Week 11: Up (2009)

My husband and I first saw this movie when it was out in theaters. I remember very well running into acquaintances of ours who had brought their granddaughter to the movie. She said to us, “Why are you guys here to see a kids’ movie?” hahaha. She did not know me. If I have a chance to see the latest animated blockbuster in a theater, I’m there, sister! I love this movie. The love story without words at the beginning gets me every time. I love grumpy old Carl Fredericksen, slightly annoying Russell, and, especially, faithful, loveable Dug. What a great movie!

Plot Summary: By tying thousands of balloons to his home, 78-year-old Carl sets out to fulfill his lifelong dream to see the wilds of South America. Russell, a wilderness explorer 70 years younger, inadvertently becomes a stowaway. (www.imdb.com)

Fun Fact: When the house first rises, breaking free of its foundation, the front porch is clearly empty. Yet Russell appears later in the far right corner. This is explained by Russell later when he says he crawled under the porch chasing a “snipe”. Apparently he hung on to something underneath the porch and crawled up later. In the short film George & A.J. it is revealed that Russell braced himself underneath Carl’s house when it took off in the same way that Woody held onto Sid’s milk crate when Sid picked it up in Toy Story. However, in the Up movie several shots show the complete underside of the house as it flies off and Russell is clearly not there (or on the porch). (www.imdb.com)

Favourite Character: Dug

Favourite Song:

The song that plays during the Love Story Montage. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLprjxFhs8s)

Quotable Quotes:

I am about to show you something I’ve never shown to anyone in my life. Ever.

South America. It’s like America, but South.

So long, fellas! I’ll send you a postcard from Paradise Falls.

“Kevin?” “Yeah! That’s his name I just gave him.”

My name is Dug. I have just met you and I love you!

What’s Dug doing? Why’s he with that small mailman?

I do ever so want the ball!

You lost it! Why do I not have a surprised feeling?

He has lost the bird. Put him in the cone of shame.

Ha! It’s funny ‘cause the squirrel gets dead.

It might sound boring. But I think the boring stuff is the stuff I remember most.

I was hiding under your porch because I love you. Can I stay?

“I wanna help!” “I don’t want your help! I want you safe!”

For assisting the elderly and performing above and beyond the call of duty, I would like to give you the greatest honour I can bestow – the Ellie badge.

Final Thoughts:

Friendship can warm up even the coldest, grumpiest heart. When Carl lost Ellie, he shut himself off from his dreams, his passions, the world, and friendship. Russell, Kevin, and Dug help to thaw his heart and bring out his begrudgingly caring side. So many times, when things go wrong in life, we shut ourselves up, dwell on what’s been lost or taken from us, and don’t notice all the good things that might be right in front of us right now.

5 Mickeys out of 5:

Next Week’s Movie: Hercules

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Week 10: THE TOP TEN

In case you haven’t already noticed, I am in love with all things Disney. I grew up in the 90’s (mostly), so much of my list is Disney movies from that generation – if a movie didn’t make the list, it doesn’t mean I don’t love it – trust me, if I listed ALL the Disney movies I love, it would pretty much just be a list of ALL the Disney movies. It’s taken me awhile to work on this post because – hello! – how do you choose? I mean, really. By the way, these are in no particular order – I cannot decide which is my top favourite. Without further ado, here we go:

1. Aladdin. Between the flying carpet escape and Aladdin trying to elude the guards in the marketplace, this movie is pure magic.

2. Pocahontas. Wingapo and welcome to the list. Would you like me to start singing Colours of the Wind? Because I definitely could.

3. Mulan. I’ve already explained why Mulan is special to me – but regardless of the personal connection, it’s an awesome movie with a great soundtrack.

4. Up. Because, if you don’t cry watching this movie, you are OBVIOUSLY dead inside.

5. Lion King. Hakuna Matata. That is all.

6. The Rescuers and The Rescuers: Down Under. I am fairly certain this is what my pet rats do in their spare time. Just sayin’.

7. Little Mermaid. Another one where you can just sing your way through the whole movie. Honourable mention goes to the half-hour VHS spin-offs that my brother and I watched over and over.

8. Beauty and the Beast. Be our guest, be our guest!

9. Hunchback of Notre Dame. This one makes me cry every time. What a story!

10. Hercules. Because Meg is sassy and sarcastic and that makes me love her.

Honourable mentions go to more recent Disney movies I’ve fallen in love with: Wreck It Ralph, Tangled, Brave, and Frozen.

Other honourable mentions include: The Fox and the Hound, The Aristocats, The Lady and the Tramp, The Jungle Book and Bambi.

When I asked on Facebook about my friends’ favourite Disney movies, I got a ton of different answers. Do you know how hard it is to choose a favourite? (I do!)

Here are some of the responses: The Lion King, Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, The Rescuers, Aladdin, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Alice in Wonderland, Aristocats, Pete’s Dragon, Heavyweights, The Little Mermaid, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Cinderella, Mulan, and Pocahontas.

My friend, Troy, shared his top ten list with me and I’m sharing it with you:

1. Finding Nemo
2. Dumbo
3. Toy Story
4. Wreck-It Ralph
5. Ratatouille
6. Lion King
7. Lady and the Tramp
8. Wall-E
9. Beauty and the Beast
10. Pinocchio

(Troy blogs over at http://thisweeksmovie.wordpress.com/ . Pop over and say hello!)

I also asked on Facebook what people’s favourite Disney soundtrack, villain and hero were. There were lots of different answers! Mine are Pocohontas, Ursula and Mulan. Soundtracks people loved included: Aladdin, Frozen, Lion King, Little Mermaid, and Narnia. Villains included: Ursula, Gaston, Scar, Kaa, Mother Gothel, and Elsa. Favourite heroes included: Robin Hood, Merida, Mulan, Belle, Olaf, and Li Shang.

I hope you enjoyed my list! Why don’t you share yours in the comments? Can’t get enough Disney…

Next Week’s Movie: Up