Thoughts On “Wall*E” and “Wanted”
From the first trailers “WALL-E” captured my imagination and made me into a young kid again. There was just something there with the near-audible voice, Wall-E’s body, his eyes, and arms that all conveyed the same message as a talking person. And the film did not once disappointment. Well maybe, I always want these Pixar flicks to be never ending, but alas that can never be the case.
On one hand, the immediate hand, the film’s about robot love that we quickly realize is love nonetheless. But littered throughout the movie are a variety of messages and ideas such as commentaries on the future of humanity, the intermingling of big business and government, the environment, and what I think the movie is all about, the redemptive nature of the universe.
I don’t think I need to recap the story since I believe everyone on Earth will see it but the film is about Wall-E, a robot who cleans up trash, and how he meets EVE and falls in love. And along his way to love, he sets off a chain of events that brings humanity back to Earth. That’s the story. But there’s just more of it. There’s the sense of loneliness and aloneness in the world. Friendship as typified by the best-friend-forever bug that follows Wall-E. Wall-E’s own inquisitive mind. And then there’s the other plot about humanity and how Earth has become littered. Man had messed up Earth, soared to the heavens, and left robots to clean their mess hoping that Earth will one day be rehabitable.
700 years happens. Man is now fat and immobile and needs the assistance of flying machines and dohokeys that let them communicate with others. But for these humans communication is done through virtual means; almost no actually or physical communication. Ah but Wall-E changes all that. Wall-E ignites a spark back into humanity that causes them to slowly remember how things should be and return to Earth.
It’s weird. There’s almost little dialogue in the movie but the movie emotes many things. It’s like a silent movie or a play without words, only actions and expressions. And amazingly we understand each of the characters.
Wall-E is full of heart.
Wanted. Wanted is a whole other beast. Wanted isn’t a cerebral movie but rather a movie that appeals to the senses and lust. There’s not much to talk about the plot since it’s a combination of fish-out-of-water, revenge, and a little coming of age but the execution is done outstandingly.
Quickly the film is about Wesley Gibson who leads a pathetic life but learns that he’s a part of a secret society and possesses great power that he acquired from his father. But this secret society is one of assassins who kills based upon a literal loom of fate woven in linen. Forgoing right or wrong, they “kill one to possibly save a thousand”. There’s scenes of Wesley growing into his new world, bits of history about his father and the secret society, and of course betrayals.
This movie is all about action and curving bullets and knives and rats with explosives. It’s a high-octane film with similarities to Fight Club and the Matrix. There’s not more I can say about it. I enjoyed it but it’s not a cerebral film.
Wanted is a suitable meal for the senses.
