WALL-E and just where is Humanity going
Jul. 19th, 2008 06:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eumeliaI saw WALL-E (wiki page - caution! - it gives the entire plot away).
It is one of the most brilliant movies I've seen in a long time. It is an animated movie that not only raises the bar on what we consider to be communication, but also on what we consider humanity and Life (capital letter purposeful).
The movie shows us a highly plausible future dealing with the fate of the Earth and its Human inhabitants (and Cockroaches, which is a very astute criticism of Life).
The future is that of a world in which Globalization has taken it's toll, human kind is led by Corporate Interests and the world leader is the CEO of this global corporate monopoly.
In the 22nd century (not too far from our time, which is the point) the Earth was in such a state that it could not sustain life, humanity left the Earth as a junk-yard and waste land. On it existed little cleaning robots called WALL-E's (Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-class). So while Humanity gallivants across the universe waiting for the Earth to be cleaned, the WALL-E's themselves fall into disrepair and many centuries later there is but one left, the eponymous WALL-E, who continues the Sisyphean task of cleaning the Earth, on the way he collects little junky items which are the only remnants of a past (solely Western) culture - A Rubik's cube; a Spork (which he amusingly lays between his collection of forks and spoons); Zippo lighters; a bra; a shoe; a jewelry case which still contains a shinning diamond which he discards and treasures the box, which has a hinge and therfore much more interesting; a cockroach which WALL-E turns into a pet and feeds a Twinkie(tm) and finally, a small plant which he knows, because WALL-E is nothing if not the most Human of us all, needs to be cared for.
The desolation and loneliness of Earth is heart breaking.
WALL-E's almost Chaplain-esque optimism and self-deprecation is so heart warming you forget that he is alone in the world for but a Cockroach and an old love song from a 1960's movie (Hello, Dolly!) which has been forgotten by those who made it...
I say Chaplain on purpose because a large portion of the movie is "silent". Communication is conveyed through WALL-E's huge sight apparatuses, which move and frown and smile and reflect the lights that surround him.
It is this communication that enables us to see the love and humour in his courtship (for this is not just an animation adventure movie, it is also a romantic comedy) of the very Apple(tm) like designed robot EVE (yes, ain't that witty and so homage-y) who comes from outer space to Earth.
EVE is all business and she (it is a very obviously gendered movie) isn't interested in WALL-E until he shows her his collection and thus his humanity (and in effect locates her own humanity). When EVE is collected and returned to space, WALL-E follows her and a whole slew of new adventures and amazing graphics begin.
If you thought water animation was impressive (as in Finding Nemo) watching a Space Dance is phenomenal.
Even if you are not an uber conscientious viewer (like I tend to be) the philosophy, the criticism and sheer aesthetic extravaganza will speak to you and you will love it and enjoy it and keep the expirience with you for hours.
If you are a geek (which the Pixar people are) you will enjoy the endless (and often much too blunt) sci-fi references found all over the place - They pushed it a bit far with... well, you'll just have to see that now won't you.
PS - Next week it's The Dark Knight and I will be reviewing :D
It is one of the most brilliant movies I've seen in a long time. It is an animated movie that not only raises the bar on what we consider to be communication, but also on what we consider humanity and Life (capital letter purposeful).
The movie shows us a highly plausible future dealing with the fate of the Earth and its Human inhabitants (and Cockroaches, which is a very astute criticism of Life).
The future is that of a world in which Globalization has taken it's toll, human kind is led by Corporate Interests and the world leader is the CEO of this global corporate monopoly.
In the 22nd century (not too far from our time, which is the point) the Earth was in such a state that it could not sustain life, humanity left the Earth as a junk-yard and waste land. On it existed little cleaning robots called WALL-E's (Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-class). So while Humanity gallivants across the universe waiting for the Earth to be cleaned, the WALL-E's themselves fall into disrepair and many centuries later there is but one left, the eponymous WALL-E, who continues the Sisyphean task of cleaning the Earth, on the way he collects little junky items which are the only remnants of a past (solely Western) culture - A Rubik's cube; a Spork (which he amusingly lays between his collection of forks and spoons); Zippo lighters; a bra; a shoe; a jewelry case which still contains a shinning diamond which he discards and treasures the box, which has a hinge and therfore much more interesting; a cockroach which WALL-E turns into a pet and feeds a Twinkie(tm) and finally, a small plant which he knows, because WALL-E is nothing if not the most Human of us all, needs to be cared for.
The desolation and loneliness of Earth is heart breaking.
WALL-E's almost Chaplain-esque optimism and self-deprecation is so heart warming you forget that he is alone in the world for but a Cockroach and an old love song from a 1960's movie (Hello, Dolly!) which has been forgotten by those who made it...
I say Chaplain on purpose because a large portion of the movie is "silent". Communication is conveyed through WALL-E's huge sight apparatuses, which move and frown and smile and reflect the lights that surround him.
It is this communication that enables us to see the love and humour in his courtship (for this is not just an animation adventure movie, it is also a romantic comedy) of the very Apple(tm) like designed robot EVE (yes, ain't that witty and so homage-y) who comes from outer space to Earth.
EVE is all business and she (it is a very obviously gendered movie) isn't interested in WALL-E until he shows her his collection and thus his humanity (and in effect locates her own humanity). When EVE is collected and returned to space, WALL-E follows her and a whole slew of new adventures and amazing graphics begin.
If you thought water animation was impressive (as in Finding Nemo) watching a Space Dance is phenomenal.
Even if you are not an uber conscientious viewer (like I tend to be) the philosophy, the criticism and sheer aesthetic extravaganza will speak to you and you will love it and enjoy it and keep the expirience with you for hours.
If you are a geek (which the Pixar people are) you will enjoy the endless (and often much too blunt) sci-fi references found all over the place - They pushed it a bit far with... well, you'll just have to see that now won't you.
PS - Next week it's The Dark Knight and I will be reviewing :D
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-07-19 05:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-19 05:22 pm (UTC)Seriously, it was gorgeous. I cried like the weepy girly-grrl that I am.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-19 06:08 pm (UTC)My boy-child and I went to see two movies today in an unusual burst of movie-going-madness. The second of the two was Wall-E. And yes, everything you said. Most definitely. :)
And if you haven't listened to it yet, I recommend the NPR interview with Pixar's Andrew Stanton about Wall-E, the making of, the ideas behind, etc. (http://podcastdownload.npr.org/anon.npr-podcasts/podcast/13/92438730/npr_92438730.mp3)
no subject
Date: 2008-07-19 06:13 pm (UTC)Thanks for the mp3, I'm downloading it now.