WALL-E Movie Review
New bias. Animated films. It’s funny since I started admitting my bias’ in reviews, they are starting to add up, and that’s just in the world of film. And I fashioned myself so open and progressive, so go figure. But there it is; I never ever-ever choose to see animated films on the big screen. And I rarely watch them after. Quite by accident I recently watched “Ratatouille” and found it enjoyable, but that’s about it. I don’t think I liked them as a kid even-I was always too into “Star Wars” “The Godfather” and anything with Clint Eastwood (yes, even the monkey movies). But two things led me to a theatrical viewing of “Wall E.” And the most important was a passionate advocacy for the film from a close longtime friend.
And it rakes. See this film. What’s your angle? Environmentalists wet dream in the form of cautionary tale. Anti-corporate satire. Buster Keatonish silent comedy. Film artist with a love for the visual art of storytelling. Someone with kids who wants to be entertained as well. Honestly I don’t know who wouldn’t like “Wall E.” And I hesitate to give away too much of the film, but at well under 2 hours it’s pace is brisk, even though you won’t hear much or any dialogue for the first half hour. The visuals, Pixar, are amazing. Oh, and did I mention it’s a love story?
Plot outline: It’s the future. Wall E is a trash compactor. And he seems to be the only thing left on earth. He goes about his duty compacting trash, and there is quite a bit of it, and in the evening he watches “Hello Dolly.”
And then: corporate dystopian future, love story, space story, etc. etc. That’s in the details that I wouldn’t dare reveal. I have only seen or heard of one person not liking this film; he critiqued it for a happy ending. Would you suggest that the children go home crying?
The question rings in my mind: “So you gonna see the next Pixar film?” That depends, is it societal critique shaded by brilliant visual and comedic storytelling packaged as children’s entertainment, or is it about a mouse that cooks French food?
After you have seen this film, ask yourself-how shockingly anti societal is this piece? Am I the only one watching? Has corporate malfeasance suddenly become so ho hum it’s accepted right along with the happy ending. But wait, I did just see an IPOD and hear a registered trademark apple computer turning off. So don’t worry, they’re just outsmarting you. Or, the suits with the money knew that writer/director Andrew Stanton, state of the art technology, and numerous technicians, artists and worker bees could pull off a thing of Pixar beauty. And they did.
Story: WALL-E the trash compactor is all alone on earth in a dystopian future. I won’t give away another inch. A
Acting: Er, it’s not people, though I suppose they do give the voices. A
Visuals: Incredible. A
Originality/Innovation: See above. A
Enjoyability Grade: Big time. A
Overall Grade: Everything I could never even dream of from a summer blockbuster Pixar film. A
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