Each summer in recent memory has seen the release of a new Pixar animation. This year's movie is Wall-E, a story about a little robot going about his day-to-day routine 600 years in the future. Does this new animated film hold up to the standards of the same company that brought us Finding Nemo and Toy Story?



Communicating Without Words

It's difficult to avoid the annual marketing blitz that surrounds Pixar films, especially since Disney is the publishing powerhouse behind the scenes. TV commercials, internet ads and even the sides of buses, all add up to a public that knows at least a little bit of the little robot's story before stepping foot into the theater.

It's easy to have a dubious feeling of "how can they pull this off?" After all, how often do you see a film that is brave enough to use pantomime and body language to tell the entire first half of its story? Pixar does not hold back however, diving bravely into the characters and acutely giving them depth, ambition and a sense a purpose. In short, they lay the foundation for the rest of the film with grace and humor -- in typical Pixar fashion.

Effortless Animation

Any fan of animation knows that creating a cartoon is a taxing task. There are so many tiny things that must be done correctly, any of which can ruin a scene if done improperly. Despite knowing how much work and love is clearly devoted to the entire animated feature, Pixar's skill at making the process seem effortless is one of their primary gifts to the viewer.

Pixar continues their art of perfecting every shot in Wall-E. Each scene drives the story onward, not one inch of film is wasted as we continue to learn more about Wall-E and his new special friend, Eve.

This Generation's E.T.

There are many easy comparisons that can be made between the little robot Wall-E and the alien E.T. They both have a similar body shape, limited vocabulary and sense of curiosity. They're both so ugly that they're actually cute!

Ultimately they are most similar in how neither of them are human, but are very adept at showing us the greatest parts of humanity.

Humans do eventually play a role in the film, and their introduction is not unwelcome as they strive to find their own paths in the world -- and the universe.

A Must-See

Wall-E is an amazing film, animated or otherwise, and you must see it before the summer is out. It is a tribute to Andrew Stanton's skill as a director and storyteller.

Take your children, take your grandparents, take your neighbor. You will not be disappointed with Wall-E.

Final Review: A+