Disney/Pixar has just released its most recent movie, WALL-E, on DVD. It is sure to be a hot Christmas item this year. It comes in a very nifty-looking DVD case which, in the spirit of the movie, happens to be 100% recyclable.
The movie takes place in the future where mankind has so heavily polluted the world with garbage that it became a global crisis. Mankind decides it will clean up the mess by employing the use of garbage compacting robots to collect the garbage and then jettison it all into space. All this was to be conducted while mankind was sent into space on a luxury cruise while the planet got cleaned up. But the world was too far gone and the measures where not enough as the earth became unsustainable for life.
WALL-E, the lovable hero, is earth’s last resident (with the exception of his little cockroach pal) and goes about his day sorting out the garbage. He bears a resemblance to E.T. that is further stimulated by the sounds he makes (he doesn’t actually speak). There is very little dialogue in this movie, particularly in the beginning. Yet one cannot help but fall in love with the little robot whose simple innocence and fascination with the human race is simply endearing.
The movie sends out a strong message and warning about how we mistreat our planet and also how man has distanced himself from a “natural” way of living with his dependence on machines. There is also a “Noah’s arc” theme to the movie in that the humans send probes (as opposed to a dove) to see if the world has finally become inhabitable again.
The movie is clever and very entertaining to both adults and children alike. It should be noted that some parents complain that the movie lacks dialogue (emphatic gestures not always sufficient for children to understand what’s going on), typical Disney sing-along’s, and that the “sad parts” are too sad for their kids.
