"WALL·E", who is going to see it?

[gavkiwi]

 , taking the wife and kids tonight to go see this, I love Pixar movies, this looks to be really good, has good reviews, who else is looking forward to seeing it 

[shardian]

The reviews for this are VERY good. There was an extended preview during Kung Fu Panda that was very neat.

Currently it is at 98% on the tomato meter with almost 100 reviews.

[HaRuMaN]

I'm going to see this, looks good to me...   

[Ginsu Victim]

Definitely. I've only missed one Pixar movie in the theater, and that was the first Toy Story. Since then, I've seen them all at that movies.

[Level42]

The first thing I thought when I saw the first clip of this movie was that it was the next episode of Short Circuit.

Wall-E is a clear rip-off of Johnny-5.

Aparantly, I'm not the only one thinking so:

http://aishamusic.wordpress.com/category/pierrot-le-poisson-clown/

[SavannahLion]

Ummm....

Johnny 5 employs a lot of practical design aspects in robotics. If I wanted to build a wheeled robot (with the funds of course), that type of tread would probably be what I would choose. The head design has been used in other robot designs, Johnny 5's is probably the most expressive out of all of them, but the gist of the design remains the same. For goodness sakes, in 1982  E.T. has that kind of head, what do you think the set engineers stuffed his head with?

The field of robotics has a tendency to take their designs from others. Last I checked, a popular amateur robot design closely resembles ASIMO. Gundam and Robotech robots designs appear all the time, Doesn't Nissan's new robot reek of classic Japanese robot anime design? Doubt they're paying royalties.

I admit, WALL·E's design may have been taken from J5, but that site you linked to makes a piss poor argument of it.

[RayB]

I will see it despite the trailer seeming incredibly boring. The reviews are calling it the best science fiction movie disguised as a cartoon. So.. I will see it.

[ddrtist]

To me it seems like a politically charged agenda about how humans are destroying the Earth...in the form of a cartoon.  This will be the first Pixar movie I don't see...unless the Blu-ray version rocks my socks off visually.   

[Ginsu Victim]

To me it seems like a politically charged agenda about how humans are destroying the Earth...in the form of a cartoon.  This will be the first Pixar movie I don't see...unless the Blu-ray version rocks my socks off visually.   

Yep, but from what I understand, it's not preachy. It was also a concern of mine.

[Xiaou2]

 
Kids dont like being told what they are doing is wrong,  even
if its true...

 (Some 'kids' just never grow up)

[Ginsu Victim]

Kids dont like being told what they are doing is wrong,  even
if its true...

 (Some 'kids' just never grow up)

Save it for the PnR board.

[shmokes]

To me it seems like a politically charged agenda about how humans are destroying the Earth...in the form of a cartoon.  This will be the first Pixar movie I don't see...unless the Blu-ray version rocks my socks off visually.   

Seriously, so what?  All good stories have a moral to them.  Why is this one taboo?  Surely even the most conservative, non-believer in global-warming acknowledges that our consumption habits create loads and loads and loads of garbage and that it is a serious problem, if not for the environment, then just economically. We don't know what to do with it all. 

Why would you be okay with your kid watching a movie like the Iron Giant with its underlying messages about tolerance and alarmism?  Why would you be okay with him watching Sesame Street, with its many themes such as sharing and forgiveness?  Why would you watch Kung Fu Panda with its "believe in yourself" agenda?  I don't see why you wouldn't want your kid to watch a movie just because the moral was to be responsible with the world you live in, don't litter, and all that rot.  Don't get me wrong, Happy Feet was just about the biggest piece of ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- I've ever seen, but judging by the reviews, this is no Happy Feet. 

It seems to me that you need to just lighten up and enjoy life.   

[Level42]

Amen.









(and this coming from an atheist ).

[TOK]

To me it seems like a politically charged agenda about how humans are destroying the Earth...in the form of a cartoon.  This will be the first Pixar movie I don't see...unless the Blu-ray version rocks my socks off visually.   

Seriously, so what?  All good stories have a moral to them.  Why is this one taboo?  Surely even the most conservative, non-believer in global-warming acknowledges that our consumption habits create loads and loads and loads of garbage and that it is a serious problem, if not for the environment, then just economically. We don't know what to do with it all. 

Why would you be okay with your kid watching a movie like the Iron Giant with its underlying messages about tolerance and alarmism?  Why would you be okay with him watching Sesame Street, with its many themes such as sharing and forgiveness?  Why would you watch Kung Fu Panda with its "believe in yourself" agenda?  I don't see why you wouldn't want your kid to watch a movie just because the moral was to be responsible with the world you live in, don't litter, and all that rot.  Don't get me wrong, Happy Feet was just about the biggest piece of ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- I've ever seen, but judging by the reviews, this is no Happy Feet. 

It seems to me that you need to just lighten up and enjoy life.   

You actually bring up a really good point. Iron Giant was a fantastic movie until it got all preachy. Same with that penguin one... having trouble with the name. Happy Feet. There is a fine line between trying to enlighten and rubbing your nose in it. Iron Giant and Happy Feet both go too far.

Sesame Street never does that.

[AllisterFiend]

Kids dont like being told what they are doing is wrong,  even
if its true...

 (Some 'kids' just never grow up)

I go to the movies to be entertained...I go to church to be preached too.

That being said... I saw WALL-E with the family yesterday and I thought it was very good, not my favorite pixar, but still very good.  ( I never get tired of this type of animation)

Allister Fiend

[SavannahLion]

I saw this movie last night and it knocked my socks off. J5 look-alike or not. I'll definitely be buying this on DVD.

For the conspiracy/theft nuts out there, WALL·E isn't the only robot look-alike in the movie. Some of the other robots also have interesting look-alikes. Some people are saying that Otto (Auto?) looks like HAL whereas, to me, it looks more like Max (Flight of the Navigator). The small assistant robot on the bridge reminds me of a legless Maximilian (Both Disney robots from movies that haven't been published in twenty years, so not much of a theft there  ). The Axiom looks vaguely familiar to me as well, makes me want to say it's similar to one in a Futurama episode but I can't rightly recall. A few of the robot designs tickle my memories as well, but I can't exactly place them. I'm sure a lot of WALL·E haters will be digging through a lot of movie archives looking for similarities. 

Surely even the most conservative, non-believer in global-warming acknowledges that our consumption habits create loads and loads and loads of garbage and that it is a serious problem, if not for the environment, then just economically. We don't know what to do with it all.

 

[Level42]

I saw this movie last night and it knocked my socks off. J5 look-alike or not. I'll definitely be buying this on DVD.

For the conspiracy/theft nuts out there, WALL·E isn't the only robot look-alike in the movie. Some of the other robots also have interesting look-alikes. Some people are saying that Otto (Auto?) looks like HAL whereas, to me, it looks more like Max (Flight of the Navigator). The small assistant robot on the bridge reminds me of a legless Maximilian (Both Disney robots from movies that haven't been published in twenty years, so not much of a theft there  ). The Axiom looks vaguely familiar to me as well, makes me want to say it's similar to one in a Futurama episode but I can't rightly recall. A few of the robot designs tickle my memories as well, but I can't exactly place them. I'm sure a lot of WALL·E haters will be digging through a lot of movie archives looking for similarities. 

Surely even the most conservative, non-believer in global-warming acknowledges that our consumption habits create loads and loads and loads of garbage and that it is a serious problem, if not for the environment, then just economically. We don't know what to do with it all.

 

I'm not a Wall-E hater(haven't seen it yet, so how could I be), I just told what came to my mind the very first time I saw something about this movie.

BTW HAL wasn't a robot but a computer, right ?

[gavkiwi]

 , I loved it, cmon November 4th (blu ray) release date 

[SavannahLion]

BTW HAL wasn't a robot but a computer, right ?

Yeah, that is true. I left the term robots in there due to an edit. However, more than a few people are drawing comparisons between HAL and AUTO, such as this article on CNN (spoilers!). Auto's eye and his duty is like that of HAL, but I see the comparison ending there. Auto's functionality and design is more like Max.

Added:

Looks like there are more than just HAL/Auto similarities in the movie. I didn't really notice, but people are saying that there are several scenes where music from or similar to Space Odyssey have been included in the movie. Regardless of the 2k*SO references, Auto looks more like Max than HAL.

[mr.Curmudgeon]

Iron Giant and Happy Feet both go too far.

Whaa? Iron Giant went too far? I didn't get that at all.
What the hell kinda moralist tales you want?

"Hey kids, you might want to do something about something someday! It could possibly (maybe) be the right thing to do!  *wink*"

[TOK]

Iron Giant and Happy Feet both go too far.

Whaa? Iron Giant went too far? I didn't get that at all.
What the hell kinda moralist tales you want?

"Hey kids, you might want to do something about something someday! It could possibly (maybe) be the right thing to do!  *wink*"

For what it's worth, I think a lot of what are considered classic Disney movies went too far too... An example of new and old would be Bambi and Finding Nemo. They don't need that heavy crap about death and loss of a parent laid on them. Kids have plenty of time to learn the world can be a horrible, sucky place. They don't need that crap laid on them at such a  young age in the guise of entertainment. Its manipulative.

[shardian]

For what it's worth, I think a lot of what are considered classic Disney movies went too far too... An example of new and old would be Bambi and Finding Nemo. They don't need that heavy crap about death and loss of a parent laid on them. Kids have plenty of time to learn the world can be a horrible, sucky place. They don't need that crap laid on them at such a  young age in the guise of entertainment. Its manipulative.

Actually, that is one of the best times and ways to introduce kids to the ills of life. Like it or not, kids experience death, loss, pain, and suffering. Would you rather them be blind-sided by it, or have an innocent fallback memory such as Bambi, or Bridge to Terabithia to help them thru the pain?

[Hoagie_one]

loved it

[TOK]

For what it's worth, I think a lot of what are considered classic Disney movies went too far too... An example of new and old would be Bambi and Finding Nemo. They don't need that heavy crap about death and loss of a parent laid on them. Kids have plenty of time to learn the world can be a horrible, sucky place. They don't need that crap laid on them at such a  young age in the guise of entertainment. Its manipulative.

Actually, that is one of the best times and ways to introduce kids to the ills of life. Like it or not, kids experience death, loss, pain, and suffering. Would you rather them be blind-sided by it, or have an innocent fallback memory such as Bambi, or Bridge to Terabithia to help them thru the pain?

Bambi doesn't help, sorry. I'm not suggesting you wait until they're 15 to explain death to them.
The death of a family pet helped my daughter understand, without being bludgeoned over the head with it by supposed entertainment.

[Ginsu Victim]

Kids are smarter than people give them credit, but not if we shelter them from every little thing. (This isn't PnR, so I won't go on a political correctness rant...)

I was raised on horror movies and heavy metal since birth. I turn out to be (fairly) well-adjusted. (ignoring some awkward years in junior high and high school...)

[TOK]

Kids are smarter than people give them credit, but not if we shelter them from every little thing. (This isn't PnR, so I won't go on a political correctness rant...)

I was raised on horror movies and heavy metal since birth. I turn out to be (fairly) well-adjusted. (ignoring some awkward years in junior high and high school...)

Political correctness has nothing to do with it, so I don't understand why you'd rant about that anyway. 

Do you have kids? I notice the greatest childhood behavior and learning experts are people that don't. 

I'm definitely not what is now described as a "Helicopter parent" who is always with my kid and very controlling. That said, I remember the death of Bambi's parent scaring the crap out of me when I was a kid, and it was not for any good reason or lesson. If you're relying on TV and movies to teach your kid values and life lessons, you might want to reassess your parenting abilities.

[shardian]

Kids are smarter than people give them credit, but not if we shelter them from every little thing. (This isn't PnR, so I won't go on a political correctness rant...)

I was raised on horror movies and heavy metal since birth. I turn out to be (fairly) well-adjusted. (ignoring some awkward years in junior high and high school...)

Political correctness has nothing to do with it, so I don't understand why you'd rant about that anyway.

Do you have kids? I notice the greatest childhood behavior and learning experts are people that don't. 

I'm definitely not what is now described as a "Helicopter parent" who is always with my kid and very controlling. That said, I remember the death of Bambi's parent scaring the crap out of me when I was a kid, and it was not for any good reason or lesson. If you're relying on TV and movies to teach your kid values and life lessons, you might want to reassess your parenting abilities.

Well all I can say is that me and the wife have had MANY awkward encounters with adults and kids about why we only have 1 child with us and the other is in heaven. I can tell you for a fact that the smaller kids relate and rely on experiences from seeing movies that deal with death, and also with what they learn in Church (if they go). The kids that haven't seen movies that deal with it, or don't go to church just go blank and simply don't comprehend.

As to relying on TV and movies, that is dumb. They can be valuable learning tools if you talk with your kid about what they saw. Movies like Old Yeller, Where the Red Fern Grows, Bridge To Terabithia, etc, should be required watching for all young children. Period.

[dmworking247]

Trailer look good.

Thread talk too deep for me dumb head.

[shmokes]

Bah . . . kids can handle that fine.  Besides, what makes you think a good number of kids aren't already dealing with death or divorce or poverty or bullies or any number of bad things that you're afraid of movies introducing to them too early.  Look at all the REALLY good children's literature.  How about every Roald Dahl book ever written.  Look at Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl. 

These types of stories help kids who are in these situations feel like they're not alone.  They help kids who are not in these situations to accept kids who are as normal.  They might even help them deal with situations like that if they suddenly crop up (you can't predict when you're gonna get killed on the way home from work by a drunk driver).

We're not talking The Exorcist here.  We're talking about Bambi, LOL.

Anyway, I saw it, more or less.  It was my daughter's first movie in a theater.  She wasn't especially well behaved so I missed quite a bit of the movie.  I didn't think it was as good as the Toy Stories or Monster's Inc or The Incredibles.  Better than A Bug's Life, Cars or Finding Nemo, though.  I guess that puts it in Ratatouille territory.  Definitely worth seeing.

Also, the animation and attention to detail are mind-bogglingly good. 

[TOK]

My kid is 3, she's not handling any of that yet. Seems again and again people are thinking I'm saying you can't take a 9 year old to see Bambi and it's not what I meant.

How old is your kid anyway? Doesn't seem that long ago you said she was born? Is she even 2? Did you have any expectation of that being good experience?

[Blanka]

I will see it despite the trailer seeming incredibly boring.

Yeah, the trailer is total trash, especially seen next to Kungfu Panda's trailer. I never got the Rotten Tomato concept, but I guess they are pretty positive (rotten tomatoes are more for Dutch prime ministers I guess). So'll wait for the DVD release. The trailer does not lure me to the cinema. But I hated star-wars and ET, so that might be the reason for my reservation on this flic. I'm a Lebowski, so Mr. and Ms. Incredible, Panda and the Ice-age rabit are more my favourite animated characters. Not Disney fairytale romantic robots.

[shmokes]

She turns two in August.  I didn't expect her to sit still, no.  I hoped she'd be better than she was, but that was just bad luck.  She was in a bad mood.  On a better day she'd have been a lot better.  But it was as much for her as it was for me.  Otherwise I'd have got a babysitter.  I was visiting family last week, so there would have been plenty of volunteers.  I also took her to the zoo a week or so ago, and we all know how incredibly boring the zoo is.  Gotta give 'em new things to experience.

[RetroACTIVE]

This movie is an amalgom of all pop-culture classic science fiction movies.  It was fun.  Yeah it has a political message... but no biggie... it was enjoyable.  Way better than that Rat thing they came out with last year... now that boored me.

I enjoyed the apple-esque designs and the overall art direction... it is very pretty and I am looking forward to getting it on blu-ray.

[RayB]

What's the point of a 2-year old going to the movies?  A year from now it will all be forgotten. I laugh at people who drop a few grand to take kids in strollers to Disney World. Those memories all get wiped out by the time they are 5 or 6.

Anyways, saw Wall-E in digital. It was excellent!!

[ahofle]

What's the point of a 2-year old going to the movies?

To annoy the hell out of the other patrons. 

[SavannahLion]

What's the point of a 2-year old going to the movies?  A year from now it will all be forgotten. I laugh at people who drop a few grand to take kids in strollers to Disney World. Those memories all get wiped out by the time they are 5 or 6.

Not entirely true. It all depends on the child. Some of my earliest memories pre-date preschool age. By the time I entered preschool, my memories are pretty well formed.

Other kids will forget everything. I can ask the seven year old about almost anything that happened to her before she turned five and I draw a blank from her. As far as I can tell, all of her good memories are forming from sometime around 5 1/2 or so. From sometime before 4 or so, it all seems to be imprinted memories. eg She can remember toys she played with, but nothing about where the toy came from or how it was obtained.

Different kids just start "storing" memories at different ages.

[shardian]

I have a few memories that I know for sure are from when I was 3. Nothing from the 2's though.

[shmokes]

She is still affected by, shaped by the things she does now, whether she eventually remembers them or not.  When I took her to the zoo she started saying good night to the giraffes because she recognized them from one of her nightly bedtime stories, Goodnight Gorilla.  I doubt any of you make decisions in your life solely on the basis of whether they will ultimately result in a good memory.

[SavannahLion]

I doubt any of you make decisions in your life solely on the basis of whether they will ultimately result in a good memory.

Sorry, I think I should clarify that. I didn't mean good as in happy or pleasurable memories. I mean good memories as in good solid memories where the child can recall more than a few details. IOWFE, saying good night to the giraffe or gorilla may become a well established tradition generating nice solid memories that she can recall with detail, but she may never be able to recall how that tradition started.

Another example would be, my mother tells me that I learned to ski the same time I learned to walk. I don't recall ever learning how to ski (in that way). As far as my memories go, I was already able to ski in any of my earliest recollections.

[Mauzy]

I just saw it, and I was expecting WAY more preaching than I noticed. I liked the fact that, unlike most environmental movies Ive seen or read about, WALL-E showed that there was a glimmer of hope for the future...

[shmokes]

Sorry, I think I should clarify that.

I understood you and I meant it in the same way.  What I mean to say is that I took her to experience her first movie at a movie theater for the present experience, not so that she'd have something to look back on.  My point with the zoo is that even though there is no way in hell she will have any memory of it whatsoever when she's older, it was still a positive experience for her.  Similarly, she likes movies, and I took her to see Wall-E in the theater because it is huge and I thought she'd get a big kick out of it. 

Also, it's worth noting that 2-year-olds do have memories.  Just because she won't remember it when she's 12 doesn't mean she won't remember it a month from now. 

[SavannahLion]

Oh, I see what you're saying now.

You know the so-called child experts are actually telling me that very young (babies/toddlers) children shouldn't camping, or to places like Disneyland because children need stable and consistent home environments to "nuture" their development?  ---smurfing--- crack heads.

[Malenko]

not to get off topic, but Wall*E was great and had absolutely NO connection to Johnny 5 at all.  I didnt like the people part though, seemed out of place in the CG world

[Malenko]

Right.. besides looking exactly like him and being obsessed with humans... nothing at all.
 

Wall*E  develops a personality after 700 years of cleaning up after humans and doesn't want to be alive but to love another robot.

Johnny 5 gets hit with a lightning bolt and suddenly wants to be alive and even after 2 movies and being gold plated he still doesn't have a personality.

 

I wont even get into why they look alike cause we both know no 2 robots ever designed ever looked alike. Im not gonna get into an internet pissing contest over a Disney/Pixar movie and if you really think Wall*E is a rip off of short circuit then so be it; you're entitled to your opinion no matter how wrong it is.

[RayB]

Funny how showing hommage to various sci fi movies is wrong.. no it's a "rip off". The Auto-pilot's glowing red eye... no that's not an hommage to the classic Hal of 2001, no that's a "rip off". Why are people such  s sometimes ??  Wall-E influenced by JOhnny 5? No, rip off.  There were also some hints of the old classic "Silent Running". Hommage or rip-off?

[SavannahLion]

NVM, found the article that references, SR. A plot driven reference. Whoopdee doo. Let's blame every slasher film as being a rip off of TCM. 

[mpm32]

I saw this last night with my kids; daughter ( and son (3).

I asked my daughter why she thinks the people got that way?

She said because they just sit around watching TV and eating. 

We also talked about the environmental aspect but if that's the first thing she got out of it, it works for me.

I liked it and so did my kids, I will buy this when it comes out.

[ErikRuud]

Wall*E  develops a personality after 700 years of cleaning up after humans and doesn't want to be alive but to love another robot.

Dude, you realize that Wall*E is also the name of the robot?  And that robot looks just like Johnny 5.

The plots of the movies are completely different.  Nobody said the movies were the same... (besides both starring the same robot that's obsessed with humans)

 

I like this guy's take on the Wall-E/Johnny 5 issue. http://screenrant.com/enough-already-with-the-wall-e-short-circuit-comparisons-vic-1372/

I took my whole family to see Wall-E and we loved it, including my three year old son.  I don't think he has ever sat still for that long before.

[Mauzy]

The only thing different is the torso. 

I cant see any similarities past the "hands" and tracks. What am I missing?

[dstone]

I cant see any similarities past the "hands" and tracks. What am I missing?

I was just thinking the same thing. 

[shmokes]

Yeah, that's hilarious.  I actually took for granted that he did look pretty much just like Johnny 5 until I saw the comparison picture.  There is far less similarity than I initially thought.

[shardian]

I would only consider it a rip-off if Wall-E acted like Johnny-5. He doesn't even talk, so that is a no-brainer. And he certainly is not a military prototype war-machine like Johnny-5. If they look similar, it is because they are both meant to be rough terrain robots.

One other thing would be if Wall-e had shutters on his eyes. Johnny-5 expressed emotion via the eyelid-like shutters. Wall-E's head definitely resembles binoculars much more than Johnny-5.

[erictrumpet]

Why do so many people seem to miss this? Wall-E looks less like the Short Circuit robot (who was stupid and gay whereas Wall-E is totally awesome, by the way), and more like E.T. the Extra Terrestrial. The way he moves his head and neck is very reminiscent of E.T. - and his personality as well. Curious and childlike. He is also small and cute, but that Short Circuit freak is big and gangly and awkward and I would definitely shoot it if it came into my house. Wall-E is awesome though. Wall-E also isn't followed around by Hollywood's Biggest Mistake, Steve Guttenberg. For the love of God Short Circuit was a bad movie. Anyway Wall-E is awesome. Saw it with my 5 yr old daughter - her first movie theater experience - and it is a fabulous movie and perfect for a kid that age.

Eric.

[shardian]

I did finally see this, and it is slowly becoming my favorite Pixar Movie. My daughter is almost 2, and she absolutely LOVES Wall-e. Most of the time when we pop in a movie, she hits the road to play with her dollhouse. With Wall-e, she sat or stood glued to the TV. She'll walk around the house saying 'wallleeeeee'. If I even mention seeing Wall-e, she will make a beeline for the TV area.

The first time I watched it, I wasn't very interested. I even fell asleep. I finally watched it all the way thru and really liked it. Then I watched it again and liked it even more. I've seen it 15-20 times already and enjoy it every time. It is one of those truly great movies that you can see over and over.

I officially make this my 'Best movie of 2008' choice. It was Dark Knight until I saw that again on DVD. It wasn't nearly as good the second time thru.


And side note: Do you know how much ass it kicks to have a little girl that likes Wall-E 10 times more than Princess stuff? It is AWESOME!

[Dartful Dodger]

I rented this as soon as it came it out on video.   I thought it was a good movie. 

I might see it a second time if it’s on free TV some Sunday afternoon, as long as the other channels aren’t playing any Xena or the Andy Griffith show reruns.

[danny_galaga]

. I've seen it 15-20 times already and enjoy it every time. It is one of those truly great movies that you can see over and over.

 

this was one of the few movies i didnt go and see because so many people said 'dont bother'. i guess ill make do with a dvd and my 51 cm telly...

[Blanka]

I didn't bother either because they say its too moralistic for European taste.

[shardian]

The director says it's just as easy to embrace the ideas in the movie as it is to throw them aside. I feel that is a pretty good summation. I didn't feel preached to at all when watching it.

[ChadTower]

The director says it's just as easy to embrace the ideas in the movie as it is to throw them aside.

Don't agree.  If I were watching that at home I would have shut it off.  The preachiness was that heavy.  Luckily I was at a cinema pub with the kids and had a burger to occupy me.  My kids, who are usually all about emotion jerker animated films, didn't dig it nearly as much as they usually do.

[shmokes]

I'm sorry, but in my opinion that can only possibly be due to the emotional baggage you already carry with you regarding environmentalists.  Could you not handle Mulan's feminism?  Beauty and the Beast's message of beauty being more than skin deep?  Virtually every Disney film ever made has an overarching message--a moral of the story. 

Wall-E didn't make any specific arguments.  It didn't talk about global warming.  Didn't rail against the petroleum or coal industries.  The only message Wall-E delivered was, "Take care of Earth."  It absolutely got no more detailed than that.  Presumably that's not a message you find overly offensive, especially stated in such general terms.

And even still, it was barely even touched on!  Wall-E is about a love story between two robots.  Only a tiny fraction of the movie, a tiny fraction, even deals with environmental issues. 

This post isn't just directed at you Chad.  It's been tumbling around in my head since Wall-E came out.  I've talked to a number of people who simply refused to see the movie to begin with.  "If I wanted to be preached at . . . blah . . . blah . . . blah."  It's crazy.  You're gonna get preached at in EVERY movie.  They all have some point they're trying to make (hopefully).

I know you saw the movie, and I'm not trying to tell you what you think.  But I do believe that your opinion reflects your expectations going into the movie, rather than the reality of what the movie was.  Cos that movie was not preachy.

[Hoopz]

I enjoyed the movie and wasn't too aware of the premise (other than the robots) prior to seeing it.  I didn't develop an emotional attachment to the characters like I have for other Pixar movies.  Perhaps it was the lack of dialogue, but I simply didn't find Wall-E to be the protagonist along the lines of Nemo, Woody, or Sully/Mike.  I would say that my family enjoyed it but found the rabbit in the short before the movie to be more of a favorite character.

I thought the message was fine.  I would say it was as much a message of "don't be a fat lazy slob" as "take care of the environment" IMHO. 

[shardian]

Wall-e takes multiple views to truly appreciate the work done to give all the robots emotion. There are so many minute details displaying emotion that you can't possibly pick up on more than 10% on the first viewing.

The mere fact they pulled off a movie with little to no dialogue is amazing. Remember the episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer where their voices were stolen the entire episode? That was a critically acclaimed episode.

I feel sorry for anyone that misses out on the greatness of this movie because they blinded themselves getting hung up on a message that really wasn't there.


P.S. The Dark Knight was WAY more preachy than this movie, and people praised it. Is it because you liked the message in that better?

[ChadTower]

The only message Wall-E delivered was, "Take care of Earth."  It absolutely got no more detailed than that.  Presumably that's not a message you find overly offensive, especially stated in such general terms.

Did you miss the entire human race becoming so lazy and obese that they can't walk on their own, can't navigate their own streets, and expect to be served any food they desire instantly or they become disoriented and panicky?  That even the captain of the ship had no idea how to do anything?  How exactly is that a result of not taking care of the Earth?  It wasn't the environmental message I found obnoxious.  It was the dramatic statement on the laziness of humanity and where we're headed that struck me as nonentertaining.  And I wasn't offended by it.  You don't have to be offended by something to be bored by it.

[HaRuMaN]

P.S. The Dark Knight was WAY more preachy than this movie

Uh, what?

[shardian]

I thought the hoverchair humans were hilarious. It was an exaggerated MOVIE plot device. It wouldn't have been FUNNY if they were normal sized, active humans. Geez Chad, lighten up!

[ChadTower]

I thought the hoverchair humans were hilarious. It was an exaggerated MOVIE plot device. It wouldn't have been FUNNY if they were normal sized, active humans. Geez Chad, lighten up!

Could have been funny any of 100 other ways.  As I said, it didn't bother me, I just didn't find what they did amusing.  Not everyone sees the same things as funny.  I guess I'm tired of "hey look at the fat people!"  It doesn't strike me as all that imaginative even if you disregard the animator's shortcut of whale-shaped people.

[HaRuMaN]

^ Chad's sensitive about being fat...

[shardian]

P.S. The Dark Knight was WAY more preachy than this movie

Uh, what?

Exactly.

I didn't think TDK was preachy either while watching it, but that didn't stop the political pundits from going to town on it.

[shmokes]

The movie never even said it was laziness.  The movie, in fact, specifically attributed the obesity and (and bone loss) to living their whole lives in space.  Nevermind that the ship appears to have artificial gravity identical to Earth's so this doesn't make much sense in my head.  But the movie didn't say that human laziness was to blame.

Regardless, do you hate all dystopian stories?  1984?  Brave New World?  THX 1138?  Mad Max?  Waterworld (wait . . .)?  Minority Report?  The Matrix?  Fahrenheit 451?  Gattaca?  V For Vendetta?  Planet of the Apes?  Serenity?  Robocop?  Children of Men?  Blade Runner?  A Clockwork Orange?  Terminator?

Don't all of these movies make damning statements about human nature?  Are you sure your dislike for Wall-E is as noble as you think?  

[ChadTower]

TDK was also based on characters decades old.  It's pretty hard to be preachy in the same way as a totally new movie when it's just a new presentation of something we've seen many times already.  I didn't see any preachiness in TDK.

Why are you guys so worked up over someone not liking Wall-E?  That's what isn't making sense here.  Some of us didn't like it and we've given varying reasons.  What's so unusual about that?  I didn't say there was any nobility in my not liking it.  I just didn't find it funny.  I didn't find Burn After Reading funny either but nobody was offended when I said that.

[shmokes]

Cos you didn't say that it wasn't funny.  You said that, "The preachiness was that heavy."  And since it wasn't preachy at all, and there are tons of people (some who posted in this very thread) who refused to go see it in the first place out of the mere expectation of preachiness, I think I'm coming from a fairly reasonable position.   But whatev.

BTW, I am far more offended by your lack of appreciation of Burn After Reading.   

[shardian]

Chad, you talked our resident movie reviewer out of seeing it. That is a crime in and of itself!

And yeah, I'm fine with you flat out not liking it. Like I said, I didn't care for it the first time either. I would almost bet money you would like it the second time.

[ChadTower]

Cos you didn't say that it wasn't funny.  You said that, "The preachiness was that heavy." 

I did say that, so I guess my position has morphed a bit as I've thought about it more.  I see more preachiness than you, but wasn't offended by it, and at the same time found the fat people jokes to be not funny.  Fat people rolling around a ship's deck didn't make me laugh.

I didn't even notice most of the jokes that must have been in Burn After Reading.  Seriously.  Like an hour in I started wondering if it was actually a comedy.

[shardian]

I can totally see that people who get 100% service from robots for 700 years on an isolated cruise ship would eventually breed total and complete dependence.

What is not believable about that?

[ChadTower]

I can totally see that people who get 100% service from robots for 700 years on an isolated cruise ship would eventually breed total and complete dependence.

What is not believable about that?

I haven't said it isn't plausible.  Wouldn't have any preachiness to it at all if it weren't.

[ChadTower]

In a reasonable transition from fat dependent slobs... and in the interest of making this thread more interesting...



Those are pork sausage/brat patty flattened out, filled with cheese/potato/eggs, rolled up into cylinders 4" thick and a foot long, wrapped in bacon, and smoked for 6 hours.  Misleadingly called smoked fatties.

My new smoker is going to lead to some evil evil foods.   

[Hoopz]

I love my smoker.  Brisket, chicken, ribs, salmon etc. 

I have a copy of this cookbook too, that has a lot of good recipes and info:

LINK

[ChadTower]

I'm going to have to find a p180x to avoid being 240lb by August once I get this thing in production.   

My local library has that book in the catalog... just placed a hold on it.   

[Hoopz]

Even the recipes for the bbq sauces are amazing.  Who would have thought that bacon fat and vinegar would be so delicious?

You got the gas smoker, right?  I thought I saw that in the Christmas haul thread.  I started using mine years ago with charcoal and wood chips.  I only use wood chunks/logs now.  Hickory is easy to find in stores.  I have oak trees in my backyard that I use also. 

[ChadTower]

Even the recipes for the bbq sauces are amazing.  Who would have thought that bacon fat and vinegar would be so delicious?

You got the gas smoker, right?  I thought I saw that in the Christmas haul thread.  I started using mine years ago with charcoal and wood chips.  I only use wood chunks/logs now.  Hickory is easy to find in stores.  I have oak trees in my backyard that I use also. 

Yeah, the wife got it, or I would have snared a charcoal burner.  From what I'm reading people do get great results from recent propane cabs though and it's much easier.  Smoker woods aren't so easy to come by up here.  Not many fruitwood trees and most of the forests around here are heavy in softwoods.  I ordered 20lb of apple chips the other day.  Stores around here only carry "specialty chips", hickory/mesquite, packaged at like twice what it would otherwise cost.  Ordered a remote meat thermometer yesterday and once that and the chips are in that sucker is going right into production on the first weekend that is above 45 degrees.

Here, for your torture, is the bacon explosion.

My main dilemma now is how much is enough to run that it's worth doing vs how much is too much for us to actually consume?   

[Dartful Dodger]

I can totally see that people who get 100% service from robots for 700 years on an isolated cruise ship would eventually breed total and complete dependence.

What is not believable about that?

I saw that as the moral of the story.

Global warming was just the reason people left the planet, not the lesson of the story. It could have been a plague or sun spots that forced the people to leave Earth and the same lesson would still be there.  If this story was pushing the global warming theory the people would be abusing the ship the same way they allegedly abused the planet.

It was an amusing story and the animation was good.  It's worth seeing.  If it was a real 3D movie it would have been worth seeing it on an iMax, but as it is you don’t lose anything by renting it.

They didn't explain if WALL-e was given a personality by accident(like Johny-5) or if he was programmed with one.  Eva and the other robots had a personality so I'd assume he was programmed with one too.  It would have been better as a Robinson Crusoe type story.  Focused on him "developing" a personality and figuring out that he was alone and then trying to find other forms of intelligent life. 

[Hoopz]

I like the ease of use of the propane v. wood for sure.  The first time I use mine each spring, it's a struggle to get the thing to stay at the right temp.  I probably use too much wood at times as I burn then add wood chunks soaked in water to regulate it.  Hey, it gives me something to do.  

From what I've read, mesquite is good to add flavor towards the end but if you smoke with it for hours on end, it can leave a bad flavor in the meat.  Hickory is great and I was surprised to find that oak was a big one also.  

I've never used it with my rack less than full.  I'll always throw something on to fill it up.  Even a cheap butt roast is great after 8+ hours on the grill.  I eat the stuff all week for lunch at work so that helps.  

Bookmarked that link.  Thanks for the tease.  

The other cool aspect of that cookbook are the recipes for the rubs.  I use them all the time in the kitchen all year round.  

[SavannahLion]

I can totally see that people who get 100% service from robots for 700 years on an isolated cruise ship would eventually breed total and complete dependence.

What is not believable about that?

I saw that as the moral of the story.

Global warming was just the reason people left the planet, not the lesson of the story. It could have been a plague or sun spots that forced the people to leave Earth and the same lesson would still be there.  If this story was pushing the global warming theory the people would be abusing the ship the same way they allegedly abused the planet.

They are abusing the ship, none of the people realize it though. As far as the people are concerned, everything is sanitized, prepackaged, and handed to them via robots. They still produce garbage up the whazzoo and recycling isn't exactly high on the priority list. You see evidence of this when Wall-e and Eve get dropped down the garbage chute and meet the two Wall-r's shoving huge cubes of trash into deep space.

They don't necessarily explain how the ship can sustain itself for 700 years in deep space when they're shoving scarce resources out the ship. I guess the assumption is they get raw materials in some manner. In any case, like you said, it's not really the underlying message in the movie.

They didn't explain if WALL-e was given a personality by accident(like Johny-5) or if he was programmed with one.  Eva and the other robots had a personality so I'd assume he was programmed with one too.  It would have been better as a Robinson Crusoe type story.  Focused on him "developing" a personality and figuring out that he was alone and then trying to find other forms of intelligent life. 

Interestingly, I suspect he was given one by accident. Evidenced by the destuction and replacement of one of his circuit boards. After his "death" he doesn't express any personality until Eve holds his hand. I get the impression that each of the robots have the potential for a personality, but something needs to trigger it. The stewards all lack personality, yet each of the robots in recovery exhibit a personality. Eves develope over time. The secretary expresses nothing until it encounters Wall-e. So on and so forth.

[ChadTower]

The old ghost in the machine syndrome.

[shardian]

All those bacon things look NASTY!!!

I'm not a bacon fan at all. Don't get me wrong - I love meat. Bacon is a completely useless food though. 2 strips isn't nearly enough to fill you up, yet it has more artery clogging 'stuff' than a whole plate of food!

It reminds me of this skit:
http://video.aol.com/partner/hulu/saturday-night-live-taco-town/l9Q4TYNV6ncUQ1eiyimR5amQ-Olfobyw

[HaRuMaN]

I'm not a bacon fan at all.

You should be banned from BYOAC for making that statement!

Don't get me wrong - I love meat.

I bet you do...   

[ChadTower]

All those bacon things look NASTY!!!

I'm not a bacon fan at all. Don't get me wrong - I love meat. Bacon is a completely useless food though. 2 strips isn't nearly enough to fill you up, yet it has more artery clogging 'stuff' than a whole plate of food!

It reminds me of this skit:
http://video.aol.com/partner/hulu/saturday-night-live-taco-town/l9Q4TYNV6ncUQ1eiyimR5amQ-Olfobyw

This post is way too preachy.  I couldn't even find the jokes!  The blasphemy is flat out offensive.  Bacon useless?  You, sir, ain't right.

[shardian]

Breakfast Sausage > Bacon


The only thing I can think of with bacon that I truly like is a bacon stuffed chicken dish my wife makes. It's Turkey Bacon though, so it doesn't truly count.


And when I was a kid, I would routinely make bacon sandwiches for breakfast using the microwave and a bacon tray. Nowaday's I just don't like the stuff.

[ChadTower]

Breakfast Sausage > Bacon

Dude, the stuff I posted is both.

Bacon is mostly a flavor thing... and so very different from a slow bbq than off a stove.

[SavannahLion]

And when I was a kid, I would routinely make bacon sandwiches for breakfast using the microwave and a bacon tray. Nowaday's I just don't like the stuff.

This forum really needs a barfing animation. That's... just so wrong on so many levels. It's akin to using that meatless veggie bacon.

[shardian]

I think you quoted the wrong part. Using a microwave tray for bacon works well. I assume you meant to quote where I said we used turkey bacon.

[Hoopz]

And when I was a kid, I would routinely make bacon sandwiches for breakfast using the microwave and a bacon tray. Nowaday's I just don't like the stuff.

This forum really needs a barfing animation. That's... just so wrong on so many levels. It's akin to using that meatless veggie bacon.

QFT

Using a microwave to "prepare" (cause it ain't cooking) bacon is the ultimate evil. 

[shardian]

Really? The microwave gave it an even crispness that the stove could not do.

[HaRuMaN]

Really? The microwave gave it an even crispness that the stove could not do.

Blech @ the microwave

I cook bacon on an electric griddle and even crispness every time.  (Cook at 400F)

[ChadTower]

American bacon is more like an ingredient anyway.  You use it to add flavor to other things.  It's not all that great on its own.

[ahofle]

I also rank this movie way up there and I agree that it gets better after the first watch.  I didn't think it was preachy at all.

Someone mentioned the lack of emotional attachment to the characters and minimal dialog.  I actually thought it was genius how they conveyed the robots emotions, especially EVE's eyes (on an arcade related note, I love the artificial scanlines!).  Like when she giddily pops the bubble wrap paper, or at the end when she is distressed that Wall-E doesn't remember her.  When she lights the light bulb in her hand her eyes briefly resemble a wall socket, etc.  Sound effects and music were both top notch too.

Regarding the human-like traits of the robots, I assumed at least some of it was built in.  For example when EVE is in the repair ward and they take her arm off and tickle her to make sure she responds with laughter.

[Edgedamage]

I also rank this movie way up there and I agree that it gets better after the first watch.  I didn't think it was preachy at all.

Someone mentioned the lack of emotional attachment to the characters and minimal dialog.  I actually thought it was genius how they conveyed the robots emotions, especially EVE's eyes (on an arcade related note, I love the artificial scanlines!).  Like when she giddily pops the bubble wrap paper, or at the end when she is distressed that Wall-E doesn't remember her.  When she lights the light bulb in her hand her eyes briefly resemble a wall socket, etc.  Sound effects and music were both top notch too.

Regarding the human-like traits of the robots, I assumed at least some of it was built in.  For example when EVE is in the repair ward and they take her arm off and tickle her to make sure she responds with laughter.

Did you not feel sorry for the cockroach when wall-e left.

[AtomSmasher]

I saw this on dvd a little while ago and I'd say it was pretty good.  It is a bit preachy, but not overly so.  I wouldn't consider it a must see or even close to Pixars best, but it is worth seeing.

[Ed_McCarron]

Heh.  Did I ever post a pic of my kids halloween costumes this past year?

[Hoopz]

Here, for your torture, is the bacon explosion.

NY Times article regarding this delicacy:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/28/dining/28bacon.html?no_interstitial