My Personal Review of "Up"

So. We went to see Up today. We had the cinema all to ourselves, and the theatre has got to be one of the last ones still showing it. Ticket prices were 12.25$. And before reading through my review, be sure to remember that I am a picky film student :P

So to be honest, after all the hype up about it, I wasn't as impressed as I thought I might be. I did enjoy some of the characters and it had some good moments, but overall it receives a score of 4 out of 10- and a "maybe would see it again, but wouldn't go out of my way to do so".

The story line teetered on the edge of the well trodden plot path of the many Disney films that have gone before. It seemed to go somewhere new, but then you'd realise that no, actually they are using such and such a plot device, and his hero is going to turn out to be the villain because one hasn't really been introduced yet and every story needs a villain. The story was mostly, and unfortunately, predictable.

I felt that they could have done a lot more with the story concept and the ideas for morals that they had. The whole first 20 minutes of the film were- I felt- wasted and could have held so much more power and clarity- and there were a lot of questions which were left unanswered. There wasn't a good sense of closure, and I left the theatre feeling a bit confused. I think a REALLY good movie is one that you understand first viewing- but want to see it again to see every little detail, there are no incredibly major plot points lost in subtlety and only clarified by second or third viewings. I also left the theatre feeling a bit sad/depressed, not uplifted (which I think was the intent?)

This brings me to my third point about it- and thats how depressing this film turned out to be! There are so many incredibly sad undertones- and I felt that the end of the movie wasn't 'happy' enough to balance out the incredible feelings of loss and sadness that ran through the rest of the film. The high points were always tainted by negative undertones- reality, as you might say. There is how Ellie loses the baby (or at least that she and Carl would never have children); the death or absence of a couple of characters (Ellie, Charles Muntz and Russell's dad) and the idea of loss- losing a dream or leaving behind memories. Perhaps these concepts would fly over the heads of many younger viewers, but I found that the message and morals of the story got lost in the feeling of sadness.

However. I DID enjoy parts of it. I LOVED the character of the dog, Dug- he was the most charismatic character, and the one I connected to the most (I found that I couldn't feel as much sympathy for the other characters). And there are some classic lines in there which I enjoyed- and I liked the multilayered referencing that is a trademark of Pixar's work.

The visuals were well done- though I think they would have seemed a lot better had we seen it in 3d.

So. Overall in one sentence- Up has a good concept, but I felt that it was such a broad idea, and could have explored just one area a bit better; it had a lot more potential that I felt wasn't explored to its full depth.

Curious

Truth

Life and society
In all their variety
Have always asked the question.

What is truth?

We know betrayal
and we know lies;
but can't see the truth before our eyes.

We argue reality,
basing our truth on that;
but who knows where reality is at.

We extrapolate and theorize-
we idealise and we rationalise;
but the answer is just beyond our grasp.

What is truth?

To the question we must add specifics,
Personalize it,
and add three little words.

What is the truth, to you?

Curious

Boys...

I look into your eyes;
and i wonder.
What are you thinking?

Mixed signals,
Contradicting ideas.
What is really going on?

You smile at me,
my heart skips a beat,
What are you thinking about me?

Your eyes say mountains,
yet they hide oceans.
What is running through your head?

I wonder.

Curious

Dredging up old habits...

So, I recently mis-clicked on the archives section of my blog, and found myself reading for curiosities sake.

Interesting.

How much my life has changed.

So, this is a post to let you all know (avid readers that you are) where I am now.

I currently live in Melbourne, Australia. I go to a university in the city of Melbourne- called RMIT- (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) its cool. There are always people running round with sound recorders, lighting equipment, cameras... whatever really. Its a creative environment, and one that challenges me constantly in what I think and believe. I've met a lot of really interesting people. Atheists and wacked out Christians, gay rights lobeyists and hippies.

The other part of my life is based around Mitcham Baptist Church- which I love very much. I have small group on Thursdays- which is always at the least very interesting. It is my energiser i've found, because often after a week in a god-less uni, i find myself drained and in need of good socialising time with Christians. Last night we were looking at Daniel 8, and had illustrations of goats and rams- she really shouldn't have given us pens to draw stuff on with... carried away much? Good stuff.

Church has been fantastic- people are really supportive of me and my family- and its been a great place for stretching my experience of God. I love their emphasis on missions- I only wish there was more to do throughout the year rather than just over summer.

Thinking of summer... Red Frogs, Beach Mission and Urban Summer are all coming up. YAY! I'm hoping to go on all three of these things, because they challenged me last year, but were also a slight reminder of home. That is one thing I noticed from reading over all of my old posts is how much I miss missions and working with little kids. I love the kids from Alpha y Omega- and I love the kids here- and I can't wait to get back into puppets and stuff with little kids.

I love how you don't need words to love little kids.

My spanish level is crazy low at the moment- I haven't spoken it for ages! I miss how much that was part of my life.

But, from all of this reminiscing- I must emphasize that I do like my life here. Of course I miss some of my old life, but I am making my new life here. Making friends, building relationships, learning more about God in a more mono-cultural culture.

I have come to the point where I'm ready to forget my old life- but at the same time I wouldn't say no to going back there on like a missions trip or something.

Mmmm, life is interesting isn't it? We go through it wrapped up in ourselves- never really getting why we are here and doing what we are doing. But thats ok. I don't think life should be taken too seriously anyway.

So thats me! I've been inspired to keep my blog more activated, but who knows. Don't get your hopes up :P

The Edge

I stand on the edge,
My future lies below.

My parachute is ready
I am prepared now to go.

I look behind me,
The past waves and winks.

The future waits in front of me,
Offering future high jinks.

The past is known and comfortable,
The future is fuzzy and new.

Here goes, I take a breath.
I close my eyes and take a step.

Curious

Faded

The past, it is fading
As new memories I am making.

Is this good?
Or is this bad?

My old life grows fainter and vanishes
As I write new things on the pages

Do I let go?
Or do I not?

A year has past now- and much has changed,
My accent, my views, even my perspective rearanged.

Am I still the same?
Are you?

Like a ship pulling away, you grow faded and small;
my voice does the same as I reach out and call.

Can you hear me?
Can I hear you?

Communication loses its importance,
As I discover the power of distance.

Is the ship you?
Or is the ship me?

Whichever and whatever, you are fading...
Fading into the past.

Curious

A picture...

A picture, for my other uni blog.