Cannes 2009: Moving on Up

Ah Cannes, the red carpets, the stars, the glitz and glamour, the sexy 3D specs...?!

The world's most famous film festival will kick off tonight with Disney's latest animated feature Up, and in the process break new ground as the first animation to open the event in its 62 year history. This morning journalists donned the ever-attractive eyewear to appreciate the film in all its three-dimensional glory. The compulsory specs didn't put a damper on the film however, which received a raptuous applause.

Up tells the tale of a 78-year-old former balloon seller who re-discovers his childhood love for adventure following the death of his wife and the threat of being moved to an old people's home. Tying hundreds of brightly coloured balloons to his beloved home he takes off for an expedition to South America. It's essentially a children's film in the classic Disney mould and certainly not a radical departure from Pixar's previous output, yet with some genuinely funny moments it's certainly enjoyable and will no doubt prove to be a solid family hit on its release.

The rest of the festival's programme has quite a different tone, with offerings from some of the world's most established film-makers (Almodovar, Tarantino and Von Trier to name a few) we'll no doubt be in line for a little more grit and grime (and without the mandatory eyewear).

Keep checking back for more updates throughout the festival.