Up: The Movie

I admit it, I'm a sucker for superb animation movies - especially the brilliant stuff coming out from Pixar. While flipping through the tv a few weeks ago I saw the movie trailer to the movie "Up". Then I headed over to Disney's Up website to watch more trailers. Immediately, I can see this is going to be a huge 3D animation blockbuster with a magical storyline that is personal and teaches us about the simplicities in life.

The Disney/Pixar animated movie is based around 78 year old Carl Fredricksen (Ed Asner) who as young boy makes a promise with the childhood girl he loves, Elle (Elie Docter), to someday go on an adventure to a place in South America called Paradise Falls.

Carl and Elle are married but are not able to have children. Carl is a balloon salesman and saves whatever he can to buy their home and go to Paradise Falls. As the years pass, money they are saving is placed in the Paradise Falls jar but slowly drains. Elle later passes away having never realized her dream.

After Elle's death, Carl's house is targeted by real estate developers. In an act of defiance, Carl tie up his house with thousands of balloons and sets sail on a journey to South America. But not before a young boy named Russell (Jordan Nagai) hitches a ride while trying to obtain a merit badge for helping out senior citizens.

When both arrive in Paradise Falls they explore a wonderful tropical island filled with birds and talking dogs. Along the way they meet a famous explorer who Elle idolized, Charles Muntz (Christopher Plummer) who later turns out to be a bad guy.

Carl later realizes that the story of life is not about adventure but the moments we share with family and friends.

Up is produced by Jonas Rivera and directed by Pete Docter and co-produced and written by Bob Peterson. The 3D film is due to be released in theatres on May 29 to the US. And for the first time in the history of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, Up will be the first animation movie to be shown, May 13.

About Kerry Kobashi

Kerry is the founder of KerryOnWorld. He lives in Silicon Valley and has worked as an engineer and project manager. He owns Kobashi Computing a consulting company.