Trash and Our Planet

WALL-E is a PIXAR film released in 2008 during the studio's much publicized golden era. The film was PIXAR's first (and only) real foray into the world of science fiction. WALL-E is the story of a robot, whose sole job is to clear up the garbage that now litters much of the world's surface. Mass consumerism has left piles of waste, and as the last remnants of humanity leave for a new life in space, the government decides to use robots to clean up the mess, it is quickly realized that this plan will not work, and the government shuts down the WALL-E program, however one robot remains, and he alone clears up all the rubbish, in the years since the humans leaving, WALL-E has developed a personality, and is immensely lonely. EVE is a robot charged to find vegetation on earth, and as soon as WALL-E sees her, he falls in love.

What makes WALL-E so unique is that the characters do not speak, and only communicate using grunts and sounds, which at times sound almost human. The first half of the movie takes place on earth, where WALL-E and EVE are alone, save for the cockroach. Thus during the whole first portion of the film, there is no dialogue, it is impressive that PIXAR manage to allow real communication between these robots. The robots have so much personality, EVE has a LED screen instead of a face, and the shape of the eyes changes depending on the emotion she is feeling. The head will also tilt depending on feeling, such as leaning to the side when she is confused. WALL-E is also hugely expressive, the eyes here will also move depending on emotion, such as blinking to indicate sadness. It is phenomenal that characters who do not speak, and who do not have real faces can be so expressive and have such character.

The film also looks amazing, the first part of the film takes place on earth, which has turned into a dusty rubbish dump. The whole first part of the film has a sepia tint, and legendary cinematographer Roger Deakins was hired as a consultant on the film. The second half of the film is in direct contrast to this, as it takes place on a space ship, it has a cold industrial feel, using mainly whites greys and blues. What is interesting about this film is how it has been treated like a live action movie, the film features almost photo-realistic animation and manages to successfully blur the line between animation and live action.

The film itself is a critique of industrialism and mass commercialism, the film depicts a world which our planet is vastly in danger of becoming. Purchases are not made to last, and everything is disposable, T-Shirts at Primark that are designed to be worn once and thrown away, and cars that are only intended to be used for a few years before they are exchanged for a newer, better, shinier model. Most the stuff that we buy comes in packaging, which is basically trash, and even the things that we buy themselves are mostly trash, designed to be used a handful of times and then thrown away, WALL-E opens our eyes to the fact that when we throw something in the trash, it doesn't simply disappear, and it has to go somewhere.

WALL-E also critiques the way in which we use technology, and since watching the film, i have tried to modify the amount of technology that i use, on the spaceship Axiom, humans have become so attached to technology that the barely see the world around them, to the point that one of the characters didn't even know that the ship had a pool, and that characters have become unable to walk due to mobile chairs carrying them around. (Segway anyone?) Due to technology taking over their lives, humans have become less and less human to the point where it is difficult to tell them apart, and the robots have become more human than the humans, knowing how to love and gaining personality.

The film also contains many charming references to other science fiction films, most notably '2001, A Space Odyssey'. WALL-E mirrors 2001's themes of technology and power, and the idea of technology becoming more charismatic, and having more personality than humans. AUTO, the intelligent computer system in WALL-E resembles HAL 9000 from 2001, both in appearance and in personality.

The film can also be seen as a biblical allegory, EVE resembles the eponymous character from genesis, and the beginning of the film mirrors the Adam and Eve story, with WALL-E representing the lonely Adam, and EVE being the woman who comes to keep him company, and with whom he subsequently falls in love. EVE also resembles the white dove that Moses sent forth from the arc, only to return with the olive branch, in style and in story.

Overall, WALL-E is a fantastic complex story, which proves that animated films do not have to resort to silly cartoonish gags in order to appeal to children. WALL-E contains numerous biblical, science-fiction and environment allegories, and serves as a warning that humanity needs to change it's course if we want to survive. It's not bird flu, or homosexuality that will lead to the end of the human race, but our own actions, and since the release of WALL-E in 2008, the situation has only gotten worse. Rating: A+

Captain: Wait, that doesn't look like Earth. Where's the blue sky? Where's the-the grass?