Wall-e, an ecological parable, is essentially a computer generated vision of earth —post apocalypse.
Wall-e
Cast: Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight
Director: Andrew Stanton
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Wall-e, an ecological parable, is essentially a computer generated vision of earth —post apocalypse. The opening sequence of Wall-e is exquisitely rendered; a desolate browned-out landscape teeming with skyscrapers of waste but bereft of human life. The uninhabited wasteland harbors a lone industrious waste-crushing robot and his sidekick —a cockroach. 'Waste Allocation Load Lifter-Earth class', in other words Wall-e spends his days gathering and compacting garbage. Cinematographer Jeremy Lasky's cinematic canvas is visually stunning and makes the setting perfect for a sweet and simple love story of robotic dimensions. Director Andrew Stanton's narrative alludes to many of the sci-fi classics and also has video sequences of Hello Dolly playing quite overtly. The VHS tape of the musical, a zippo lighter, Rubik's cube and different forms of hardware are among Wall-e's collection of mementos stored in a rusty metal hulk where he and the cockroach take shelter from frequent dust-storms. When Wall-e (Ben Burtt) meets Eve (Elissa Knight) a cool and sleek elongated egg shaped Research Probe, it's love at first sight. Chirps and beeps follow and their communication gradually transcends from the banal to coalesce into the eloquent.
With Wall-e, Pixar has definitely broken new ground. The animation is a sheer pleasure to behold. The characters have distinctive humanistic personalities and their voices are rendered with electronic precision. The expressions achieved thereof — desire, irritation, anxiety etc. are heart-felt. The all-too-brief moments of comedy ensuing from the courtship sequences fill up the spaces beautifully.
The screenplay by Stanton and Jim Reardon, based on a story by Stanton and Pete Docter, works quite beautifully. As the story enters the development stage we realise that the human species is not really extinct, it's just driven off its home planet. The knowledge though is not enough to stave off the sluggishness that follows.
Once Wall-e follows Eva into the human re-settlement the narrative loses tempo and the visuals appear boring and mechanical. Everything that happens thereafter is predictable and boring. Stanton though, sets the tempo back on track with the set-up for the climax. Stephen Schaffer's editing is smart and spiffy while Thomas Newman's music enhances the visuals with some potently evocative tunes. This is definitely a not-to-be missed film!
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