At the Movies


Joseph (grand-nephew, won't answer to anything else, 8 years of age) and I saw Wall-E yesterday afternoon. When I asked him if he was sure he wanted to see it, "It's about two robots who fall in love," he suggested we find something else. But then I said it's also a space adventure and he re-considered.

After 20 minutes I was ready to leave, at least I would have left if I were the type to walk out on movies, and he wasn't so entranced by the robot puttering around with the remains of a dead civilization. For the most part I hated the rust red haze, but the dead civilization part was a bummer too.

Once the cowgirl robot landed it got more interesting, a bit of a puzzle about what she was scanning for. After that there was the question of where was she going, and could Wall-e keep up.

The giant tour ship finally got me. Reminded me of Orlando and Disney World, and all the large people I saw there in a huge grocery store, shopping for low carb beer and pizza. The kid and I shared a few giggles.

The only times the computer drawn animation impressed me were the outside shots of the space craft. They seemed incredibly realistic. The inside shots were detailed but always cartoonish because of the shape the humans were in.

By the end I was drawn into the story, identifying with the captain.  Joseph asked "how much longer do you thing it will last?" 

"Not long," I said, "are you bored?" 

"No, I've got to pee soon."

It had a happy ending. That's a big plus in my book. Don't care how talented the director and his crew are. I want a story that doesn't leave me in despair. Want at least a sense of hope or lessons learned.

I'm giving the movie a B. I hope Pixar is satisfied with their attempt at dystopia and moves on. It's not really their thing.

------

Below are links to two interesting columns on the superhero flicks. The second, by Andrew Klavan, explains why Denby at the New Yorker hated The Dark Knight, and why I liked it. 

My hero in the batman movie isn't any of the principals. It's the big, bad, black con who does the right thing.

Which is why I think the first column is wrong. A. O. Scott complains the movie raises, repeatedly, important moral questions. But doesn't answer them. I think it does, but not completely. Gotta leave room for the sequels.

(I put these links in this order because many of my friends will stop reading when they see the title of Klavan's piece.)


<http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/24/movies/24supe.html?_r=1&8mu&emc=mua3&oref=slogin>


<http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121694247343482821.html?mod=djemEditorialPage>

Posted: Fri - July 25, 2008 at 09:40 PM          

©