The Ballad of Carl & Ellie

Up was, in my opinion, one of Pixar's minor efforts (although following on Wall*E's considerable heels is certainly no small feat) but, my God, has any opening sequence ever been simply as beautiful and poignant as Carl's & Ellie's?



This sublime seven-minute intro could function on its own as an amazing, free-standing, fully-drawn short film -- and blow away every long-form love story that came up against it.

But what can you say? I'm a sucker for real romance, even if it doesn't turn out exactly how you hoped.

"It all began on New Year's Day...

...in my 32nd year of being single. Once again, I found myself on my own and going to my mother's annual turkey curry buffet."



Ah, Bridget Jones Diary. Possibly the last film Renée Zellweger did -- and sublimely I might add -- before she became an oddly pinched and supremely annoying screen presence. Which is such a shame if you consider her promising start and rather impressive streak of memorable performances (The Whole Wide World, Jerry Maguire, One True Thing, Nurse Betty) up until that point. How did it all go so wrong, Renée?



Incidentally, while I revisit Bridget Jones quite often -- hello, how can you not? It's brilliantly funny -- it's weird to think I'm in my 32nd year, alone and unmarried (but happily not single, thank God...and Tye) on this first day of a new year. Cheers to you, Bridge, and to a bright and lovely 2010!