tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005242.post3694273130174726962..comments2024-02-27T02:14:14.789-06:00Comments on Keith Lango Animation: my review of Pixar's "Up"Keith Langohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12496328772372705317noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005242.post-5861489232790430822009-11-16T23:56:51.178-06:002009-11-16T23:56:51.178-06:00Thank you for your candid review of Up! I wondered...Thank you for your candid review of Up! I wondered if I had seen the same movie as the media. I felt the movie was not up to Pixar's normal clever storyline standards. Somewhere along the way, they lost sight of the story and it felt like they were just showing off new effects. I love dogs, but didn't feel like the dogs' voices were believable. For me, this movie was a letdown. The first Pixar movie I didn't want to see twice! My boyfriend, who is an animator, also thought it bombed. Better luck on the next one, Pixar! Pay more attention to the characters and the writing next time.Hedda Cheddanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005242.post-3412100296672091152009-07-31T03:09:23.050-05:002009-07-31T03:09:23.050-05:00LOL, fair enough :) I just assumed you wouldn'...LOL, fair enough :) I just assumed you wouldn't miss MVA after Kung Fu Panda, I know that was the only reason I saw it, and it turned out to be a huge dissapointment...<br /><br />Have a good one! :DUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13767045589908308307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005242.post-61687537559704518682009-07-30T15:56:58.065-05:002009-07-30T15:56:58.065-05:00@jevi: I suppose the fact that I did review it mea...@jevi: I suppose the fact that I did review it means something. The reason I haven't reviewed MVA, Mad2, IA3 or any of those is because I haven't seen them yet. And I do agree- that says something, too. ;)Keith Langohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12496328772372705317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005242.post-18965555706235471442009-07-30T15:44:24.749-05:002009-07-30T15:44:24.749-05:00Finally I got to see Up, a full two months since t...Finally I got to see Up, a full two months since the US release, and I must say I really enjoyed it, although I wasn't that moved by the all-important first montage I did connect with the characters enough for me to enjoy it.<br /><br />You mention not really remembering the film two days after seeing it, however you did remember the film enough to write a lengthy review. I think the mere fact you reviewed it means you did like it to an extent, I haven't read any reviews for Monsters vs. Aliens from you, that must mean something.<br /><br />Finally, I am astounded by some comments here suggesting they actually saw animation errors that animators and supervising animators at Pixar didn't see. That is one bold statement. (Really? ... I mean, really?!)<br /><br />Take care Keith! :)Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13767045589908308307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005242.post-34033467100765019492009-07-20T20:39:38.269-05:002009-07-20T20:39:38.269-05:00I loved the film. And I'm not a sucker for emo...I loved the film. And I'm not a sucker for emotional films. The initial montage didn't "move" me a lot and I'd even agree it's "superficial"-as a description of a life it's- but it still talks about life and death, that's a very serious thing to talk about in an animated movie. I just think this is the set-up for the rest of the story. This gives Carl a motivation. Perhaps the movie is a little too manipulative on this part (there are way too many moments with Carl remembering things about Ellie) but I do like how he somewhat finds that he has to live his life at a certain moment. That's a less sappy message. <br /><br />Still, for the most part I think this is a mixture of comedy and adventure, not a drama, and I think the interactions between Carl, Russell, Dug and Kevin were really funny. This movie is full of character based gags and in that respect is better than , let's say, Ratatouille. Maybe you think Carl is not a strong character but I believe Remy is a lot more generic than Carl. In fact Up has pretty specific characters. Russell is fat yet hiperactive, a boy scout that's kind of clumsy, he has an american name but he's of asian origins, he's determined but not always very smart.<br /><br />The action/adventure scenes were highly enjoyable too and the fantasy elements were very original. So here it's an adventure/fantasy movie that has original characters, beautiful visuals, good action scenes and funny gags. Even if the dramatic moments didn't move you, what's not to like?<br /><br />And nope, I don't think Carl being agile is such a big deal either. Scrooge McDuck is usually seen with a cane too, yet he's normally very agile when it comes to adventure. Carl is not fragile, he's just depressed. In the first scenes he moves slowly but he's still very determined to keep his house and nobody has been capable to change his mind. He is strong since the very beginning of the film. Imagining this in live action is not a good excuse either, personally I think a cartoon should benefit of this kind of licenses. That's what I like the most about this movie personally. Unlike other Pixar movies it looked a little more like a funny cartoon or comic strip. It had dramatic elements but the characters were cartoons at hearth, and that, for me,makes them funnier.Roberto Gonzálezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14128563044943521795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005242.post-28588001864753416412009-07-13T00:41:45.922-05:002009-07-13T00:41:45.922-05:00Lango for years you have been a genius. Now your ...Lango for years you have been a genius. Now your age may have made you dumb.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005242.post-495239070569954782009-06-20T18:39:17.304-05:002009-06-20T18:39:17.304-05:00Mr. Lango, I agree with you and could add a lot mo...Mr. Lango, I agree with you and could add a lot more. The film lost me about ten minutes in.<br />Technically it was superb, of course, but animated film has to bring you into its world and keep you believing in it. This film simply did not do it for me.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03559138404570089435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005242.post-1788965439475168492009-06-17T22:55:24.654-05:002009-06-17T22:55:24.654-05:00Keith my man, aside from your thoughts on the open...Keith my man, aside from your thoughts on the opening montage, I completely agree with your review. I was just pretty much "meh" all the way through.<br /><br />My review: 'B' http://reviewloft.com/reviews/1107Ross Moshellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09599204540727852715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005242.post-43628850215656406272009-06-15T12:17:29.650-05:002009-06-15T12:17:29.650-05:00I felt the same exact way about the opening sequen...I felt the same exact way about the opening sequence, I just couldn't put my finger exactly why I felt that way until I read what you wrote. I thought of it as not wanting to be force fed how to feel about a character. I want to like and pull for a character based their actions and emotions throughout the movie- not just being told at the beginning- "Here's the hero, you like him and here's why"<br /><br />Well putHarryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02232563179707019634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005242.post-89536586961087220582009-06-09T15:56:06.609-05:002009-06-09T15:56:06.609-05:00I do tend to agree and disagree with a few points....I do tend to agree and disagree with a few points. I 100% agree with carl becoming a 70-something year old super hero, impervious to physical disability, for the most part. That area could have been better. Why does Russell get tired and he doesn't? By all accounts it should have been the other way around.<br /><br />In any case, I still thoroughly enjoyed it. And yes, Dug was awesome.<br /><br />"Squirrel!"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005242.post-48141378285667741972009-06-08T16:51:52.963-05:002009-06-08T16:51:52.963-05:00I am endlessly grateful that my fellow classmate p...I am endlessly grateful that my fellow classmate pointed out your review to me because for the last week I've been saying the exact same things (although perhaps not with as much clarity). I'm in a 3D program at Vanarts, and all I've been hearing from my classmates is how wonderful and spectacular they found the story and characters and how moving they found it. I went to go see the film the opening day before the rest of them so I didn't have their word of how wonderful the film is before I went to go see it and had what I feel is an untainted perception of the story, that is uninfluenced by my friends going on and on about how great it is. Leaving the theater I felt that yes, the film was good, but it was ONLY good. I was all prepared to discuss with my fellow classmates why it wasn't as emotionally touching as previous Pixar films once they went to go see it too. I admit I was highly surprised when they went to go see it and returned with nothing but praise for the emotional weight of the film, up to the point where I was beginning to wonder if we'd watched separate movies or something. I was even more surprised that I could not find a single person who shared my thoughts that although good, the film just was not very strong. Every-one online as well as in person seemed to only speak of it with misty eyes recalling how moving they found the montage and the great love Carl had for his wife. Personally, and this is going to make me sound extremely snarky, but I found my mind wandering during the montage.<br /><br />I personally haven't heard any-one compare it to a Miyazaki and I must say I'm glad because the first thing I said top a friend upon leaving the theater was "I don't think Up accomplished the feeling of air that 'Laputa: Castle in the Sky' did. Miyazaki has a much better grasp on that feeling of empty space between you and the ground." I am irked when people seem to say the exact opposite nearly word for word to something I don't think to be true. But that's just me.<br /><br />I enjoyed Dug (Although, I thought it was 'Doug' but I guess I'm wrong) very much myself, I also found Kevin's character great, simply because I completely bought the whole 'bird' thing she had about her. I also found her almost dinosaur like threatening behaviour towards Carl when she first appears to be wonderful. However I agree with your thoughts on mortality, age and injury. saying anything more would just be repeating what you've already said.<br /><br />I want to sincerely thank you for putting down your thoughts because I was starting to feel as if I was in an episode of The Twilight Zone or something, up to the point where my frustrations were starting to make me resent the film as I really just wanted to stand up and shout "Look people! It's good but I'm sorry, it's just not that great!"<br /><br />I feel also I should mention that my grandmother died last October and my widowed grandfather has and still is going through a cripplingly hard grieving process, and yet Up STILL didn't stir anything in me. THAT is a major failure on the films part that me, whose recently experienced a death in the family first hand could not feel an emotional connection to it.<br /><br />I thought perhaps it was merely a culture thing as I'm not from North America. I'm glad to find I'm not alone.Liezlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005242.post-3217243342055704852009-06-08T12:54:57.635-05:002009-06-08T12:54:57.635-05:00Ok, I feel the unfortunate need to respond, not to...Ok, I feel the unfortunate need to respond, not to the original posting or any one, specific comment, but to an attitude that I've been noticing.<br /><br />Critics of "Up", particularly amateur critics in the comments of blogs, keep saying "this movie was not very good because it didn't move me," or "it just didn't get to me," or "I just couldn't connect with it." Tylerbot goes so far as to say that it's only mediocre because he "Had a hard time relating to and feeling for the characters as well as getting too tangled up with the discontinuity, rules, and boundaries of the 'world'."<br /><br />Look, I appreciate good criticism. Mr. Lango's original post was thoughtful and even kind of brave. He addressed specific problems he had with the movie, covering the spectrum from emotional content to technical execution.<br /><br />What bugs me is when people assume their own inability to connect with the movie is automatically a failure on the part of the movie and not on the part of the viewer. The implied chain of judgment goes "I couldn't relate to the movie THEREFORE the movie is unrelatable THEREFORE it's not very good."<br /><br />I propose that if you start from the outside and work in, a more honest assessment might be "Lots of people related to this movie BUT I didn't THEREFORE the movie was not designed for my specific emotional needs."<br /><br />"I didn't enjoy it" is not the same as "it wasn't very good."Wonkey the Monkeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14552774585545269246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005242.post-85512933418044734612009-06-08T12:24:08.876-05:002009-06-08T12:24:08.876-05:00I know this is an old post but just need to add an...I know this is an old post but just need to add another hater to the list.<br /><br />Up wasn't the worst 'Xar movie but it was by no means better than mediocre. <br /><br />Had a hard time relating to and feeling for the characters as well as getting too tangled up with the discontinuity, rules, and boundaries of the 'world'.<br /><br />One thing I do give props to the movie for is pushing the creativity envelope with design and believability ( with certain aspects). They did not play it "Hollywood safe" with this movie by making the hero a senior citizen who kids may have a hard time relating to. I applaud them for that, but making dogs fly planes and cook gourmet dinner? No.Tyler Heckmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185323419287009151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005242.post-4413095458031284542009-06-05T16:01:40.147-05:002009-06-05T16:01:40.147-05:00Keith, you should never expect to be flamed for a ...Keith, you should never expect to be flamed for a review like this: thoughtful, comprehensive, and always making clear where and why you're arguing from. I can't believe that even people who worked on it themselves would be angry with you for it, only disappointed. I mean, <i>I'd</i> be hurt, assuming that I loved the finished product I'd worked on, to read your reservations and criticisms, but anyone who is invested in their work is going to feel that way as they're only human and they gave it their all, hoping it would work.<br /><br />I haven't seen it yet. Perhaps I have expectations that are too high, perhaps you did--but I doubt it for me. I have in some ways pretty simple criteria for going along with a film: I don't want to be bored/want to be surprised, and I want sincerity and fun. "Fun" can be tragedy, by the way--King Lear or Hamlet or Dark Victory can be fun, crying can be fun. If you know what I mean.<br /><br />So I'll see. I always bring all my own personal experience right into the theater seat with my milk duds, so I really have no idea how I'll react, but it won't decree whether the film is "brilliant", good or not so good--it'll just be <i>my</i> take. <br /><br /> I'm especially curious about the opening with Ellie. I've lost my life partner recently after two decades. We had no kids and plenty of regrets along with lots of joy, and we were total opposites. So, I could cry buckets, or because of my own experience I may find that for me my real life reality trumps animated reality and renders it ineffectual. There's no way to know until I'm sitting there; it's all so subjective. <br />But I'm sure that the emotion presented is done with sincerity, not cynical calculation. Not that you suggested that--I'm just positive that the people involved <i>really</i> put their feelings into it. And I'm such a sucker for dogs!<br /><br />Again, though-nice piece of writing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005242.post-25472401160849880052009-06-03T13:31:46.730-05:002009-06-03T13:31:46.730-05:00I felt like Ellie stole the show, I bought into th...I felt like Ellie stole the show, I bought into the first act, even though it was quick and without conflict, probably because I just like love stories and don't need them to be bumpy (or accepted that it was a montage so why show the bumps) <br /><br />But once Carl was alone, eh, what do I care. For me the true emotions was the love they had as a couple. All the interactions between Carl and Russel and Munz and Dug, were all superficial little fleeting emotions that don't connect or matter much to me. <br /><br />It did bug me how strong Carl got at the end, becoming Indiana Jones and zip lining with his walker. But for more then half the movie I could roll with him with his walker. <br /><br />And yeah, kind of formulaic. I tried to avoid seeing any of the movie before hand, but the few commercials I did see gave me enough info to lay out the movie right away. <br /><br />Eh I liked it, but I think I liked Monster's Inc more.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005242.post-87729466672918420822009-06-03T10:42:02.173-05:002009-06-03T10:42:02.173-05:00I find that I'm less forgiving to Pixar becaus...I find that I'm less forgiving to Pixar because of its formulas, its status as a leader, its cultish following (you can't pretend it isn't, especially in this day and age), and frankly because I don't find CGI appealing at all.<br /><br />They are silly, relatively empty, and modestly decent movies, just like some of the Disney features of the Golden Age. That does not mean they aren't fun or entertaining, because they are. But I think that's what's causing the cheerleading, because they're making, just that, modestly decent movies, in an era of filth. I mean, could anyone sit through the trailers before "Up" without squirming?<br /><br />But I liked THE INCREDIBLES.<br /><br />Thanks for the commentary, Keith.Thadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04443425643665474645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005242.post-18324814816511286732009-06-03T10:40:51.582-05:002009-06-03T10:40:51.582-05:00Hi Keith-
Thank you so much for your post! I fel...Hi Keith-<br /><br />Thank you so much for your post! I felt like I was the only one (who didn't like UP). There should be an UP Un-enthusiasts Anonymous (U.U.A.) club, or something. We need therapy (kidding there, of course).<br /><br />Your review was the best one of seen yet that tackles the question of "Why didn't I enjoy it?" You did a better job explaining than I did. If you want to see what I wrote anyways though, check it:<br />tomboycomics.blogspot.com<br /><br />Only one professional critic gave UP a negative review. Somehow I find that unsettling...Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05466334734072116936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005242.post-52880269920278286662009-06-03T10:16:43.068-05:002009-06-03T10:16:43.068-05:00It's funny actually, my coworkers and I have r...It's funny actually, my coworkers and I have recently discussed all our favorite and least favorite Pixar flicks. We really surprised ourselves, in that we all had strong likes and dislikes, hits and misses that varied all across the spectrum. One guy didn't like WallE, much to our surprise. I personally never dug Finding Nemo, much to the chagrin of many my coworkers. The characters and their conflicts just didn't impress me. That being said, I think we all have those stories that do and don't connect with us. <br /><br />Heh, you truly can't please all people all the time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005242.post-62037853506346707462009-06-03T09:20:11.031-05:002009-06-03T09:20:11.031-05:00Still haven't seen it, however I did get a cha...Still haven't seen it, however I did get a chance to see the montage from the beginning.<br /><br /> Gotta say that I liked it. It didn't move me to the point of tears, but I think that it served it's purpose. But I just wanted to throw something out there to see if it sticks. <br /><br />You made a point about the argument in "The Incredibles". You said that it sold their believability. It seems that a seen like that would be neccesary to convince you of their humanity because they are "super" beings. As super beings they are unrelatable to us mere mortals. Make them argue, fuss and fight like a real family and they come down to our level. <br /><br />Where as Carl and Ellie are human, we relate to them because we are flesh and blood and nothing more...same as them (figuratively speaking). To make them more heroic, they have to overcome their conflict in a "more than human way".<br /><br />or to put it another way....<br /><br />I remember how perfect my grandparents were, how perfect their marriage was because it lasted for 50 years. <br /><br />I remember how heroic they are in my memories. I also remember how disappointed I was when I realized how many mistakes they made and how unperfect it was at times. <br /><br />Sure I can relate to them now because they're human and make mistakes, but I lost a certain amount of "amazement" in the process.<br /><br />As for Carl and Ellie, sure you need to address the "kids" issue, show some conflict in their lives. But perhaps the meaning of the montage was simply to show how much they loved each other, regardless of the hand they were dealt, tap into that "my grandparents always loved each other no matter what and they're perfect" kinda feeling in the audience. <br /><br />Maybe they weren't trying to show the humanity or realness of their relationship...but the legacy of their relationship. The things Carl would want to remember.<br /><br />I don't know....like i said I haven't seen it all, just the montage, so I could be so far off base it's not even funny.Andrew Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01592744327400447316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005242.post-28309375657548542042009-06-02T22:23:01.663-05:002009-06-02T22:23:01.663-05:00Keith I have to agree with you on many points. I l...Keith I have to agree with you on many points. I liked the film, it was entertaining, it was beautiful to look at but I don't know if I would rank it as one of my Pixar favorites.<br /><br />For me there was just so much to buy into and except without question in order to enjoy the story. The movie teetered back and forth between semi-real characters and pure animation world craziness I had a hard time knowing what the rules of the world were.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005242.post-79508503095481748972009-06-02T20:38:22.639-05:002009-06-02T20:38:22.639-05:00I still read this article all the way 'till th...I still read this article all the way 'till the end (and it didn't [I hope] spoil anything in behalf of the movie). I haven't watched the film yet, and am really eager to now. But only if I see what Pixar has been up to on this film and like what rumour has spread that there's something new on this, I might just sit back and "be" in it.<br /><br />"But there's a difference between a revitalized old man and a strong young man." -HmmmMm, yeah. Physically speaking, you're right, Keith. There's indeed a difference between an aged man (with aged cells and bone structure, etc.) to that of an excited man (with fresh cells still).<br /><br />I still have to watch it to see how it affects my kind mind somehow. ^_^<br /><br />Thanks for the review (actually, I'm hands down).<br /><br />-ReynAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05105678929254868408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005242.post-69878813278036561742009-06-02T12:51:29.085-05:002009-06-02T12:51:29.085-05:00"The deepest pain and the greatest joy in life com..."The deepest pain and the greatest joy in life come from those we love the most"<br /> <br />beautiful man<br />I'm a softy too, heh, and I get choked up EVERYTIME I see Violet, from Incredibles, talking to her mom in the cave. And I agree with you about the comment about the argument in Incredibles. There was a great build up of characters and story before that went down. You can feel the tension in their lives...most of us have been there to some extent.<br />Trying to write for short film format, I've learned how difficult it is to get all the puzzle pieces together. That's why I don't mind reading this before seeing the movie. It doesn't spoil anything for me, since I'm at at a point where I'm trying to learn to write stories.<br />I'm sure you'll get slammed on this one, but I found a lot of points to be poignant and educational. I've read Stanislowski's book and really tried grasping the notion of being within a character. Your APT has really helped me to translate what I feel into my animations. I still look forward, maybe even moreso now, to seeing Up (at Imax). And I will really try to find those points you mentioned. Who knows, I might be sold by the montage.Mike Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11736075274522173522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005242.post-13956436148592136562009-06-02T11:07:39.651-05:002009-06-02T11:07:39.651-05:00This cranky old man saw the film on story reels ab...This cranky old man saw the film on story reels about a year ago. It's good to view films that way because you truly know if they work -- or if they don't.<br /><br />I was happy to tell Pete and Jonas, "your film works," and this past weekend the audience agreed.<br /><br />Of course, no film clicks with everybody. But, because it's so damn hard to make these things I truly respect those who even come close. I enjoyed my years at Pixar. These guys aren't perfect -- but they're damn close.Floyd Normanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08635960964922892254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005242.post-6455214435829346342009-06-02T08:50:46.699-05:002009-06-02T08:50:46.699-05:00Greatest Up review ever. I agreed with every singl...Greatest Up review ever. I agreed with every single point made here. =)Kaseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14658697975083699628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005242.post-64526726178800137032009-06-02T08:04:03.993-05:002009-06-02T08:04:03.993-05:00I have this interesting problem of wanting, almost...I have this interesting problem of wanting, almost desperately, to be drawn wholly into a film. When the "bumps" start happening, I'm back in a theater watching a film. <br />I didn't like the art style of UP but I didn't allow that to stop me from going into the film. I stayed throughout the first 10-15 mins. (without crying), but then I was out of it. <br />The absurd and illogical court decision, on to one old guy inflating all those balloons overnight, to talking dogs (if they could cook, serve dinner, and fly airplanes why not just have them talk?) It was all too much, and I still rode with the film 1/4 enjoying 3/4 watching. <br />In the end the film just didn't add up, and I hadn't bought into the fake emotions. <br />You were right on all your points, and you weren't alone or your site and mine would be bulging with hate comments. Others obviously are agreeing - at least reluctantly.Michael Spornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02018522723674960270noreply@blogger.com