Masterful! WALL·E is the most endearing and likely enduring characters of PIXAR’s recent magic. Brought to the brink of tears and the convulsions of laughter and gripped by the visual beauty, the experience was beyond anything I had expected.
I truely thought this was some sort of remake of Short Circuit, but of course, it was not (although many traits of Johnny-5 are similar). This was an original story, both timely and timeless, and full of unforgettable moments. Though light on the dialogue, especially earlier in the film, it produced a wonderful comic medium of visual humor, reminiscent of silent films. This has of course always been PIXAR’s forte (see every pre-PIXAR movie short ever made). The ability to give human emotions and breathe more life into a CGI’ed version of a robot than 99% of actors can muster into their best performances, should be lauded by critics and audiences far and wide. It is all in the eyes.
The plot of a love stricken robot, stuck on an isolated planet proves PIXAR has not lost the magic, as many have claimed, since their masterpiece, Toy Story (it was just put on hold). If I were atop the creative ladder at PIXAR, I would be patting myself on the back and then realizing it might be another decade before we can come up with anything half this good. I will not endeavor to give away any of the plot and I recommend taking the first oppurtunity to get hold of a ticket for this brilliant movie. A love story, a pet roach and a trash compacting robot have helped create easily the best movie of the summer.
Rating: ***** (out of five)
Filed under: Film | Tagged: CGI, Disney, Johnny-5, PIXAR, Short Circuit, Toy Story, WALL·E
Wow, better than Ironman? Now I have to see it, but I was going to spend my money on Hancock this weekend.
[...] anyone see Get Smart or WALL-E this weekend? I heard some rave reviews for WALL-E, and might have to make an extra trip to the theater this weekend to check it out (Hancock is first [...]
I remember you saying you’ve never seen Short Circuit.
Really, maybe I thought you were talking about something else. Short Circuit is a classic. I saw it many times as a kid.
My 4 year old neice had to be taken out of the theater. After her popcorn was done she was absolutely bored to tears – literally. From what I’ve been reading/hearing, this isn’t a great film for the younger children.
I have not see it… but I have read several reviews about how preachy the film is… ya know, how bad humans are, how horrible corporations are, yada yada yada.
Curious about your take on that.
Well, as for your niece, she may just have different tastes in films than most. LOL, but, I will say this: At the end of the film there was a round of applause from my conservative city’s audience (they don’t like being preached to). I could see how children under 5 might not be able to stay interested in a film that does not have as much talking as they are used to, but, it did not seem to be an issue with the ecstatic children in the theater I was in.
As for being preachy. No, I don’t think so. Don’t get me wrong, it had its future of a degraded world with one big corporate entity being responsible, but that was a peripheral story and not a condemnation of society. The main story was, actually, a love story. It would be hard for Disney (noted by some {not me} as an evil corporation) to be too harsh on big business or human’s wasteful nature, because it capitalizes on just those ideas everyday, in its very own theme parks.
In the end, the movie won my perfect vote, because it was film perfection. There have been movies in the past in which the message the movie may or may not have been trying to convey, was not one in which I agreed with, but the movie itself was perfection. What I mean by that is that there are certain aspects of how a film works and what it does for and to an audience that make the movie a magical experience or not. That is not totally consumed by the message of the film. Here is a good example: Fight Club. Talk about a revolutionary film about emasculated male roles in our society and outright anarchy and primal human nature. The message may not suit people in the real world who fell in love with the movie for reasons that don’t necessarily condone anything the movie promotes. Meaning,the person thought, “damn, that was a cool ass movie.”
That’s not to say that some movies are not so pervasive in their idealogical evangelism that they can become the target of negative criticism just because of that “preachy”-ness. A couple of good examples: anything by Michael Moore, much of Oliver Stone’s works, the recent movie Lions for Lambs, etc. Of course, if you happen to agree with said idealogy, then the movies may be just what you are looking for.
Very insightful thanks!
I would probably enjoy Wall-e, however, I do not like seeing kid oriented movies in the theater because of the aforementioned “kid” part. The last official cartoon I saw in the theater was “Monster, Inc.” The little boy in front of us indulged in too much candy and proceeded to throw up half-way through, causing not only our section, but the entire theater to reak.
However, you review is very persuasive and it just may get me to see this one in the theater – perhaps the latest show possible when all the puking-prone little ones are suppose to be in bed.
[...] WALL·E [...]
[...] think that Iron Man is the best movie all summer, though I have not seen WALL-E yet and heard that was pretty good. Also should be hitting up the theater this weekend to check out Hancock, which I am sure I will [...]
Wall-E totally looks like the robot from “Short Circuit”… minus the cheesy 80’s style
I AGREE! I totally enjoyed Wall E. It’s amazing how much interactions could exist without much of dialogue! And i liked the little robot which was cleaning up after Wall E.
Very sound piece to share your personal preference and experience.
Btw, it’s Pleasantville :) Smallville is something else.