Review of WALL·E (2008) by Mae T — 27 Jun 2015

*GREAT MOVIE*.

There are certain things people have come to expect from Disney Pixar films at this point. The main expectation is that the film will be lovable and entertaining to people of all ages. Their previous films, "Toy Stories 1 & 2", "A Bug's Life", "Monster's Inc.", "Finding Nemo", "Ratatouille" and even later films like "Up" and "Toy Story 3" have all succeeded. They're all adorable, memorable, and undeniably clever. The 2008 film "WALLâ?Ã,¢E" is another Pixar production that manages to be fantastic for people of all ages. However, I feel "WALLâ?Ã,¢E" has reached an entirely different level of filmmaking.

"WALLâ?Ã,¢E" is a special movie for so many reasons. Obviously it's going to be compared to Pixar's previous films, and for many reasons, it should be. But I hope people will understand, after time perhaps, the true power and brilliance of the film. It's received much praise from critics, Pixar lovers, and just average movie goers, but I don't feel it has made a spot as the superior Pixar film. My goal in this review is to convince you of its brilliance and wonder, and hopefully you too will reconsider, if you have not yet already.

Like I said earlier, "WALLâ?Ã,¢E" was a very well liked film by critics and fans, and received an Oscar for best Animated Feature, as well as some other nominations. I still feel it has been underrated and perhaps not appreciated to its full extent.

The adorable robot WALLâ?Ã,¢E is about as lovable as any Pixar protagonist should be. He's curious, and fascinating to watch. The short moments that take place on Earth in the beginning of the film are some of the most delightful. Along with being cute for the children, the film reveals many extremely important aspects of the story. These machines were left behind on Earth to clean up, while all the remaining humans took off in spaceships. It appears that our protagonist is the only one left still working. He's lonely, but keeps his spirits up by showing interest in many man-made objects that he tries to understand.

His most challenging comprehension: love. It may seem stupid or ridiculous, but remember that this is a kids movie. And even if it wasn't a kids movie, it's not stupid and it's not ridiculous, under the circumstances of the film. WALLâ?Ã,¢E watches "Hello Dolly" on an IPod, and is showing interest in a particular scene in which two characters embrace. The feeling of loneliness in this poor little robot is perfectly portrayed after a scene of emptiness and curiosity out in the wastes of the Earth that remain. WALLâ?Ã,¢E's loneliness goes perfectly with his surroundings.

Most of the film takes place on a spaceship, and I have to explain why this occurs, and I'm sorry for explaining key areas of the plot. However, since this is a great movie, as usual, I feel it is necessary. WALLâ?Ã,¢E, the adorable robot longing for a partner, happens upon a spacecraft that has just landed in the wastes. Out comes a beautiful, somewhat frightening, female robot capable of firing lasers and hovering. After some distant admiration, WALLâ?Ã,¢E and EVE join as a curious pair.

Some more information, but mainly an analysis of a brilliant scene: Earlier in the movie, WALLâ?Ã,¢E stumbled upon something odd. He opened a fridge to find a beautiful, growing, green object: A plant.

Love is powerful, even robot love, but EVE's mission is what she is programmed to do. After WALLâ?Ã,¢E shows her the plant, she is shut down until she's picked up by the small ship, just to return to the mothership (The Axiom) out in the vast emptiness of space. While this incredibly thought-provoking and interesting science fiction story is happening, it's being charged by the power of WALLâ?Ã,¢E's love for EVE. He desperately tries to wake her after she is shut down, and he follows her to the Axiom.

I'm still amazed whenever thinking about this movie, how well it stands as a children's movie and a science fiction film. On the Axiom, all humans are overweight and have been overpowered by technology. Indeed, the film is also prophetic. The story from here on out is too wonderful to describe, and all throughout, it remains adorable and funny, just how Pixar tends to be.

So my general opinion of this wonderful robot love story is that it should be understood in a few ways: 1. It's a very energetic, entertaining and lovable children's film about a beautiful robot relationship. And 2. It's a fascinating science fiction idea, prophetic and smart.