JohnDoe
Bryn
BrentonWall-E (2008) - Trailer Included
September 24th 2008 00:01
Open the Pod Bay Doors Wall-E, I want more
In Australian Cinemas Now
Writer/Director: Andrew Stanton
Music: Thomas Newman
Voices: Ben Burtt, Sigourney Weaver, Jeff Garlin, John Ratzenberger, Fred Willard, Elissa Knight
Pixar studios are the modern day pantheon of animated feature films. Ever since the success of their first full length cinema event Toy Story in 1995 they have continued to raise expectations of what can be achieved through the medium.
The production houses latest achievement, WALL-E shatters any doubts that a manufactured reality can connect on an emotional level with audiences.
A marvel of pure visual storytelling harking back to the days of cinemas golden age, there is a nickelodeon pantomime quality to the characters that reminds the viewer of iconic silent comedians like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. Setting this tone against a state of the art digital future makes for a charming and often dazzling cinema experience.
Wall E, EVE and that Cube
All that remains on the surface post apocalypse is one lone robot named WALL-E (an acronymn for Waste Allocation Load Lifter-Earth-class.). Isolated and lonely, he continues to complete his prime directive, of cleaning up the endless trash left behind. Building towering structures from the compost bricks he makes, the landscape is now filled with high rise garbage piles.
Developing a personality all his own, over time WALL-E’s daily routine includes collecting relics and curios that he places in his lunchbox. They are symbols that intrigue his mechanised yearning for understanding. Most importantly though Wall-E craves companionship, a friend, someone he can share his time.
While endlessly rewatching an old VHS tape of the film Hello Dolly he comes to comprehend the nature of love and also recognises his own lonely plight.
Then one day, without warning the earth begins to shake, a deafening noise is heard and then a spaceship lands. From it emerges a sole probe droid, EVE (Extraterrestial Vegetation Evaluator) and Wall-E is immediately infatuated.
Wall E - The tin man with a heart
John Doe Says:
Poetically imaginative, by blending live action footage with CGI for the first time Pixar has created a work of artistic splendour. Delivering not only a touching and beautiful work, but also a classic science fiction film that can be mentioned in the same breath as the likes of Solaris and 2001 A Space Odyssey.
Written and Directed by Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo) this romantic and tender film, bravely decides to make the opening 40 minutes virtually dialogue free. Endearing itself almost immediately with its simultaneous bleak scenario of optimism . Even later on the script remains sparse, preferring to show instead of tell its plot. This engages the mind, letting the audience assess and make conclusions on what they have seen. It also allows for a level of subtlety that has been missing from the genre till now.
The films messages are not rammed down your throat, the sentimentality is never vocalised and so we are left to take from it what we will. There is much about over reliance on technology, a disconnected society and the shape of things to come.
Due to the minamilist style of the action, Thomas Newman’s musical score has to lift us and carry us through, and it does. There is a magical nuance to the experience that comes largely down to his emotive melodic accompaniment. When combined with the ingenius sound FX that are pivotal to the miracle this film performs, it is the big budget experimental film.
Love across the universe
Normally relying on big name stars to voice their characters, here Pixar has gone largely unknown save for the Axiom Ship’s voice of Sigorney Weaver (A clever twist on her parts in Galaxy Quest and Alien).
As Wall-E and numerous other robots we have Ben Burtt doing the vocals. Burtt is a highly respected and sought after sound FX guru who amongst others did sound design for the Indiana Jones and Star Wars films.
There is something very Joshua in War Games meets number 5 from Short Circuit about the leads mode of communication and it is endearing. There are also plenty of references to movies of the past, parallels between HAL in 2001 and AUTO being the most obvious. Keep your lens focused too because a lot of WALL-E’s toys in the background are easily recognisable. (Eg: Rex from Toy Story)
Going against the conventions in much the same way as E.T did for Alien invasion, here we have machines that act more human than the de-evolved humans. Instead of trying to take over the world or destroy it, the robots are our friends. JD is not a fan of animorphising in films, making animals talk, giving inanimate objects human characteristics, but here it won him over.
For John Doe this is Pixar’s greatest achievement (Though the Incredibles is still a close second), he cried, he laughed and he was awestruck. Tackling important issues with a steady hand, the way the story is told makes every scene intriguing. Piquing curiosity and inspiring thought, as the Hollywood Reporter said in their review, “the films one fault really is where does Pixar go from here after setting the bar so high.”
Truly a film for “Children of any age” the sense of wonderment and joy that comes from viewing is sublime.
It would be wrong to not also acknowledge the fabulous short “Presto” that precedes the film. A Looney Tune/Tex Avery style escapade of hijinx between a Magician and a bunny, JD was taken back to his childhood and giggled from the first frame to the last.
WALL-E Trailer
WALL-E trailer 2
Behind the scenes of WALL-E
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Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
There are some superficial similarities between Johnny 5 from Short Circuit and Wall-E but it ends there.
From Imdb.com:
One major feature of Johnny 5 that WALL·E does not share was a pair of metal shades over the eye lens. These covers functioned as both eyelids and eyebrows, and slowly moved (quite a bit) like butterfly wings. They were important to Johnny 5's look and the fact that WALL·E does not have them supports the director's account; WALL·E's lens get damaged during the movie and he certainly could have benefited from "lens lids". If the director had been copying the Short Circuit design, it would have been hard to resist adding them."
Knowing your love of Sci-fi Kleo, I think you will like Wall-E for the incredible science fiction experience, the story and the visuals.
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
There is something magical about the film in that classic sense. The filmmaking skill on display is astonishing, communicating cleary with just gestures and sound fx.
The visuals are also dazzling, the reason is that the whole thing is so understated. It like this quaint little story wrapped in a big budget spectacle.
I do hope you enjoy it....certainly demands the bigscreen.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Excellent review to a truly exceptional movie! If you haven't already here's my fresh mag review
Eeeeee-vuh! EEEEEEEEEE-VUH!
I'm smitten.
Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
I've had the score CD for a while and been enjoying it a lot - another incredible work from Thomas Newman, the man's a genius!
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
Look forward to hearing what he wrote for Towelhead, and then the new Sam Mendes film later in the year (his scores for American Beauty and Road to Perdition were magnificent, AB esp. in that it's been aped by composer after composer ever since and become a template for the sound that directors are asking for in their 'quirky', indy dramas).
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
Hear, Hear. I absolutely loved this film JD.
This is my best movie pick of the year/century/ millenium with such a strong positive message for the younger generation. My children lapped this up, as did the bigger kids next ot them.
I enjoyed the review almost as much, just thinking about this little guy took me through the rollercoaster ride of emotions that are Wall.E .. we are looking forward to watching it again when its out on DVD. (and the bunny wasnt bad either!)
Yep, will probably go out and buy this one in the end.
Worthy of its space on any shelf.
Lilla ...
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
I've got it pencilled in on your glowing reference.
Cheers
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
I took my parents to see it as they are staying with me and they keep calling themselves WallEEEE and EEEvuh in robot talk - I am about to vomit!!!! H E L P
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Just read your review on freshmag, WOW you gushed over the film even more than me, but our opions on it are the same. Good one.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Im sure you will find the magic in the film. Agreed Thomas Newman's score is perfectly honed to the scenes in the film. I loved his music for Jarhead and The Player.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Glad my review did the film justice.
I don't even have kids, but I await a DVD release eagerly.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I can't imagine anyone not getting something out of the experience. Make sure you tell me what you think after seeing it.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I know what its like to have love struck parents, scary...Look forward to reading your review.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Johnny 5 is still alive, ha....I think it really is testament to how good a job the designers on Short Circuit did, afterall real life robots now also look similar to him...hope you can get the song "Who is Johnny" out of your head long enough to see Wall-E...
Cool that you have such love for a Steve Guttenberg film.
Comment by Linh
Celluloid Fun
Wall·E was one of my favourite films of 2008.
I think it's one of Pixar's best films so far, and definitely Oscar-worthy for Best Film or Best Special Effects, Sound and Editing.
Cheers!