Wall-E (Motion Picture)

Stanton, Andrew. (Director). Wall-E. (DVD). Walt Disney, 2008. Running time 98 min.


Plot Summary
Wall-E is a robot designed to deal with Earth's growing trash problem. When all of the inhabitants of Earth leave on a space cruise, Wall-E is left behind to clean things up. One day, a spaceship brings a robot named EVE, whose mission is to search for signs of plant life on Earth. Wall-E falls in love with EVE, but EVE is devoted to her mission. Wall-E and EVE deliver the plant specimen to the space colony and the capitan of the ship is excited to return to Earth. The ship's autopilot refuses to give up control of the ship so a battle ensues.

Critical evaluation
As usual, Disney Pixar has created a film with production quality beyond what is normally seen in family films. Since Wall-E doesn't talk besides some robotic grunts and beeps, his scenes are narrated by an original orchestral score. Wall-E is a sympathetic character, lonely yet curious. His companion EVE is less sympathetic, since she is so bound by her duty, but her transformation is admirable. The captain of the ship is one of the best characters of the film. Although he is an adult, and the captain of the ship his lack of life experiences makes him childlike. Overall, a good presentation and a good message.

Readers Annotations
The citizens of Earth have been sent on a little space vacation while the robots clean up the planet. 700 years later, Wall-E is all by himself, cleaning and wishing for a friend. Along comes EVE, who leads Wall-E to the humans' spaceship. The arrival of the robots jars the humans awake and they must decide what to do next.

Information About the Director
Andrew Stanton has worked as a writer, director, producer and voice actor. He is employed by Pixar and directed Finding Nemo and A Bug's Life in addition to Wall-E.

Genre
Science Fiction

Curriculum Ties
Climate change, responsibility for the Earth

Booktalking Ideas
Wall-E has been all alone for hundreds of years and now he has a friend!

Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades K-6
(Rated G)

Controversial Subject Matter and Defense of Ideas
none

Why Movie Included
Tweens, especially those with younger siblings, will enjoy many of Pixar's films.