Yet again, I have read a column by a critic that I disagree with. However, this time he actually makes a cogent argument.
You can find the column here. <=link
I would like to discuss criticism once more on this blog. However, I am not going to discuss his opinion of the film, Up, which to say the least, he did not enjoy. What Mr. Kline, the author, says is his own opinion. He says it formally, and (with the exceptions of some over the top hyperbole and the fact that he disparrages some other critics for calling a children's movie good just because it's a children's movie) uses cogent logic to support his conclusion. His thesis is that a children's film appeals to our inner child. Therefore, we can not experience the film in an adult (and in his opinion, serious) sense.
I disagree, but more on that later...
What stuck out to me is this: the comments. Normally, the comments would be either statements of agreement or just insults. Instead, I found this gem, from a poster using the name Earthboy:
"Alright, I'm a full grown adult, I went to see 'Up' with my friends yes my adult friends. We saw it and we thought it was possibly one of the best movies we've ever seen. I registered for this site (something I usually don't bother with.) Just to tell you what I think, not in that cliche' internet way of calling you a name and proclaiming the movie's awesomeness you'll be getting some real criticism yourself.
I walked into the theater to see the newest film of a studio that has been entertaining me for roughly a decade, pixar's astounding track record aside though here's my problem with your article. Yes it is for children we all get that, which is why a house can fly with balloon's despite that being impossible. Girls who eat poisoned apples can't come back from the dead, and swords can't be made of light, but we don't begrudge these classics because of their implausibility...in fact that's at the heart of why we go to the movies, to see the impossible. Suspend your disbelief and enjoy the story/visual. Second, you say the writing is lazy, this is of course your opinion but that does not mean I will not attempt to correct it. The story was mainly about lonliness, and the desire to 'Go home again.' It reminded (me) at least of how I feel whenever something huge changes in my life it reached out to me and tugged at my heart like very few movies have in the past. I cried at least twice. Maybe you're right and the writing was lazy, and the plot formulaic to a fault, but I was far too busy feeling something at any given time during the film to look for flaws or cliches' -Which is something I usually pride myself on.- So what I'm saying to you in a nutshell is that I think you're wrong about this movie, that myself and quite literally every adult I know whose seen it loved it. Maybe you found the problems with the movie everyone of us missed, but I think that just maybe you're time and perhaps professionalism as a critic has....hardened you to certain things, of course I don't know you so that doesn't mean a lot. I enjoyed up, and I honestly think it to be one of the best written, most beautifully executed movies I've ever seen. "
There are some people who think that legitimate criticism and exchange of free ideas is going away, and my last post left a lot of my audience (possibly both of them) with a negative feeling. I want to say that there are people out there who do exhange ideas in a formal and relatively polite manner. When I see two people offer different views on the internet without dropping f-bombs, using slurs, and trolling, I think there is hope for critism.
As for my opinion on Up, I do think that Mr. Kline is a bit hard on the film. However, I also do not think that this was the best film ever. It takes a combination of many things before I think a movie is one of the best. I also do think his critism of Wall e as a copy off of short circiuot is a bit silly since the movies only have the connection of having a robot with large eyes as a protagonist. However, I do get that he does not enjoy a film that requries a large suspension of disbelief. That's just the way some people are. I don't mind suspending my disbelief if there is something in the film that I believe supercedes the utter silliness (which in the case of Up was the characters). It was not Pixar's best, but most certainly it was NOT the worst of Pixar (which in my opinion is Cars).
Then again this is all my opinion.
