where: AMC BAY STREET 16 in Emeryville (1.1 miles away from Pixar Studios)
when: Wednesday (free popcorn day w/ movie card), June 17th, 2009
show: 10:30 pm
auditorium: 13
seat: 3rd row, 8th column
This animated movie from Pixar Studios is about getting a second chance after lost hope, lost love and unfulfilled dreams. It starts with the vicarious adventures of a boy, Carl Fredericksen, (someone that we can all relate to) and a friendship with a girl, Ellie, which leads to a one-and-only Love. The 5-minute (approximate) "silent movie" bitter-sweet vignette from their wedding and on to Ellie's death is conveyed with such emotive poignancy that I could not help but shed a tear over Carl's personal loss. But this is a necessary introduction into the transition from mild-mannered Carl to super-grump Fredericksen which eventually leads to his unlikely pairing with an ebullient and eager-to-please chubby Russell, a Wilderness Explorer Scout.
When a confrontation with a construction crew member ends with cantankerous Carl striking the hapless victim in the head, the court orders Carl be sent to a retirement home. But not one to part with a home that is a treasure trove of sentimental value, Carl devices an ingenious plan to save his home from demolition by attaching thousands of helium balloons to it and floating it off to Paradise Falls somewhere in South America. Unbeknown to him, Russell inadvertently becomes his passenger on this one-way maiden , and only, journey to a faraway place.
In the midst of a strange land replete with new sights, sounds, and strange creatures, Carl slowly bonds with Russell and becomes a surrogate father (shouldn't this be GRANDfather?). It is in this strange land that Carl meets with his boyhood hero, Charles Muntz and his quadriped army of "talking dogs."
Unfortunately, Charles has now devolved into a deranged hunter obssessed with a need for vindicating himself before the world, in general, and before the scientific community, in particular. His obssession centers around a very elusive giant flightless bird that he has been relentlessly tracking down with the aid of his dogs for many decades in his self-imposed exile. Wanting to take SOLE credit for a discovery which is rightfully his, Charles snatches the bird away from little Russell, who found it and has taken it in as a pet named Kevin. An "old men" tug-of-war ensues.
This movie is another WINNER from the folks at Pixar Studios--kudo to them for a job excellently done!
prediction: This is the hands-down favorite to win an Oscar award for Best Animation Film.
noteworthy scenes: 1.) Construction site boss talking on a cellphone; and 2.) STAR WARS emblazed on a local theatre's marquee. Because of these two, I cannot pinpoint the approximate year in which this movie is set.
audience reaction: Very positive; a "hands-clapper" ending.
recommendation: A very definitive Must-See!
spoiler alert! In real life, the scientists would not have erred so badly in their findings, and the house would never be floated away for thousands of miles INTACT (kids, don't try this at home with your home)! And let's not even get into the whole "sovereign air space" issue. But this is animation intended for children, so I'm willing to suspend my disbelief.
fyi: This is actually the third time that I've seen this movie. Originally, I planned on seeing this movie at the Piedmont Theatre on Piedmont Avenue in Oakland, CA. Why? Because I heard on the radio that Fenton's Creamery & Restaurant is in the movie. This 114 year-old establishment is an historic landmark located just two blocks (I think) away from Piedmont Theatre and is a very popular--and busy--local hang-out (great ice cream and generous portions, too; so, to Hell with lactose-intolerance!). It should be added as a must-go-to place on any tourist's list of places to go. Disappointingly for me though, UP is not showing at this theatre.
So I went to AMC BAY STREET 16 in Emeryville because this is the ONLY place in the Whole Wide World to see a Pixar movie. Unfortunately for me, the vast multitude of animation fans express the same sentiment as I do since all the shows were SOLD OUT!
I ended up seeing it for the first time at EDWARDS FAIRFIELD STADIUM 16 in 2D. Over a week later, I saw it for the second time in 3D here at CENTURY 14 VALLEJO with some damn noisy Hispanics seated in the row behind mine--I usually avoid coming here to the Vallejo cineplex on opening week because it caters to a noisy and rude crowd (why do you think their security guards carry guns for?).
word of advice: If you live in the Vallejo, CA area, don't see a popular/block-buster movie at the local cineplex during its first two weeks of shows because the lines get very long and slow and because of the stated reason in the previous paragraph. Otherwise, proceed at your own risk.
tidbits: The court summons card that Carl holds in his hand as he waits for his appointment with the judge is stamped: "E94608" for Emeryville, CA 94608, the city and zip code of Pixar Studios.
Another of Oakland, California's, historic landmark is shown in the movie: Paramount Theatre, an old-style theatre which now is mostly a venue devoted to the Arts (i.e. ballet and symphony).
In the hallway, on my way to auditorium 13, I saw a young couple. What caught my attention was the girl's nose which was completely bandaged-up. Girl, stay home! How do you expect to make out with your nose all-swollen and painful? 'Just wondering, that's all. Never mind ....
And speaking of E, there's another E in Emeryville, E-22 Cafe and Wine Bar. No, the E-22 does not stand for "Emeryville's 22nd out of a hundred best businesses in the local community." Nope, it stands for Elevation (from sea level): 22 feet. It is about halfway between the freeway and San Pablo Avenue. It is on 1366 Powell Street between Hollis and Doyle streets. If you head towards San Pablo Avenue and you drive past the white metal tower on the right, then you just passed it by. One of the co-owners, Erick, is my nephew. If you go to check out this place, tell him I said, "Hi!" and that his Uncle Butch sent you (Har, har, har).
Their hours are: Mo-We: 8:ooa to 7:30p, Th-Fr: 8:00a to 9:30p & Sa: 11:00a to 5:00p.
Oh! And one more thing .... Ask Erick if he remembers way back when he was a little fat spoiled brat swimming with me in a pool at an aunt's house in Castro Valley one hot summer afternoon when he waded over to where I was at and exclaimed for everybody to hear, "Your boobs are bigger than my mom's!" I would have drowned him that day, if not for all the witnesses at the swimming pool. (Just so you know, I was into lifting weights back then.)
