"Up" and "Terminator Salvation"

Up - Pixar has consistently produced not only the finest crop of animated films of the past 14 years (beginning with 1995's "Toy Story"), but some of the finest films in that time period. With their first venture into 3D, they have made a film that is a towering achievement even by Pixar's standards.
Like so many Pixar films, "Up" is the story of dreamers. When we meet young Carl Fredricksen, he is a wide-eyed little boy with visions of exploring the world. At the top of his list is Paradise Falls in South America, considered by many to be the last true wilderness on earth. As he walks through his neighborhood balloon in hand, he hears a little girl playing in an old broken down house. He goes inside and meets Ellie, a talkative and happy go lucky child who lives for adventure. "You don't talk very much," she tells a dumbstruck Carl. "I like you!" She likes Carl even more because he's promised to go with her to Paradise Falls some day.
The next several minutes of the film are more emotionally powerful than most whole movies. It's a wordless sequence in which we see Carl and Ellie grow up and grow old together. They save money for their dream adventure but life's complications and obstacles force them to spend the money they save on house repairs and medical bills. Sadly, Ellie passes on before they get to go to Paradise Falls. Life understandably just isn't the same for Carl (voiced by Ed Asner) anymore. Living alone, surrounded by construction crews he's become cantankerous and connected to no one. When he's faced with a court order to move into a nursing home, the former balloon salesman knows that for Paradise Falls, it's now or never. With thousands of balloons tied to his roof, Carl's house takes to the skies for South America. Unbeknownst to Carl, he has a hitchhiker. A boy scout named Russell (Jordan Nagai) needs only one more merit badge for assisting the elderly and he just happened to be on Carl's porch the moment the house took off. Together this unlikely pair is going for the adventure of a lifetime. All the while Ellie's presence is palpable. We know that she's right there with them and loving every minute of it as they make new friends along the way.
Co-directed by Pete Docter and screenwriter Bob Peterson, "Up" is a film of rare beauty, artistry, and humor that has the greatest emotional impact of any Pixar film to date. At its core is the lesson that it's never too late to take that grand adventure and maybe the kids who see this will gain a greater understanding of their grandparents, realizing that they were young once too.
As for the 3D, it was fun watching "Up" with the dark glasses but it's not necessary in order to enjoy this movie to the fullest. 2D or 3, "Up" is a wonderful adventure that ranks alongside "The Incredibles" and "Ratatouille" for the best of Pixar's best. 10/10.

Terminator Salvation - Six years after the enjoyable if not spectacular "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines," the "Terminator" franchise gives us the fourth installment in the series. With Arnie busy Governating, "Terminator Salvation" focuses on the future, the year 2018 to be exact, and the resistance against the machines. At this point John Connor (Christian Bale) is not the leader of the human resistance just yet. For some he's the ultimate symbol of hope, for others a false prophet. Kind of like Batman.
Connor knows what he is destined to become and will stop at nothing to ensure that destiny is fulfilled. All will be for not though if Kyle Reese (Anton Yelchin) is unable to survive. Reese is only a teenager now, but unbeknownst to him, he is the elder Connor's father thanks to time travel (Reese is played by Michael Biehn in the first film).
The third key player in "Salvation" is Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington), a killer who's awoken in the future, unsure how he got there, but determined to do some good with his life.
Written by John Brancato and Michael Ferris and directed by McG, "Terminator Salvation" is a very entertaining if flawed film that is a worthy addition to this franchise. The film's biggest weakness is actually its main storyline. Whenever we were with Connor I kept wanting to go back to the Reese and Wright storylines (which are intertwined more effectively than the Connor story). We know full well that John Connor will be the leader of the resistance and it doesn't feel as though any new light is shed on the character or his purpose. Reese is far more intriguing and Yelchin more than makes up for being the weakest cast member of "Star Trek." He is absolutely terrific here. We see the man he will become in "The Terminator."
Even more interesting is Wright. His unfolding story is the most surprising and well developed. Worthington plays the role just right. This is a man who remembers where he came from but who has no idea how he got to where he is. His journey is an effecting one. It takes a special kind of actor to pull off what Worthington does here and I have a feeling this virtually unknown Australian is well on his way to becoming a major star.
McG's film is no classic but it's got good action and is far more fun and much more well executed than most are giving it credit for. If you're even a casual fan of this series you will enjoy this movie. 7/10.