Pixar has had such a long string of successes, in fact an unprecedented string of successes, that whenever a new film comes out from them I get a little worried. I worry that this time the movie is going to be flop. After all, the law of averages dictates that sooner or later Pixar is going to do something wrong, sooner or later they're going to make a movie that people won't like. I know that seems far-fetched, but it has to happen some time (and no, I don't think Cars counts). So now their new movie Up is out, and I couldn't help but worry that maybe this time Pixar came up with an idea that wouldn't work: an old guy in a flying house. Much to my relief and astonishment, however, Pixar has once again crafted a brilliant, funny, moving story full of engaging characters; in short, they've hit yet another home run and their record of success is sure to stay intact.

The most surprising thing about Up for me was just how adult it was. That's not to say that kids won't like, because they will (I saw it in a theater full of kids and they seemed to love it). However, Pixar once again defines what a CG animated film can accomplish by filling Up with very mature, and dare I even say dark, themes. This is a movie that examines our struggles with loss: the loss of a loved one, the loss caused by death, the loss of a dream, the loss of purpose. The first twenty minutes or so of the movie is a brilliant montage lacking any dialogue but packed with heartfelt emotion. It sets the darker undertones for the film and immediately sucked me into the life of one Carl Fredricksen.

Part of what makes Up work so well on a emotional level is Pixar's amazing use of CG animation. More than any CG film I've seen, Pixar has imbued life into these characters. The range of emotion that's subtly displayed on the characters' faces is truly astounding. It's why the opening montage is so powerful even without any dialogue: you recognize the emotions on the characters faces because you've seen them on the faces of the people around you, and on your own. More than any of the razzle-dazzle effects of Up, this is the technological achievement that I noticed most. Despite the fact that the characters are very much cartoon caricatures, the emotions displayed on their faces even with slightest movement is so very real that you can't help but connect with what they're feeling.

Now, I don't want to give the impression that this film is some emotional downer; nothing could be further from the truth. Up is a fun, engaging, and truly funny film. While Pixar's competitors are content to go for the lowest common denominator when it comes to humor, Pixar sets the standard for smart comedy that can appeal to young and old. Up features classic cartoon gags taken straight from Looney Tunes and smart inside jokes that rival those seen on Futurama. Up is also filled with plenty of exciting moments as well. As the movie itself states, "Adventure is out there (thumbs up)!"

Speaking of adventure being out there, more than anything, Up is really about living life. It encourages us to get out and live life well, and to not let precious moments slip away from us unnoticed, to not let any pages of our lives go unfilled. It's far too easy to let life slip away only to look back a life filled of what-ifs and if-onlys, a life filled with unfulfilled events and moments that were not seized. I know all too well how busy life can be, and how the immediate things often choke out the important things, or how the unexpected things can delay the truly precious things. However, we don't need to let our lives get swept away by the immediate and mundane. If we choose, we can seize the precious and important moments and truly savor the life we've been blessed with.

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