Greetings fellow Network of Love Lovers!
On Sunday night, I decided to use a Marcus Cinema Gift Card that I received several years ago as a Christmas. Finally I used the card–––and it was well worth the wait.
I saw Pixar’s newest movie UP, and was incredibly impressed with the entire production. As is generally the case with Pixar movies, the animation is quite a sight. However, it was the story that I will most remember–––in particular the relationship between Carl and Ellie Frederickson. Without giving too much away, Carl and Ellie are two childhood friends who end up marrying each other early on in the film. Carl is more reserved and quiet while Ellie is an absolute go-getter and talkative person. They really seem to compliment each other.
Early on in the film, there is a four-minute montage where Carl and Ellie gracefully grow old together and experience some challenging moments with one another–––including a painful miscarriage. In the end, Ellie and Carl just have each other. And again, not to give too much away, but the audience finds out in the first fifteen minutes of the film that Ellie passes away before Carl, leaving Carl alone without his soul mate.
The movie is as much about Carl’s resurrection via comprehending and coping with the loss of a truly dear friend. An especially touching part of the movie is a scene where Carl relives the life Ellie and him had together through paging through Ellie’s “Adventure Book.” We find out just how much of an adventure living with Carl really was for Ellie. Ellie seems to come to the realization that it is in some of lives most seemingly idle or basic, simple moments that the Spirit of Adventure most radiates. Looking at her relationship with Carl as an “adventure” seems to make it fresh, life-giving and Spirit-sharing. It is only through incredible struggles and feelings of tremendous isolation that Carl realizes he can continue without Ellie. It is her memory that ultimately provides him the strength and courage to continue on a new adventure, a new journey.
Carl goes through the grieving process: he moves from life with Ellie, to her death, to a kind of in-this-life resurrection both of his own Spirit and the Spirit of Adventure that Ellie had helped him foster and develop.
The movie, among many other things, shows us that a seed planted within us by someone who we especially admire and care for can still grow even when that person leaves us. And that is something that can provide each and every one of us with much hope when facing some of life’s greatest obstacles.
I suggest you go and see the movie if you have the time and money. It is a small investment that is well worth it in my opinion.
Feel free to post any comments you might have after having seen the movie.
Peace and blessings~
With love,
Your friend bob : )
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1 comment:
Another excellent Pixar production, just like Ratatouille and Wall-E before it.
Your point about Carl's "resurrection" resonates with me particularly deeply. I also found that theme particularly powerful and poignant, though I didn't quite catch the theology behind it that you did.
There's a line from Russell (the "fat kid"/boy scout character) that really catches your point about "simplicity," too. He's talking to Carl about his dad and mentions that even though he never really does anything "exciting" with him, it's the most "boring" moments that he remembers the most!
I second your recommendation, Bob. A word of caution to potential moviegoers, though: you might want to bring a hanky. There were multiple parts of the movie where I was in tears! It's that good!
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