Up!

Yeah, I know this is a really late review. To be frank, I had no intentions of watching this movie. The only thing that the trailers showed was an old man in a flying house. With lots of balloons. Woohoo! That's as interesting as watching paint dry! Honestly this movie could have attracted an even bigger audience if they showed more of the movie, instead of being so vague about it. It had so much more to offer.

I'm glad I was dragged into this movie earlier this week. I can now honestly say that PIXAR IS BACK. Pixar used to be such a sure thing. Even when the trailers looked unappealing, I would always be proven wrong once I step inside the movie theater. It would always be an amazing experience. But then Cars came along, which was full of cliches it came off as generic. They almost bounced back with Ratatouille, but somehow, it seemed to be missing something. And then last years Wall-E, which was overly simplified. Some of the top critics said that was The Best Movie of The Year?! Man, they must be high on drugs when they watched that movie. Yeah, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't something to write home about. I understand how kids could appreciate the beauty of its simplicity, but I'd expect adults to look for a bit more complexity. And c'mon, how many times do you have to hear "Wall-E" and "Eee-va" before they get on your nerves. Simply put, Wall-E did not have that Pixar magic that used to leave me in awe. That's why I decided to forego this year's Pixar release. Never mind the fact that the trailer was simply unappealing to begin with.

And I was proven wrong. What they showed in the trailer was simply the tip of the iceberg. The whole plot is more complex, and the story went to places I did not expect it to go. I mean, a South American adventure? With talking dogs?! lol. A lot of scenes elicited genuine laughter from the audience. Several mature issues have been inserted in a way that they would not alienate the children from the audience. And the best part? The thing that separates Pixar's animated features from those released by other studios is present here... like most of the other Pixar releases, this film has heart. It manages to touch different facets of human emotions--- joy, grief, sadness, despair, triumph. Unlike other animated features that people tend to forget as soon as they leave the theater, the message that this movie conveys resonate. This movie doesn't just guarantee entertainment. With the proper use of emotional tools, this movie is a reflection of life in general. To some, this movie can even make one view life in a proper perspective, make one see things in a different light.

That's right. Just as I've said above. Pixar is really back.