 ***PLEASE NOTE: A Blu-ray 3D disc is only compatible with 3D Blu-ray players.*** Immerse yourself in a whole new dimension of family entertainment. Bring the 3D experience home with this hilariously uplifting adventure from the creators of Monsters, Inc. and Finding Nemo. Part rascal, part dreamer, retired balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen is ready for his last chance at high-flying excitement. Tying thousands of balloons to his house, Carl sets off to the lost world of his childhood dreams. but unbeknownst to Carl, Russell, an overeager 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer who has never ventured beyond his backyard, is in the wrong place at the wrong time - Carl's front porch! Experience every thrilling moment of their adventure as it comes to life before your eyes in spectacular Disney Blu-ray 3D - Magic In A New Dimension that will send your spirits soaring Up, up and away! Storyline: A young Carl Fredrickson meets a young adventure-spirited girl named Ellie. They both dream of going to a lost land in South America. 70 years later, Ellie has died. Carl remembers the promise he made to her. Then, when he inadvertently hits a construction worker, he is forced to go to a retirement home. But before they can take him, he and his house fly away. However, he has a stowaway aboard: an 8-year-old boy named Russell, who's trying to get an Assisting the Elderly badge. Together, they embark on an adventure, where they encounter talking dogs, an evil villain and a rare bird named Kevin. Written by Garfield2710 Reviewer's Note: Reviewed by Kenneth Brown on November 23, 2012 -- I'm not ashamed to admit that Up wrecked me. It didn't earn a man-tear. It didn't make my lip quiver. It didn't assault me with warm fuzzies. No, dear readers, it viciously, strategically and masterfully wrecked me. It's not often that I'm reduced to a pile of thirtysomething tears and sobering sniffles, but Pixar mainstays Pete Docter and Bob Peterson have created such a touching tale, such a rousing adventure, such a gorgeous masterpiece that I remain completely enraptured by everything that graced the screen. From an early heart-wrenching glimpse into an old man's dashed hopes and hardened heart to his eventual embrace of something far greater than he ever imagined, Up is as much an emotional experience as an entertaining one; as much a multi-layered character study as a rewarding animated journey; as much a stirring story of love and loss as a thoughtful, nuanced examination of friendship and devotion. It didn't just deserve the Best Animated Picture Oscar at the Academy Awards it received, it deserved a spot among the Best Picture nominees. After earning critical and box office success with the help of several unlikely animated heroes -- a box of aging toys, a bumbling ant, a pair of closet-haunting monsters, a neurotic fish, a family of outlawed crime fighters, a cocky race car, and a cooking rat -- Pixar proudly introduces Carl Fredricksen (voiced by Ed Asner), a bitter widower who decides to relocate his house to a remote South American locale using tens of thousands of helium balloons. His motivation? A decades-old promise he made to his late wife, Ellie (Elie Docter), when they first fell in love. Of course, things don't quite go according to plan. Carl finds a young Wilderness Explorer named Russell (Jordan Nagai) stuck on his now-soaring front porch, inadvertently flies into a storm, lands short of his intended destination, and meets an elderly recluse named Charles Muntz (Christopher Plummer) who just so happens to be his childhood role model. But before he has the chance to get his bearings, Carl finds himself at odds with the arrogant explorer, building a genuine relationship with Russell, and rediscovering the man his wife always knew him to be. Up opens with a sobering sequence that follows Carl and Ellie's budding relationship through childhood and adolescence, to sharing vows at the altar and, eventually, growing old together. Heartfelt as it all is, though, it never grows saccharine. Carl and Ellie struggle with finances, reevaluate their dreams, learn they can't have children, and discover that Ellie has cancer. Inevitably, we watch as Carl attends the funeral of his one true love, roots himself in his house, and reacts accordingly when land developers want to take it away from him. It's in these opening scenes that Up establishes its identity, its thematic power, and its poignancy. Carl isn't merely a grumpy hermit, he's a sympathetic romantic; a lovelorn victim of circumstance whose brow furrowed the moment his cornerstone was ripped from his grasp. His whirlwind adventure doesn't reek of rip-roaring randomness or Saturday-morning silliness, it's bolstered by very real, very familiar pain that drives him forward and pushes him to be a better man. His South American quest isn't about selfish pursuits or cantankerous whimsy, it's about love; the kind of love that burrows deep and never relents; the sort of love that haunts the hearts of widows and widowers the world over. To their credit, Docter and Peterson spend just enough time with the events that lead Carl to Paradise Falls, just enough time with his wife, that everything that follows pulses with a palpable heartbeat. Carl's simple glances at a picture frame will bring tears to your eyes. His desperate attachment to his house is more about holding onto Ellie than a home. His adventure is driven by his fading memories, not a cluster of balloons or a pack of chatty dogs. Despite a great many challenges, Docter and Peterson manage to flawlessly transition Up's tragic opening into an undeniably entertaining second act. They tap into a variety of rather standard gimmicks -- an awkward kid, talking animals, midair battles, and physics-defying hilarity, among others -- but infuse each one with enough patented Pixar magic to ensure the film never falters or fails. Russell is as endearing as young characters come: his intense curiosity, short attention span, and fledgling self esteem are masterfully paired with Carl's embittered disposition, making the pair's relationship one both young and old viewers will enjoy watching unfold. The floating house is a character in its own right: a rickety incarnation of Ellie and a symbol of Carl's undying love, it's used to remarkable effect throughout the tale to evoke regret, heartache, and longing. Muntz is a complicated, believable antagonist: a washed up icon determined to prove his worth no matter the personal cost. Even Dug and Kevin, the film's oh-so-helpful animals, are welcome additions to the narrative. They provide infectious comic relief, sure, but they also highlight the mystery and wonder of Carl and Russell's jaunt through the jungle. Together, these seemingly disconnected elements work brilliantly, granting Up even more depth, spirit, and fun than it already has. As far as I'm concerned, Up is a triumph for all involved. It makes other animated films look positively childish, yet will win the hearts of kids and adults. I'm not sure how young children will handle some of the film's weightier scenes -- despite the semi-silent nature of the Carl and Ellie montage, my then-four-year-old son clearly understood everything that was happening to the couple, infertility and all -- but it has plenty to offer families and animation fans alike. While I certainly won't guarantee you'll adore Up as much as I did, I can safely say the film will be remembered for quite some time. More than an animated adventure, more than a heartwarming story, more than a colorful trek, it's one of my favorite animated films of all time and, hands down, one of the best films, animated or otherwise, of 2009. It's a must-see classic in every regard. Up demonstrates Pixar's grasp of character, story, humor and rich sentiment, and wields each one as effortlessly as its animators wield the tools of their craft. I cannot recommend Docter's touching tale enough. Its new 5-disc 3D Blu-ray release is even better, and Disney pulls out all the stops to deliver a perfect video presentation, a perfect 3D experience and a perfect DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. Granted, the set's captivating supplemental package falls a bit short of Disney's best and doesn't include any new bonus features exclusive to the 3D release, but 3D enthusiasts will be delighted nonetheless. Like the film, I cannot recommend Up's 3D Blu-ray release enough. Cast Notes: Edward Asner (Carl Fredricksen [voice] [as Ed Asner]), Christopher Plummer (Charles Muntz [voice]), Jordan Nagai (Russell [voice]), Bob Peterson (Dug / Alpha [voice]), Delroy Lindo (Beta [voice]), Jerome Ranft (Gamma [voice]), John Ratzenberger (Construction Foreman Tom [voice]), David Kaye (Newsreel Announcer [voice]), Elie Docter (Young Ellie [voice]), Jeremy Leary (Young Carl [voice]), Mickie McGowan (Police Officer Edith [voice]), Danny Mann (Construction Worker Steve [voice]), Donald Fullilove (Nurse George [voice]), Jess Harnell (Nurse AJ [voice]), Josh Cooley (Omega [voice]). IMDb Rating (07/25/14): 8.3/10 from 452,307 users Top 250: #113 IMDb Rating (11/26/12): 8.3/10 from 283,697 users Top 250: #113 IMDb Rating (11/26/09): 8.5/10 from 60,728 users Top 250: #65
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