WALL-E

Where's WALL-E?


DETAILS:
Released - 18 July 2008
Certificate - U
Running Time - 102min
Director - Andrew Stanton
Screenwriters -Andrew Stanton and Jim Reardon
Producers -John Lasseter, Jim Morris
Production Design - Ralph Eggleston
Editing - Stephen Schaffer
Music - Thomas Newman
Theatrical distributor - Buena Vista
Country - USA


SYNOPSIS:
The last robot of his kind, WALL-E, has been accidentally been left behind on earth for seven hundred years. All alone he is still doing what he was initially assigned to do; cleaning the planet of its rubbish which has polluted the atmosphere. Longing for companionship he is overwhelmed when a robot from space named EVE appears. Although before long they are both whisked away onto a spaceship where all the surviving humans have been living. Here they must convince everyone that their planet is now hospitable as well as coming to terms with their true feelings for each other.

REVIEW:
There are several reasons as to why Pixar continues to dominate the children’s film market. At times their biggest rivals Disney and Dreamworks Animation Studios come close with the odd success but neither really threaten Pixar’s dominance. It is not just the skill of Pixar’s animation which is the key to their success but it is the fact their films have a heart. They are not primarily concerned with cheap childish jokes as they are more concerned that their films are touching as well as amusing on a level that appeals to both adults and children. This was true of Disney but it has since lost its identity that it has desperately tried to recapture through old franchises. Exploiting its legacy with countless sequels Disney are a shadow of their former selves. When Pixar first started they required Disney’s funding to function but now the tables have turned as without Pixar, Disney would not have as many successes affiliated with its name. With a huge boost in the amount of CGI animation films being produced and subsequent flops, CGI itself is not a guaranteed success. As Pixar continue to prove, it is in the quality of the storytelling that goes with it.

In this sci-fi, romance, Macguffin, comedy; Wall-E is a prime example to demonstrate such a theory. To begin with no dialogue is for uttered for forty minutes. In a nod towards silent cinema Wall E’s feelings are conveyed through nothing other than simple movement. A masterclass in animation Pixar have brought filmmaking back to its essential roots. Despite Wall E’s relatively basic features they are capable of conveying a whole world of emotion that dialogue never could. Despite such breathtaking cinematography such as Wall-E traveling through Saturn’s rings this merely comes second to Wall-E’s animation. It appears Pixar know they can produce the best CGI effects and subtly prove this now and again, but they are more concerned with Wall-E’s character over the extent of their animation skills.

But the greatest achievement of this film is in its underlying message. Despite its light hearted feel there is a serious recurrent message that lies beneath. I guarantee once you have seen this film you will begin to appreciate the small things in life we take for granted. No “children’s” film has ever been so powerful or touching for children and adults alike. Its messages about the environment and basic human emotions put things in real perspective without ever getting preachy. In a scarily dystopian vision the human race has become overweight and lifeless. Despite their power of speech they have become transfixed in a world of technology and are ignorant slobs who took their world for granted. This is a slight dig at American society and technology itself, both factors which allow Pixar to make these films in the first place. Therefore is a big risk of Pixar but it has paid off. They have really gone out on a whim and taken severe risks where they are not guaranteed profit which is the sign of true art.

TO SUM UP:
Pixar themselves are the real star of the film. Every single member of staff has contributed to this work of art that rightly deserves a best picture nomination. There are no self indulgent egos here begging for awards, just what Pixar want to do best. Wall-E is without a doubt the most likeable and selfless character to grace our screens. In a journey from pure innocence to experience, with the only ability to move his hands and eyes and speak three words maximum, nobody has ever felt this much for an inhuman species since Spielberg’s E.T.