Pixar has proven itself a company that won't rest on its laurels, and their latest, the deceptively simply named "Up," is proof of that and so much more. They have such a strong track record, particularly in the story department, that they can confidently release a film without revealing much about it, with obscure marketing, even when its about the adventures of a 78 year old man. Even as a devotee I wondered if they'd lost their minds, but what worked with Wall-E, another concept on paper that doesn't sound like a sure-fire winner, may indeed bring Pixar Oscar gold once again.
Always looking forward to a Pixar release, and disappointed only one time in ten ("Cars" which surprisingly has a sequel in the works, was a let down but by no means a failure for the company), I was in for "Up" unconditionally and not surprisingly it opened to strong reviews from critics and movie-goers alike. I intentionally avoided the 3D presentation with annoying glasses and went for the sharper colours, undiluted & undistracted experience.
I even went a second time in theaters with my 4 year old niece to see if this would be her special, first feature film movie experience that she'd sit through until the end. We gave her the choice of 3-D or regular, and the glasses put her off too. (Good choice, sweetie!) She made it all the way through, but the mature themes at the beginning I'm sure were lost on her and trying on her attention span. But those layers will be waiting for her as she gets older.
So now it's on home video which is an exciting prospect for anyone with an HD TV and a Blu-ray player. If you want to take your home theater to the limits and really show it off, it's a no-brainer to grab any Pixar flick and blow their minds. (Side notes: "Monsters, Inc." also hits Blu-ray this week, "Finding Nemo" is Pixar's biggest box office earner and "The Incredibles" is my personal favourite to date.)
I was initially perplexed by the Blu-ray package which includes two Blu-rays (one for the film and another for bonus features) but ALSO a regular DVD and another disc for the digital copy (a regrettable waste of plastic which merely offers a "key" to download the movie for your iPod or other media device). The DVD threw me for a loop but it finally occurred to me that it was the perfect addition for hi-def Dad who wants his Blu-Ray but needs to appease the little ones that quietly watch movies in the back of the mini-van. They got the parents covered.
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