Up!

I wasn't surprised Up! turned out to be a pretty decent picture. It tells the story of an old man and a young boy that end up on having an adventure together. The theme can perhaps be said to concern the makings of a good life. Visually it is quite stunning and it is clear that the technical aspects of these kinds of CGI productions are advanced enough to be relegated to the background; one thinks only of the artistry now. As some reviewer said it is a film that condescend its audience whoever that audience might be, and it is true. Many will find something in this film. It is moving, and funny, whilst not being overtly sweet. The only tiresome part, I think, is perhaps the many action sequences. I am not sure to whom they are supposed to cater, for me they are mostly hysterical and somewhat unmotivated. Not least since the non-action is so good. Underneath all of that I guess there is a problem that is much more general than this particular movie. It is for some reason assumed that over-the-top action and violence is the only language kids understand and can appreciate. I just think this assumption is false and that it tends to make a lot of movies into something lesser than they could have been. Not that I am opposed to action or violence in movies in general, it just gets tiresome sometimes. Just to clarify however, this movie is hardly an exemplar of the worst-case scenario. It isn't that much of a problem, but to me the movie could have been better. Another curious aspect of this picture is the uncanny absence of women and girls. There seems to be only two or perhaps three in the whole film out of which only one has something to say and is in the frame for more than a brief moment (and she is long dead when the movie begins). One could perhaps defend these choices or whatever, but, for me this is always a little suspicious. Why? There seems to be nothing about the story that requires all of the main characters to be males. This is disturbing I think though it is not a deal breaker. All in all this is an excellent movie.