Chris_Pandolfi
"A Robot with Heart"
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2008 computer-animated film produced by Pixar Animation Studios
< read all 37 reviewsA Robotic Love Story with Themes That Do Compute
-
Jun 30, 2008
- by JP_Rocky_Raccoon
- posted in Movie Hype
Rating:
As original as Pixar's `Wall-E' is, two films came to my mind. One is a quaint science fiction movie from the seventies, 'Silent Running' starring Bruce Dern, about a lone scientist who keeps the last forest safe on a vessel in outer space. Significantly, that film had the first robots in memory with two definable personalities, even a few years before 'Star Wars'. The other film is '2001 - A Space Odyssey,' a science fiction classic that upped the quality of science fiction on the big screen and provided the big budgets we now take for granted. In that film there was a space station run by a computer with a mind of its own creating a real human disaster and mutiny within the wastes of space. Unabashedly, they even use some of that soundtrack here.
+3
Entering 'Wall-E' I was impressed by the animation and the fluid action scenes. There are still plenty of new tricks to celebrate in this film, but the real chemistry comes from its two main characters. This time we follow the titled character (Ben Burtt), a dirty, worn robot who works like a trash compactor at the city dump. He gathers metal refuse and crushes it on his insides only to spit out building blocks for more city structures. We learn quickly about his personality when he goes home to a storage room like structure where he likes to unwind his circuits and watch an old videotape of `Hello, Dolly! Widescreen Edition'. A cockroach is his only companion, one of the few signs of life among the bleak city skyline. Partly endearing, partly a nuisance, some heart comes to the movie as we see him follow Wall-E around like a pet dog.
Enter a space rocket. It's a source of fear and fascination for Wall-E who's never seen such a thing. Out of the alien craft comes a probe; one that mechanically searches the data of everything it meets and destroys anything threatening on its sensors. As the tape gives him new meaning, he overcomes his fear and tries to meet this new robot, whom he learns to call "Eva" or "Eve". Wall-E tries to impress her using anything from bubble wrap to egg beaters; his clumsiness showing his softer side. Love blossoms, but is not received until one day the rocket returns and picks Eve up. Determined not to let a good thing go, Wall-E attaches his mechanical arms to the ship for dear life as he discovers a "brave new world" of comfy humans on a displaced technological "cruise ship" sent out for a five year journey. Chaos ensues when Eve returns with a plant found in her inner workings after Wall-E gave it to her as a gift. It doesn't fit the cruise control they're accustomed to.
Without being heavy handed or cynical, `Wall-E' charms us with its contrast. We get all the themes implied here, but we receive it in such a glowing way, it never leaves the residue of desolation the movie so warmly, yet desperately, persuades us to leave behind. Although the movie is received differently by children and adults, there's plenty for everyone to appreciate in this wholehearted movie offering.
(Anyone familiar with 1981's 'Heartbeeps,' starring Bernadette Peters and Andy Kaufman, knows that this movie idea has been done before. Without the careful care of Pixar's craftmanship and imagination, 'Heartbeeps' demonstates that, in the wrong hands, these movie ideas can sometimes bring disastrous results.)
(More traditional is "Presto," which continues Disney's admirable throwback to fine pre-feature animated entertainment.)
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After being annoyed by this film's advertisements plastered all over public transit cars, I didn't really care to see it. But, a friend brought the DVD over one day and it turned out to be an excellent movie! For a "kid's" movie, it's quite innovative and sophisticated. First off, the visuals in this film are incredible! The rich colors and textures are quite mesmerizing. Since it takes place in both a decaying, dirty, abandoned earth and … more
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Robots can hold an audience, absolutely! Ok, so I am the biggest skeptic when it comes to certain movies and especially cartoon movies. Don't get me wrong, some of my favorite movies are in animation, but robots? I did not want to see this movie for nothing. I thought of all the Disney/Pixar films, this was going to be one of the worst because it had seemed to be one of the most hyped films. Ok, so we start out with Wall-E on a deserted earth trekking daily out to his … more
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Compliments (36)
WALL-E is about the most unconventional animated feature film you will likely ever encounter. It’s strange, it’s moving, it’s powerful, and it’s pretty darn spectacular. Realistically speaking, this shouldn’t come as much of a surprise considering this is big-budget Pixar/ Disney all the way, was done by the director of Finding Nemo, and boarded by the creative storytellers behind Cars and Ratatouille. By now you’ve read … more
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review by A1CJonathanLane.
January 31, 2010
Pixar has come of age my friends. Pixar has never made a bad movie, in fact I'd consider almost all of them to be a masterpiece, but none of them, before now, have tried to be anything more then emotional family affairs, not that there is anything wrong with that, but they weren't necessarily deep, meaningful beyond personal issues, or revealed anything about our society. Now, I say again, there isn't anything wrong with that, but Wall-E goes beyond … more
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Quick Tip by Loren_Woirhaye.
September 16, 2010
cute flick about little robot. funny segment where the bot goes into space and encounters slug-like humans with little minds and no initiative served by a robot work-force.
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Quick Tip by ttorriero.
September 02, 2010
pixar wins again...like they always do. With barely any, if not any, spoken dialogue in this movie but some beeps and sounds that only come from things you can purchase at best buy, it still captivates you and I'm not gonna lie def made me cry..one tear...I work out
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This futuristic film follows the adventures of a lonely robot named Wall-E who follows an intriguing "female" robot EVE to a large spaceship, within which the remaining human population is residing after evacuating Earth many years earlier after it was essentially destroyed by an overabundance of man-made garbage. The reason this movie is so intriguing is that it holds audiences fully captivated with minimal to no dialogue for most of the movie, a trait unheard … more
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Quick Tip by Robertsolari.
July 22, 2010
the first half has no dialogue which is fantastic sound production
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Probably the most adorable, heart wrenching pieces of political animation ever conceived. You'll be singing Hello Dolly for weeks
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Definitely not Pixar's best but charming nevertheless. Makes me fear for the future a bit.
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About the reviewer
John L. Peterson (JP_Rocky_Raccoon)
Ranked #39
Ranked #39
I am a substitute teacher who enjoysonline reviewing. Skiing is my favorite pastime; weight training and health are my obsessions;and music and movies feed my psyche. Books are a treasure and a pleasure … more
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About this movie
WALL-E is a 2008 computer-animated science fiction film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and directed by Andrew Stanton. It follows the story of a robot named WALL-E who is designed to clean up a waste-covered Earth far in the future. He eventually falls in love with another robot named EVE, and follows her into outer space on an adventure that changes the destiny of both his kind and humanity.
After directing Finding Nemo, Stanton felt Pixar had created believable simulations of underwater physics and was willing to direct a film largely set in space. Most of the characters do not have actual human voices, but instead communicate with body language and robotic sounds, designed by Ben Burtt, that resemble voices. In addition, it is the first animated feature by Pixar to have segments featuring live-action characters.
Walt Disney Pictures released it in the United States and Canada on June 27, 2008. The film grossed US$23.1 million on its opening day, and $63 million during its opening weekend in 3,992 theaters, ranking #1 at the box office. This ranks as the fourth highest-grossing opening weekend for a Pixar film as of May 31, 2009. Following Pixar tradition, WALL-E was paired with a short film, Presto, for its theatrical release. WALL-E has been met with overwhelmingly positive reviews among critics, scoring an approval rating of 96% on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.
It grossed $534 million worldwide, won the 2008 Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature...
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After directing Finding Nemo, Stanton felt Pixar had created believable simulations of underwater physics and was willing to direct a film largely set in space. Most of the characters do not have actual human voices, but instead communicate with body language and robotic sounds, designed by Ben Burtt, that resemble voices. In addition, it is the first animated feature by Pixar to have segments featuring live-action characters.
Walt Disney Pictures released it in the United States and Canada on June 27, 2008. The film grossed US$23.1 million on its opening day, and $63 million during its opening weekend in 3,992 theaters, ranking #1 at the box office. This ranks as the fourth highest-grossing opening weekend for a Pixar film as of May 31, 2009. Following Pixar tradition, WALL-E was paired with a short film, Presto, for its theatrical release. WALL-E has been met with overwhelmingly positive reviews among critics, scoring an approval rating of 96% on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.
It grossed $534 million worldwide, won the 2008 Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature...
Director:
Andrew Stanton
Genre:
Family
Release Date:
June 27, 2008
MPAA Rating:
G
Screen Writer:
Andrew Stanton
Runtime:
1hr 37min
Studio:
Walt Disney Pictures,
Pixar Animation Studios
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