Wall*e Reloaded

I saw Wall*e again yesterday. I'm visiting home and was invited by my dear old grandmother and younger cousin to join them. It was approximately 2544 degrees (Fahrenheit) outside, so I thought "what the hell" and took in a second viewing. I have to say I liked it even more this time than my first viewing. Knowing the story and major details already, I was able to focus on smaller things which were so deliberately put into the movie.

A handful of crazy conservatives have gone nuts about Wall*e, as they are prone to do about anything interesting or fun which is at all outside their comfort zone. Basically there have been claims by these wackjobs that Wall*e is leftist pro-environment propaganda, meant to brainwash kids about the importance of bullshit like recycling or giving a shit about the future of the human race. Of course, they failed to notice that future Earth was full of wind and solar power, the evil "green" sources of energy which those damn commie hippie leftists are trying to push on us good Red blooded oil pissing Americans, and these technologies were apparently unable to save us from destruction.

While there is an environment message in the movie, I really think the big message in the film is about the importance of free thinking and being your own person. Its a more subtle message than the environmentalism, but its there if you can find it, and there are clear similarities with classics such as Brave New World, 1984, and Plato's Allegory of the Cave.

For example, all the humans in the movie are totally dependent on an all knowing, all powerful nanny state. Its basically like the humans in The Matrix, but I'd argue even worse: while Matrix humans serve a purpose in their existence, by "Powering" the machines with their bio-electricity (Scientifically impossible but whatever), the humans in Wall*e have no purpose. They don't grow as people, they don't think, they don't even walk. Choice does not exist for these people, except in the most superficial of ways, and its all their fault. The humans stuck in the Matrix don't know whats going on because they are kept ignorant by the machines, but the people in Wall*e are ignorant simply because they couldn't be bothered to see beyond their own view screens.

Its not just the humans though: all the robots in the movie are strictly regimented. This is plainly obvious from the first moments on the Axiom, when the little cleaning robots refuse to go anywhere except on their designated line paths. No lines= no movement. Its only with the greatest reluctance and even fear that they break this rule, only to find out that they don't really need lines and order, that they are free to go where they will.

The notable exceptions to this regimentation are Wall*e, the true free thinker, and, to a lesser extent, EVE. While EVE is certainly a career minded gal, focusing on her directive above all else, there's a short but powerful scene which belies her inner rebel. As she's dropped off on Earth, she dutifully performs her scanning until her ship leaves. After the "boss" is out of sight, she joyfully flies around and plays, enjoying her temporary freedom.

Now that I've ruined the whole movie, I encourage everyone to go see it with an open mind. At the very least you'll get to enjoy a wonderful piece of film making, and hopefully you'll appreciate the various important messages presented in the story.