 "Photo: Disney/ Pixar")
The newest addition to the Disney/Pixar family, Up, has arrived and looks just like the rest of them: amazing. Similar to last year's Wall-E, Up does not need words to express the emotions of its characters. Leaving out the dialogue does several things for Disney/Pixar films: it cuts down production costs, raises profits and makes their feature films like extended versions of the animated shorts we all see before the movie begins. Gone are the days of films like Toy Story, Monster's Inc. and Finding Nemo when the studios brought in big names for speaking parts. Now for Disney/Pixar are the days when emotions felt for the characters are sensed through the events of the story, actions they take and choices they make.
This is evident in Up throughout the first half hour when hardly a word is passed between the main character Carl Fredricksen and his childhood friend turned wife, Ellie. In this time the film achieves something few movies do today: an emotional bond between characters and viewers without words. Up is all about having dreams and striving to achieve them, even through the struggles of flat tires, trees falling through the roof, miscarriages (that's right, a miscarriage in an animated film) and even death of a loved one. Carl perseveres through these pressures and others, such as age, an ever-changing world that literally surrounds his home, and little annoyances like young Wilderness Explorer, Russell, to go on a life-fulfilling journey for his wife.
Up is also about recognizing that things change and there are times to accept such changes and move on. Carl recognizes this when his childhood idol Charles Muntz betrays him and Russell, and he makes a choice, posthumously helped by his wife's scrapbook, to abandon his plans and help Russell instead. Carl learns that dreams are meant to be sought after but situations change, people are not who they appear to be, and helping a Wilderness Explorer - even if you don't want to - earn his merit badge can lead to an adventure of a lifetime.
Disney and Pixar have made their characters and movies more heart-felt, but unfortunately they have made people believe that 3-D will make their movie experience much greater, for what they consider a small price. The price you pay to see a movie in 3-D is $2.25 extra on the ticket. Considering students only pay $4 anyway, this isn't a bad deal, but I encourage all to watch this film in regular picture. Seeing Monsters vs. Aliens and other movies in 3-D, the 3-D only takes away from the experience because you wait for the next cool image that is going to fly at you rather than become involved in the story. Plus, you always walk out of the theater with a massive headache from the glasses.
Movies are meant to be an escape from our normal lives to watch characters perform actions in order to overcome struggles and obtain a goal. Up has no problem doing this in regular movie format, and to focus on Disney and Pixar's new gimmick in another dimension does not warrant the $2.25 mark up for 3D.
Up is a great film that will tug emotions of all ages. You will laugh, cry and be on the edge of your seat to find out what will happen next throughout this helium-propelled expedition.
JUNE events
June 3 Randy Rogers with Wade Bowen at Hurricane Harry's
June 4 College Night at Texas Hall of Fame, admission free for 21 and up
June 5-7, 12-14, 19-21 Theatre Company of Bryan- College Station's The Producers
June 5 Art Step at Downtown Bryan 5 - 11 p.m.
June 5 Hillel Erev Shabbat Dinner at Hillel Foundation 6:30 p.m.
June 6 65th anniversary of D-Day
June 6 Starlight Music Series presents Aeromyth at Wolf Pen Creek Ampitheater 6 p.m., admission free
June 7 National Chocolate Ice Cream Day
June 8 Rec Center Boot Camp begins 6 a.m.
June 9 Rec Center Triathlon Training begins 8 a.m.
June 8-9 Still Life Workshop at Frame Gallery, Bryan, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.
June 10 Mike Eli acoustic performance at Texas Hall of Fame, $10 in advance and $12 at door
June 13 Starlight Music Series- Jason Boland & The Stragglers at Wolf Pen Creek Ampitheater 6 p.m., admission free
June 14 Flag Day
June 17 Corey Smith at Hurricane Harry's 7 p.m., $5 in advance
June 19 Juneteenth
June 19-20 Texas Reds Steak and Grape Festival at Downtown Bryan, Ribeye tickets $15 in advance, $20 day of event
June 21 Father's Day
June 24 Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen released in theatres
June 28 Paul Bunyan Day
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