As Sempai, do you think there is ever going to be a day where humans and robots can peacefully co-exist?

A review of WALL-E

Just a heads up--the following post contains info about the plot of WALL-E, go figure.


It's a tale as old as technology. Boy robot meets girl robot, girl robot goes back into space, boy robot follows her into the final frontier, boy and girl robot must save the human race.
I had been vaguely interested in this movie based purely on the fact it's a Pixar film. I read so many positive reviews yesterday (which is a major testament to the power of the internet) that I knew I had to see it opening weekend. And really, what can I say other than Pixar has done it again?

Pixar has this enviable ability to be able to portray raw and relatable human emotion in the most unlikely of subjects. They've covered toys, insects, fish, monsters, automobiles, and rats. (In my opinion, their strongest film yet is The Incredibles, but they were dealing with people in that one.) What makes WALL-E so impressive to me is that it seems like Andrew Stanton and crew viewed this the film as a challenge to improve everything else they have done before.

It first ups the ante because communication is dealt with in a very R2-D2 fashion of beeps and mechanical whirls. However, you still easily understand the longing of WALL-E for EVE and EVE's frustration with WALL-E. Secondly, the soundtrack melds together futuristic themes with some very old-fashioned stylings. One of the most beautiful scenes is aided by Louis Armstrong's La Vie en Rose in the background. Lastly, the color palette on earth is muted and stark, but still stunning in its own way. It's one thing to show that the undersea is lovely with bold fish as in Finding Nemo, but to use mainly shades of brown and still get the impression of earth's grandeur? That's some crazy talent.

Like all good movies for kids, it's more than enough to keep the adults engaged. A major strength of Pixar to other studios is that Pixar relies on rich storytelling and keeping the animation brimming with details as opposed to crass innuendos and pop culture references. Granted, it does allude to 2001: A Space Odyssey, Star Wars: A New Hope, and Short Circuit, but I think those are requisites for making a movie about space.

I loved the intertwining of Hello, Dolly! It's always been a favorite musical of mine and my senior year of high school I was in the pit orchestra for that show with all of my friends. I particularly adored the emphasis on hand-holding--in today's world there's so much focus on rushing the physical aspect of relationships. It was nice to return to a period where something simple like hand-holding meant a great deal. Heck, I still get giddy over the prospect. The romantic aspect of the show is terribly endearing, especially one scene set in zero-gravity.

Naturally, John Ratzenburger makes an appearance. I'm sure it's filled with other easter eggs, but I was too wrapped up in the story to pick up on them, so a re-watch is needed. The credits are gorgeously crafted. There's no extra end-bit like in Cars or A Bug's Life, but just stay for the new Peter Gabriel song and the art. Oh, also! The pre-film short is called Presto! and it's delightful. The story is about a magician and his rabbit in a brilliant homage to Bugs Bunny and the classic Looney Tunes. Chuck Jones would be proud.

There are a few take-home messages, namely 1. Take care of the planet, 2. Hard work is more rewarding than the easy way out, and 3. Stuff is less important than relationships. They aren't heavy-handed; in fact, they're important lessons for the upcoming generations to learn. It's also interesting to look at it as an updated version of Plato's Allegory of the Cave. Honestly, I think the main moral I learned came from Pixar in general--put the most effort and care into your work you possibly can. Not because of the money, not because of the praise, but because the things you love deserve your best labor. The passionate production of WALL-E shows and the time spent is entirely worth it.
4/4 Stars