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Author Topic: Wall • E (2008) Adam Wilbert Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 590 From: Bellingham, WA, USA Registered: Mar 2002 posted 06-30-2008 11:43 PM                        While not my favorite Pixar film, it certainly is the most politically charged, and for that alone I'll give it a solid thumbs up. The strength of the film is deeper than the overlying love story, and even beyond the warnings of overconsumption. To me, the movie is much more about stewardship ethics, and how sustainable use of any resource (be it a planet, a plant, or a rubiks cube), begins with an underlying sense of awe and wonder about that resource. I think that the movie presents a valuable message to kids, but an even more valuable message for adults. I do, however, wish that Pixar was ballsy enough (or had enough clout), to not just "talk-the-talk" but to actually defend their thesis with regard to their marketing tie-ins and the tons of physical cruft that this film will generate. So no, Jonathan, the irony isn't lost on me.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 06-30-2008 11:45 PM                        Well I didn't like Wall-E too much, but it's about ten billion times better than "Short Circuit."  |  IP: Logged Allison Parsons Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 630 From: East Peoria, IL Registered: Oct 2004 posted 07-01-2008 12:13 AM                        quote: Galen Murphy-Fahlgren What other films does it have references to that anyone has caught? There were a few Blade Runner-esk scenes, mainly the shots of the 'city' in the ship. And a total homage to the Ripley vs Alien Queen airlock scene in Aliens, when Wall-e and Eve go down the trash shoot and get forced the airlock itself. But other than that, I'm going to need to watch it a few more times....and probably will.  |  IP: Logged Bobby Henderson "Ask me about Trajan." Posts: 10973 From: Lawton, OK, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 07-01-2008 10:10 AM                     Location: Carmike 8, Lawton, OK Auditorium: #4 Format: 2K DLP, 2048 X 852 pixels Rating: 3 stars out of 4 I liked Wall•E, but not as much as some of Pixar's best movies -such as Andrew Stanton's last directorial effort, Finding Nemo. Satire is good when it is handled with the right sense of balance. Overdo it and you run the risk of weighing down the story with heavy-handed baggage. The same goes for any "message." Get too obvious with it and it can get preachy and tedious. Wall•E is guilty on both counts. The comedic moments and characterizations of Wall•E, Eve and some of the other robots were enough to keep me entertained throughout. The "Buy-N-Large" buildings, signs and other stuff were great as abandoned artifacts on a trash-covered Earth, but the joke should have stayed on Earth. Sure, it's funny to see consuming obsessed Americans satirized as helpless, lazy, fat blobs that can't even walk. It's even more funny to see some viewers get pissed off at the joke. Get off yer Barcalounger and run some laps, bitch! Unfortunately, the concept just doesn't seem practical or believable in the story. I laughed at the material enough to be entertained by it. However it was just mundane, average, pedestrian, etc. Great movies get you caught up in the experience, but this sort of thing just pushes the viewer out of that "bubble." I think Pixar should have either toned down the "Buy-N-Large" in space stuff down a few notches or pushed the movie in an entirely different direction. I think Pixar broke a sort of rule in animation by showing some live action footage on video displays in the movie. Fred Willard may be funny. However, I think his character should have been CG based rather than live action for the sake of visual consistency. Wall•E isn't Who Framed Roger Rabbit. The best thing about Wall•E is the technical stuff. Pixar raised the standards bar on computer animation yet another notch. They did a great job of simulating the CinemaScope look, including the optical distortions and exaggerated depth of field effects. Some of the rack-focus moves used for dramatic effect were served well by the 'scope visual theme. Ben Burtt's sound design and effects will have him in the running for another Oscar.  |  IP: Logged Brian Michael Weidemann Expert cat molester Posts: 944 From: Costa Mesa, CA United States Registered: Feb 2004 posted 07-01-2008 03:10 PM                        Live action Fred Willard worked, only because the series of captains photos made the transition for us. Not only do the captains through the centuries get flabbier, they get more cartoony. The first few are real humans! Either that was a cheap way to get away, once again, with cartoony humans instead of trying to work out the zombie-ness of life-like human characters ... or it was an insightful extension to the social commentary, what we as a people are turning into. Either way, Fred Willard rules.  |  IP: Logged Allison Parsons Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 630 From: East Peoria, IL Registered: Oct 2004 posted 07-01-2008 04:42 PM                        Someone told me they were surprised there wasn't any fast food chain tie-ins with the movie. I then said "have you seen the movie? Because I'm sure there is no way any fast food chain will do one!"  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 07-01-2008 08:38 PM                        Yeah....if I was Wal Mart, I wouldn't carry the toys, either.  |  IP: Logged Matt Fields Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 545 From: Ohio, United States Registered: Jun 2005 posted 07-01-2008 10:47 PM                     I tried to find Wall-E toys at Wal-Mart and there wasn't any. Only Wall-E stuff were T-shirts and a poster.  |  IP: Logged Ben Goodman Film Handler Posts: 32 From: Danbury, CT Registered: Apr 2008 posted 07-03-2008 03:40 PM                     I went into this movie expecting a comedy and a kid's movie. I don't think it was either one. Definitely had some cute and funny moments, but this was a romance-- some comedic elements, some dramatic elements, but largely a romance. It was an interesting change for Pixar and I did enjoy the movie quite a bit. 3/4. And for what it's worth, the 5 minute short at the beginning was hilarious.  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 07-04-2008 10:43 PM                     So I went to see it today with the family... Apex Calvert V Screen #4 Format: 35mm film (.690"x .825") Sound: Dolby Digital Presentation Problems: None other than the screen is showing its seams a bit...the print was exceptionally clean, steady and sharp...just as film should be. The detail is a bit wanting but that is a constant with me on Pixar films. This one did not do it for me in the story department. I think visually, the movie has quite a bit of merit and the sound was quite good...very well mixed and otherwise enjoyable. I don't have a particular problem with the political messages but this film just didn't have me caring about the main characters so much. So a 2.5/5 from me. The short at the beginning was more of a 4 out of 5 though. I think I'd rather see Short Circuit again than this and sorry...Wall*E looks too much like Number-5. I'd definately prefer to see Silent Running again over this (also has robots). Steve  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 07-05-2008 04:07 AM                        The movie was pretty good if a bit preachy (I am an enemy of the environment so I do not approve). No need for Fred Willard... he wasn't even funny. The short was OK... I liked the concept better when it was called Portal (it's a great videogame).  |  IP: Logged David Stambaugh Film God Posts: 4021 From: Eugene, Oregon Registered: Jan 2002 posted 07-05-2008 05:22 PM                        Today at Regal 15 in Eugene, #15, NEC 2K DLP. Perfect presentation. Initially I wanted to see this. Then I heard it has a strong environmental "message". Well that's usually a big turnoff to me so I almost passed on it. But I relented and decided to see it anyway, but with great hesitation. I have not seen all the Pixar movies, but of the ones I have seen, this is my new favorite. I liked Dreamworks' Kung Fu Panda a lot. In fact I think I said it's the equal of any Pixar movie. I take that back. KFP, although entertaining, is a minor-league effort compared to Wall•E. And amazingly I was not offended in the least by the blatant environmental message. That's a first. Why didn't it bug me? I can't explain why, it just didn't. Wall•E is a masterpiece of modern animated filmmaking. Sue me but I give it 4.5 stars out of 5. I never give a 5 either. So 4.5 is basically a 5. Re Ben Burtt: Is there a better sound designer in the business? I think not. Re Short Circuit: I may be the only person on the planet who HATED it. I mean I walked out on it. It was making me angry. I wanted to yell at the screen. I knew I had to leave or there might have been an incident. Don't miss the Buy n Large Website.  |  IP: Logged Bobby Henderson "Ask me about Trajan." Posts: 10973 From: Lawton, OK, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 07-05-2008 06:24 PM                     While Wall•E isn't a perfect movie, I feel it is a damned sight better than Short Circuit -visual similarities between "Number 5" and Wall•E noted. quote: Matt Fields I tried to find Wall-E toys at Wal-Mart and there wasn't any. Only Wall-E stuff were T-shirts and a poster. Check Sam's Club. I was in their Lawton store earlier this afternoon. While looking for what the store had in terms of Blu-ray movies and concert discs, I noticed Wall•E video games and a number of different toys, the best one being a remote control Wall•E robot.  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 07-06-2008 03:56 AM                        quote: Bobby Henderson While Wall•E isn't a perfect movie, I feel it is a damned sight better than Short Circuit -visual similarities between "Number 5" and Wall•E noted. How dare you! How dare you even try to compare Wall-E to the masterpiece that is Short Circuit. Geez! Short Circuit has it all; a Pulitzer-prize winning Academy Award winning script that was written with finely-tuned perfection that represents everything that the English language was created to achieve, Oscar Award winning performances from super mega-hottie Ally Sheedy and tough guy Steve Guttenberg, a rousing emotional soundtrack, hot licensed songs featuring the epitome of melodic perfection by the world's most talented and highly skilled musicians, witty humor that forces you to laugh every minute, a dirty foreigner, intense action that keeps you on the edge of your seat and a grasshopper! What does Wall-E have? Yeah, that's what I thought!  |  IP: Logged Lyle Romer Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1400 From: Davie, FL, USA Registered: May 2002 posted 07-06-2008 04:49 PM                     The animation and sound effects were good and Wall-E was cute but beyond that it wasn't that good. The story was lacking and I didn't care about the characters at all. It really dragged on and didn't have anything funny in it. The Robots only being able to say their names but doing so with different inflection got old after about 10 minutes also. By far the worst pixar movie yet. Watchable but not worth paying for. 2 out of 5 stars [ 07-07-2008, 07:12 AM: Message edited by: Lyle Romer ]  |  IP: Logged

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