JIM reviews films 'PARTLY CLOUDY" + "UP" in 2-D -- Seeing it in the 2-D version showed me some ‘NEW’ things

“UP” [ in 2-D, + “PARTLY CLOUDY” short] – Seeing it in the 2-D version showed me some ‘NEW’ things =

Rating: 9 of 10 stars.

Before the main feature, they showed a short called “PARTLY CLOUDY”. This involved clouds providing baby animals for STORKS to carry to their “mamas”. It tells the story of a stork who keeps getting the “DIFFICULT-to-handle” babies & how the bird “responds” to that situation. It’s a CLEVERLY-done, CHARMING little piece of animation!…

Originally, I saw “UP” in the 3-D version. Usually, I love 3-D— but, as I commented at the time, the 3-D for this was one of the rare ones I found to be a WASTE of the format in that they didn’t utilize it very much or very effectively for the most part; it’s almost like they wanted to “match” the animated competition that was being done in 3-D, just to say they’d “done” it…

… During my first viewing, I concentrated on the “OVERALL” film, watching its “flow” & basic story lines. This time, knowing what “happens”, I was better able to focus on the numerous “SMALL” things in the film, which showed me some “NEW” elements that hadn’t “registered” so much in the 3-D viewing:

… Even when the explorer “Madman” Muntz is FIRST discussed, the “newsreel” points out how he was very attached to raising a bunch of DOGS— an initially-“minor” fact that becomes very IMPORTANT later in the film…

… The very-quick photo-based “COMPENDIUM” of the lives of Carl & Ellie is BEAUTIFULLY done, & reveals a bunch of MEANINGFUL elements that were almost “glossed-over” in my initial viewing: Ellie was by far the more “OUTGOING” one in the couple, & she was especially hurt by the fact she was unable to have a CHILD they wanted… They had actually SAVED-UP to be able to follow their dream of heeding Muntz’s “spirit of Adventure” words & visiting PARADISE FALLS— but the money kept having to be used for OTHER unexpected expenses, like car repairs, etc…

… Further, balloon-seller Carl eventually even got a TICKET for them to go to the Falls — but, so much time and events had passed, they were UNABLE to do it together… Thus, it’s a sort of “final effort” attempt on Carl’s behalf when he decides to ESCAPE the eager land-developer guy by lifting his house “UP-wards” by balloons to try to fly to his long-dreamed-of “Paradise”… And, the rare BIRD that Muntz was searching for (& Carl & Wilderness Explorer boy Russell eventually chance to find) is MENTIONED considerably earlier in the film than I’d “realized”… Overall, it’s a wonderfully HEART-WARMING film about the journey(s) of life, & I deeply enjoyed it again on its second viewing!…