Touching and exciting

Rating: 10/10 (20 January 2010)

I had heard of this movie but since I am not crazy about animated films, it took me a long time to rent the DVD and watch 'Up'. I knew very little about the movie or the story, so everything was a revelation. The most important one was that if a movie is really good, it does not matter if it's animation or not.
The animation was top notch, the story idea was unique and very creative. The 'heroes' were- a 78 year old man and an eight year old boy. There was lots of action and imagination. However, what really made me like this movie were the subtle emotions, and how old man Frederickson changes from being a lonely, sad man to a happy person in the end.
The story begins with Carl (Mr.Frederickson as a young boy) meeting his future wife and love of his wife Ellie. They grow up, marry, and live happily until she dies. Carl is attached to her memories, including the home and furniture they built together, and her 'Adventure Book'. . He decides to follow the adventure that Ellie introduced him to, when they were kids.
He is not friendly to the 8 year old kid Russell who wants to get a badge by helping an elderly. HOwever, once Russell gets on his 'flying house' to go to South America, their friendship develops. Carl starts caring for the young lad. Their adventures take them to see Paradise Falls, which was Carl & Ellie's dream. They fight evil dogs and an evil person and triumph in the end. In the process Carl lets go of the things he was attached to, and is a happier person as a result.
It is a wonderful story that has adventure and action, and philosophical depth. The message at the end is so subtle, it is not at all preachy, and yet one gets it. That's what makes this movie so special.