Up 3D Blu-ray delivers truly amazing video and audio in this absolutely must-own Blu-ray release
78-year-old balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen finally fulfills his lifelong dream of a
great adventure when he ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies away to the
wilds of South America. But he discovers all too late that his biggest nightmare has
stowed away on the trip: an overly optimistic 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer named
Russell. Their journey to a lost world, where they encounter some strange, exotic and
surprising characters, is filled with hilarity, emotion and wildly imaginative adventure.
For more about Up 3D and the Up 3D Blu-ray release, see the Up 3D Blu-ray Review
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 brushes against the stratosphere with a dazzling, picture-perfect 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer that features more
breathtaking imagery and stunning scenery in a single shot than many high definition presentations deliver in two hours.
Pixar's palette simply spills off the screen. Color and contrast are impeccable, black levels are bottomless, and detail is
extraordinary. Note the string on every balloon, the tiny grooves in Carl's face, the soft feathers that adorn Kevin's back, the
rust and grime caked on Muntz' dirigible, individual strands of Dug's fur, distant leaves and flowers in the jungle, weathered
shingles on a high-altitude rooftop, the fuzz on the tennis balls beneath Carl's walker. Need I go on? Definition is sharp, fine
textures are crisp and refined, and artificial nonsense like edge enhancement is MIA. Moreover, the technical transfer is
spotless. That's right, you won't find a significant artifact or color band once you depart from the disc's main menu, and noise
is non-existent. It is, in a word, impeccable.
The new 1080p/MVC-encoded 3D experience, meanwhile, is just as spectacular. The depth, impact and immersiveness of its 3D visuals aren't superficial in the slightest; everything is designed to draw the viewer into the world Pixar has created. Carl's house rises up, up and out, balloons and faces boast a distinct and pleasant roundness, the secluded South American vistas extend deep into the horizon and chintzy pop-out gimmicks are nowhere to be
found. It only helps that the 3D presentation sports a vigilant technical encode. Aliasing doesn't invade the image,
dimensionality is near-flawless, and ghosting only hinders a handful of thin, tiny or fast-moving on-screen objects.
(Even then, whatever ghosting appears is a product of crosstalk-prone 3D displays and glasses, never the encode itself.) In
fact, Disney's 3D experience is so seamless and so pristine that there's no clear winner between it and its 2D counterpart. Both the 3D and 2D presentations are top-tier material, and animation enthusiasts, videophiles and 3D fans of all ages will be thrilled with the results.
Disney pairs Up's striking video presentation with an equally jaw-dropping, exceedingly faithful, and incredibly
involving DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. It takes a lot to turn my head mid-movie, but I found myself laughing at
the sheer complexity and quality of the sound pouring out of my speakers. Dialogue never wavers, voices are never lost in the
mix, and vocal clarity and weight is astounding. The LFE channel gets a full workout as well, dutifully supporting the slightest
thooms and the most abrupt booms Carl and Russell's adventure has in store. The rear speakers are just as
active, injecting enough environmental ambience and aggressive directional effects into the proceedings to make the soundfield
wholly and completely enveloping. Moreover, pans are velvety, dynamics are resonant, and Carl's bunched balloons make their
presence known at every turn. With jungles, caverns, and living rooms that sound so fantastic, so utterly natural, it's tough to
imagine how the track could be improved. Make no mistake, Disney has churned out another sonic standout; one that's sure
to elicit wide eyes and hushed whoas from every member of the family.
Cine-Explore Commentary (HD, Disc 2, 96 minutes): Director Pete Docter and co-director Bob Peterson deliver
an informative, extensive, and ultimately engrossing Picture-in-Picture video commentary that features a non-stop assortment
of animated storyboards, concept art, early renderings of the characters and locales, and some of the video footage the
animators used for reference. To my relief, their comments and analysis are often as thoughtful as the film itself. They talk
about the challenges their team faced, the design of Up's people and places, the personal touches that pepper the film,
the themes they dissected with the story, and the pacing and progression of the plot. It's a thoroughly absorbing, refreshingly
candid track no filmfan should miss.
Adventure Is Out There (HD, Disc 2, 22 minutes): Docter, along with a variety of filmmakers, explorers, and
crew members, discusses his pre-production efforts, the genesis and development of the second act of the story, Up's
production design, and the Venezuelan vistas that frequent the film.
Partly Cloudy (HD, Disc 2, 6 minutes): A sharp, funny, dare I say heartwarming surprise, this theatrically
released animated short joins an already impressive lineup of shorts from Pixar.
Dug's Special Mission (HD, Disc 2, 5 minutes): This all new original animated short finds Dug the dog guarding a
rock at the behest of his superiors. Of course, nothing goes as planned and some rather tame misadventure ensues.
The Many Endings of Muntz (HD, Disc 2, 5 minutes): An alternate scene of sorts that takes a brief look at the
filmmakers tireless efforts to handle the demise of the film's antagonist.
Documentaries (HD, Disc 3, 48 minutes): The main draw of the set's third BD disc is a collection of seven
wonderfully conceived production featurettes. "Geriatric Hero" focuses on the film's elderly everyman and the work that went
into his design, animation, personality quirks, facial qualities, and character arc; "Canine Companions" investigates the purpose
and implementation of Muntz' dog pack; "Wilderness Explorer" gives Russell the same attention "Geriatric Hero" gives Carl;
"Our Giant Flightless Friend" touches on Kevin's movements, vocalizations, and colorful plumage; "Homemakers of Pixar" looks
at the creation of Up's main set piece (and unsung character), Carl's house; "Balloons and Flight" is, you guessed it, an
overview of Carl's flying house and Muntz' dirigible; and "Composing for Characters" examines Michael Giacchino's musical
themes and original score. In all, it's an engaging seven-part documentary that perfectly complements Docter and Peterson's
PiP commentary.
Married Life (HD, Disc 3, 9 minutes): Similar to "The Many Endings of Muntz," this compilation of alternate
scenes follows the development of the heart-wrenching Carl and Ellie sequence that appears in the film.
Global Guardian Badge Game (HD, Disc 3): This interactive BD-Live activity is the only kid-oriented feature in the
set. It offers a hunt-and-find game, two difficulty levels, the option to save files, a high score board, and more.
Up Promo Montage (HD, Disc 3, 6 minutes): A simple series of Up promotional spots.
Worldwide Trailers (HD, Disc 3, 4 minutes): Two theatrical previews.
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.
For the week of December 4th, Warner Home Entertainment is bringing The Dark Knight Rises to Blu-ray. Director Christopher Nolan's epically scaled follow-up to his Academy Award-winningThe Dark Knight arrived this past summer on a deluge of viewer anticipation. ...
The long awaited Disney/PIXAR underwater animated movie Finding Nemo (2003,
Lee Unkrich, Andrew Stanton) is being released for the Christmas Season this coming
December 4th, according to an early retail announcement.
A 5-disc 3D Blu-ray/DVD Ulimate ...
