I don’t dislike Muntz’s implementation in the movie, although I do agree that it’s kinda obvious that he’s a plot device. Finding ways to eliminate that representation would have been good, and I agree that a way to redeem him would have been welcome, but I think Nexas’s scene is laying it on a bit thick (sorry, not that it’s a bad scene, it’d just be a bit dramatic). I think Muntz would have been a really great character if he wasn’t so darn nefarious about the whole thing, I would have liked him a lot more if he hadn’t taken such low blows (the lantern, the “alive or dead” approach, his desperation and willingness to do whatever it took, no matter how low kinda annoyed me is all), especially considering I thought he was a fantastic character before he made “the turn”. If he had ended up in a more positive state at the end of the movie, it would have made his character a lot better, but again, that creates a problem for Carl’s story. Without any sort of elimination of Muntz’s character, be it physically or metaphorically, it would detract from Carl’s plotline, and kind of making Muntz worthless as a result. I like his inclusion, but hate his actions.
Thanks, karly05.
I dunno, ffdude1906, I quite like how crazy and extreme he goes in the latter half of the movie. There’s something very appealing about a guy who’s a few sandwiches short of a picnic, and Muntz is definitely one of those guys- no wonder, considering how long he’d been alone and the fact that he’s some sort of a genious. I think he probably had quite a temperamental, extreme personality anyway and then his whole experience of being rejected and hunting down Kevin just tipped him over. I do agree that his actions make him easier for the general audience to dislike him, but I guess it’s just a personal thing of mine that psychotic personalities appeal to me.
I’ve come to think that Muntz is the kind of guy who can be very charming and charismatic and fun to be around, when everything is going his way and all is right with his world. But cross him or challenge him and look out! He’s obviously someone who never lets go of a slight - not just being booted from the Explorers Society, but the fact that he still gets mad about Roosevelt cheating at cards 70 years after the fact. For some reason, I tend to gravitate toward those kind of fictional characters, too (LOL, wouldn’t want to deal with one in real life).
Yeah, I get what you guys are saying. I’d love to meet a guy like him personally, at least before he falls off his rocker. Then he just goes psychotic. That’s the thing, he’s a great guy, but has a short temper, and is incredibly persistent. It’s a complicated personality, sorta, but it works really well.
Reminds me of somebody else I know chuckles
It’s interesting to read your various responses to my previous thread, and I share your sentiments…
I really like your alternate ending, Nexas. That would’ve been so much ‘funnier’ and tie up Muntz’ character arc perfectly. I don’t really think it would make it any more dramatic, since there was one more gag before he expires for good (it reminded me of the way they handled Fiona’s father’s death in Shrek The Third). The fact they left Muntz’ conflict with Kevin and Carl unresolved just makes it all the more a waste of a storytelling opportunity.
lizardgirl - Wow, I never thought of comparing Pixar films to Shakespearean tales, but I get what you mean. I also share your disappointment at how some stories just use the villains to ‘prop’ the heroes up. The best tales are the ones where the bad guys are just as ‘good’ as the good guys. Some of my favourite movies like The Dark Knight, Heat, and Speed pit the villains as the heroes’ equals, and sometimes both are eerily alike in some ways. Or to use Pixar examples, A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2 and The Incredibles had one of the strongest ‘baddies’ in the Pixar canon. Granted, they all got disposed off in equally nasty ways as the ‘weaker baddies’ in Monsters Inc, Wall-E and Up, but at least their motivations and ‘their side of the story’ were explored sufficiently enough.
ffdude: I totally agree on your point of Muntz being too nasty! I guess the Pixarians did their work in making you despise Muntz and rooting for Carl (isn’t that what great villains are, truly despicable and downright evil?), but I have to concur they could’ve redeemed him in the end without losing any of the narrative power he brings to the film. I’m not really sure why you say his elimination is necessary.
One interesting way the story could’ve ended was that Carl saves Muntz before his house plunges off the side of the blimp. He hold the sword to Muntz, but spares his life and forgives him because he can’t bear to kill his ‘hero’. Muntz is grateful and regretful of his actions, and agrees to ‘let his obsession go’ and return to civilisation with Carl. Kevin also forgives Muntz and gives him one of her eggs as proof of her existence, and they all return happily to a warm reception. It’s the typical ‘Disney happy ending’, but Carl’s arc of ‘letting his obsession go’ doesn’t suffer as a result, rather is reinforced by Muntz’ similar decision. 
Well, at least that’s how I see it.
karly05 - Thanks for the illuminating detail of the commentary. Yeah, I kinda like psychotic bad guys too, it’s quite fascinating how it just takes one defining event, one singular obsession, or one mortal enemy to push them over the edge and into insanity. In a way, heroes are like that too, just that they use their manic passion in the pursuit of justice. I agree Muntz can be a fun guy to hang out with, it’s just a shame Pixar didn’t use his charisma to appeal to Carl’s respect of him as a childhood hero and instead made him the typical ‘serial killer’ stereotype.
Great points, everyone. 
I don’t really think Muntz needs changed. A character doesn’t always need to be depth filled to the max. Sometimes, it can actually help to have a broad character in the mix that you can easily compare and contrast to the hero. Muntz is iconic, representing the darkest and most blatant Carl could get. I think the fact that the audience has trouble relating to him but can see his connection to Carl makes him fit this role perfectly.
I wouldn’t have had him die in the end. The DVD & Blu Ray show alternative endings to Muntz, and I would have liked to have seen him either reconcile with Carl Frederickson at the end, or do the exact opposite of a Disney Death and instead of falling, float away. That would be awesome.