Commenting Rules: Keep the conversation civil and on topic. If your comment does not add to the conversation, it will be removed. Debate intelligently. Insulting the author, /Film, or other commenters will result in comment removal and possible ban. If you want to point out a typo, correction, suggestion or criticism for /Film, please email us instead. Please use your name or nickname and not your business name (ie Discount Car Parts) as we might confuse and mark it as spam. If you would like to have your own Avatar show up with your comment, sign-up for a free Disqus account. Any Links will go into moderation before being approved. Anything we deem as spam will not be approved.

First Look At The Villain From Pixar’s Up

Posted on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009 by Brendon Connelly

sky

There are still plenty of secrets to be revealed when it comes to Pixar’s Up, and that even goes for those lucky folks to have seen the 45 minute preview presentation (I’m looking at you, Peter Sciretta). The latest juicy crumb to have fallen from the high table reveals the basic design of the film’s main villain. I’ll pop the full size picture below the break (too tall to go at head of the story) and then you can tell me who - if anybody he looks like to you.

Editor’s Note: Because the villain doesn’t really appear in the first 45 minutes of the film, this might be considered a spoiler. Continue at your own risk.

The film’s villain is Charles Muntz,  and he looks an awful lot like Kirk Douglas to me. Christopher Plummer is providing Muntz’ voice, giving him a lead role in two of my most anticipated films of the year - Up and The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus.

muntz_man

The French DisneyPixar blog that ran the image also offer us snaps of more toys, including Carl, Russel, Dug the dog, Kevin the big, big, big bird and some of the - minor spoiler alert - talking-collar meanie mutts. Ruff.

At the beginning of Up, Charles Muntz is a globe trotting explorer idolized by the lead characters. A scrapbook of his adventures plays a key part in the romantic prologue, bringing together Carl and his true love Ellie; later, when Muntz appears as a character in the main plot himself, he’s positioned more as an antagonist. His full character arc is still being kept a mystery but, judging by Pixar’s previous characterizations, it’s going to be subtle, nuanced and effecting stuff.

Notice how the model Muntz is dressed - once a pilot, always a pilot, I guess. I’m expecting a swooping, swirling, Miyazaki-baiting aerial set piece with Muntz in his plane, The Spirit of Adventure, causing trouble for Carl, Russel and the balloon-hoisted house. Pure guesswork, but if you want to bet, spit on your palm and put it here.

There’s plenty more Up merchandise to be unveiled, from pillow cases and picture books to lunchboxes and pyjamas. I’ll be scrutinising every piece for even the mildest, teasing clue.

Comments 

Related Posts

Tags

3D, Animation, Disney/Pixar, Toys, , ,

  • Haha, love it. Two elders against each other. This looks so fantastic!
  • Christopher Plummer is an egotistical douche in real life. I can't wait for this movie though.
  • mcgruff
    The scariest villain since that little dude from Quantum of Solace.
  • This is the film I'm most looking forward to in 2009. Hands down.
  • C'on
    ERNEST BORGNINE

    icantwaitforthismovie
  • becauseiwas
    Was anyone else immediately reminded of Dr. Claw?
  • Knowing Pixar and their love for Cameos, I would love one from Geri the main (and only) character from the short Geri's Game (the old man playing the chess game). Perhaps he is Carl's Brother or something?
    I am just saying it because that villain has a certain similairty to Geri.
  • wow. great idea. i hope we see him!
  • Nan
    Really? I've worked on two films with him and the entire cast & crew wound up really loving him on both.
    Are you sure you didn't do something douchey to him first? Search your feelings for the truth.
  • Nah, I was referring to his hang up on The Walton and Johnson radio show, when he wasn't man enough to promote his own movie. Instead he wanted the hosts to shower him with praise and do all the work.
    http://weww.tmz.com/2007/11/08/dont-mess-with-chr...
  • Nan
    That clip hardly sounds like "an egotistical douche".
    It sounds like a professional actor put off by 2 ninny am radio djs who didn't even have the *name* handy of the film the guest was on to promote. That's extremely unprofessional - and hardly demonstrates any expectation of "showering with praise", or "lack of manhood", on Plummer's part.

    [Thanks for deleting this previously, eds. How was it in any way offensive?]
  • Palmer
    There's...a villain?
  • Barbara
    Funny how those toys look so much more appealing than the fully rendered CG versions.
  • alex
    Well you said right in your post he does appear in the first 45 minutes, albeit in a younger form, i guess it's a bit spoilerish, but after seeing the first 45 minutes it was pretty clear this guy was going to be the villain.
  • Bob
    He reminds me of the puppets in a 1994 animation "The Big Story" in which the characters were based on Kirk Douglas:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izy2ittIe7A
  • lol, brendon had to include a spoiler alert for this. that's pretty hilarious.
  • SenorScratchn'Sniff
    Dude, I totally shouted "IT'S GEORGE BUSH!" when I saw the figurine . . .
    I guess kirk douglass works . . . but I think it's pretty clear an old man, a fat boy scout, a talking dog and a giant bird named Kevin are going to be fighting a George Bush fighter ace in Pixar's next movie. Right?
  • Studios have done illegal street marketing in the past. Here are some examples:

    http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/09/02/babylon-ad-gr...
  • See that is where you are wrong. You are defending the man who was Promoting HIS movie. The goal in situations like this is that Plummer was supposed to sell his movie. Night show hosts, radio show hosts, etc. are a facility to sell to the masses. He needed to be on the show, they did not need him. If you turn on just about any show interviewing an actor, the host will ask....Whats the Name of your movie, and what is it about. That is the way it works, they are on the show so that they have the podium. Whether the host has seen or read the material does not matter.
  • Nan
    You really don't understand how "promotion" works, do you?

    I can tell from your completely erroneous description that you are just a "radio listener" and not comprehending what actually goes on behind the scenes and what is agreed to in the promotional appearance.

    I never said that host are expected to have seen or read the product - usually they have not. They *are* expected to know the name and a one-sentence description of the item. That's your one lesson about promotion I have time for today, GM.
  • Am I the only one being reminded of Statler of Statler and Waldorf (The Muppet Show)?
  • Auteur_inutile
    He's shown quite a bit in the new trailer for UP that is on Watchmen (at least at my theater.)
blog comments powered by Disqus

gorilla nation

/Film

Copyright © 2010 /Film. Web design by Pro Blog Design. Logo Concept by: Illumination Ink

All names, trademarks and images are copyright their respective owners.