Looking back on Pixar it’s pretty obvious they have had a great string of movies. Actually one can make the argument they’re the best studio out because they have yet to have a single failure at the box office. Though if you really look at what they’ve put out to this point it’s obvious they really don’t change things up very much. Yes each story has been different, and the characters have been different, and even the subjects have been different, BUT the thing that we all walk away with in the end, the theme, has been the same. Ratatouille, Cars, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, Toy Story 1 & 2, A Bug’s Life:
Be proud of who you are and know that you are capable of doing anything you dream of.
Great theme but quite honestly where is the growth as filmmakers by exploring new things? With Wall-E they’ve finally decided to grow up. I say grow up because great movies can’t just be for kids. They have to explore themes that are universal and hit you in very subtle ways. That’s what makes Wall-E so good and a legitimate contender for best picture come awards season. Wall-E is happy with who he is and only dreams of one thing… love. Does he need love? No. But like all of us know life is so much better when you have love. Within the first 15 minutes of the movie you’re brought to a tearjerking connection with him because you see that void and feel that void. How many movies can you say bring you to tears within 15 minutes? Thats part of the growth Pixar made. Then factor in that the love evolving on screen between Wall-E and EVE is merely a representation of another love. What is that?
The love that we humans have, our first love, the love for this planet. It’s done very subtley and I doubt any child would pick up on it, but an adult absolutely would. Why? Because we have experienced all that the captain is learning about. Pixar is reminding us that we loved this planet. Though by the way we treat this planet it’s obvious that love is fading away. Will we forget about that love and let it slip away? Or will we fight for that love like Wall-E does and go beyond our comfort zone to get it back? Pixar has made the change. They have to decided to make a movie that is more then just a movie but a statement. The kind that when we look back in time we can say: Yes that movie is a great representation of that time. A time when some of us woke up to what we were doing to this planet, but not all of us remembered what we love.
It will be interesting to see where Pixar goes next. I’m sure they will return to the movies that make them money and that is kids movies. Though a part of me thinks that this movie marks a change in direction and a move towards deeper films.