If a sneak preview is any indication, Pixar is continuing its winning ways with WALL-E. An anonymous spy report says that Pixar's 2008 offering is another "spectacular" film from a studio that has yet to release a stinker.
"Monday evening a few friends and I saw what I presume was one of the first test screenings of WALL-E at the Lloyd Center," says the anonymous spy, writing to The Oregonian scribe Shawn Levy. "John Lassater (sic) was sitting behind us."
So what did this spy think of the partially-completed movie? "Pixar has done it again," he (or she) says, admitting a fondness for the studio's previous flick. ". . . Ratatouille was simply lovely and WALL-E is just as good if not better in it's (sic) own special way."
WALL-E "Darker" Than Previous Pixar Films
According to the report, the film "has a much darker tone than any other Pixar film thus far. People complained about this aspect in the focus group (see morons!), but I think they were failing to see that the tone was very much intentional and serves the story and the final outcome."
Earlier rumours claimed that WALL-E was going to be dialog-free for the first third of the movie. This spy report confirms this, also saying " . . . the first 30 to 45 minutes is just spectacular. There is no dialog, just simple actions and character's expressions of WALL-E, the cockroach Hal, and this robot that appears named EVE."
The spy claims that ". . . for a film that was roughly 80% complete with a plethora of storyboards and partially completed animation throughout, I was completely immersed!"
Temporary Soundtrack Takes Cues From Star Wars, Punch-Drunk Love, Brazil
"As the film was a work in progress the score was a temp track amalgam of John William's (sic) scores including some Star Wars cues (very subtle, discrete (sic) ones), some Superman music, music from Star Trek 2, Punch Drunk-Love(!!!), Brazil, and a few other films," the spy continues. "But it worked so brilliantly I would almost rather see the film released that way . . ."
"Ultimately this film is a very large step in direction towards . . . further raising the standard of quality Pixar films that much higher above the competition. There are no 'it' celebs of the moment in the film, nor a catchy pop song on the soundtrack . . . just quality storytelling."
Pretty high praise indeed, and is sure to get the salivary glands sizzling from Pixar fanboys (and girls) everywhere. Will WALL-E be yet another brilliant Pixar film? Will director Andrew Stanton and the rest of the Emeryville gang listen to the focus groups and tone down the darkness in the current script?
Find out when WALL-E opens June 27, 2008.
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