and Pixar so wonderful. They make movies that kids can enjoy but that have themes that appeal to adults as well. They truly are "family" films, not just kids' films.

 

[JenM]

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.

The kid is NOT the main character. In fact, the first teaser didn't have the kid in it at all. And it's abundantly clear during the trailers, which I've seen in front of several non-family films (Wolverine, Star Trek, Angels & Demons), which are the same as the promos I've seen on the Disney Channel while watching TV with my nephew that Carl is the main character. He's 78.

Russell is his little unexpected sidekick, and he's quite the scene stealer, but he's not the main character.

There are a few sensitive issues in the movie, but it's very well handled and the movie doesn't dwell on them. Like several other posters have pointed out, the movie is hilariously funny and it's a really fun adventure story.

The movie is very much like It's a Wonderful Life, with young characters who plan life to be one way, then later lament that nothing turned out the way the way they wanted it to, then realize that what did happen was actually pretty special after all. It's a beautifully told story.

 

[TheZue]

That's because most Disney movies (particularly the early ones) are based on classic stories and fairytales. If you look at modern chidlren's literature you will see a lot of dead/absent/neglectful parents. A good example of this is Harry Potter, which from the beginning deals with some extremely heavy topics including the death of his parents and the complete neglect and bullying at the hands of his aunt and uncle and cousin. Why is this such a common theme? Several reasons:

-If you look at classic fairytales in which the mother is dead and the stepmother is typically the antagonist, it has to do with society's views of women and the role of mothers in society. Men were not seen as capable of the kind of cruelty that the stepmothers inflict. Motherhood was considered to be the most sacred role a person could hold and no mother could do that to her own children. But a stepmother, a woman who dared to usurp that sacred role would have no qualms.

-Then and now well adjusted children or people do not have adventures. Kids with two parents who are good, caring parents would never be able to go on these kinds of adventures. Russell is able to go with Carl because his parents are divorced/absent from his life. Harry is in danger precisely because his parents are dead, and certainly it enables him to go after Voldemort when he does not have a true parent to keep him safe. Most of the princesses have deceased mothers and fathers who are either absent or who hide them for their own protection thus enabling them to have the adventures they do.

-You also have to consider the development of the concept of childhood. If you look at old literature for kids (read the Grimm's Fairytales, the original Pinocchio, some of the Purtain literature, etc.) you will see that these types of things would never have been marketed to children today. Childhood is a truly modern concept. Before modern times many children did not survive until adulthood. They were typically seen as miniature adults and treated thus. They were not sheltered from the harsh realities of the world the way kids are today. Read some of the early Puritan "children's" literature if you get a chance. It's enough to give an adult nightmares!

Kids do not understand these adult themes. When I saw the movie I heard the kid behind us ask why she was sad. They had no clue what the part of infertility was about. I noticed that during the "sad parts" it was adults who were crying, not children. Kids have a remarkable ability to overlook that which they do not understand. Go back and watch some of the old Disney movies that you have not seen since you were a child, or read some of your favorite children's books and you will be surprised at the dark themes and sometimes intense violence that you glossed over or did not pick up on. Even some sexual themes. Kids are utterly oblivious.

I loved UP and would not have a problem taking a child to such a movie. The kids who were in the theatre with us loved it and were laughing their heads off at the funny parts and seemed to overlook or not really understand soem of the heavier parts. That is what makes Disney and Pixar so wonderful. They make movies that kids can enjoy but that have themes that appeal to adults as well. They truly are "family" films, not just kids' films.

It's too true, a lot of it is sad to kids but not on the same level. They don't get things and they don't always go looking for answers when they don't...My son didn't really get the sadness of that movie like Dh and I did, but of course he's relating more to Russell and not to the married person who lost his spouse. Even some of the humor was totally over his head, but he enjoyed it a lot.

And even if it is sad, I think it's a GREAT movie because here is somebody who lost the absolute love of his life, thought his life was over but realized that it was a new chapter instead. I think it handled death very well and unlike a lot of kids stories about death it focused more on the "it'll be okay, just different" theme rather than the lead up to the death and the relationship lost in a lot of stories like Charlotte's Web (which I loved as a child). This is no where near as dark as the things that the kids of the 80s were brought up on...movies like Secret of Nimh, Watership Down, The Dark Crystal and even Star Wars all dealt with large scale killings of groups of people, species, and/or societies. Up is very positive by comparison.

And speaking of sexual themes, my husband was laughing at me the other day because I JUST got what Arrowsmith's "love in an elevator" is about when it came on the radio last week, and I had that tape when I was 13...just thought it was an odd song about people making out in an elevator.

 

[ThunderMTexpert]

And speaking of sexual themes, my husband was laughing at me the other day because I JUST got what Arrowsmith's "love in an elevator" is about when it came on the radio last week, and I had that tape when I was 13...just thought it was an odd song about people making out in an elevator.

*aerosmith :]

 

[OceanAnnie]

I loved "UP"! It was sad, funny, bittersweet, and uplifting. Our kids loved it! I give it 2 way up high at that!

We saw it in 3D. I think we would have been fine without the 3D version.

The trailers were great too. We're looking forward to seeing, "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs", "Ice Age (whatever number it is)", Toy Story 3 (Can't wait for that!! What took so long!?!), and there were a few others I can't recall.

 

[Barbossa]

My DW, DD8, DS6, and I saw it in 3D last weekend. We all loved it.

 

[Footnotegirl]

If nothing bad ever happened in a story, it wouldn't be a story. Seriously. To have a plot, you need to have drama and conflict. To have success that means anything, you have to overcome adversity. If you don't, then it's just.. a series of pink candy pictures that in the end mean nothing. The Hero's Journey has to have adversity and sacrifice.
I think the reason that a lot of people, especially adults, are seeing this as 'more sad' than previous Disney or Pixar movies is because the characters are normal human beings during our current time period (not toys, or cars, or lions or deer, but people) and the loss that occurs is a loss that many of us have experienced or know we will experience, and also one that people we know and love have experienced. So yes, that makes it more personal and brings it home a lot more. Bring your tissue. Seriously.
That said... I think the story as a whole was uplifting and even in the saddest parts had such good lessons about life. Ellie's loss is so terribly sad because it's so blazingly clear that Ellie and Karl love eachother and are wonderful together. Russell's lack of a caring father is so painful because Russell is such a great kid who even in adversity tries so very hard to be helpful and good. Dug getting treated horribly is sad because Dug is loyal and thoughtful and better than the other dogs, etc. etc. And in the end, they all get to live happily, have found new hope, new life, new friendship.
I also was extremely touched by the lesson that our loved ones would not want us to mourn and give up on life (as Karl did). They would want us to go on and be happy and have new adventures.
I wouldn't for a moment hesitate to bring kids to see this movie. It's wonderful.

 

[tchrrx]

OK- Here's a little of my life right now:

Our DD was adopted after us dealing with infertility for about 3-4 years.

My grandpa was recently diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer & has been given less than 6 months to live.

My Disney vacation last week was not very magical, as the in-laws were with us and then, to top it off, my DH broke his foot midway through the trip.

If you were me, would you go see the movie UP right now? I really need some light hearted fun right now.