Up on DVD Today

UP (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition + Digital Copy) List Price: $39.99 Sale Price: $16.93 Used From: $15.96 Average Rating:

Description

Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios take moviegoers up, up and away on one of the funniest adventures of all time with their latest comedy-fantasy. Up follows the uplifting tale of 78-year-old balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen, who finally fulfills his lifelong dream of a great adventure when he ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies away to the wilds of South America. But he discovers all too late that his biggest nightmare has stowed away on the trip an overly optimistic 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer named Russell. Their journey to a lost world, where they encounter some strange, exotic and surprising characters, is filled with hilarity, emotion and wildly imaginative adventure.

At a time when too many animated films consist of anthropomorphized animals cracking sitcom one-liners and flatulence jokes, the warmth, originality, humor, and unflagging imagination of Up feel as welcome as rain in a desert. Carl Fredericksen (voice by Ed Asner) ranks among the most unlikely heroes in recent animation history. A 78- year-old curmudgeon, he enjoyed his modest life as a balloon seller because he shared it with his adventurous wife Ellie (Ellie Docter). But she died, leaving him with memories and the awareness that they never made their dream journey to Paradise Falls in South America. When well-meaning officials consign Carl to Shady Oaks Retirement Home, he rigs thousands of helium balloons to his house and floats to South America. The journey's scarcely begun when he discovers a stowaway: Russell (Jordan Nagai), a chubby, maladroit Wilderness Explorer Scout who's out to earn his Elderly Assistance Badge. In the tropical jungle, Carl and Russell find more than they bargained for: Charles Muntz (Christopher Plummer), a crazed explorer whose newsreels once inspired Carl and Ellie; Kevin, an exotic bird with a weakness for chocolate; and Dug (Bob Peterson), an endearingly dim golden retriever fitted with a voice box. More importantly, the travelers discover they need each other: Russell needs a (grand)father figure; Carl needs someone to enliven his life without Ellie. Together, they learn that sharing ice-cream cones and counting the passing cars can be more meaningful than feats of daring-do and distant horizons. Pete Docter (Monsters, Inc. ) and Bob Peterson direct the film with consummate skill and taste, allowing the poignant moments to unfold without dialogue to Michael Giacchnio's vibrant score. Building on their work in The Incredibles and Ratatouille, the Pixar crew offers nuanced animation of the stylized characters. Even by Pixar's elevated standards, Up is an exceptional film that will appeal of audiences of all ages. Rated PG for some peril and action. --Charles SolomonStills from Up (Click for larger image)

DVD Information

Binding: DVD
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Brand: BUENA VISTA HOME VIDEO
Manufacturer: Disney*Pixar
Original Release Date: 2009-01-01
Actors:

• Edward Asner
• Jordan Nagai
• John Ratzenberger
• Christopher Plummer
• Bob Peterson

Reviews

Watched it in the theater, loved it. Blu-ray arrived yesterday, won't play in my PS3, just sits there on black screen. All my other Blu-rays play just fine.

There is NO MENU and no captioning. It's impossible to enjoy an animated movie if it's not captioned and you can't hear it. Pixar should be ashamed.

Beautiful movie. Typically Pixar. I actually went to a cinema to see it (which, here in Germany, is usually getting too expensive for my taste), and didn't regret it at all. Bought the DVD as soon as it came out - yes, actually thought the movie good enough that I want to see it again on DVD, despite it not being particularly cheap. And the DVD doesn't play, thanks to some DRM (Digital Restriction Mess-Up). It doesn't play, because it does not adhere to the DVD standard, thus (by definition) not being a DVD. So I paid a LOT of money - to get nothing. Thanks. Disney. Well done. Wish I could give you Zero Stars. Certainly an excellent way of making sure I buy even less DVDs than I already do, and certainly none ever again from *you*.

There's little I can add to the rave reviews already given here. Within the first 15 minutes of "Up," I found myself alternately laughing my head off and crying like a baby. I can't even remember another film, animated or live-action, that played my emotions with such delicious ease...that had characters so endearing I found myself caring about them instantly...with a story so charming I was hooked from beginning to the end credits. I agree with other reviewers that some of the themes might be too grown-up for very young and/or sensitive children...hence, the PG rating. (For the record, I think it's unfair to hold it against the film-makers if your very young child was upset...those ratings are given for a reason. It's up to parents to pay attention to the rating and use their common sense.) There's plenty of fun and adventure here for both children and adults. The most fun I've had watching a movie in a long, long time!

What a great deal! If they started packaging all Blu-Ray movies like this I'll buy more. I've been renting, not buying because I don't want to buy a movie I can only play in my living room. If my kids want to take a movie to Grandma's house or watch it in our back room or on our computer they can't if it's Blu-Ray. With this great set that contains all three (Blu-Ray, DVD, and Digital copy all for one $19.99) they've solved all my problems. I actually came home and re-checked what I paid on Amazon because they are selling this in town for $35 and more! The movie itself is another wonderful hit from Pixar. There really is something for everyone. The beginning is very touching and I found myself putting myself in his place as he and his wife went through their troubles. My kids went to the movies to see this and loved it. Like I said, a great movie and a great deal!