Das Piano (1993)

Das Piano: Directed by Jane Campion. With Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, Sam Neill, Anna Paquin. In the mid-19th century, a mute woman is sent to New Zealand along with her young daughter and prized piano for an arranged marriage to a wealthy landowner, but is soon lusted after by a local worker on the plantation.

“If thereu0026#39;s a list of great computer animation movies of all time, Pixar would dominate most of the top positions. Great story, great voice talent, great timing, great for all ages. Itu0026#39;d be hard to pick just one above another and perhaps another viewing of Up may be in order to figure out where Iu0026#39;d place it among so much stellar work.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eUp is by far the most emotional human drama of any Pixar movies thus far, very heavy, so much so if youu0026#39;re looking for pure fun with some jaw-dropping chase and/or thematic scenes and no downer moments, Up may not be for you. I saw it in a packed theatre of about a 65% adult, 35% adult split audience and itu0026#39;s the only time I can remember being in ANY animated movie where there was sniffles and watery eyes, and that was within the first 10 minutes of the movie. Thereu0026#39;s an undercurrent of life after losing a loved one in this movie, which I donu0026#39;t feel gives anything away. Itu0026#39;s pretty heavy subject matter, Pixar handles it, like they do everything they touch, incredibly well, but it doesnu0026#39;t make it any less sad to have the material threaded throughout much of the movie youu0026#39;re reminded of it, but I suppose itu0026#39;s up to oneu0026#39;s own interpretation of loss and how to place it in your life that perhaps will have an emotional effect on you.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eStory is what makes a great movie great. Without story, you donu0026#39;t really have anything, maybe some effects, some action, maybe some cute or clever sight gags, maybe some laughs, hopefully some emotion, where Pixar shines above all others in animation and over a good 99% of the movies out there is they can intertwine it all and do it seemingly effortless, which is an incredible feat. To do this in a few movies is one thing, but Pixar has pretty much nailed this now for their entire career of making movies, thatu0026#39;s just simply unprecedented. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI should note I saw the 3D version which, to be honest, didnu0026#39;t really take the movie to the next level. One of the more well known syndicated reviewers had said youu0026#39;re better off seeing the non-3D version on screen, and I actually agree. The 3D glasses added little to nothing to the movie except for an eye-strain headache later in the night. It didnu0026#39;t take away from Up mind you, it just didnu0026#39;t add to it either. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eUp is a great movie either way you slice it and it should be noted, the theatre I saw it in gave it a fairly loud round of applause at the end. Itu0026#39;s pretty rare these days that an audience applauds after a movie, perhaps we as a society has become too jaded, or too just expecting of the goods or feeling weu0026#39;re entitled to the entertainment. Itu0026#39;s nice when a movie hits on all cylinders and elicits such a range and emotional reaction people who donu0026#39;t know each other in a packed room all gasp, laugh, cry, and applaud together. Great movies however can do that and Up is truly a great movie.”