WALL-E Review

Posted by Chad Webb on 06.30.2008

They have topped themselves once again.

Featuring the Voices of:
Ben Burtt: WALL-E / M-O
Elissa Knight: Eve
Jeff Garlin: Captain
Fred Willard: Shelby Forthright, BnL CEO
John Ratzenberger: John
Kathy Najimy: Mary
Sigourney Weaver: Ship’s Computer
Written/Directed By: Andrew Stanton
Release Date: June 27, 2008
Running Time: 103 minutes







Rated G

Never underestimate the power of Pixar. As this past Friday approached, I knew I would be seeing WALL-E. It was already planned; I was looking forward to it. However, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to a sour mood that evening, primarily because my computer abruptly decided to die. With that sudden event, and the knowledge of how many times I had seen the trailer for WALL-E, it is amazing that the film managed to take my breath away, and whisk me away to another dimension, one with glorious animation, lovable characters, and an urgent message. All the naysayers take notice, the unblemished record of Pixar has continued unscathed with what is certainly the year’s best movie to date.

It is the year 2700, and Earth is now an uninhabited wasteland. The skyscrapers which tower over cities are now mixed with skyscrapers of trash. They were assembled by WALL-E (voice of Ben Burtt), a little robot whose job is solely that of compiling trash, and compacting it into a cube. Incidentally, his name is an acronym that stands for Waste Allocation Load Lifter - Earth-Class. As the years have gone by, he has acquired a nice collection of Earthly souvenirs, and his one companion is a small cockroach. WALL-E is all alone until a spaceship unexpectedly lands to unload EVE (voice of Elissa Knight), a more advanced robot sent to Earth for unknown reasons. Though initially hostile, EVE and WALL-E form a strong bond as he shows off many of his various keepsakes. Out of nowhere, EVE shuts down, and WALL-E is unsuccessful in reviving her. He remains by her side until her spaceship returns. He hangs on regardless of the danger, and soon discovers what EVE’s mission was.

Right away, the audience will know that this is not a normal Pixar story. The opening sequence has WALL-E rolling around the barren Earth that has been left to rot for centuries. The initial mood is very somber, the colors are dull tans and yellows, and no dialogue can be heard. Writer/Director Andrew Stanton understands when to shift gears, and without haste focuses on our hero robot, which is as curious as anyone could be. It begs the question: If our planet was left by itself for hundreds of years, what artifacts and relics would they find and examine? It makes perfect sense that random things like bubble wrap, light bulbs, and old VHS tapes would be mysterious.

The minimalist approach is an absolute delight and breath of fresh air from the rest of the CGI efforts. In the movie Cast Away with Tom Hanks, much of the film progresses without dialogue, and that is precisely what occurs in WALL-E. The result is brilliant and fascinating. Not only will it prove how kids can be dazzled solely by the actions of a robot, but it also reveals just how masterful the minds at Pixar truly are. They actually humanized WALL-E and EVE, despite the fact that both say very little beyond names. Ben Burtt (he also did R2-D2) and Elissa Knight voice the parts wonderfully. Neither character has expressive facial traits to guide viewers in what emotion they are feeling. Stanton and company relied on the hands, eyes, and interaction with objects to flesh out WALL-E and EVE.

In terms of significant themes, WALL-E integrates the most ambitious point yet. In this case, it is the pollution that has driven out the human population, but you know what? It could have been global warming if need be. What is so astonishing is that this topic does not water down the proceedings in any way, and it is not supplied as preachy. Another underlying warning is aimed at humans who are lazy, and spend too much time sitting around letting machines serve them. Very simply, we cannot just sit around and do nothing. We all have to get up and take action to absolve Earth of certain problems. Stanton balances the components with such grace and beauty it makes The Happening's preposterousness seems laughable by comparison.

WALL-E gives several salutes to 2001: A Space Odyssey. Some are more subtle than others, but the most notable comes in the form of music. “Thus Spake Zarathustra” echoes through the spaceship during a hilarious scene. There is also a HAL like machine the Captain contends with. As a huge fan of 2001, it etches a permanent smile on my face to see such a respectable homage to that classic. Prior to WALL-E’s release, many have commented on the similarities to Johnny 5, the robot from the Short Circuit franchise. Andrew Stanton admits that sub-consciously Johnny 5 might have influenced the design. “His body was designed for the eyes to show emotions, tank like treads so he can handle all terrains, and a body with the ability to retract his head and limbs like a turtle.”

The selection of music is extraordinary in WALL-E. This is not a Disney cartoon constructed around an artist for a hit single, though a superb song from Peter Gabriel emerges at the end. WALL-E watches and listens to the same song regularly from Hello Dolly!, and a touching rendition of La Vie En Rose by Louis Armstrong is incorporated as well. Pixar’s finest quality, besides visual wonderment, has always been fashioning the universe first, and then choosing the music and cast voices that top it off. That is why Randy Newman is known for Toy Story and Patton Oswalt’s vocal performance will be ageless in Ratatouille.

This company called Pixar has never had a flop, never had a unanimously panned offering. That means that each and every submission in the future will have that much more pressure weighing it down. After Ratatouille, who could have anticipated that WALL-E could leave all ages, races, and creeds speechless? This is a visually spectacular piece of cinema, one that is shockingly exquisite, unbelievably poignant, profoundly intimate, and purely magical. Not only is it a vital cautionary tale, but an enthralling science fiction adventure with carefully paced wit and superlatively timed action. The incalculable grandeur, irreplaceable landscape, imaginative canvas, and a little robot named WALL-E who is the epitome of sweetness make this an instant classic…period.

The 411: Finally, I can afford a rating of 10 in 2008. This is my first one and I was starting to get worried. This is simply a fabulous experience, and whenever I know a Pixar movie is coming, it marks an unequalled time at the movies for yours truly. I can’t describe it. It is also worth noting that the Pixar short, entitled Presto, is uproarious and stands among their best to date. For the DVD release of WALL-E, you can look forward to a short called BURN-E, another robot in this universe. No matter what age you are, you need to see WALL-E. It is one of a kind.

Final Score:  10.0   [ Virtually Perfect ]