A Pigment of My Imagination

One of the many benefits of Christmas break is A) finally having some free time to catch up on movies you’ve wanted to see for a while, and B) getting new movies to add to the list!

One movie that I requested was Pixar’s latest masterpiece, “Wall-E.” I first saw the movie this summer on its theatrical release, and then again a few months ago at a dollar theater rerun. The first time seeing the movie, I was sitting in the theater, and within about five minutes I said to myself “I think this is one of my new favorite films!”, followed rather shortly by “I’ve gotta get this DVD when it comes out…” Both were rather to my surprise, as I’m normally very skeptical of blessing anything with the word “favorite”.

In this case, I believe it is very well deserved, with Wall-E, I believe writer/director Andrew Stanton and the brilliant Pixar crew have made what I believe is one of their best films (“Finding Nemo” being my previous favorite from the team (also Stanton’s work)). This movie grabbed me right way, caught my mind and heart. I have always found film so powerful because it’s such a visual medium, and as such, always trusted that a solid story can be told with little dialogue. Wall-E proved this without a doubt. The whole movie uses practically no dialogue, at least not from its main heroes. In fact, I can’t remember a movie that has done such a solid job of characterizing a main hero so fast and cleverly as here, and our hero is a hunk of metal!

In fact, the movie plays on this theme: these robots are more human than humans themselves. This is sad, but beautifully portrayed in the film. We see our hero, and his lover EVE, taking on some of the best aspects of human nature: curiosity, love, fun, heroism, courage, etc. In watching the film, I felt totally connected to these metallic characters, I could understand their pain, and in doing so, it helped me understand my own human quest. I love Wall-E’s home, filled with his collected trinkets, showing his love of the unique and the beautiful, even when his ideas are very different than our own (more interested in the hinges of the ring box than that diamond ring inside…). He sees beauty in the gray world he lives in, and cherishes these things. Even when thrust into the brave new world of outer space, and later, the Axiom, he never looses his passion for adventure. He sacrifices his own life for the sake of the “directive” and life.
Technically, the movie is flawless. Every shot is absolutely breathtaking: vibrant colors, powerful composition, extremely cinematic, and is jaw-dropping on the big screen. The story flows very smoothly, and never really lets up. Thomas Newman’s score is both fast-paced and magical.

I hear this is one of the six stories that Pixar wanted to make when they first started their company. This is a story that Stanton, a Christian, has wanted to make for a very long time, and it is clear he put his heart and soul into this film. Although he said he didn’t mean for it to be a “message movie”, this movie nevertheless has much to say about our society today, and where our culture is headed. Unfortunately almost none of it is positive. Except in the life-affirming message that there is always hope and change is possible, and the film honors that positive side of humanity that stares adversity in the face and rises to the challenge, bringing love and joy to those around us.

Oh, and “Presto” wasn’t bad either, hehe.
So much to say, so little time….
If you haven’t seen it – go right now and rent it, even better, buy it (crazy eco-friendly packaging and everything)!