Well, the
Lamp has done it again...
Now, this really won't be a review of "
Up" though I will share my thoughts and feelings about it. I want to address the success of
Pixar in general and use Up as representation of that success since it's the latest example of what comes out of
Emeryville.
As for
Pete Doctor's new film, I can only say that it's another phenomenal achievement for
John Lasseter and his crew. Pete Docter as one of the original Pixar animators goes for the outfield with his second at bat and he hits the sweet spot on the leather. Ok, for those of you that don't understand baseball metaphors let's just say I liked it. I liked it a lot. More than his first film, "
Monsters Inc." even. As with all films produced under the Pixar banner, it's a film filled with great, approachable characters that you feel for in situations that make you wonder how they did it. These guys seem to take the strangest ideas that anyone else would turn into a flaming ball of mediocrity and create a jewel of entertainment. In fact, if
George Lucas was going to make an adventure featuring an old explorer going to South America for adventure like he attempted to do with "
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," then this is what it should have been. There was more heart in this than that soulless, by the numbers stab at bringing back the magic of my favorite film character. Up is a film that shows us what you can do when you focus on story first.
But then again, that's what every Pixar film does. That is why they've been so successful over the last fourteen years. Ten films in that period and each of them a box office and critical success. Some more than others, but each and every one of them better than almost everything else out there, animated or live-action. I don't know of another studio with such a long, winning streak. Granted, they don't produce four or five or more films a year. They only make one a year (with 2011 being the exception that we get two), but each one has been a hit and many people are wondering what will be the first one to fail? When will we get a box office bomb from them? Or at the least, a disappointment. Well, I don't think 2010 with "
Toy Story 3" will be it. And 2011 with the "
Cars 2" sequel and the ever growing fan base of young boys it gathers will be it either. Maybe it'll be the Christmas release of "
The Bear and the Bow" which will take the traditional Disney animated spot? Or 2012 with
Gary Rydstrom's "
Newt" film? Of those two I can't say, but if "
Monsters Inc. 2" makes it in 2012, which is still tentative, I can guarantee that won't be that one.
Pixar is on a roll. Rolls end, but for now it's one great winning streak that you have to applaud. Succeeding in Hollywood is extremely difficult, succeeding as well as they have is almost next to impossible. Many are hoping that that magical pixie dust rubs off on its owner.
Walt Disney Animation Studios took a step in the right direction last year with "
Bolt" as Lasseter's first fully influenced film under his management. This year with "
The Princess and the Frog" it moves out front and center to see if he's going to be able to not only continue, but expand his winning streak. And then "
Rapunzel" next year and 2012's "
King of the Elves" sweetens the gamble even more. It could impossible, but having ten films in a row like this could've been said to be impossible as well. At least before Pixar came around.
Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to go plan for an adventure I've been putting off for quite some time...
