Hitting the Wall...E

After finishing up dinner last night, and while letting the cheesecake cool, Hubby and I, the kids, and my parents walked downtown to catch the 8:30 showing of Wall-E. It was playing at the smaller of the two theaters in town, which I much prefer.

Without giving away too much of the movie, I want offer some of my impressions. There's a strong message in the film about consumerism and its impact on the planet. The message is well done, high-impact, and still "cute." It's Pixar. You thought it wouldn't have cute?

The irony of the whole thing is that while you're sitting in the theater, passively absorbing this message from the likes of Disney, a brand image is being created for all of the Wall-E products that have and will hit the shelves of the very stores being made an example of in the film. The toys that will one day end up in the trash, just like the trash in the movie. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if our smoothie joint started serving a Wall-E "meal-in-a-cup." Not one bit.

So, I have questions. Did Pixar produce this film in an ecologically sensitive manner? If you know, please tell me. Did they shun the option to mass market it through giant disposable movie house props? Based on the display in our little theater, I'd say, "No." Finally, did Pixar intend to be ironic? I'd guess, "Yes." But, did they think everyone would catch the irony? Probably not. Much of what Disney and Pixar produce is in direct opposition to the message Wall-E delivered. Take a trip to Disneyland sometime, and tell me where the "don't consume" message is? Or, how about the, "be active" message. It's a bitch to find it between the guests who ride around on their motorized scooters, much like the humans in Wall-E.

Was Wall-E a good film? Yes. Did it have a good message? Yes. Am I jaded by knowing the messenger? You betcha.

Comments

[Summer]

I had a similar reaction after the movie Over The Hedge came out. Here was this good "humans are hurting nature" story being stomped on by the very fact that the movie was being commercialized and made for consumers.

I've heard a lot of people talking about how great Wall E is and the message and the trash, ect... But if I start seeing Wall E toys in McDonald's commericals and in the Wal-Mart store flyer it's kind of pointless.

[califmom]

Exactly! I was shocked by all of the positive reviews, from very savvy bloggers, that failed to mention this glaring fact. Had it been a low budget Indie film, I would have been all over it. But, then again, would the message get out? It's such a catch-22, you know?

[me]

check out this article: http://tinyurl.com/3fctrm