Another great film, but with a few big surprises that you don't see in any other Disney movie.

Rating: 7/10 (30 December 2013)

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Well... this movie is a surprise.
A guy promises his wife that they will go to Paradise Falls to live one day... but as their lives together go on, they let the dream slip away. But when his wife dies he ties a load of balloons to his house and floats it to Paradise Falls.
It is a great adventure just like every other Disney film... which is a good thing. After all that is what I love about Disney.
There are some big differences in this movie though. Firstly the beginning of the movie is very sad. As I have stated above, the main characters wife dies. Now I know this is rare in a Disney film, but not unheard of. I know Bambi's mum got shot and Simbas dad was murdered... but this was different. She not only died of old age, but during their life you are made aware that she had a miscarriage. It is a very risky move from Disney to add this to the film. It really was not needed, but it did add to the back story. It was a very sad start to the film which I never felt with a Disney movie before.
Secondly... there was blood! There is a scene in the film where the old man is having an argument with a builder... and he gets very frustrated and hits the builder on the head with his walking frame. The next thing you see is the builder on the floor with blood coming from his head. Now I might be wrong, but I do not remember ever seeing blood in a Disney film. It actually shocked me a little bit as it just seemed out of place. Normally when a character get's a hit of the head there is a bump or red mark, but never blood. This was another bold move, but just felt unnecessary.
The story was very good. I loved the idea of the old man after many years doing what he promised his wife. I think everyone should finish what they started before they pass on. It was a film about completion. The old man was not very likable in places. He was a mean old man who was horrible to almost everyone. The little boy that went with him on his adventure was brilliant. I thought he was very funny and I felt so sorry for him in places. One of my favourite characters was the talking dog. He was great. I laughed so much when he was chasing the ball and squirrels. What a great character.
After this film was made, someone actually tried lifting a little shed with a load of balloons to see if it was possible... it was. They actually got the shed off of the ground. There was a documentary made about it.
A very moving story and possibly one of the saddest Disney films made. It is definitely worth watching and enjoying more than once.
I will give this film 7 out of 10.
"Won't you please be my prisoner, please, please, please!"
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