Wall*E

I have to admit to being a HUGE Pixar fan. Ever since I saw Toy Story, I've fallen in love with the movies this company produces. The stories are amazing and the graphics are equally so. And they went from strength to strength. Bugs, Monsters Inc, Toy Story II, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles - each movie was better than its predecessor. Sadly, of course, there had to be a point when a movie came out that wasn't quite as good as what came before, and Cars was it. The Incredibles was so good, that Cars was on a hiding to nothing in order to be better. Ratatouille was better than cars, and I sat down to enjoy Wall*E, knowing I would be entertained, but wondering if I would be impressed.
To my horror, Pixar have dumped the tradition of trailing their next movie at the beginning of the movie, and so we don't get a preview for "Up". This blows.
However, I was soon taken in by the short film that always precedes Pixar movies - in this case a merry tale about a rabbit who looks like he'd been designed by Aardman Animation, desperate to eat a carrot, but forced to go through a magic routine before he could get it. He rebels, it's funny. I would have been happy with that movie alone.

I'm always impressed with a film that is prepared to take risks, and Wall*E takes a huge risk by effectively having no dialogue for almost the first half of the movie. Aside from Wall*e and Eve's electronic burbling there is no talking from any of the characters. The other thing that is surprising about this film is that it actually has genuine human actors in it, which is unique for a Pixar film, and sets the audience wondering how they are going to get away with introducing CGI human characters later. Happily, all is taken care of.

Pixar movies, despite being great fun and highly exciting adventures, are really about the emotional story of the characters, and there is no difference with this movie. I never thought I'd feel emotionally involved with two robots, but you do get quite drawn into Wall*e's story and as the poor little robot becomes increasingly decrepit as the movie goes on - essentially in an attempt to save the human race - you start to worry that he wont make it to the end. And that, of course, would be dreadful for Eve, if not for the audience.

I could gush over Wall*E for ages and ages, but the fact is you need to go and see the movie to experience it for yourself. Maybe it's the science fiction element, but I have to say, this movie pushes the heights that Pixar have achieved.

"A+"