Wall-E: pro-green, pro-life
by Chuck Donovan
July 7, 2008
Pixar’s newest movie Wall-E is a gem. Technically brilliant to a degree even the excellent Finding Nemo and Toy Story movies did not achieve, this nearly silent film offers more food for thought than most adult fare, and it does so with a romantic heart that is never cloying. It may be a sign of our times that machines like the waste collection robot-hero Wall-E and a space probe (her name is Eve) in search of greenery-on-Earth exhibit more genuine emotion than most human actors. Then again this duo, who populate an empty planet with little going for it, sense their need for each other (Wall-E is inspired by a battered video of Hello Dolly he has preserved among his trash-trove and watches obsessively) without a hint of vulgarity or, it goes without saying, carnality. They are literally hard-wired for connection.
As for the movie’s politics, it transcends polarization while remaining decidedly pro-green, pro-life (babies abound), and pro-romantic love between opposite sexes capable of regenerating a blighted Earth. Rank consumption has never been skewered better, or with a gentler touch that bemoans how far humanity has sunk but does not succumb to self-loathing. These soft, slothful creatures are still “us” and still capable of renewal, which, opening themselves to intimacy and to, well, infants, they achieve. John Lasseter and his Pixar team have made some of the top feature films of the last 15 years, and Wall-E may be the best of them all. The score, crucial to the almost wordless atmosphere of the movie, is tremendous too.
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Comments
I thought that Wall-E was a poor “pro-green”, poor “pro-understanding”… poor everything. The almost silent movie made most of us, young or old, strain to understand the blurred language and left more frustration than anything. By the last 10 minutes of the film, it became clear about the green plant…. too long to hold any ones attention, especially those below the age of 30.
From comments I have heard so far, my thoughts regarding Wall-E, seem to be out of step. I couldn’t get over feeling anger and disgust that humans were portrayed as indulgent slobs to the extreme that they had rendered this planet completely unlivable, leaving behind only skyscrapers of trash. There was not a single semblance of anything beautiful, other than the movie “Hello Dolly”. Even on their new planet, humans were huge, fat slobs, seemingly incapable of walking or even standing. They were shown lying on their backs, slurping sodas from a straw. I think these observations (and more) blinded me to anything that might be considered positive. I’m not certain there was an environmentalist agenda, but that’s exactly what I deduced. Also, after hearing the robots repeating “Wall-E” and “Eva” dozens of times ad nauseam, I was really ready for some stimulating dialogue. I wonder if there is even one other person who shares my disdain for this movie.
My husband, Bob, his brother, Bruce, and I thoroughly enjoyed WALL E last week. Personally, I was watching for a politically correct agenda but it was low-key, not in-my-face.
The romance was delightfully sweet, the green message was definitely there, and the idea that humans who let a government supply all their needs and do their thinking for them are going to become fat, helpless, and weak was strong.
The whole thing was brilliant; there were many subtle points. We loved it and plan to see it again.
My son, Jeremy, and I went to see the movie WALL-E on Saturday, June 28th. It was a wonderful opportunity to spend time with him and discuss how the events in the movie moved us. There were so many themes introduced that it will take some time to digest them all. I will, therefore, only touch on a few of themes here in this writing.
I have to mention my emotional reaction to the good character WALL-E exemplified. Like the advanced robot, Eve, I fell in love with him. How do you relate to a trash compactor? You make the machine an anthropomorphic underdog with a lot of personality and the capacity to show love. This little robot had carried out his programmed duties for 700 years while others of his kind had long-since broken down. Oh – that we should be so faithful. WALL-E resourcefully collected spare parts for himself – a practice of planning ahead for the future that helped him to “resurrect” at the end of the movie. See Matthew 6:20 about the importance of storing up treasure in heaven. WALL-E was a true hero, willing to sacrifice his own life for Eve and for people. He, therefore, stands as a type of Christ.
Finally, allow me to address concerns that all the people in the movie were portrayed as fat, indulgent, slobs. Pixar was actually being kind. Scripture teaches that all have sinned (Rom 6:23) and that the devil has deceived those who are perishing (2 Thes 2:10). All the people on the rescue ship were deceived by the automatic pilot robot just as Americans today have become apathetic by the media-rich and calorie-rich overindulgence. It took a brave little robot named WALL-E to shake them back into reality and to give them the vision to embrace responsibility for their world. It is, therefore, my oppinion that we need more movies like WALL-E.
My family & I saw Wall-E and enjoyed it – very much. No cussing, No sexual inuendos, No blood & guts etc made for a joyful viewing. It is obvious that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. This is not the Holy Bible – but it is good clean entertainment. I would guess that even Jesus could enjoy it. We need more like it.
By: Carol Peet | July 8, 2008 at 6:10 pm
I watched Wall-E with a group of elementary age children. It was tremendous, very entertaining. The age of at least one of the creator’s was revealed in some humorous sections. Today the same children, were repeating Eva, Wall-E. One of the groups named themselves Wall-E. Great movie.