Up

Plot: By tying thousands of balloon to his home, 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen sets out to fulfill his lifelong dream to see the wilds of South America. Right after lifting off, however, he learns he isn't alone on his journey, since Russell, a wilderness explorer 70 years his junior, has inadvertently become a stowaway on the trip.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkqzFUhGPJg

Clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EkCdK6bUls

Voices by: Emmy nominee Edward Asner(Carl) ("Spider-Man" & "The Boondocks"), Oscar nominee Christopher Plummer(Charles) (The Last Station), Delroy Lindo (Beta) (This Christmas & Ransom), Emmy nominee John Ratzenberger(Construction Foreman Top) ("Cheers" & Toy Story 3 (Hamm)).

Written by: the directors w. story also by Indie Spirit Winner Thomas McMarthy (The Visitor)

Directed by: Oscar winner Pete Docter (WALLE & Monsters, Inc.) & 2X Oscar nominee Bob Peterson (Finding Nemo & Ratatouille).

Review: Upping the ante for animated films. Strong story that seems like it could've been an live-action drama. The animation and voice-over work was amazing, and the story was so strong I forgot I was watching animation. I was just watching a really good movie. Side characters are also my favorites in animated movies and this movie has some great ones:The movie did flounder a bit after the two characters hit the ground, but then it picked up and finished off with a very satisfying ending. I even teared up a few times during this movie. Adults and kids alike will enjoy this movie.

Fun Facts: Very first animated film, as well as the first 3D film, ever to open the Cannes Film Festival. The term 'A113' is the number of the courtroom, and can be found on the gold sign Carl sits next to while waiting to be called (Courtroom A113). A113 is a frequent Pixar in-joke based on one of the room numbers for the animation program at Cal Arts. The Fenton's Ice Creamery featured in the movie actually exists and has two locations. As per Pixar tradition, John Ratzenberger once again provides a voice in the movie, making him the only actor to do a voice in every Pixar film. Russell's Wilderness Explorer sash has several in-jokes and tributes. The most obvious is a Luxo Jr. (1986) ball. One badge has a hamburger with a candle in it. This is a nod to Merritt Bakery in Oakland. Another badge is a tribute to 2-D animation, showing a perforated paper that is used by 2D animators to line up their drawings correctly. He also has badges for First Aid and Second Aid, which may be a reference to a short on the Up website where Russell struggles to apply bandages to Carl. Yet another badge depicts a multicolored pinwheel - the "hang" icon of Apple's Mac OS X operating system, equivalent to the Windows hourglass icon. Several of these badges are shown in the credits. The three main dog characters, Alpha, Beta and Gamma, as well as being named for the Ancient Greek alphabet, also reference three classes of workers in Aldous Huxley's novel Brave New World.

Awards:

Academy Awards, USA
Year	Result	Award	Category/Recipient(s)
2010	Won	Oscar	Original Score Michael Giacchino
			Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
	Nominated	Oscar	Best Achievement in Sound Editing
			Best Motion Picture of the Year
			Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen

Annie Awards
Year	Result	Award	Category/Recipient(s)
2010	Won	Annie	Best Animated Feature
			Directing in a Feature Production
	Nominated	Annie	Animated Effects
			Character Animation in a Feature Production Daniel Nguyen
			Character Design in a Feature Production
			Music in a Feature Production
			Storyboarding in a Feature Production
			Storyboarding in a Feature Production
			Writing in a Feature Production

Grammy Awards
Year	Result	Award	Category/Recipient(s)
2010	Won	Grammy	Best Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media Michael Giacchino

Rating:

Writing-A

Voice Over-A

Directing-A

Music-A

Cinematography-A

Editing-B

Visual Effects-A

***1/2 Stars