To the skies in a house with thousands of balloons!

Rating: 9/10 (17 October 2017)

I like an adventurous adventure. I've heard everyone needs someone to look up to - and Carl Fredricksen idolising famous explorer Charles F. Muntz certainly demonstrates this, as does Muntz vowing not to return until he captures an exotic bird at Paradise Falls. Carl befriending a girl named Ellie, also a Muntz fan is interesting to watch and I like two would-be explorers sharing their desire of a great adventure together.
I was moved by Carl and Ellie's emotional experiences during their years together. They realised their dream of visiting Paradise Falls, but I wasn't expecting Ellie to fall ill and die. Some may think that because elderly people are elderly, they're adventures are over. But that's never a guaranteed fact: I'd seen the posters for Up before I saw the film and when I first saw the thousands of helium balloons lifting Carl's house up to the skies, I was truly amazed. Russell, a young Wilderness Explorer who visited Carl in his effort to earn his final merit badge, becomes an accidental stowaway as he frantically pleads to be let in but is denied by Carl at first, which I found hilarious!
The house flying through a thunderstorm is tense to watch, but the flying house survives and lands on a tepui opposite Paradise Falls. Carl and Russell harness themselves to the still-buoyant house and walking it across the mesa is a good idea. I love the tall, colourful flightless bird known as the mythical "Snipe", whom Russell names "Kevin". The Golden Retriever named Dug, who wears a special collar that allows him to speak is also great. The pack of aggressive dogs led by Alpha, a Doberman Pinscher, are fun to watch. I was taken by surprised that Alpha had a funny voice, which turned out to be broken wire in Alpha's collar. I wasn't expecting Muntz to become the film's villain in his search for a giant bird. I was concerned for "Kevin" and Carl's house, when Muntz forced Karl to choose between saving it or Kevin. I was relieved Carl saved his house and that he and Russell reached the falls, but I felt for Russell and I was also concerned for Kevin. Carl looking through Ellie's childhood scrapbook is another fantastic moment - looking back at memories can be very powerful and have positive reminders of happy times.
When one adventure ends, another adventure begins. Russell going to rescue Kevin lifted my spirits - as did Carl lightening his house to take to the skies once again. The final showdown on Muntz airship is tense, but fun to watch. I was relieved once more when Carl freed Russell and Kevin. Dug inadvertently saddling Alpha with his cone of shame and becoming the dogs' new leader made me laugh and proud. Muntz falls to his death and Carl's house descends out of sight through the clouds. Carl could not have said it better, "It's just a house."
After reuniting Kevin with her chicks, Carl and Russell fly back to the city. Carl presenting Russell with his final badge: a grape soda cap that Ellie gave to Carl when they first met is a proud moment. I was very pleased that Carl's house landed on the cliff beside Paradise Falls, fulfilling his promise to Ellie. Towards the end of 2009, I had a feeling that a powerful experience was approaching. And Up certainly played a flying part leading Up to that powerful experience!