Wall-E

I saw Disney/Pixar's new movie Wall-E last week. I also saw a huge Wall-E sculpture in Pixar's courtyard across the street from Kelly's new office. Unfortunately they've just taken it down so I can't provide a picture. At any rate, Wall-E was an entertaining movie. I didn't think it was quite as sharp as the last one, "The Incredibles", but I definitely liked it.

I certainly noticed the strong undertones of anti-apathetic society and over commercialization - not to mention the attack on dumb fat people who sit in front of the tv all day eating Cheetos. However, boycotts on the movie? Protests from conservatives everywhere who don't believe that we can "trash" our world. In case you don't know what I'm talking about, this site here summarizes some of the main issues closed minded people are having with the film.

All this fuss is ridiculous on a few counts. One, it's a kids movie and it's not indoctrinating kids to watch it. It's a cute little robot who loves another robot in the backdrop of future Earth. Two, people just need to relax and chill out. It's a movie, it can say whatever it wants and you don't have to believe it, like it, or watch it - get over it. For all the so-called problems this is creating for conservative closed minded parents, they need to look in the mirror as to why this is an issue with their kids. It's the parenting. Instead of sending raging flame mail to all the websites one can find, how about just talking with your kid instead? Is that too easy?

Now, the other interesting aspect I find is the "fat" perspective. In a world (or perhaps country) of obesity, I have little sympathy for people who eat themselves huge and then complain about social commentary on huge people. In most cases, it's a choice, and you can always start doing something about it. What I do have a problem with is the child perspective of this. I remember being somewhere recently and seeing a family of three. A father and mother who were at least 150 pounds over a healthy weight and a girl of I'd say about 8 who was already easily 50 pounds overweight. That child never had a chance, and that saddens me and makes me feel bad about the commentary on fat people.

There was also an interesting point in that link about Disney providing this commentary while putting out thousands of Wall-E products and providing mindless entertainment at Disney Parks while giving out wheelchairs to fat people as quickly as they can. Kelly and I were appalled at the huge number of obese people in Disney World last November. Additionally, we certainly noticed many many fat people driving around in little powered carts (see picture) because they were too lazy or impaired by their bulk to walk around. Certainly puts an interesting twist on all the fat people being carted around in the movie. What are they saying though? It seems unlike Disney to be so self-effacing. I also don't see them opening mocking their customers. I'm left to think that perhaps this was all Pixar's doing because the movie was first started while they were partnering with Disney but not yet owned by Disney.

At any rate... I enjoyed the movie. If you can't go enjoy a kids movie without getting up in arms, spare us all the annoyance, and don't go.