In many ways this following review is unlike any I’ve ever written before. For many years now I have considered myself an avid film enthusiast and pride myself in having seen some of the greatest cinematic achievements that have ever graced our planet. However, I recently found myself trying to once and for all clear up my mind and make my decision on what I believed was the best film company that had ever existed. Immediately large corporations such as Paramount and Universal came to mind, but while they had enormous shining gems within their basket I found that I had to think through heaps of what can sometimes be considered complete garbage before I found them. Such is not the case though with the wonderful minds at Pixar. Since 1995 when they made their first feature film in complete computer animation Toy Story, Pixar has enchanted the minds of movie goers of all ages with each new release. From Monster’s Inc. to Finding Nemo, Pixar has been living the high life no doubt as one of the most successful companies in the world right now. They have made a total of eight films and all have dazzled both critically and commercially, however it was thought highly improbable that they could keep this winning streak up forever. They came close to breaking their incredible record with the movie Cars and this year they have released a small film by the name Wall E.
Wall E follows the life of a small robot that was left on Earth for the purpose of solving the planet’s garbage problem; a problem that had gotten so big that humans have had to leave the Earth and are now flying in a ship in space as their home. Wall E is the last remaining robot of the cleaning crew and we know this because we are shown several other Wall Es broken down amongst the heaps of garbage that now cover the Earth. After 700 years of cleaning with nothing but a small cockroach by his side a spaceship arrives on Earth and deploys another small little robot that Wall E grows incredibly fond of. Further discussion surrounding the movie’s plot could ruin the very essence of the experience for you so I will speak of it no more. I will leave the plot to be discovered by your very own eyes as you marvel at the incredible creation that is happening before your eyes while you sit in the theaters.
The movie, as all previous Pixar movies have been, looks incredible and amazingly detailed. This is animation that not even Walt Disney himself could have imagined, and animation that I doubt any other company could ever achieve. The movie is gorgeous and the character design as well is flawless. Wall E fits perfectly in our minds as a retro robot especially when beside the obviously futuristic technology that is Eve, the robot scout. The movie has very little dialogue, with I’m sure no more than ten minutes worth of actual vocals in the entire movie, and yet we learn so much about the characters through their actions and we care for them more in this way. Adding actual dialogue in between the romance of Wall E and Eve would have completely broken the marvelous wonder that was the barrier in between their communications.
With hardly any dialogue and being all visual one would most likely expect the movie to be a slow paced movie that doesn’t really go anywhere and while it’s true that the movie doesn’t always rush itself, the first forty five minutes of the film before we get to outer space truly qualifies, I believe, as some of the best work Pixar has done. They created a post apocalyptic type Earth so incredibly that I Am Legend’s opening sequences seemed laughable at in some ways.
However, while being a G rated film, the movie does have its dark undertones. It serves its purpose well as a film that’s telling the story of a young robot but it also chilled me to my very core to see a very realistic portrayal of what could very be our nearby future. I won’t spoil anymore but when you see it with your own eyes you will feel it in your gut. The movie hardly goes into an environmental or preachy tone but strikes a balance so perfectly that you may sometimes hardly even notice that it is trying to send the world a message and it does this so well without ever diverting from the story. What helps the dark undertone even more is the incredible score composed by Thomas Newman. At the beginning of the film as we see Wall E from a distance walking through the vacant garbage infested Earth I was feeling millions of emotions flowing through me as the music entered my ears. The emotions ranged from intrigue and anticipation to depression and fear. If even for those few opening scenes, the movie easily deserves an Oscar nod for its deliciously emotional score.
Usually I find myself basking in the negatives of a movie, blaringly and sometimes hurtfully pointing out every single flaw while occasionally hinting at some good, but in this rare case I find myself having no complaints. I have finally found a movie that I can name no faults in. Is this the greatest movie Pixar has ever made? Possibly. Is it the greatest animated movie? It could be. One thing is certain though, with Nine incredible movies Pixar has certainly earned it’s title as the greatest Film Company ever, and I don’t expect it to be giving up it’s title in my mind any time soon.
Just a quick nod of approval, not only to Oscar, but also to Pixar and their movie “Wall E. I’ve always considered myself lucky to still appreciate cartoons. Especially since the cartoons of today carry so many positive messages.
Such is the case with “Wall E”. Upon seeing previews, it seems like a cute and humorous movie about a rusty, outdated robot who falls for an updated, state-of-the art robot. Oh, but it is so much more.
As Oscar pointed out, it would not be fair to spoil it for those who have yet to experience this movie. I will leave readers with a tease: How wonderful would our world be like if we had robots to clean up after us and always had some mode of transporation to get us from point A to point B? “Wall E” provides a wonderful and emotional view of that world.
Although I do agree with your assessment, I feel that Wall-E was more a graduation of intended audience rather than a pinnacle achievement in talent. Don’t get me wrong; I give it 4 out of 5 stars. I like the film quite nicely and rank it in the upper echelon of Pixar products, yet I cannot escape the thought that Wall-E is merely a changing of targeted audience. Simply put, I haven’t met a kid that can sit through it. Yet, I sit through it tickled and hark back to the days of symphonic Looney Tunes. No dialogue, just emotion and intent conveyed via movement and action. A feat not easily achieved, yet Pixar accomplishes it like the seasoned professional that we expect from them. The problem is that for all it achieves, I don’t attach myself to any of it. I watch it. I enjoy it. And then the experience leaves me. I don’t hold on to it in any meaningful way. Yet, I still have moments of comic flashback from A Bug’s Life or Finding Nemo, just as I do from Looney Tunes cartoons from my childhood (although those memories are a bit more murky). And yes, I do recognize the environmentalist tone and message of the film, but as a Pixar cartoon feature, I don’t know if such a heavy theme is, in and of itself, a qualifier for a Citizen Kane status of greatness.
Well, that’s my two cents. All in all, your review was well-stated and intelligent.
I must say, “Bravo, sir.” A fittingly well put review of a great film. I really would have to be in concurrence with your statement about Pixar. It truly is the one and only studio to produce almost solely ground-breaking movies. The only dud, I think, was the Wild. One thing that might have some people complaining is the product placement of Macs, but quite honestly, the only peopel who would notice support Apple anyway, so they, like me, would just find it a bit humerous. I recall seeing this in the theater and hearing the adult portion of the audience chuckle when Wall E was booting up.
So, great review overall, and an amazing artistic masterpiece of a film.
Your review of Wall-E captures the material of the film in an extremely unique and articulate manner, however, it seems to me that Wall-E as with a number of films by the Pixar studio, cannot be given justice with words such as we critics might use here.
The simple majesty of seeing the intricate dance embarked upon by Eva and Wall-E in the depths of space serve to astound and awe the audience while other moments serve to render an audience speechless.
It is not enough to say that Wall-E is simply a good film, it is not. It is a delight to behold, for audiences young and old alike. Pixar’s delight seems to be in astounding their audience and i completely agree when you say they have done it again in Wall-E.
ULtimately i am forced to agree with TheMaster’s statement and say ‘great review overall, and an amazing artistic masterpiece of a film’.