The first movie I ever saw in a theater was Mary Poppins with my mom. The first time I got scared at a movie in the theater was during Night Crossing, resulting in an unfortunate spillage of an entire box of red hots, with my mom. The first 3-D film I ever saw was a Chip & Dale/Donald Duck cartoon with my beloved, dearly missed grandparents. The first drive-in movie I ever experienced was a double-feature of Snow White and something else that I fell asleep during, with my entire family. (They still have drive-ins here in the South and they were rampant in the late 70's/early 80's.) My first record was Mickey Mouse Disco. I remember walking down Main Street USA for the first time in 1981, holding my little sister's hand. I had my first panic attack in a bathroom stall in Fantasyland behind Peter Pan's Flight on my 30th birthday. See the pattern?
I didn't really intend this to be a love letter to Disney but, honestly, it's been my longest commitment next to my little family. I have even refused to continue dating men who take a political stance against Disney. (To be honest, I generally don't date men who boycott stuff just to be "cool" or controversial.) And you don't want to get me going on what a visionary Walt was and how thorough the Imagineers are or how detailed Pixar is.
So as I was putting my blog together this morning, I had UP playing in the background and just hearing it playing brought back the flood of emotions I felt when I first saw it. Only five minutes into the movie and I'm bawling, my throat is killing me and my heart is at once breaking for Carl & Ellie and in love with Carl & Ellie. I'm not giving anything away but this movie fully captures the essence of life and love in just a few minutes of frames. The most artful and tender way to tell a love story I think I have ever seen. Ever. More impactful than a two hour movie. No dialogue, just the unspoken narrative of beautifully animated character development. I. Was. On. The. Floor.
It amazes me how affected I am by this scene every single time. It's just so expressive that I can't help but turn to mush. The love Carl & Ellie have for each other and the love the animators must have had for these characters just shines through. I need to remember to put this movie in when I wonder what it's all about, what the meaning of life is. It's the story of Carl & Ellie.
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