WALL·E: a Movie Review
Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class Robot Stars in Green Flick
Oct 10, 2008
WALL-E was a triumph of the big screen in the summer of 2008. It, no doubt, will be a triumph of the little screen, through DVD sales. Pixar has found the perfect mix of childlike wonder, political humor and social activism--all tied together nicely with an excellent plot and superb animation.
WALL-E Engaging Even With no Dialogue
Much of the story unfolds nonverbally, a testament to Pixar Studio's animation expertise. Even during sequences involving minimal dialogue, the story was engaging. The Pixar animation team was very adept at capturing moods, facial expressions and body language. The audience was drawn into the plot as the story unfolded flawlessly. The two main characters, robots named WALL-E and EVE, connect with the audience's innate sense of childlike wonderment and adventure. This is true regardless of age. As is the case with Pixar's previous properties, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles and Ratatouille (to name a few), this movie speaks to and has something for all generations.
WALL-E is an acronym for "Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class." EVE stands for "Extra-terrestrial Vegetation Evaluator." WALL-E finds himself all alone on Earth of the not-too-distant future. The planet has become a giant trash heap, uninhabitable by most living organisms. Humans flee to the comfort of space cruise ships, leaving robots behind to clean up the mess that they have made. WALL-E, a self-aware robot with a penchant for knickknacks and musicals is the last functioning unit on the planet. His situation of isolation would be totally dismal if it were not for his pet cockroach keeping him company. When WALL-E meets EVE, a courtship begins, as does a race to help recolonize Earth.
Several Hilarious Moments
There were several hilarious moments in this film. Notable among them is the obvious endorsement by Apple (product placement?). WALL-E's operating system has the unmistakable sound of a Mac computer when he reboots. Another enjoyable scene involved the fast food utensil of choice: the spork. The scene, though brief, was a perfect symbol of a future Earth where humans consume way too many convenience foods and leave their fast food wrappers and other trash all over the place. The term "convenience food" takes on a totally new meaning in this film. The humans of the future have become so addicted to fast food and so reliant on technology, that they are woefully out of shape. Future humans get around using hovering chairs. Some of them are even too lazy to chew and prefer to drink their fast food. Their beverage of choice is some sort of food processed, junk food slurry/shake.
Verdict
This movie is a must-see.
At the end, you are left feeling happy and with a sudden urge to reduce, reuse and recycle.
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