According to Wired writer Brandon Keim, "The decade's most powerful environmental film doesn't star Al Gore or Greenpeace activists, but a trash-compacting, Hello Dolly-loving robot with a cockroach for a best friend."
Keim goes on to analyze the movie's environmental message, delivered through a charming story about a cute robot who is Earth's only inhabitant, left behind to clean up a planet literally heaping with garbage while Earth's former denizens loll about -- lazy, bloated, and stupid -- inside off-planet "consumer cocoons." As heavy-handed as the message sounds, Pixar has apparently denied that the movie has any such environmentalist leanings.
Keim mentions Pixar's disavowal in the same breath that he uses to point out the ironic fact that Wall-E will no doubt be subject to the same heavy-handed product tie-ins for which Disney (Pixar's parent company) is famous.
But even if its bubble-wrapped tie-ins end up clogging our great-grandchildren's landfills, Wall-E's point is no less potent. And if your kids want Wall-E toys, buy them a planter and some seeds.
We have to confess that we haven't yet seen Wall-E (a new baby slows you down that way), though we're keen to, especially after hearing it lauded as one of the most Oscar-worthy films of the year. If you've seen it, did the alleged environmental message come through to you?
Read the full article: The Environmentalism of Wall-E
I agree that Wall-E is the most powerful movie I've ever seen about evironmentalism. It makes you want to plant things and buy less plastic and waste. It makes you want to exercise and take time to talk to people. There are also some quite daring, thoughtful artistic aspects that do really make it Oscar worthy. Though, I should say, my 4 year old neice got a bit scared when Wall-E was ejected out to space at some point, but it ends well and her older sister was not scared at all, just pensive... Go see it!
view Designwannabe's profile
yes, definitely. interesting and nuanced comments on our relationship to technology too. AND there's heaps of charlie chaplin influence - amazing that a movie that uses silent filmmaking for the first 1/2 is so captivating to such a wide audience. I love it.
view emilykristin's profile
agreed. I thought it was fascinating that more than the first half of the movie there was no dialogue but it had everyone's full attention. I think the environmental issue is obvious as well as issues about how technology is a good thing but we have the ability to make it a bad thing. It is a GREAT movie!
view Cgodoy's profile
Yes, I was struck by the environmental message but for me the most powerful message (and the most ironic b/c of the Disney connection) was the power of consumerism and marketing.
Being pregnant and a little emotional I actually teared up at the joke where the teacher is teaching the toddlers in their consumer cocoons their ABC's via a primer that is entirely product placement.
I loved loved loved the movie. Everything about it was spot on. I do hope that it is SERIOUSLY considered for oscar nominations not just best animated or musical but for real - best picture.
view asibtroy's profile
You really cannot miss the environmental message and it's a great movie!
view rockabyemama's profile