Living Movies Podcast John Schindele

This week we're reviewing Up, Pixar's tenth movie. It is a movie about a grumpy old man who wants to give one last gift to his wife but instead finds a grandson, a talking dog, and more adventure than he signed up for. While this movie is a love story, it's also a crazy adventure story, and somehow Pixar manages to blend those themes so seamlessly that it works really well, aside from sometimes feeling two separate movies, Even so, this move does have some really good ideas that it puts out there, and I think it would be a great one to share with children of any age, but especially the older ones who will be able to grapple with ideas like grief and regret a bit better than the youngest of viewers.


Some of the ideas that this move puts forward are these:



Things are just things. The adventure we are on is more important than the things we have gathered over a lifetime of adventures.
It is the boring things that we remember and long for with the people we love. Ordinary life.
Promises need to be honored. Keep your word.
It would be really cool if dogs could talk.


After watching this movie I think would be appropriate for most ages, though it still is a bit too much for my youngest. With that being said though, it really does seem to be geared to the older kids, and for them it would be a great one to share as it has so many jumping off points for great conversations. I realize I said that WALL•E might be the most timeless Pixar movie, but Up gives it a run for its money. If you haven't watched it yet, check it out.
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Rooted ChildhoodLinks:
Watch Up | Amazon PrimeWatch Up | Disney Plus

This week we're reviewing WALL•E, Pixar's ninth movie. It is a movie about a janitor robot who just wants to find some love. He's cleaning up earth after the humans left on a giant spaceship, and he's been at it for the last 700 years or so. Then a ship lands and launches another robot, EVE, who has been sent to find signs of life, which she ends up doing. Well, WALL-E falls desparately in love with her, but she doesn't reciprocate, and the rest of the movie is him chasing her and doing what needs to be done. Hilarity ensues, many robot noises are made, and the humans find out what living is all about. While there aren't many speaking parts in this movie, there are great ideas that it portrays, and it is as visually stunning and enjoyable as any other movie I think I've ever watched.


Some of the ideas that this move puts forward are these:



Living is about more than just existing, you must experience things.
Just because something is difficult doesn't make it bad. In fact, most things that are truly rewarding are difficult.
The digital world is not as good as the real world. Don't get lost in your devices!
Life cannot be all about seeking pleasure, it must also be about others (and taking care of the environment).


After sharing this movie with my own children (after we recorded the episode though), I think it is quite appropriate for all ages, within reason and parental supervision of course, as its visual style makes it appealing and accessible for even the youngest viewers. Truly this might be Pixar's most timeless movie so far, and I think the story it tells and the ideas it imparts are as valuable as any other children's movie I've ever watched.
Sponsored By:
Rooted ChildhoodLinks:
Watch WALL•E | Amazon PrimeWatch WALL•E | Disney Plus

This week we're reviewing Ratatouille, Pixar's eighth movie. It is a movie about a rat who wants to cook and learns that he can control a young man by pulling on his hair just so. They create some great food, make some enemies, a restaurant, scare some patrons and generally have a good time. This movie is riddled with good ideas and does an amazing job at portraying them in ways that are quite organic and easy to pick up.


Some of the ideas that this move puts forward are these:



Do not Steal. Ideas, food, things, etc. It's bad, so don't do it.
It is better to do something than to do nothing. Doing nothing adds nothing to the world, but doing something will add...something.
Anyone can learn to do anything. Not everyone will be great, but there is value in learning diverse skills.
Life is all about change. We are always changing, and to try to avoid change is to try to avoid life.


While not directed towards younger kids like some of the other Pixar movies, Ratatouille is a great movie in it's own rights and will entertain the whole family while helping instill good ideas to those who think about it a bit.
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Rooted ChildhoodLinks:
Watch Ratatouille | Amazon PrimeWatch Ratatouille | Disney Plus

This week we're reviewing Cars, Pixar's seventh movie. This movie is another of their straightforward movies, and like a lot of the rest, this one does not disappoint, It has some great ideas that it presents clearly for all to see, even the youngest in the family. It tells the story of how a race car discovers that there's more to life than just winning.


Some of the ideas that this move puts forward are these:



There is more to life than just winning,
Without friends and family, life ends up being empty.
Don't judge others solely because they are different than you (a book can be more than just it's cover).


Overall we decided that this movie is an outstanding movie for kids. I mean c'mon...it's about cars!

This week we're reviewing The Incredibles, Pixar's sixth movie, and one of our clear favorites. This movie seems to be a straightforward superhero movie, and for the most part it is. But it also has some strong themes and great ideas that it presents in an amazing set of packaging. It follows a family of super people just trying to make it through life as they deal with kids, job troubles, and a mid-life crisis or two.


Some of the ideas that this move puts forward are these:



Family is Super Important! For the kids, for the parents, and for each individual.
Life is more than just what you do, it's also about who you do it with.
Don't lie to your family!
(also...no capes!)


Overall we decided that this movie is an outstanding movie for kids, and it really provides a space to talk about some serious relationship issues in a safe and fun environment.

This week we're reviewing Soul, Pixar's twenty-third movie. It is hard to say what Soul is, a plunge into a mid-life crisis, a study in nihilism, or simply a story about a guy who figures out a bit of what is missing in his life. It follows Joe, a jazz musician who gets his dream gig and then goes on some remarkable spiritual adventures where he meets an ancient child, angers a cranky angelic accountant, and eventually answers all the questions of the universe...sort of. While surprisingly deep for a Pixar movie, and in spite of the amazing music and artistic flair, this one ended up disappointing as Joe seems to learn all the wrong lessons on his journey, and ends up at basically the same place he started the movie at, completely engrossed in his own story.


Some of the ideas that this move puts forward are these:



Don't get so hung up on life's ambitions that you forget to stop and smell the flowers.
Life is about more than just yourself, the people around you are what make life worth living.
We are more than just our occupations (even though Joe doesn't seem to learn this)


After we dug into this move we decided that it isn't really a children's movie, it's more geared towards those of us who were kids when the original Pixar movies were released, as a lot of us are going through the same mid-life crisis that Joe is going through. The problem with this is that there are so many other movies that explore this idea better than Soul does, and in the end, I really just want to go watch those movies instead.


If you do share this movie with your kids, be prepared to discuss questions such as these:



Where do we go when we die?
Where are we before we are born?
What is Got actually like?
Sponsored By:
Rooted ChildhoodLinks:
Watch Soul | Amazon PrimeWatch Soul | Disney Plus