WALL-E...?

[mrph]

Looks like Pixar are back on form. That's the first film in a while that I'd actually like to go see again at the cinema.

Edit: Comments are starting to include spoilers. Read 'em at your own risk!

Comments

[ankaret.livejournal.com]

Oh. So it's not actually just one extended fat joke, then? I haven't seen it, but the commentary I've seen from people who have has not been particularly positive.

[mrph.livejournal.com]

I didn't see it that way, but my opinion may not be typical. I was mostly wrapped up in the robot love story and environmental commentary.

I'd be interested to read any comments people have written from that perspective, actually. I can certainly see how it might be viewed in that way, but I'm not entirely sure that's the film's intent...

[ankaret.livejournal.com]

I'll see if I can dig up some links. I thought there was a piece about it on Shapely Prose but I'm failing to find it at present. In the meantime, there's this.

Obviously, the issues involved aren't simple. But frankly, I'm still feeling I can get my robot love stories elsewhere should I decide I want them.

[mrph.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I'd be tempted to agree with some of the less negative comments on the F-Word blog - the characters in question aren't blamed for the end of the world and aren't portrayed as stupid (despite the best efforts of the system around them).

Having said that, the F-Word's assertion that "Pixar reworked the film to tone down its negative and discriminatory portrayals of fat people" would, if confirmed, cast things in a very different light.

[ankaret.livejournal.com]

Are there still jokes about people falling out of mobility devices? Asking because of my personal crumple buttons wrt that kind of humour.

[mrph.livejournal.com]

People fall out of hoverchairs, yes.

Mostly this is during confrontations or 'disaster' sequences - but it is played as a joke the first time, when the man concerned calls a robo-steward to put him back into his chair.

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

Yes, but as ever, context is king... the point being that because everyone has been living on a luxury-hotel spaceship for the last 700 years, waited on hand and foot by robots and spoonfed information and advertising by an overarching multinational corporation, they have become both physically and emotionally atrophied. It's not a case of 'laugh at the disabled person' - it's very uncomfortable humour because it's easy to see how humanity can devolve to that point when people aren't encouraged to question their existence.

[eviltwinemma.livejournal.com]

Going to see it tomorrow night. Will, er, weigh in on the discussion when more informed...