Up Yours (In A Sweet Way)

I generally think not so much about Hollywood and its surrounding vainglorious BS so when it was announced that there were ten nominees for best picture at this past Oscars, let's just say I was less than impressed.  If I had an address, I would have listed the ten best sandwiches I made this year and sent it in.  That is to say: Not impressed.  I think most of those movies were really good, but the nominating ten thing seemed like a combination of one part reflexive back patting and two parts what I call "media alchemy."

By media alchemy^TM I am referring to the ancient art of using chemistry and philosophy that tried to find the elixir of life by taking crappy metals and turning them into gold.  Or in other words, making something of nothing.  I find Hollywood types practice media alchemy often. (Evidence: Kim Kardashian, why on earth is she famous? No reason at all except that she has a show.)

Anyway, I saw about half of the movies nominated including Up, an animated story that had no chance of winning because it was an animated story.  I was watching part of it just the other day and was reminded of how great of a story it was.  And though this will sound strange it was well acted.  Yes, I know, there are not actual actors acting, but the writing, the voice work, and the animation make it a multi-layered story.  In particular, this clip of Carl and Ellie's life together gives you a feeling of a cartoon-simple couple but more emotionally 3D (take that Avatar 3D.)  And all of it is accomplished without a word!

Here is the clip:




Every time I watch it, I see something else I hadn't realized before. like how they are so eager to start a life together that she is sawing in her wedding dress. And it shows two people who compliment each other so well that you can see their real love for each other. That really is an incredible feat in this medium, if you ask me.


A story bespeckeled with balloon strings
While tugging at your heart strings
Two darlings made from drawings
Though you can consciously conceive the feeling of their clasping hands.

And how his love is linked to her
When he devises a new dream after her disappointment
And delivers when he sees their time together diminishing.

How lucky anyone would be
to have the heart
of two cartoon characters.