ALARIS' REVIEWS

23rd September 2008
WALL-E (2008)

It's difficult not to start this review with a slew of superlatives. Like Casablanca , this movie lived up to the hype.

WALL-E is Pixar's latest animated feature, set 700 years in the future. The film revolves around a solitary clean-up robot on a deserted Earth, whose life dramatically changes with an unexpected arrival.

Cue superlatives.

There is a moment in The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy movie (2005) which simply snatches away the breath of every science fiction fan (you know the one I'm talking about). WALL-E was full of such moments.

The difference between a film like WALL-E and a special effects bloated blockbuster is the imagination and heart behind such scenes. Parts of WALL-E are like wandering through someone's delightfully vivid imagination, full of quirky charm and tragic grandeur. The characters in WALL-E are immediately engaging, distinctive, adorable and sympathetic, and the action is well paced and compelling.

Pixar films always have superb comic timing, as well as a knack for real heartbreaker moments, and WALL-E continues this tradition.

One of the very distinctive things about WALL-E is the near absence of dialogue. Shaun Tan, the author of such fantastic picture books as The Arrival, is credited with contributing to the conceptual development of WALL-E, and there are considerable similarities between WALL-E and Tan's poignant, evocative books. WALL-E is a visually and emotionally rich journey, demonstrating how meaningful and expressive non-verbal communication can be.

Like every good Pixar, WALL-E is full of gorgeous moments and important, positive messages. After Ratatouille, I had my concerns about the effect of the Disney takeover on Pixar's creative independence, but WALL-E is a significant reassurance.

I found WALL-E to be incredibly enjoyable, very funny, and beautifully innocent. The film is a triumph of imagination and heart, and all children should be forced to watch it (along with every Hayao Miyazaki film).

Verdict: A stunning, all-ages film that shows just how wonderful great storytelling can be.

If you like Pixar films, you'll love this.

Gripes