"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...