Up

So..... I saw Up today. It is an exceptionally good movie.

But I have to say that this is not a kids' movie. Really.

This is not to say that child from, say, 8 up isn't going to enjoy it, they will. But this is not a kids' movie. There were a lot of children in the auditorium who were under 8 (of course! It's Pixar, it's about an old man, a kid and balloons).

I'm not going to say a lot about it, so much has been said by others, I will say that if you haven't seen it then I recommend taking tissues, you'll need them in the first 10 minutes, and maybe a couple of times after that. I did.

The imagery of this movie is so powerful that I can't even think about those first 10 minutes without welling up again.

This is a film about character, every one of them is beautifully drawn, and every one of them, even the animals, have their needs and goals. It's also a perfect example of how to build conflict into every scene naturally (even into the stair-lift scene). It has excellent set-ups and pay-offs throughout.

And, the Teacher and I agree, this is a devastatingly sad movie.

If it hadn't been Pixar this would never have been made.

Absolutely not for kids.

See it.

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What's on the turntable? "Chanson d'amour" by The Manhattan Transfer