I adored WALL-E, both the movie and the character. I have to warn you, I could go on and on about it.
Don't worry, I won't.
I believe WALL-E brings together high art with its literary themes and low art with its mass entertainment. It tells a good, rich story that at once had me laughing, crying, and hoping, and examines themes that challenge philosophies and ideas of what is best morally and politically for culture.
I cried. Yes, I did. I love WALL-E even more than I loved Short Circuit. Yes, I absolutely believe robots can fall in love. And all I have to say is "I told you so." Yup, I did. I told you musicals can save the world. So strike up the band, my friends.
Speaking of, I love the music they used in the movie.
The story never once falters. It captures my attention and holds it. I thought the ending was cut a little short, but that's okay. It's still playing in my mind. In fact, the characters remain with me. I walk around the corner from my office and expect to see WALL-E (no comment from the peanut gallery on the mess he should be cleaning up).
Writers, pay attention: Pixar was able to send a message without preaching. Instead it engages us with excellent characters, with their needs and wants and struggles. The movie is not sentimental but emotional. The theme is found in backdrop but also found in the relationship between WALL-E and EVE and with the choices they have to make (what are their directives?). It has a perfect combination of engagement, entertainment, and evaluation (do I get 50 points for the alliteraion?). In fact, as I mentioned to Gordon yesterday, I'm calling that the Pixar factor from henceforth.
WALL-E left me feeling hopeful, like I can make a difference, and that difference starts with caring for the people around me and for the world around me (which sounds very Christian to me considering the second greatest commandment and our "directive" given in Genesis 1:28 to take care of the garden). The upside of The Road perhaps?
Now, for your entertainment, here's a short animated film by Pixar:
As for Wall-E, I can't agree more. Together with my 5-year-old nephew I was fascinated by this Pixar's creation. I recommend Wall-E to everybody who haven't watched it yet. You may download the movie following this link http://rapid4me.com/?q=wall-e
The world Pixar creates is so credible, you forget it is animation. Thumbs up for Wall-E as well, he is such a cute and adorable character, you will fall in love with him immediately.
Ah! I loved this movie, too. Maybe Mark's right about its being excessively cute . . . you can ask my husband, who had to sit through the entire movie listening to me whisper, "He is SO CUTE!!!!"
Sigh. Yes. I am in love with Wall-E. I walk around my house on a regular basis sliding my voice up and down in the way that he does, saying, "Wall-E!" and also saying, with a plaintive note, "Eve-a." I love how he called her Eve-a, didn't you? So cute that he could never quite get her name right, so that it formed a kind of nickname. :)
Sigh. I'm in love.
Oh, and as a postnote, I loved figuring out upon my return home from the movie that my two kitties' names perfectly fit into my impersonations alluded to above: "Soll-ie" and "Div-a"! Said in Wall-E's voice, of course, just like he said them in the movie.
I just read another blogger who didn't like it at all -- I wonder if it is an age thing??
I must go see it - now I am sooo curious.
My brother-in-law thought the movie was excessively cute. (I can see what he means about the robots dancing with fire extinguishers.)
But it IS a kid friendly movie. And I liked it.
I agree with you 100% about picking up on the theology of the "Directive" motif. I also thought it sent a message without preaching, but not everyone agrees.
My mother-in-law for instance hated Wall-E because, she said, it was too preachy. Interesting.
I didn't find it too preachy. But then I agreed with its message. If we aren't doing what we were created to do, the world's going to pot.
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