Review: Wall-E
Well, I can not hide the fact (especially since I mentioned it last week) that I was really looking forward to seeing the latest Pixar Studio creation, Wall-E. This is of course, a double edge sword. On the one hand (and I have no problem admitting it), I am a Pixar fan. They have completely redone animation, and made it not about creating a cartoon, but about using the animated medium to tell real stories, with solid plotlines (much to the chagrin of some that can’t seem to get past the fact that the story is animated and I guess would prefer a mindless slapstick piece instead.)
On the other hand with high expectations, comes the potential for a monumental disappointment. I mean, Pixar hasn’t thrown a clunker (in my opinion) since A Bug’s Life.
So, this weekend I piled the family into the car and we headed off to see the latest installment. The one thing that concerned me, and I did not fill in TheWife and LatteGirl in on ahead of time, was that the first 1/2 hour or so of the film has absolutely no dialog, and I wasn’t sure how this would play out. We also had the issue that LatteGirl was uncertain about going to see this movie. Her friends had already tagged this a “boys film” because it deals with space and robots. So, she was leery to begin with, and was the complete opposite of my “highly anticipated” vantage point, and I thought would or could pose an interesting alternate views of the movie.
I won’t hold out any longer to let you know.. I loved this movie. Pixar once again showed, that not only are they masters at animation, they are excellent story tellers. But what did the skeptical 8 year old think? She loved it even more than I did. How much? Well, before we actually got home from the theater, she asked if we could go see it again next week, and even offered to use her birthday money to pay for everyone to go again.
It really didn’t take long for me to get past my original complaint about how Wall-E looked like Johnny 5 from Short Circuit. I completely forgot about it very quickly and just saw the new character. The graphics in this film looked a bit more… I don’t know… “cartoony” than some other Pixar films, but that was probably a conscience decision as it really fit the scenery and futuristic theme and feel of the movie quite well.
There were some message’s in this film that people who are so dead set against having a clean planet that any message along those lines is a battle cry of “subversive,” “anti-consumer,” “anti-corporation” and other such non-sense. It is true, there is certainly a stance being shown, how we need to care for our planet and care for ourselves. But, only if you are so hell bent on being “anti-human” does it really affect your movie experience. (I could go on about this for some time, but this is about the movie, so I will stop here on this particular matter… for now)
I am not going to try and break this film down. One, I never do “spoilers” and two, there is just no way (without the spoilers) I could do this any justice, other than to say this. For those with “boys” (I put that in quotes, because I am sure there are some girls that enjoy this stuff as well) there is space and robots and slap-stick comedy. For the “girls,” there is the pre-adolescent sort of “chick flick” love story angle. For everybody, there is a good time to be had. Load up the family and take ‘em all to see Wall-E.
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I may have to go to this one alone. Clare doesn’t want to see it and won’t change her mind. I think she considers it a boy movie and may also be a little scared of the space stuff.
What! You didn’t like A Bug’s Life?
I’m looking forward to seeing this one. Unfortunately, it will probably be a few months before we have the time.
So do I need to bring the kleenex or no?
I got a sneak preview of the movie on a speaking engagement in California – yeah, I don’t know how in the hell that gig happened either! – and Pixar seemed to be very proud and excited to be making this movie. How, “the timing was just right” and all. I had my doubts. Now, your review has been jazzed to see the rest. Thanks, man!
We saw it last week, and it was a hit at casa cmhl as well.
My favorite part? The people in the chairs. Their general “appearance.” LOVED it. and loved the reaction once they got OUT of the chairs.
Yea, Yea, Yea. I’ve heard some great reviews, but also some mixed reviews.
I am a HUGE Pixar fan. I love the clever stories, I love that they are mostly without unnecessary innuendo, I love that they stand up to repeated viewings (my son went through a Monsters, Inc phase and it held up quite well). I also love that romance is not central to most plots, unlike the Disney formula.
I haven’t seen it yet, but my kids (9 and 4) are both dying to see it.