Pixar are very well known for their computer-rendered animated features and as is typical for a film for all the family WALL.E was released in the UK in time for the school holidays.
Andrew Stanton is an old-hand at Pixar and writes and directs this particular Pixar project. He previously directed 'Finding Nemo', and was the writer of 'Toy Story'.
To summarise the plot, without giving too much away, WALL.E is the title and main character of the film. WALL.E is a droid working on the tidying up of an over-polluted and deserted planet Earth. He seems to be well past his original service life, as he works alone scuttling around the remnants of civilisation compressing rubbish and salvaging interesting artefacts including an array of extra service items for himself. Mankind has left for space and the droid seems to have developed a personality of his own - the usual anthropomorphism present in most of Pixar's stories.
One day WALL.E witnesses a spectacular visitation from an other-worldly droid who is apparently scanning the planet. Having spent so much time without excitement WALL.E attempts, with the help of a friendly cockroach, to befriend this new arrival.
To put it simply this film was really excellent. At first the scenes are gritty and realistic as WALL.E trundles around doing the sorts of things that Wombles are known for doing. The graphics were so realistic you can recognise rusting cans of WD-40 and bashed-up iPods that WALL.E has found. As the film moves forward it shifts towards a more aesthetic experience altogether, and some of the scenes were just pure art as well as entertainment. There is a blatant ecological message here too, but it's not so heavy handed as to make you feel too guilty about being human.
Considering this film is for all the family, and especially the younger members of them, I found (despite being a jaded adult) that it was quite easy to get engrossed in the visuals and the simple story. A few nods and winks to other Sci-Fi films make for even more fun; Sigourney Weaver even has a cameo voice-over role.
Special note also goes to the end credits which feature the plot of the film backwards in a style from early human wall painting through to primitive computer animation. Sadly I managed to miss the Pixar mini-movie at the beginning of the film, which means I will have to get this one on DVD - or maybe even Blue-Ray - when it is released!
***** (out of 5)
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