WALL-E (some spoilers)

[ISiddiqui]

When I saw the previews originally, I thought that looks pretty decent, but I dunno if I'll see it in the theater... but my lord, I'm looking at the reviews and I'm amazed. See for yourself:

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wall_e/

98% positive?! 100% of the cream of the crop?! Holy crap! I may now have to see this. I don't think I've ever seen a movie get this type of reviews before. And NY Times review was positively gushing.

[Cringer]

I have an 8 year old daughter who loves almost to give any animated movie a try, and her parents are pretty much the same. That means we are going. I think it will be good, especially going on a Monday or Tuesday afternoon when no one else is there.

[PackerFanatic]

Pixar has really put out some good stuff and I have loved them since day one (Toy Story is by far my favorite movie of all-time), so naturally, this looked pretty good to me.

[lighthousekeeper]

Toy Story is by far my favorite movie of all-time.

Toy Story? Really? Toy Story?

[PackerFanatic]

Toy Story? Really? Toy Story?

Haha, I was waiting for that.

Yes, really :)

[PackerFanatic]

dola -

Maybe not BY FAR...but it is my favorite, always on my list of favorite movies. I have far too many to list.

[Cringer]

Toy Story? Really? Toy Story?

/Jim Mora Impression

Finished that post off for you.

[spleen1015]

We'll be going to the 0900 showing Sunday morning when all of the crazies are at church.

[Kodos]

Johnny #5 is alive!

[Bad-example]

Judging by the previews, I fully expect this movie to be equally as good as Short Circuit, and by that I mean 'completely unwatchable'.

[Kodos]

What about Short Circuit 2: The Revenge?

[Wolfpack]

My four-year-old daughter has been looking forward to this ever since she saw a preview for it on (I believe) "The Jungle Book" DVD. Even tries to mimick the robotic "Wall-E" sound and recognizes the music from the preview if I hum it. Won't be this weekend, though, unless my wife takes her while they're visiting my folks.

[gstelmack]

Life is not a malfunction.

But really looking forward to this. When we went to see Kung Fu Panda, my 3 year old son was laughing pretty hard through the Wall-E trailer (he's big into slapstick and things banging together right now). We'll be seeing it, but not sure exactly when yet.

[KWhit]

My son will flip for this. And I pretty much think Pixar is the best movie studio in existence. There are incredibly consistent, with their worst movies at least in the good category for me.

[MacroGuru]

I am in the general consensus, it also depends on the wife and her schedule and the weather. We like the Drive-In right now, so if it's not there we wont go.

[Comey]

I got movie passes from the parents in the classroom I work (I work in autistic support, but my kid is in a regular classroom, and I helped teach the entire class when the situation called for it). My girlfriend and I are going to see this.

We don't have kids. We just both want to see it.


(Yes, it does help that we're going for free.)

[JetsIn06]

Absolutely. Fucking. Awesome

[BrianD]

I wanted nothing to do with this movie when the previews first started coming out, but later previews looked much better. I expect this to be a fun movie.

What is the hope for Pixar movies after this one? Apparently this is the last movie idea that came from a group lunch that spawned all the previous Pixar movies. Let's hope they remember the initial magic and have another productive group lunch...and let's hope that everybody is still around to participate.

[Pumpy Tudors]

I was listening to the radio this morning, and I heard Leonard Maltin taking a shit on this movie, but that probably doesn't mean much.

[ISiddiqui]

Absolutely. Fucking. Awesome

Just saw it... have to echo this.

[LastWhiteSoxFanStanding]

Absolutely amazing movie.

The opening half hour or so is just great and is a throwback to the silent movie era.

I almost wish this wasn't a kids movie because I think it would have been neat to make it a silent movie for the whole thing and really explore wall e's loneliness. But nevertheless, its a really great movie.

[ISiddiqui]

This is my review in the "last movie you watched" thread:

WALL-E - 9/10: Absolutely incredible! Top notch animation and a very fun love story, with some big political/social issues in the background. A great satire on environmentalism, modern consumerism, the big box stores (ie, Wal-Mart, I don't think the name of the movie is totally coincidental), even the cruise industry. Just hits it out of the park. I think its the best movie I've seen all year.

[Anthony]

took the wife to see this, and it was a phenomenal movie. this from a person who loathes these animated movies. excellent story. amazing how they coaxed so much emotion out of robots who hardly said anything.

[Young Drachma]

This thread has convinced me that I have to see this, so we're going to go tomorrow and check it out. :popcorn:

[JetsIn06]

I cried during this movie. There were some extremely sad moments, but also some happy and funny moments. Great animation, great story. It's amazing the emotions they get out of you within the first half an hour when there is no dialogue at all.

[JetsIn06]

This thread has convinced me that I have to see this, so we're going to go tomorrow and check it out. :popcorn:

Good choice. It's definitely worth the price of admission.

[ISiddiqui]

Oh, one other thing... this is the type of movie one buys a Blu-Ray player for. It's gotta be jaw dropping on BR compared to standard DVD.

[Glengoyne]

Ah This was no Toy Story.

I'm not sure I watched the same movie as anyone gushing over this one.

It was good. I do agree with harkening back to Silent movies. Even a little Chaplin bit with a hat/hubcap. The animation was great.

Just all in all.....It didn't do it for me.

[Julio Riddols]

That would be the equivalent of finding out Jessica Alba is a boring lay. That said, I still want to see the film.

[Draft Dodger]

I enjoyed it. I'm not a fan of animated movies at all - I just find it too difficult to lose myself in the movie. For the first half of this movie, the animation and story were so good that I was able to enjoy it. Then the movie shifts (avoiding spoilers) and suddenly the animation is no longer able to keep me sucked in, and the story, while interesting, became far to similar to Idiocracy.

It was still very good, and I'd recommend seeing it. I'm like LWSFS above - I wish they'd just kept this one about the 2 robots.

[Marc Vaughan]

Put me in the 'good' but not fantastic crowd, its a little different to some of the animated stuff and my kids liked it ... but it didn't grab me in the way which Shrek and Toy Story did.

[Cringer]

I thought it was a great movie. My favorite Pixar movie yet, and the whole thing just sucked me in for some reason. It probably isn't the funniest of their movies, but something about it just has me loving it. My wife liked it, but just said it was on par with other Pixar movies, not better.

And I did like the last half of the movie as much as the first half.

[Marc Vaughan]

And I did like the last half of the movie as much as the first half.

My problem with the second half was it ripped from Idiocrocy(sp?) big time and also just didn't 'gel' that well with the style and emotion of the first half of the film ... just mho.

[Cringer]

I can understand that I guess, it does change a good amount. It is the first half of that film that has people talking Picture of the Year Oscar nomination already, and not the second half.

[lighthousekeeper]

Saw it yesterday with my 3.5 year old. I thought it was good but not deserving of the accolades people are using in this thread.


my daughter lost interest about halfway through. it was her first movie in the theater - and based on her reaction I think she's still probably too young to enjoy a full length movies at the theater.

another interesting point is that there were about a total of 8 people in the theater. (Saturday 9am showing)

[ISiddiqui]

My problem with the second half was it ripped from Idiocrocy(sp?) big time and also just didn't 'gel' that well with the style and emotion of the first half of the film ... just mho.

Well, just because one movie does one theme doesn't mean its off limits ;). Besides I think it was suitably different (the focus on robots in WALL-E being a major contributor)

And it fits well within the story. I don't think anything could have gelled perfectly with the style and emotion of the first half of the movie (kind of like Saving Private Ryan that way), simply because it was so powerful, but you couldn't make an hour and a half move out of it.

I actually did like the juxtaposition between the first half and the second half and the utter differences between the settings of both halves and what that has to say.

[samifan24]

I really enjoyed this movie. I agree that the first half was spectacular but the second half wasn't bad either. Good fun for all ages.

[rjolley]

Took my daughters to see this today. Everyone enjoyed it very much.

I would definitely recommend it for families. I can understand a child under 5 losing interest, but kids who are starting to follow more complex storylines may enjoy it more.

[Warhammer]

The first part of the movie was quite good. But I got really sick of the whole bashing of big box stores/consumerism. I felt it would have been much better served during the second half of the movie is they would have stuck with more of a sci-fi feel.

I did like that they incorporated an awful lot of sci-fi ideas and drew from many movies in the way they made the movie. They drew from Asimov, Clarke, Adams, and others, but again, I thought the message they were trying to convey was way too over the top.

[Glengoyne]

Saw it yesterday with my 3.5 year old. I thought it was good but not deserving of the accolades people are using in this thread.


my daughter lost interest about halfway through. it was her first movie in the theater - and based on her reaction I think she's still probably too young to enjoy a full length movies at the theater.

another interesting point is that there were about a total of 8 people in the theater. (Saturday 9am showing)

Don't be so sure about her being too young. This movie wasn't your typical animated movie. Kung Fu Panda would be a much better test of your theory.

[samifan24]

The first part of the movie was quite good. But I got really sick of the whole bashing of big box stores/consumerism.

I agree. I enjoyed the movie but it was hard to overlook the constant message of "big box stores/consumerism is bad." Ok, we get it, you don't like Walmart and you think the American people are lazy, fine, but you don't need to hit us over the head with it repeatedly.

[ISiddiqui]

Well that kind of was the point of the story, so it'd be hard not to hit you over the head with it ;).

[Warhammer]

Well that kind of was the point of the story, so it'd be hard not to hit you over the head with it ;).

No there are other ways to do it without beating our heads with it. For that matter, why does it have to have any sort of message?

Look at The Incredibles. That movie had a very good message. Once you bring everyone to the same level, no one is special any more. Don't embrace mediocrity, etc., etc. But that movie did not beat you over the head with it. There were some subtle hints and then the one fight between EG and Mr. I.

It could have been very easy in this movie to have some simple explanation somewhere about too much trash, etc. Heck, have the diatribe against the big box stores, but mix it up rather than bash only the one.

Don't get me wrong, it was a good movie, but it is not the movie par excellance that everyone is making it out to be. It would have been a much stronger movie without trying to hammer home a message.

[ISiddiqui]

Look at The Incredibles. That movie had a very good message. Once you bring everyone to the same level, no one is special any more. Don't embrace mediocrity, etc., etc. But that movie did not beat you over the head with it.

Maybe you think it didn't beat you over the head because you agreed with the message ;).

For those who considered a conservative anti-Affirmative Action speal it most definitely did.

[samifan24]

Well that kind of was the point of the story, so it'd be hard not to hit you over the head with it ;).

I disagree. I don't see why a movie like this "needs" a message at all. After watching the first half of the movie, the "biggest issue" I saw was how badly people treated the environment. I wouldn't have had a problem if the producers spent more time on this issue because it played an integral role in the storyline. But, alas, an animated movie needn't be a commentary on anything, much less consumerism and what the film's producers deem wrong with American society. If the producers want to include a message, that's their prerogative. There's something to be said for grace and subtlety and, in the context of this film's "message," Wall-E lacked both.

[Anthony]

don't read the below if you didn't see the movie.

if they didn't beat you over the head about the laziness of humans and overreliance on gadgets, then at the end when they finally do get up off their chairs and stand up for themselves it wouldn't have that much of an impact.
the scene where the captain finally does start to act like a captain and tries to retake the ship wouldn't have much meaning to it if he wasn't such a useless sloth. there obviously needed to be some type of message other than 2 robots falling in love, as good as the 1st half was 2 robotic non-speaking characters and a cockroach could only hold your attention for so long.

[Anthony]

I disagree. I don't see why a movie like this "needs" a message at all. After watching the first half of the movie, the "biggest issue" I saw was how badly people treated the environment. I wouldn't have had a problem if the producers spent more time on this issue because it played an integral role in the storyline. But, alas, an animated movie needn't be a commentary on anything, much less consumerism and what the film's producers deem wrong with American society.

I really liked the movie, it was funny and a good time. But the message? There doesn't need to be a message. If you want to include one, fine, but do so gracefully and with subtlety.

animated movies, afer all, are for kids. while these days they've become more sophisticated, i don't think kids do subtle very well. maybe you should try "No Country For Old Men" for nuance and subtlety. its people like you who want to bash the Star Wars series, as if a movie about beeping robots, a monkey co-pilot and a talking frog was ever geared towards sophisticated adults.

[ISiddiqui]

I think HA hit it on the nail there. The final parts of the movie have such an impact because of what they've been saying throughout about humanity and the direction it is going. Sure, it is a massive exaggeration, but its also a wake up call.

[samifan24]

its people like you who want to bash the Star Wars series, as if a movie about beeping robots, a monkey co-pilot and a talking frog was ever geared towards sophisticated adults.

Really? "People like me?" I have never posted anything on this site about Star Wars or any other movie franchises so I find this comment especially laughable. This has nothing to do with Wall-E or, as you allege, searching for subtlety where it shouldn't be found.

[ISiddiqui]

I don't see why a movie like this "needs" a message at all.

Some of us do believe that movies are an artform ;). Sure you can have your mindless entertainment movies, but the ones that are truly great are promoting a message (and that is what makes them great... they have something to say rather than simply entertain you for an hour and a half).

[samifan24]

I think HA hit it on the nail there. The final parts of the movie have such an impact because of what they've been saying throughout about humanity and the direction it is going. Sure, it is a massive exaggeration, but its also a wake up call.

And I recognize the value in that plot point at that specific point in the film. If the audience didn't have the back story, the film's final act would be much less meaningful.

My issue, though, is with a specific decision made by the producers and their reasons for doing so, especially given the context.

[ISiddiqui]

I don't think the message on environmentalism packs as much of an oomph if you don't see what humanity has become... and basically ties back to present day. One of the reasons the Earth is in such dire straights is because we are too lazy to get off our asses and do anything about it.

[samifan24]

Some of us do believe that movies are an artform ;).

I never said they weren't art. Wall-E is great, look at the unbelievable artwork, the good storyline and the voice acting as evidence of that.

[ISiddiqui]

My point was that "art" has something to say. It isn't just for entertainment's sake.

[Anthony]

Really? "People like me?" I have never posted anything on this site about Star Wars or any other movie franchises so I find this comment especially laughable. This has nothing to do with Wall-E or, as you allege, searching for subtlety where it shouldn't be found.

i said "people like you". the same logic you're saying about WALL-E is the same that people have used to bash Return of the Jedi for having Ewoks, then 20 years later bashing Episode 1 for having Jar Jar Binks. hello - at it's heart Star Wars is for kids. i bet Lucas would love to just say "i think some of you have read more into this silly kids story than was originally intended".

but to get back on track, your complaints about the movie have to deal with hitting you over the head with a message. if there isn't a message in any story then what exactly is the point? that's the whole basis of "why did the chicken cross the road?". the punchline is "i know you were expecting a silly reason, but quite simply he just wanted to get to the other side". if you aren't saying anything then all you're watching is a bunch of characters, or the movie version of Seinfeld.

kids aren't able to follow this. i imagine there are a lot of kids who didn't understand the concept of "directive". how WALL-E, a robot, was willing to give up "living" with his love interest so that EVE could save humanity from a pointless existence and return them to home. how EVE was willing to forego her directive to be with WALL-E. i don't think kids would understand driective. they also need to be hit over the head, that living such a "i want it - buy it for me" lifestyle leads to waste, which in this movie over time resulted in humanity needing to take a temporary leave while we worked on cleaning up earth, and while on this vacation we resumed our gluttonous ways to the point where we were jelly-like sloths who did/could do nothing for ourselves. you kinda need to take a kid by the hand and walk them through that, how one thing leads to another, which leads to another and that's how you arrive at the end result. you could tell that with less hand-holding, but you're an adult. you've graduated to the point where you can watch a movie with no apparent meaning and gleam your own ideas/theories as to what the ultimate message was.

[JonInMiddleGA]

My point was that "art" has something to say. It isn't just for entertainment's sake.

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

[samifan24]

but to get back on track, your complaints about the movie have to deal with hitting you over the head with a message. if there isn't a message in any story then what exactly is the point?

I've said multiple times that I have no problem with a movie having a message or with Wall-E in particular having a message. My issue is with what the producers are saying in that message and how they're saying it.

[Warhammer]

For those who considered a conservative anti-Affirmative Action speal it most definitely did.

You're kidding me, right? What other scenes in The Incredibles talked about that. You had Syndrome's speech, the fight I mentioned, and what else?

Maybe you think it didn't beat you over the head because you agreed with the message ;).

Not really. I can understand quite a bit of it. I get pissed when the movie becomes a slam against something without really telling you about that in the previews. I had the same problem with Happy Feet. The problem that I have with the message is that kids do not know how to discern things. They form opinions now that they carry with them for the rest of their lives.

[Warhammer]

I've said multiple times that I have no problem with a movie having a message or with Wall-E in particular having a message. My issue is with what the producers are saying in that message and how they're saying it.

I agree with this. When you go in to see a documentary, you understand that a certain message is part of the price of admission. I have issues with a children's movie having such a controversial message and how they say it.

That said, I had no problems with the way they portrayed the people or trash issues. Those are problems that I think we can all agree with. My problem was making the leap that big box retailers are the ones to blame.

[ISiddiqui]

You're kidding me, right? What other scenes in The Incredibles talked about that. You had Syndrome's speech, the fight I mentioned, and what else?

Syndrome's speech was the big huge bop your over the head encapsulation of the message (WALL-E had no speeches to that effect, or even near that... hard to when there were very few speaking lines). You had the montage at the beginning where evil lawsuits drove superheros into hiding. The obvious sillyness of a massive hulk like Mr. Incredible cramming himself into a tiny car and getting yelled at by a mini-me boss, who really wasn't all that impressive (and simply cared about the bottom line). It was all bright as day and obvious.

When you go in to see a documentary, you understand that a certain message is part of the price of admission. I have issues with a children's movie having such a controversial message and how they say it.

Which are what reviews are for.

I mean it wasn't all too clear that Million Dollar Baby was about assisted suicide from the previews and whatnot. I don't see why children's movies should be subjected to a different standard... why, because they are children and are that highly susceptible? I just don't see that. I don't think that kids are going to tell their parents not to shop at Wal-Mart because its the evil B&L from WALL-E.

[gstelmack]

kids aren't able to follow this. i imagine there are a lot of kids who didn't understand the concept of "directive". how WALL-E, a robot, was willing to give up "living" with his love interest so that EVE could save humanity from a pointless existence and return them to home. how EVE was willing to forego her directive to be with WALL-E. i don't think kids would understand driective. they also need to be hit over the head, that living such a "i want it - buy it for me" lifestyle leads to waste, which in this movie over time resulted in humanity needing to take a temporary leave while we worked on cleaning up earth, and while on this vacation we resumed our gluttonous ways to the point where we were jelly-like sloths who did/could do nothing for ourselves. you kinda need to take a kid by the hand and walk them through that, how one thing leads to another, which leads to another and that's how you arrive at the end result. you could tell that with less hand-holding, but you're an adult. you've graduated to the point where you can watch a movie with no apparent meaning and gleam your own ideas/theories as to what the ultimate message was.

There, fixed that passage for you (are we ready for the "spoilers" thread yet?). Guess I'll stop reading the thread now until I've actually seen the movie.

[ISiddiqui]

There... I changed the title for the better ;).

To "some spoilers"

[Glengoyne]

Maybe you think it didn't beat you over the head because you agreed with the message ;).

For those who considered a conservative anti-Affirmative Action speal it most definitely did.

I think some people read WAY too much into these cartoons. I don't want social commentary. I want to be entertained.

[Anthony]

There, fixed that passage for you (are we ready for the "spoilers" thread yet?). Guess I'll stop reading the thread now until I've actually seen the movie.

for the life of me, i'll never get the people who read threads on movies they haven't watched yet. if you want reviews, read a review (which don't contain spoilers). these threads are to discuss the movie. it's not enough for someone to tell me "i didn't like the movie". ok...why? what parts? what scenes? gotta discuss the movie a little bit. i'm interested in hearing people discuss parts of the movie i may have not picked up on. i think i got all the angles, though, it's not that deep of a movie. to me this movie was a 9/10, which is saying a lot cuz i don't like these kinds of movies.

[Calis]

Don't think it's been mentioned yet, but I think the short before the movie was the best one Pixar has done.

It was great.

[gstelmack]

for the life of me, i'll never get the people who read threads on movies they haven't watched yet. if you want reviews, read a review (which don't contain spoilers). these threads are to discuss the movie. it's not enough for someone to tell me "i didn't like the movie". ok...why? what parts? what scenes? gotta discuss the movie a little bit. i'm interested in hearing people discuss parts of the movie i may have not picked up on. i think i got all the angles, though, it's not that deep of a movie. to me this movie was a 9/10, which is saying a lot cuz i don't like these kinds of movies.

People were doing a good job of it until you decided to post key story elements...

[Anthony]

again, there isn't much to add to "i liked the movie" or "it's not as good as Toy Story". when you got some people saying it's a great movie and others saying it's an ok movie, clearly people are seeing things that others aren't, so that requires a little more in depth talk. how can you talk aout a movie without discussing it.

that's like Jason Giambi holding a press conference to apologize, but not tell you what he's apologizing for.

[Anthony]

and let me just add - this is a kids movie. the good guys win, the bad guys (though there really wasn't a typical bad guy in this movie) lose. there isn't gonna be much to reveal. i can look at any pixar movie and immediately know the ending will be a comfy, snuggly good ending. not to say i'd reveal anything juicy, but i think it's rather easy to figure out it'll all work out in the end, whatever the "all" may entail. these movies aren't looking to shatter the concepts of right/wrong that kids may have or throw complicated plot twists their way.

[Warhammer]

Syndrome's speech was the big huge bop your over the head encapsulation of the message (WALL-E had no speeches to that effect, or even near that... hard to when there were very few speaking lines). You had the montage at the beginning where evil lawsuits drove superheros into hiding. The obvious sillyness of a massive hulk like Mr. Incredible cramming himself into a tiny car and getting yelled at by a mini-me boss, who really wasn't all that impressive (and simply cared about the bottom line). It was all bright as day and obvious.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. The evil lawsuits had nothing to do about mediocrity, I thought it was a funny bit. How was his work at the insurance company about anti-affirmative action? It was more about his trying to fit into everyday life. The car was more of the same.

Now, if you want to say that The Incredibles is an indictment against the insurance companies, I could agree with that a bit more.

[ISiddiqui]

The anti-affirmative action message is encapsulated in the idea that if you advance mediocrity (by, say letting in less qualified people of one group than more qualified of another in a school), you are going to have people of great potential excellence handicaped and their talents will go to waste.... kind of like Mr. Incredible working for an insurance company.

[Warhammer]

The anti-affirmative action message is encapsulated in the idea that if you advance mediocrity (by, say letting in less qualified people of one group than more qualified of another in a school), you are going to have people of great potential excellence handicaped and their talents will go to waste.... kind of like Mr. Incredible working for an insurance company.

If they wanted their message to be consistent, they would have portrayed the cops as incompetent.

[terpkristin]

Don't think it's been mentioned yet, but I think the short before the movie was the best one Pixar has done.

It was great.

I agree 100%.
It's also available on iTunes for $1.99, for those of you that are into that kind of thing.

And I think Disney is only surviving right now on old flicks on DVD and Pixar...when I went to see it last night, "Meet Dave" was one of the trailers, along with "Beverly Hills Chihuahua." Really? You go from Aladdin, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and the Little Mermaid to "Meet Dave" and "Beverly Hills Chihuahua"??? Even Journey to the Center of the Earth looked "good" in comparison (and I think it'll be dreadful).

I truly enjoyed WALL-E, but maybe that's just my rocket scientist/space geek/environmentalist/robot geek side coming out...though it was interesting to see this (http://scienceblogs.com/deltoid/2008/06/satellites_cause_global_warmin.php) article today, after seeing the movie last night (with the scene of WALL-E having to crash through the layer of sattelites)...

/tk

[Izulde]

WALL-E is one of the best movies I've seen in quite a few years.

Simply brilliant.

[MikeVic]

I can't believe Beverly Hills Chihuahua is actually being released in theatres. Looked brutal. That hamster in another trailer looked funny though. :) And I agree that the short was good. As well as Wall-E, but that review is in the movie thread.

[KWhit]

Incredible movie. One of the best I've seen in years. I have always loved Pixar's stuff, but this was their best I think (with Toy Story a close #2).

My 4 year old loved it too and it's great that there are movies that can work on multiple levels enough so that we can both get so much out of them.

[BrianD]

I very much enjoyed this movie as well. I don't think it was one of the best Pixar movies, but it was very good. I think a lot of the Pixar movie rankings depend on how well the message resonates with people. For me, the Wall-E message was rather heavy handed, and the message didn't resonate with me well, but the other 95% of the movie that wasn't heavy handed was very good.

[gstelmack]

The first 30 minutes or so were pretty good. That's when my 3 year old pooed out and I didn't get to see the rest. Wife and 5 year old really enjoyed it though. From what I could see and based on their reports, those of you who think they beat you over the head with the materialism / consumerism thing aren't that familiar with true science fiction, which was always about social commentary and taking things to extremes to warn about potential consequences. Blowing up aliens isn't really science fiction, that's just a cool action movie. This looked like good science fiction.

And from what I saw, it's not necessarily a Wal-Mart attack, 'cause around here BJs fits the bill more than Wal-Mart (Wal-Mart does not have gas stations around here, but BJ's does). It's a general attack on conglomerate corporate America; any of a number of companies fit the bill at a number of levels.

Good movie with an interesting plot. Can't wait to see the rest when the DVD comes out.

[Daimyo]

I liked it a lot, but I'd rate it somewhere in the bottom half of Pixar movies.

[BrianD]

From what I could see and based on their reports, those of you who think they beat you over the head with the materialism / consumerism thing aren't that familiar with true science fiction, which was always about social commentary and taking things to extremes to warn about potential consequences.

True science fiction tends to be a bit more subtle. Normally there is a situation that develops, and then the ramifications are shown. Wall-E started with that and then decided to throw in a few speeches toward the end to really hammer the point home. The part that really got to me was the speeches about destroying the planet and making it uninhabitable. That point was delivered properly during the first 2/3 of the movie, the speeches were unnecessary. Aside from that, very good movie.

Edit: added spoiler tags in case we haven't talked about that part yet.

[larrymcg421]

The Day the Earth Stood Still is one of my favorite sci fi movies ever, and it is anything but subtle.

[BrianD]

The Day the Earth Stood Still is one of my favorite sci fi movies ever, and it is anything but subtle.

That's been on my list to see, but I haven't yet. How pissed are you going to be when the remake comes out later this year?

[Butter]

I really didn't think the point was hammered home that much. Obviously, there was a point, but I thought most of the points were made in order to advance the story, not just to have an agenda.

It was way better than I thought it would be. Awesome movie.

[Subby]

Here is how I would probably rank them:

1. The Incredibles
2. Finding Nemo
3. WALL-E
4. Ratatouille
5. Monsters Inc.
6. Toy Story
7. A Bug's Life
8. Toy Story 2
9. Cars

[Subby]

dola

The short feature that played before WALL-E was hilarious. Very Loony Tunes.

[Kodos]

Really? Monsters Inc. before Toy Story?

[larrymcg421]

1. Toy Story
2. Toy Story 2
3. Wall-E
4. Ratatouille
5. The Incredibles
6. Finding Nemo
7. Monsters Inc.
8. A Bug's Life

Haven't seen Cars...

[larrymcg421]

That's been on my list to see, but I haven't yet. How pissed are you going to be when the remake comes out later this year?

Keanu Reeves as Klaatu.

I have very low expectations, so I'm just hoping it surpasses those.

[Joe]

I saw this movie yesterday, and my opinion is that it was not very good and children would not have enjoyed it. The few in the theatre left midway through.

[larrymcg421]

What didn't you like about it?

Also, my experience was much different. The children absolutely loved every minute of it.

[Subby]

I saw this movie yesterday, and my opinion is that it was not very good and children would not have enjoyed it. The few in the theatre left midway through.
Sounds like your experience was atypical.

[gstelmack]

1. Finding Nemo
2. Monsters, Inc.
3. The Incredibles
4. Toy Story 2
5. Toy Story
6. Cars
7. Ratatouille
8. A Bug's Life

Need to see all of WALL-E first.

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I think Monsters Inc remains one of the most original of the stories and just works wonderfully. I think Nemo remains the most watchable. This comes from having seen most of these at least a few dozen times over the last 2 years.

Cutest moment: my at-the-time-2-year-old son yelling "Go!" when the chandelier falls and the rats all take off near the beginning of Ratatouille.
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