Up!

[Planogirl]

Dug. I loved him, too!

Dug Dog! Just thinking about him makes me smile.

 

[hoosll]

I watched UP with my son-in-law and grandson the other night and it nearly broke our hearts. My sil has had a tough year ... he lost his mother to cancer 10 years ago and until last November his father was independent; suddenly, he is hospitalized and has been on a ventilator ever since. Last month we had to go to the family home to pack up the family items and sell everything else to keep him in a nursing home ...

The parable of this movie to seek adventure, live life to the fullest, and make connections with other people is one of the most important lessons we can ever learn. I feel blessed that I got to experience it with my sil and that I have been there to help him and his sister for the last 6 months.

I will say that I thought the scenes with the vicious dogs are very intense for children - I love ALL dogs and I disliked seeing them portrayed that way - it was much worse than the violent scenes in Lion King. Dug was very cute and we can believe that it takes an evil owner to create a pack of vicious dogs but I didn't enjoy that aspect of the movie.

My favorite scene was when Carl discovered that Ellie had completed her adventure book and had never regretted a moment of her life ....

 

[pixiewings71]

Huh??? I just don't get it, without the beginning there is no story, there's only a crazy old man who ties balloons to his house to fly away?? Up! is the BEST animated movie I've seen in a long time, I wouldn't change it at all!

 

[ejud]

It works!

Many have commented, here and elsewhere, in tones varying from polite disagreement to total outrage to childish insults, that the first ten minutes of UP are untouchable and make the movie and that it left them in tears and is all they remember of the movie and such.

In general, my idea went over like a lead balloon...

But the comments actually make my point.

First, it is not the ten minutes, it is actually Chapter 3, "Married Life", about 4:20 in duration, starting at 7 minutes in.

The material before that chapter is quite sufficient to set up the movie, and with Chapter 3 eliminated, what follows is vastly more interesting. And funny. And the storyline flows quite easily from the end of 2 to the start of 4.

Second, I probably worded things a bit unclearly while trying to make my point, so let me state that it always was my intent to move, rather than remove Chapter 3.

And there is a perfect place to do it! This puts it at a much more workable point in the story for a segment of such power, so that it adds to the continuity rather than completely stops it and overwhelms everything after it.

If you don't want to actually make an edited copy, which can be a pain in the butt without an a lot of computer power, you can 'fake' it using the controls on your DVD player.

When the movie gets to the end of Chapter 2, where Carl as a child with an adventure-broken arm in a cast, looks out his bedroom window at the disappearing Ellie: as soon as he delivers his line, "Wow," hit next: that should take you to Chapter 4.

Continue to enjoy the movie.

At the point where Carl has landed the house at Paradise Falls, having broken Russell's heart, and goes into the house, as soon as he is firmly seated in his chair, use the prev button repeatedly to return to Chapter 3: at the end of 3, when Carl walks back into his house, alone, with balloon, return to the Paradise Falls house scene at the point you left.

The time marker for the exact new location of Chapter three is 1:11:03.5

Try it.



Jud
To see my "home movies"...

 

[Squirlz]

Nope. It's great the way it is.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

True (I'm told) story: back in the 1960s "The Sound of Music" was going to be shown at a theater in South Korea. The theater manager thought the film too long, so he shortened it by removing all the songs!

Many have commented, here and elsewhere, in tones varying from polite disagreement to total outrage to childish insults, that the first ten minutes of UP are untouchable and make the movie and that it left them in tears and is all they remember of the movie and such.

In general, my idea went over like a lead balloon...

But the comments actually make my point.

The only point you've made is that YOU don't like it the way it is, and YOU want to change it around. So...do it. Sounds to me like everyone else is happy with the movie as is. I don't recall anyone saying that the first 10 minutes are ALL they remember, but your thread IS specifically about the first ten minutes, so that IS what people are responding to.

 

[ashleybea]

I loved up! It is my favorite pixar movie since Finding Nemo.
But I have to disagree with the removing of the first 10 minutes. Without that we would not know the importance of going to paradise falls.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I came out on Tuesday Nov 11th. Been able to do a presale at the Disney store for a while now!

There's a good tag.

 

[Liberty Belle]

It works!

Many have commented, here and elsewhere, in tones varying from polite disagreement to total outrage to childish insults, that the first ten minutes of UP are untouchable and make the movie and that it left them in tears and is all they remember of the movie and such.

In general, my idea went over like a lead balloon...

But the comments actually make my point.

First, it is not the ten minutes, it is actually Chapter 3, "Married Life", about 4:20 in duration, starting at 7 minutes in.

The material before that chapter is quite sufficient to set up the movie, and with Chapter 3 eliminated, what follows is vastly more interesting. And funny. And the storyline flows quite easily from the end of 2 to the start of 4.

Second, I probably worded things a bit unclearly while trying to make my point, so let me state that it always was my intent to move, rather than remove Chapter 3.

And there is a perfect place to do it! This puts it at a much more workable point in the story for a segment of such power, so that it adds to the continuity rather than completely stops it and overwhelms everything after it.

If you don't want to actually make an edited copy, which can be a pain in the butt without an a lot of computer power, you can 'fake' it using the controls on your DVD player.

When the movie gets to the end of Chapter 2, where Carl as a child with an adventure-broken arm in a cast, looks out his bedroom window at the disappearing Ellie: as soon as he delivers his line, "Wow," hit next: that should take you to Chapter 4.

Continue to enjoy the movie.

At the point where Carl has landed the house at Paradise Falls, having broken Russell's heart, and goes into the house, as soon as he is firmly seated in his chair, use the prev button repeatedly to return to Chapter 3: at the end of 3, when Carl walks back into his house, alone, with balloon, return to the Paradise Falls house scene at the point you left.

The time marker for the exact new location of Chapter three is 1:11:03.5

Try it.



Jud
To see my "home movies"...

Nah, I don't like your version. I'll stick with the original.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

There's a good tag.

Nah, I don't like your version.

 

[nuke]

Ok Jud have fun messing with your copy of the movie and writing down times and markers.
I'll watch mine the way it came and enjoy.

 

[mykidslovesdisney]

We just watched UP last nite. Such an awesome movie. The beginning of the movie was soo good. At first I thought is was about Russell until they showed them getting married. I do have to say I was so weepy when they showed the scenes about the pregnancy loss. My kids didn't catch on to it but I did . It hit close to home -- I had my 1st m/c 12 yrs ago. Our due date was 11/22. It just was to overwhelming for me. My kids do not know about my m/c's. I had to quickly explain what happened in the movie. Plus when she passed- that didn't help my tears too much either. lol. As a PP mentioned it is incrediable that soo much emotion can be felt by just watching a bit of the movie w/o any dialogue.

We were laughing at the movie-- it was really good. It is nice to see a movie that the whole family can enjoy.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Have not read any of the other posts because I rented it today. Frankly it looks like something that I won't care for.

Now I waited 2 yrs to see WALL-E and I loved that movie. Go figure.

 

[fluffycow333]

I loved it, but to each their own, I guess.

 

[Dr.Girlfriend]

It works!

Many have commented, here and elsewhere, in tones varying from polite disagreement to total outrage to childish insults, that the first ten minutes of UP are untouchable and make the movie and that it left them in tears and is all they remember of the movie and such.

In general, my idea went over like a lead balloon...

But the comments actually make my point.

First, it is not the ten minutes, it is actually Chapter 3, "Married Life", about 4:20 in duration, starting at 7 minutes in.

The material before that chapter is quite sufficient to set up the movie, and with Chapter 3 eliminated, what follows is vastly more interesting. And funny. And the storyline flows quite easily from the end of 2 to the start of 4.

Second, I probably worded things a bit unclearly while trying to make my point, so let me state that it always was my intent to move, rather than remove Chapter 3.

And there is a perfect place to do it! This puts it at a much more workable point in the story for a segment of such power, so that it adds to the continuity rather than completely stops it and overwhelms everything after it.

If you don't want to actually make an edited copy, which can be a pain in the butt without an a lot of computer power, you can 'fake' it using the controls on your DVD player.

When the movie gets to the end of Chapter 2, where Carl as a child with an adventure-broken arm in a cast, looks out his bedroom window at the disappearing Ellie: as soon as he delivers his line, "Wow," hit next: that should take you to Chapter 4.

Continue to enjoy the movie.

At the point where Carl has landed the house at Paradise Falls, having broken Russell's heart, and goes into the house, as soon as he is firmly seated in his chair, use the prev button repeatedly to return to Chapter 3: at the end of 3, when Carl walks back into his house, alone, with balloon, return to the Paradise Falls house scene at the point you left.

The time marker for the exact new location of Chapter three is 1:11:03.5

Try it.



Jud
To see my "home movies"...

What in the world are you talking about? Moving movie chapters? LOL. Ohhhhkkkkaaaay.

 

[ejud]

Okay... interested in a conversation here and sharing something, not dealing with attacks on the poster, be it me or anyone else which I see all too often.

One of the first rules of writing, which I learned in grammar school, is the redundancy of the phrase 'in my opinion': if you are writing it, it is given that it is your opinion: so yes, these are my opinions regarding UP.

I also assumed that readers interested in the thread I posted would actually read what I wrote with some thought, and not take a phrase as the entirety of my statement; but that has happened, and as my original statement did contribute to that and as that continues despite later statements, I would like to make it perfectly clear.

There is about a ten minute bit in the beginning showing Carl's whole history with his wife? Just remove it. Totally. Will improve the movie quantitatively! Maybe stick it in somewhere else, but maybe not...

I assumed people who had seen the movie would know what I was referring to- at the time I did not have the DVD. The operative phrase is 'Carl's whole history with his wife'. As I said later, that was actually 4 minutes 20 seconds starting at about 7 minutes in.

So to be clear, I was not talking about cutting the first ten minutes of the movie: I was talking about moving that segment, which turns out to be all of chapter 3 on the DVD. (Very convenient for my purposes.)

This leaves more than enough to set up the movie. Quite well as a matter of fact.

And as to that scene, again quoting myself:

That part is great in and of itself; in fact, it is a much better movie than the rest of the movie! But it is totally counter-productive to the rest of the movie: totally different pacing and feel, and after it, the rest of the movie is slow and dull and irrelevant.

I was never saying that was not good: quite the contrary, it is very good. So good that it distracts from the flow of the movie after it.

Movies, and especially animation, are very important to me. Pixar set a high standard from the beginning, and as with work by Kubrick, I have high expectations for their offerings. When I am not satisfied, I am prone to investigate why, what is not right. (And I do take into account my own state of mind which is why I returned to the theater for a second viewing- which I also did for Star Wars 4 which totally sucked.)

So Sunday night, when I suddenly saw what might salvage UP for me, I was very excited, and shared it here- and other places- thinking maybe some others might find it interesting, revelatory, or at least worth talking about.

As I said, that went over like a lead balloon.

If you are happy with the movie the way it is, fine: I have no powers of enforcement to make you change your copy.

But, even if you are happy with it as it is, I challenge you to go ahead and take that giant risk and try it as I called it and see what you think. I did last night and I found that the rest of the movie was much more satisfying.

If not, then then you can tell John Lassiter on me!



Jud

 

[ejud]

Nah, I don't like your version. I'll stick with the original.

Hi Liberty Belle,

Fair enough! hehehehee...



Jud

 

[java]

We just watched it again. It is one of those that tugs at my heartstrings. It's just so sweet about living your dream. And that somehow your dream finds you instead.
I like it just the way it is! No edit needed.

 

[suejai]

Okay... interested in a conversation here and sharing something, not dealing with attacks on the poster, be it me or anyone else which I see all too often.

One of the first rules of writing, which I learned in grammar school, is the redundancy of the phrase 'in my opinion': if you are writing it, it is given that it is your opinion: so yes, these are my opinions regarding UP.

I also assumed that readers interested in the thread I posted would actually read what I wrote with some thought, and not take a phrase as the entirety of my statement; but that has happened, and as my original statement did contribute to that and as that continues despite later statements, I would like to make it perfectly clear.



I assumed people who had seen the movie would know what I was referring to- at the time I did not have the DVD. The operative phrase is 'Carl's whole history with his wife'. As I said later, that was actually 4 minutes 20 seconds starting at about 7 minutes in.

So to be clear, I was not talking about cutting the first ten minutes of the movie: I was talking about moving that segment, which turns out to be all of chapter 3 on the DVD. (Very convenient for my purposes.)

This leaves more than enough to set up the movie. Quite well as a matter of fact.

And as to that scene, again quoting myself:


I was never saying that was not good: quite the contrary, it is very good. So good that it distracts from the flow of the movie after it.

Movies, and especially animation, are very important to me. Pixar set a high standard from the beginning, and as with work by Kubrick, I have high expectations for their offerings. When I am not satisfied, I am prone to investigate why, what is not right. (And I do take into account my own state of mind which is why I returned to the theater for a second viewing- which I also did for Star Wars 4 which totally sucked.)

So Sunday night, when I suddenly saw what might salvage UP for me, I was very excited, and shared it here- and other places- thinking maybe some others might find it interesting, revelatory, or at least worth talking about.

As I said, that went over like a lead balloon.

If you are happy with the movie the way it is, fine: I have no powers of enforcement to make you change your copy.

But, even if you are happy with it as it is, I challenge you to go ahead and take that giant risk and try it as I called it and see what you think. I did last night and I found that the rest of the movie was much more satisfying.

If not, then then you can tell John Lassiter on me!



Jud

I just watched Up for the first time yesterday. I loved it! I read your first post before I saw it and didn't quite understand why you would want to take that segment out. However, as you have subsequently explained, you just wanted it moved. I can see what you are saying and can imagine it the way you describe. I think it would work either way. A possible third option would be to intersperse the married scenes as flashbacks - would only work with a very skilled writer and director though. I'm thinking that these alternate versions would only really work for adults, and that it may be easier for younger children to understand if the timeline is more linear.

 

[monkeybug]

We loved Up!!! I'm a sucker for a story with a meaningful message, and I thought this one (in typical Disney style) was chock full! Funny thing is that I remember thinking it didn't look that interesting, but I felt it ended up being a beautifully told story. Loved it!!