1. 
   Zarban 2010.May.29 11pm

   DIF tackles their second Pixar film, but they don’t all love it. They discuss what works and doesn’t quite work.

   Carl should turn the page (it’s a very awkward moment), and be inspired by Ellie’s assessment of their life because it still has a couple of blank pages at the end, and Carl decides to fill that in as a tribute to her. Then we should have gotten a prep montage and Carl takes off just when the city arrives to deliver the eminent domain notice.

   The hero-turned-villain—who has to be at least 85 to Carl’s 65—is probably the weakest aspect of a fine film. The theme has nothing to do with meeting your heroes. The movie tries to have it both ways by working the theme of letting go of the past even tho the real theme is fulfilling your life’s goals.

   A way to solve this, I think, would have been to have young Carl meet Muntz and be disappointed in the embittered adventurer who then goes off to find his bird. Ellie’s greater enthusiasm for Paradise Falls makes more sense; and she can have the goal of finding Muntz’s bird instead of just living there. Then Carl’s decision to fulfill Ellie’s aspirations is more grounded. Carl goes to find the bird, meets his aged and villainous hero, conflicts with him but helps him redeem himself before he dies, then names the bird species pavo muntzellenius, the “Muntz-Ellie tropical peacock.” You could even have the younger Muntz working on a primitive dog communicator to set up that gag for later. It might also work better if the villain was Muntz’s son (or grandson); discovering his identity and real goal could have been a major plot point.

   And Russel shouldn’t have had more than a couple of badges. Then Carl’s help getting badges in the end credits would have meant something.
2. 
   Zarban 2010.May.30 1am

   Brian—Pepsi-Cola was invented in the 1890s. Soda water was invented a hundred years before that. I don’t think you’d be shocking George Washington. Now rock music would frighten people.

   Trey—Re: Russell being Asian. It took me a long time in Coraline to realize that Wyborne was black and not just a Tim Burton caricature.

   Michael—The advancement in Snow White was the multiplane camera, which allowed for rack focus shots and 3-dimensionality in pan shots.

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