Movies and Theology: Up

Most of you know the story: Carl and Ellie dreamed of going to Paradise Lost in South America. They wanted a house at the top of the waterfall. But life doesn't always happen as we expect or hope. Decades later, after Ellie's death, Carl vows to fulfill the promise he made her as kids: He's taking their house to Paradise Lost.

But a stowaway Wilderness Scout brings Carl an unexpected adventure.

This movie with its simple story is one of the best I've seen since WALL-E. Of course it is. It's Pixar. If Pixar took over the world, it might be a better place. With Pixar, we can expect greatness.

I didn't expect, though, to cry so early on in the film. Oh, I expected to cry. I bawled in WALL-E. Pixar has mastered emotional attachment to cartoon characters.

The colors and attention to detail make this movie visually beautiful. Chris and I saw the 3D version, which I recommend. We don't often go to the movies anymore, and to shell out the extra $3 per ticket we had to take the hammer to the piggy bank, but it was worth it. Plus, Chris took home his 3D glasses, so he now has an extra coolness factor for that $3. Let me tell you, he looks sexy in those glasses.

Several of the themes in the movie echoed a theology we as Christians can affirm. 

1. Embrace the adventure, even if it means giving up your dreams. We see this theme in Ellie's life. Life keeps them from their dream, but she never grows bitter. She dances every moment of her life and sees every opportunity as part of the adventure. We also see this in Carl's journey. He has a choice to make: fulfill his dream and vow to Ellie to get their house to Paradise Lost or to embrace the new adventure to help a hunted exotic bird.
   We grow up with ideals of the American Dream, which usually means something bigger and better. Having and working toward goals is good, but how often do we use it as an excuse to neglect those who need us? And how often does the elusive American Dream keep us from enjoying what we have now (a virtue known as contentment). Interestingly enough, Chris and I have some choices to make now that reflect that, although not as drastically as Carl's choices. We have a dream in life we've been working toward. Do we continue pursuing it? Or do we take the new opportunities on the journey?
2. We need the elderly. Yes, they need us, but even more, we need them. We need them involved in our lives and in the lives of our children.
   Side note: I don't talk politics often on my blog, but I'd like to note that I find the timing of this message interesting with the new healthcare "reform." This "reform" will most likely affect the elderly first and most. In Europe, which uses the healthcare we're working toward, often, the powers that be deny the elderly because when "prioritizing," it's more important to get care to the younger and stronger.
   This is a sanctity of life issue. The elderly are no less valuable than you or I.
   Okay, enough of that soap box.
3. I had a third point, but after that last speech, I've forgotten it. Oops.

Pixar has once again made a great film that combines good storytelling, beautiful animation that takes Bugs Bunny to a whole new artform, entertainment, and themes that make us think.

Psst--If you find this post interesting and think others might as well, would you mind taking a minute to stumble it? It would mean a lot to me.