Over the years, the Horror genre has been dismissed by film snobs as nothing more than an indulgence in excessive, shallow pleasures by violence and gore obsessed individuals who feed on screams, despair and bloodshed. Admittedly, so much of it is often derivative, cheap and uninspired. However, innovation and care can still occasionally be found within the dark recesses of this mostly misunderstood form of storytelling. Case in point, Splinter.
Read More
Ever made someone a promise, then been unable to fulfill it while they were still with you? Did you fulfill that promise after they were gone? Were they with you?
Up is the tale of just that situation. Carl Fredricksen (Edward Asner) made a promise to his wife Ellie long before they married, just after they met as children, that they would go to Paradise Falls and build her clubhouse on the top of the cliff. Unfortunately, they live long lives without ever getting to Venezuela, and Ellie dies. Carl, heartbroken but still determined, decides on the eve that the city is forcing him into a retirement community that he and the house will make it to South America if it kills him.
What he doesn’t anticipate is the addition of one Wilderness Explorer named Russell (Jordan Nagai).
Thus begins the journey of an old man and a young boy, one that takes them through danger and the excitement of making new friends. The movie is graced with talking dogs, elusive dodo birds, and, of course, one man’s childhood hero who proves to be extremely different from his media image.
On a personal note, I took my mother to see this for her birthday – her choice, not mine – and surprisingly, truly enjoyed the movie. It made the two of us laugh and cry, and even spill my NERDS on the floor. This isn’t just a kids’ movie, or even a family movie. This is a movie that spans the generations, because, deep down, all any of us want to do is keep our promises, and see our loved ones happy.
If you enjoy original story-telling that entertains, and are willing to become a kid again and suspend your belief, then Up is truly a movie you need to see. Buy your tickets online here at Fandango.com.
Want to catch up before the movie? Buy Thor Volume 1 from Amazon
Marvel announced recently that Chris Hemsworth has been cast to play the lead in their newest comic-book-blockbuster – Thor, which is currently set to release in the summer of 2011. Thor is one of the characters needed for The Avengers, which includes Iron Man, Thor, Hulk and Captain America (and later incarnations included Spider-Man).
Chris Hemsworth is most recently familiar for his role as George Kirk, Captain Kirk’s father, in the new Star Trek movie. From the brief moments he was on screen I can see him taking this role and doing amazing things with it.
