Animated Film Critique: Wall-E

Throughout my childhood, I watched a plethora of animated movies. The Iron Giant, Atlantis, Treasure Planet, and Monsters Inc. are among some of the greatest movies I remember seeing. However, despite their high regards, none of them come close to being near Wall-E. Released in 2008, it grossed around $520 million at the box office. The whole film offers a range of emotions from start to finish, from wonder to remorse. Additionally, while one of the subjects of the film is maintaining healthy ecology, the primary aspect of the film is conveying a wholesome sense of romance between the characters of Wall-E and Eve. Here, we will see what exactly it is that makes this movie unique.

Let’s start out with how it addresses ecology. The film goes for the idea of a critically polluted Earth, with a mass exodus of humans taking place 700 years before the start of the film. Our world (and even the space around it) is completely covered in trash, and the only program with a chance of cleaning the world failed. For brief moments in the film, the scene can almost be described as haunting. Everything is still there, but it’s been left to fall apart over time. The orange haze and constant dust storms across the world also emphasize just how damaged Earth has become. However, despite all that has happened, a fragment of nature survives. This kicks off the events of the film, and will simultaneously be what brings Wall-E and Eve closer together.

 

The romantic development between Wall-E and Eve is, all things considered, rather unique. They don’t fully converse with each other, but their actions speak louder than words for how they feel about each other. Eve tries to help Wall-E after accidentally throwing him into a wall, Wall-E chasing after her when the scout ship starts to leave with her, and even Eve disregarding her primary directive in order to be sure Wall-E is okay after falling down the trash chute. All of these show that even with minimal dialogue, it is entirely possible for the two characters to develop a meaningful relationship. Through these events, this is where the film absolutely shines: it’s feeling.

 

With the combination of characters, environment, and soundtrack, the film is an absolute masterpiece. The sheer wonder the viewer experiences alongside Wall-E as rides the rocket into space, witnessing the galaxy for the first time in his existence, and the gut wrenching feeling of oncoming grief when the pod Wall-E is trapped in explodes. In practically every scene, there is some form of emotion that completely captivates the viewer, keeping them engaged with the story. Through and through, the story (and visualization of that story) is a brilliant combination that will always stay with you after watching the film.