Pixar review!

edgehopper listed his favorite Pixar movies the other day, and it put me in a mind to do the same. Then I realized I hadn't said a word about Up. So I'll do both.

First, the list. These are my favorites, not some nebulous idea of "best" films:
1. Wall-E
1. Finding Nemo
1. The Incredibles
4. Toy Story
5. Monsters, Inc.
6. Toy Story 2
6. Ratatouille
6. A Bug's Life
6. Up
10. Cars

( That's not usually how these lists go, is it? )

And then there's Up. I should say first that I didn't dislike it. In fact, it follows really nicely in the maturity fable begun with Finding Nemo and continued in The Incredibles. Someone (forgive me, I forget who) pointed out that it's a story about the grieving process--that everything that happens is supposed to work towards the catharsis for the main character. That's an accurate and insightful reading. (Wish I'd thought of it.) Part of growing up is being able to let go--being able to recognize that everything fades and that clinging on all the harder will not change this fact.

So I liked Up. But it was so hard to watch. I don't know if I could sit through it twice without a lot of help. I was moved by it, but it was really damned hard to enjoy it with the same abandon as I did most of the other Pixar movies. I definitely appreciate it and think that Up was brilliant. But it was tough. That's good. We live in the era of the empty-headed franchise film, and here is this little animated movie that dares to force the audience to examine themselves, their priorities, their little hypocrises, their fears, and so much more.

I still don't think I could watch it again without just crying through the whole thing. So it goes in the middling area of my favorites. For all that recognize its profundity, yeah, I think I need to nurse my affection for it slowly.

Oh come ON Albany!

Maybe someone I know could explain this latest idiocy to me?