Pixar has so far been successful in their animated ventures ever since John Lasseter started a daring trend with "Toy Story" in 1995. Ever since then, and 10 movies later, they have continued to enlighten us with myriads of movies with strong messages about life for both kids and adults, and they have progressed even further in terms of technical wizardries with beautifully crafted animation techniques and craftsmanship.
There were stories about bugs (i.e. 1998's "A Bug's Life") and monsters (i.e. 2001's "Monsters, Inc"); they made us laugh through an honest journey of a Dory Fish (i.e. 2003's "Finding Nemo"); and they even made us fall with our hats off in respect of a Cooking Mouse (i.e. 2007's "Ratatoille"). Over the years, they have made us laugh, and they have made us cry.
But nothing beats their latest spectacle of an animated adventure called "Up" - a tale of an elderly widower named Carl Fredricksen (effectively voiced by Edward Asner) and a young overeager "wilderness explorer" named Russell (voiced by Jordan Nagai) who flew to South America in a floating house suspended from helium balloons, in search of a place called Paradise Falls. Along the way, they met an elderly explorer, Charles Muntz (voiced by the veteran, Christopehr Plummer) and a host of other quirky charcaters. Rest assured, plenty of typical Pixar action movements and sequences trnaspired along the way with a rather interesting ending.
What's different about the movie is the Opening Sequence when Carl met Ellie in her Clubhouse, discovering that they both had a similar common interest i.e. they both adore the famed explorer Charles F. Muntz. And when Ellie dreams of wanting to go to Paradise Falls, what's usually done at the very end of a story happened right at the beginning of this movie. A series of montage-like character development were shown from the point Carl and Ellie fell in love, got married, bought a home, grew older together, saved some money for their planned trip to Paradise Falls, to the point of Ellie becoming sick and soon later indulged herself in a long deep sleep.
Carl's undying love for Ellie only meant that with or without Ellie, he must fulfill Ellie's promises and dreams of reaching Paradise Falls, by hook or by crook.
To me, the opening sequences were the best part of the movie. It set the tone and the mood of the movie for me. And another great thing that came out of the movie was the beautiful soundtrack produced by Michael Giacchino. It deservingly won an Oscar for Best Original Soundtrack.
This one clearly ranks as one of the Top 10 Best Animated Movies of all time.
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