i’ve been seeing previews for this film for the better part of a year. as i generally really enjoy pixar films, i was looking forward to it a great deal, actually.
and for probably the first time in a while, a film i was looking forward to really delivered on every front.
i will continue in my usual, spoiler-free mode.
story:
while admittedly i couldn’t help be reminded of douglas adams’s marvin the paranoid android and the novelty song inspired by him upon first hearing of this film, but this is very much its own film.
the characters are generally fleshed out well: i feel that pixar films tend to do a particularly good job of making sure their characters are believable, and they’ve certainly succeeded here, i thought. there are tons of great little moments that help the viewer understand more about the characters, such as WALL•E’s collection.
there aren’t a lot of surprises in the plot—but then again, we don’t generally expect many of those in these films, do we? although there’s one major corporation whose name keeps cropping up in the film—and i think the name is absolutely perfect.
a friend of mine observed that he counted no less than 8 distinct messages in this film. i need to ask him what he felt those were, but i really enjoyed the many ways in which the film explored the ramifications of our choices and how we choose to deal with bad ones.
acting:
it’s hard to speak of the acting in this film, in that with live-action, you can talk about the way an actor plays a given scene, the emotional force of their dialogue and how it’s imbued. but for a long time, there’s really no dialogue at all—yet it’s all perfectly comprehensible, and beautifully done, i felt.
visual design & cinematography:
there were honestly times that i forgot i was watching an animated film—but do look for the odd exceptions of live-action footage, which are brilliantly cast, i felt.
the look of the film was impressive, beginning with our protagonist. given what he winds up facing, the visual design of WALL•E was just about ideal, esp when you compare different technologies—you’ll see what i mean if you see it.
i am going to own this film when it’s out. not b/c i need to watch it again immediately, but b/c i suspect this is a film that will reward repeated viewings: i know i didn’t catch all the details the animators included.
summary:
i heartily & unreservedly recommend this film. absolutely superb, and i think i enjoyed this more than any other film i’ve seen this year to date.
ed
p.s.: the mrs & i also saw wanted but i don’t have the time to write that review this morning, i’ll try to post it tomorrow. capsule review of wanted: good eye candy, don’t make the mistake of looking for more than an action flick here and you’ll have a good time.
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silverwhisper posted on Jul 08, 2008
| views: 416
Comments
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pickersplock said on Jul 08, 2008....
I agree.It was fantastic!Oh, and the boys loved the short with the magician and the rabbit.I don't think I've ever seen them laugh so hard! -
uniquely-ironic said on Jul 08, 2008....
thanks for the review. This movie is on the schedule for the weekend.
I saw Wanted too and agree that it's wonderful action, as long as you can suspend your logical brain and just enjoy the action.
Saw Hancock last weekend and kind of spoiled it for myself by figuring it out in the first 15 minutes. I did enjoy the action in that too.
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gingersoul said on Jul 08, 2008....
Ed......my daughter declared Wall-e "Best Movie Evah"...
Imagine that it went straight up to first place pushing "Juno" to second place and 'Forrest Gump" in third place .....
My kiddo had great taste for a 13 y-o, wadda think?...lol...
I didn't see it though....i might ...later on....
Thanks for the review...:-)
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lovie said on Jul 08, 2008....
I saw a lot of people buying tickets to this one at the theater as I was waiting to see something else. The trailer for it hasn't sparked anything in me to go see it. Thanks for the review. -
CreativeWoman said on Jul 08, 2008....
Is Wall-e an existing character from something? I've seen the preview, but I didn't really grasp what it was going to be about.
CW
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woman said on Jul 08, 2008....
One of my daughters went with husband and young children to see it and LOVED it. It must have some touching moments because she claims the big, burly, husband was crying. My actor/professor brother also thought it was well done. Guess I will put it on my list. -
D6fer said on Jul 08, 2008....
despite the overall message of the film.....I loved it.....I am a huge pixar fan......I will buy it when it comes out!
long time no-read ed....how's it goin? -
silverwhisper said on Jul 09, 2008....
pickers: i completely forgot about that thing w/ the magician & his rabbit, but yeah, that was really cool too--i thought it was great!
u-i: my pleasure! if you see it, i'm curious to know what you think of it. the mrs & i will probably see hancock at some point this weekend, i think; i think z is also interested in seeing it. i seem to recall that coming up a few weeks ago. don't suppose you've got the time to post a review of your own, huh?
GS: you guys gotta stop thanking me for being opinionated! :> i thought it was cute & heartwarming. it's got heart--which is a quality i really love when i can find it.
lovie: hi, welcome to my blog & thanks for visiting! i'm curious what it was you wound up seeing that day. ?
CW: i don't believe that wall-e is an existing character--pixar doesn't generally work with existing characters. it's the story of a robot, set in the future, who is looking for companionship. :>
woman: i'll confess, i think something got caught in my eye at one point, which i'm sure is what happened to your husband. :>
d6: which overall message? there were a few, i thought. yeah, been a while, but i've been posting here & there lately. things are good, work's good--hey, is your daughter married now, or is that still on the way?
ed -
queenparanoia said on Jul 09, 2008....
i'll watch it if they show it here in the philippines!!! =) -
D6fer said on Jul 09, 2008....
ed.....the "we are going to wreck the world" message........no daughter gets hitched aug 29......hey.....I created a new BBQ sauce....it's my 2nd....I call this one Louisiana Luau....pretty tasty.......haven't seen a foodie post in awhile....whats up with that? -
silverwhisper said on Jul 10, 2008....
sis: i'm sure you'll get it soon. :>
d6: you think we aren't gonna wreck the world, huh? well, yet another disagreement, but let's leave that for another post. august 29 is the day after my brother's birthday, so that'll be easy for me to remember. :>
that's cool about the sauce: what's in it?
haven't posted a foodie post b/c i haven't had any really nifty foodie experiences to write about in a while.
ed -
D6fer said on Jul 10, 2008....
it has pineapple and soy to give it that Hawaiian flavor.....other than that....if I told you.....I'd have to kill you! ;p -
silverwhisper said on Jul 11, 2008....
[nods] yeah, with that name i can see that. very interesting! :>
ed -
Fallyn said on Jul 19, 2008....
it made me cry.
it was very beautifully done.
and the short was BEYOND funny.
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Fallyn said on Jul 19, 2008....
oh...and yeah...the trailer doesn't do it justice at ALL. -
silverwhisper said on Jul 19, 2008....
fallyn: i'm in complete agreement with you on all counts. i think i teared up a bit, too. :>
ed -
Fallyn said on Jul 19, 2008....
the guy and i saw it with his four year old son.....most of the movie was WAYYYY over his head...but there were enough funny immature parts that it kept his interest most of the way through the movie. so many "kids" movies aren't really made for kids. this was one....but he liked it even though he didn't "get" most of it.
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