Wall E and "overweight" storyline?

[DisneyAprilFool]

Even without dialogue, the movie is pretty astounding. They manage to convey a million emotions with these robots- and even the little cockroach!

 

[~*~Michelle~*~]

dd thought the roach was a grass hopper lol

BTW we probably won't be seeing the chihuahua movie either.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

We all liked it. It probably wasn't our favorite, but it was good!

My DH did comment that he probably should start running again!

 

[bumbershoot]

...for crying out loud it is a kids movie.

That statement bothered me yesterday, and then I happened to watch The Pixar Story (on StarzHD on Comcast On Demand), and I just have to say that Pixar does NOT make kid movies. They make good movies with good storylines that appeal to every age group. Not kid movies.

 

[SeptemberGirl]

I thought it was a great movie - my husband loved it, my 4yr old really enjoyed it. I thought the messages were good. I think this might be a movie that upsets some people, but maybe we should be making movies that make people think. Why does everything have to be dumbed down for kids, anyway?

Makes me want to exercise and recycle more trash!

ME, too! I was thinking, hey maybe I should start my running program now! I am part of a WISH thread and it made me think about how we on there have really changed our lives from less active to more active. And I thought, hey how hard would it be to compost? So they made their point with me!

My kids (5 & 4) loved it! I don't even think they knew there were people in it! The came home talking about Wall E and Eve. Thats all they could talk about.
But it made me put the popcorn down!
Isn't it funny though, he movie is all about the earth being destroyed by all this junk...and they give us a cheapo plastic watch with a bunch of ads for a chihuahua movie I don't think ANYONE plans to see. Where do hey think that stuff will end up?

YES! Why the cheap junky watch? It made no sense at all.

 

[StephMK]

I was a little worried taking the kids yesterday because DS6 is big into action movies but wanted to see it. DD14, DD8, DS6, DH4? & I all enjoyed it. I admit the lack of dialogue got to me a little but no one else seemed bothered by it. This was not my top fav but I appreciate the messages and think the people at Pixar are geniuses.

The kids didn't comment on the messages but it definitely made me think. I have reusable bags that I never remember and will now. It does make you think what the heck will happen if big changes don't start now and what it might be like when our kids are grown.

It has been nice to see more "green" products and procedures coming into favor lately.

 

[Poohbug]

We all loved the movie. While my kids did not comment of the "fat" people we did have an in depth discussion about garbage, recycling and taking care of the Earth.

 

[Camno's Mama]

I loved it!!! He is the most adorable character that they've come up with in a long time.

The issues addressed in the movie are glaringly obvious to the adults, but are above the childrens' heads, I believe. And they are important things to think about, so even if the kids notice, what's the harm in that discussion?

It's not making fun of overweight people. It just shows how inactivity and technology without balance changes the course of humanity. There are parts where the computer screens are removed from right in front of the humans faces, and they notice how beautiful the stars are or that there is a pool sitting right in front of them.

Definitely two thumbs up!!!

 

[Camno's Mama]

My kids (5 & 4) loved it! I don't even think they knew there were people in it! The came home talking about Wall E and Eve. Thats all they could talk about.
But it made me put the popcorn down!
Isn't it funny though, he movie is all about the earth being destroyed by all this junk...and they give us a cheapo plastic watch with a bunch of ads for a chihuahua movie I don't think ANYONE plans to see. Where do hey think that stuff will end up?

I totally noticed that! And you know that eventually some fast food restaurant will be passing out plastic toys to go with their meals. Heck, for my son's birthday people are already giving him the little plastic toys they are selling to go with the movie. A little disappointing that they didn't put their money where they mouths are, but hey, corporations aren't in it for the social causes, right?

How about something greener Disney??? Maybe toys made from recycled plastic or including something like a coloring book or book in the Happy Meal when it comes out instead of something that will eventually (probably sooner rather than later) end up in the garbage?

 

[PotteryGal]

I loved it!!! He is the most adorable character that they've come up with in a long time.

The issues addressed in the movie are glaringly obvious to the adults, but are above the childrens' heads, I believe. And they are important things to think about, so even if the kids notice, what's the harm in that discussion?

It's not making fun of overweight people. It just shows how inactivity and technology without balance changes the course of humanity. There are parts where the computer screens are removed from right in front of the humans faces, and they notice how beautiful the stars are or that there is a pool sitting right in front of them.

Definitely two thumbs up!!!

I think that sums it up beautifully. I do believe that when we went from more of an agricultural society, to an industrial and eventually a technological one, people have had less physical work to do. Mind you, I don't want to go back to beating my dirty clothes on a rock, but I think our increasing inactivity can be traced back to this. And if it leads to meaningful discussion with our kids, so much the better. Although my daughter's school has already driven home the recycling message quite well.

 

[IggyLans]

We LOVED WALL*E and definitely will NOT be seeing the Chihuahua movie

We love Walle too. And I'm with you about the Chihuahua movie. We'll wait for the DVD.

 

[DisneyBrat]

We saw Wall* E yesterday and thought it was OK not the best Pixar but still good. My 20 yr old son leaned over and said MOM why are they all fat LOL I said well thats what happens when you play video games all day and chuckled because he does just that. He works 2nd shift and plays some games during the day.. Thanks to walle I got to make a point hehe

 

[thistle922]

My DS4.5 didn't notice they were all chubby, he was too obsessed with Mo most of the movie..LOL! He did ask why don't they walk, but that was the extent of it.

DH and I both thought it was great, and I thought it had a good, subtle message to it.

And, being the total sap I am, I was sobbing at the end. Goodness me, I will cry at anything, apparently!

 

[nuzmom]

I guess I'm in the minority, but I was disappointed in the movie. I liked the Wall-e and eve characters, but Wall-e was so much funnier in the advertisements for the movie than in the movie itself. Yes, the coachroach was cute and my DS7 thought he was a grasshopper. The bit about him eating twinkies was totally lost on both my kids. As was many of the "treasures" that Wall-e kept.

We saw the movie on opening day and the theater was packed. When Wall-e first showed up, you could hear a few kids say "Wall-e" - that was cute. However, I can say that their wasn't much laughter in the movie. What I mean, is that the kids in the audience only laughed about 2x during the movie.

To me, the lack of dialogue got "old". Yes, it was amazing that they could tell such a detailed story without much dialogue, but Wall-e learned how to say "directive" and "eve", couldn't he have learned a few more words?

As far as the overweight people, I thought is was a bit much. EACH AND EVERY human in the movie layed around in a flying chair, engaged in their computer screen and nothing else, well, except for eating.

I can't believe how much screen time the trash and overweight people received. How about cutting out part of the movie and adding in a MUCH MUCH longer part about the humans returning to earth to "clean it up" and "fix it". Oh, I guess showing the human race in a more positive light would not have made for a good movie.

Anyway, I went expecting a cute and funny movie (along the lines of Toy Story, Monsters, Nemo). Seemed like what they delivered was a depressing movie. Wall-e and Eve were such cute characters - I expected better. I should have read more about the movie before going to see it.

 

[workinmomof2]

It was a great movie. I think a teenager that left the movie at the same time we did summed it up perfectly. "It was the best love story I ever saw and they were not even real"!!

People may not have laughed alot, but everyone was drawn to the screen. My youngest liked Wall e but he said he did not like the girl robot. It was a bit too much for him. He is only 2 1/2. (However, it cut into his nap time)But my oldest the 4 1/2 thought it was great.

I thought the messages geared toward the adults were great. That is what is so special about Pixar they can make moves the entire family can go see together and enjoy.

 

[mom2aredhead]

I guess I'm in the minority, but I was disappointed in the movie. I liked the Wall-e and eve characters, but Wall-e was so much funnier in the advertisements for the movie than in the movie itself.

To me, the lack of dialogue got "old". Yes, it was amazing that they could tell such a detailed story without much dialogue, but Wall-e learned how to say "directive" and "eve", couldn't he have learned a few more words?

Wall-e and Eve were such cute characters - I expected better.

I absolutely agree with everything above!

I liked it, but considering how much we LOVE other Pixar movies, this one was a let-down. The no dialogue was okay for a while, but went on for much too long and I felt like all of the parts that I liked were the ones I saw in the previews. My son and his friend (4.5 and 5 years old) got a little bored, and I heard some other restless kids in the theater as well. I understand that it's not strictly a "kid movie", but I'm thinking that when they decided to make an animated movie about robots they had a pretty young target audience in mind, and for us it missed the mark.

And I'm all for subtle messages in movies to make people think or start a dialogue with their kids, but this movie was about as subtle as a sledgehammer to the skull.

If I was going to give it a grade, I'd say about C+.

 

[iheartdisney]

People may not have laughed alot, but everyone was drawn to the screen. My youngest liked Wall e but he said he did not like the girl robot. It was a bit too much for him. He is only 2 1/2. (However, it cut into his nap time)But my oldest the 4 1/2 thought it was great.

I thought the messages geared toward the adults were great. That is what is so special about Pixar they can make moves the entire family can go see together and enjoy.

Thats so funny, because my DS4 said the same thing. He liked Wall E, but NOT the girl robot. Maybe its a boy thing.
I feel the same way about a lot of the kids movies lately. They are either dumbed down so much that I feel brain damaged after watching them, or geared towards teens and older children so the younger kids have no interest. This was a great FAMILY film.

 

[Disney1976]

I think what people have to remember, as a few others have pointed out, is that Pixar doesn't strictly make "kid movies", but "family" movies that everyone, including kids, can enjoy. Sure, they might not get the reference to the twinkies, or to the Rubix cube, but they get enjoyment out of it on a level different from an adult just the same.

If a film can get people to think, and not just entertain, it is in a league of its own. There were many messages to take away from the film - to take care of yourself and your body (how many people paused for a moment and thought twice about drinking that large soda or put down that popcorn) and about appreciating life instead of having everything handed to you. Lunch you can drink, lol! There was the message about big corporations and how they have spoiled us as a society, and what that could mean for our future. The "Buy N Large" corporation was a less than subtle knock on Wal-mart, IMHO. There was the message of hope and possibility, and that we can change, even if it seems all is lost. And of course, there was a story of love and friendship.

What made this movie all the more amazing is the lack of dialogue. Very few films can move a storyline using bleeps, boops, and expressions. How many people did you hear gasp when they thought the cockroach, Wall-E's only friend, had been killed? It made me think of the movie "Castaway" where much of the movie is silent, and the only conversation is between Tom Hanks and "Wilson" the vollyball. I remember watching that in the theater and people SOBBING when Wilson floated away. If an audience can connect with a disgusting bug, or an inanimate object, then the filmmaker has done their job.

I disagree with those who assume that because the story was about Robots, it should be geared towards children. Inspiration for Wall-E came from numerous films, such as 2001: A Space Odessey, and Alien (anyone catch Sigourney Weaver as the voice of the computer?). Too many films made for children don't work for adults, and only work on one level. Where Pixar continues to succeed and excel is that their films work on all levels.

I personally thought this was a remarkable film, even if it wasn't among my favorite Pixar film and would recommend it.

 

[rt2dz]

I haven't gotten through the whole thread yet, so this may have been mentioned. In order to make up for the lack of dialogue, Wall E was based on Charlie Chaplin and Keaton Buster (?) of the old, classic silence films. And, heck, who exactly was Wall E supposed to learn words from? The cockroach? He learned the words from Eve, until then, no one else spoke.

The movie definitely has a very social awareness message to it. Al Gore has nothing on Pixar. I just think Pixar was more subtle and a bit more timeless in their presentation. The watch thing was funny. We didn’t get them though, they were gone by the time we saw the movie at 1 PM on Saturday.

While the movie wasn’t “funny”, it was endearing. I thought it was a nice movie, if not my favorite movie. My kids liked it and really understood what it was about. No great big conversations on the matter, but I didn’t find it necessary since they understood—“So, that’s why we recycle…”, “So, that’s why we get out and do things ourselves…” DS7 didn’t miss the subtle dig on Wal-Mart either.

 

[lucigo]

I think what people have to remember, as a few others have pointed out, is that Pixar doesn't strictly make "kid movies", but "family" movies that everyone, including kids, can enjoy. Sure, they might not get the reference to the twinkies, or to the Rubix cube, but they get enjoyment out of it on a level different from an adult just the same.

I personally thought this was a remarkable film, even if it wasn't among my favorite Pixar film and would recommend it.

This is how Walt has always worked! The parks were not designed for kids, but for the adults who will bring the kids.

I loved the movie because of the lack of language. My 5yo son with autism was glued to the screen for the entire movie, his communication deficits didn't affect his ability to "get" this movie, and for that I loved it!