WALL-E: An Animated, Apocalyptic Family Film
A Film Review of Pixar's WALL-E as a Commentary on Our Future
WALL-E is the film parents and children have been waiting for. Directed and written by Andrew Stanton of Finding Nemo with the help of writers Pete Docter and Juim Reardon, it is clean family fun, appropriate and entertaining for all ages.
The Plot of WaLL-E
It is set on planet Earth, 800 years into the future. The planet is deserted except for one robot, WALL-E, and his adorable sidekick cockroach, who continuously gets swished throughout the film but still lives on.
Sadly, when the movie begins, WALL-E, or Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class, compacts garbage into cubes. He still attempts his job day after day, despite the apocalyptic empty streets and mountains of trash. Each evening, he retreats to a small home filled with salvaged treasures. Here he plays a Hello, Dolly! videotape and desperately seeks someone to hold his hand, his understanding of true love after watching the video.
Then along comes EVE, probe-droid with a laser gun and a secret directive. And WALL-E falls into unrequited love. This love takes them to outerspace and to the surviving humans on the AXIOM spaceship, the voice by Sigourney Weaver. Without spoiling the plot, WALL-E, EVE, and the Captain of the Axiom, voice by Jeff Garlin, must fight against apathy and change the future of mankind.
WALL-E’s character immediately grabs the audience’s attention, without technically speaking in human language. His mannerisms and sounds are robotic but come remarkably close to portraying human emotions. The sound and character voice designer for WALL-E, Ben Burtt, also created the voice of R2-D2 and light saber sounds in Star Wars, the crack of Indiana Jones's whip, the hiss for Alien. And it shows. The sounds give the film its authenticity and forces audiences to believe that WALL-E truly seeks companionship. Burtt should expect an award for his effort.
Theme of Pollution and Environmental Concerns in WALL-E
WALL-E represents a stark vision of our future. Mountains of garbage have taken over Earth, making it inhabitable. The sheer waste alone will make you want to go home and recycle. When the camera pans out, WALL-E’s undying passion for his job becomes heartbreaking as audiences realize how futile his work is.
WALL-E strikes one major nerve in everyone: this really could be our future if we continue on the path we are on. That is why this movie is important for all ages; this is a lesson we all must learn, a possibility we all must face.
Theme of Obesity and Technology in WALL-E
Finally, we meet the humans. And they are fat, all of them. The obese humans sit on flying chairs complete with interactive monitors. They never interact with other people, they never stand up and walk, they never make intelligent decisions. They rely solely on technology for their every whim, and if they fall off their chairs, robots come and help them back up. And they are still creating garbage.
Two humans, John, played by John Ratzenberger of Cheers, and Mary, played by Kathy Najimy, who is also the voice of Peggy Hill on King of the Hill, accidentally interact thanks to WALL-E. They are shocked by how much beauty and how many experiences they have missed glued to their interactive units.
Ironically, a movie with robot main characters set in our future sends a strong message against humans relying on technology. Humans become obsolete and useless. It’s embarrassing. It’s sad. But it’s excellent for this generation to ponder.
WALL-E wishes to have love the way humans can, and humans want to interact like robots on screens, forgetting that they have bodies, minds, and souls capable of extraordinary things, like saving a polluted planet.
Four and a half out of five stars.
Visit the Official WALL-E Site!
