WALL-E: More Than A Robot Love Story
© Disney/Pixar
One friend had simply said, "Go see it. It's good. That's all." I was expecting a light-hearted robot-centered story. What I did not expect was an animated film that is also a savvy political commentary on the state of the world as personified by our consumer culture/economy.
The story, unlike so much of Hollywood, is not predictable. Because there is so little dialogue in the first half of the movie, the visuals demand your attention. This is not a film where your mind can wander! The jazz vocals (Louis Armstrong) drew me in like a lure, as did the recurring clip from "Hello, Dolly!"
But the questions raised -- subtly -- by the movie are relevant to today's political season:
What is the implication of a US-style consumer economy on the carrying capacity of the world should the rest of the planet's 6.5 billion (6.8 billion - 300 million) seek it as a goal?
How do we shift our "recycle" mentality to a "reduce" and "re-use" one? About.com's guide to the environment, Larry West, warns of dangers in re-using some kinds of plastics. And most of us have, at least once, had an appliance that would cost more to repair than replace. (Mea culpa with ink jet printers, but I do donate the old ones.)
How much should we rely on technology to help us solve problems and how much should we shoulder that responsibility ourselves?
What is the proper social - not just economic - role of global corporations? And is it possible their short-term focus on profits bodes poorly for the long-term prospects of the earth?
Then there's that bane of digital media: copyright. The movie doesn't tackle this issue directly, but it uses songs from "Hello, Dolly!" that are from 1964 and a famous (La Vie En Rose) Louis Armstrong recording (deceased).
Under the 1909 law, copyright lasted 28 years. Later, works published between 1923 and 1963 were given a 95-year term, assuming that a renewal extension (47 years) was properly filed. Works published after 1977 now last for the length of the author's life + 70 years. Works "for hire" (owned by a corporate entity, not an individual) created after 1977 have a term of 95 years. When did Congress intervene and backdate the extensions? 1976, 1992 and 1998.
It wasn't the director's idea to make a political statement: "everything I want to do was based on the love story." That's what makes the message, which is not overpowering, one-sided or in-your-face, so powerful.
As my friend told me: "Go see it. It's good. That's all."
See 'WALL-E' Movie Review, from Movies @ About.com (warning, spoiler)
Comments
Correction: “Hello Dolly” was released in 1969. It was also the year America sent the first man to the moon. It’s one of several references to that era of the Sputnik and “2001 a Space Odyssey,” which also happens to be the beginning of the era of consumerism. Let’s not read too much more into the movie. It’s mostly the best romantic comedy and the best sci-fi epic we’ve had in years. Great movie.
Hi, John:
Hello, Dolly! the movie was released in 1969. The Broadway show upon which the movie is based (and from which the music comes), 1964.
I thought it was a charming romantic comedy, but I don’t see it as science fiction. Yes there’s a spaceship and robots and yes it’s set in the future — but there is little “science” here. In fact, there’s quite a bit of fantasy (ie, major scientific flaws). They don’t detract from the story because the story isn’t about science, it’s about the human condition.