With you on both counts. One, CC is just a fact of life we’ll have to deal with and I am getting pretty tired of hearing about the trade. On the other count, my wife and I took the kids to see WallE last Sunday. What a great movie. Amazing what can be done with a few sound effects and maybe two real words between the main characters. At first I just thought this looked like a Short Circuit rip off, but it is so much more. And I have to say that if that short at the beginning of the movie doesn’t win an Oscar for best Short Animated Feature, there is no justice in this world. That made buying the DVD-when it comes out-worth it on its own.

I did too. I agree with summary and the social commentary was great. Great movie to take your kids to.

They want to go back and see it again this coming weekend. Very good movie, the whole family enjoyed it. Definitely a social commentary movie but well written, animated and directed. The varmints actually discussed it over the weekend and heard my daughter on the phone (when isn’t she) discussing the implications of human greed and ignorance. Surprising from an 11 year old. I’d give it * * * * as well.

Does anybody have any information on Rich Harden coming to the cubs. I heard some stuff about that on ESPN last night. That would be amazing if we could get him in our rotation.

KIDDING!!!! Al, I saw your name on the closing credits of the Sunday morning news. It was pretty cool.

I’m a bit surprised you went to see Wall-E over the Will Smith movie. Based on your review, I may actually go check it out. Thanks for the review.

I went to it last night as well – you hit all of the points perfectly, Al.

The animation was superb, the political global warming commentary was spot-on, and the overall message was very inspiring.

I love the fact that Pixar is not afraid of taking chances – unlike Dreamworks, who keep putting out the same animated movie over and over.

PS…did you know that the gentleman who wrote WALL-E (who also wrote Toy Story), wrote the WALL-E script two-three years before he wrote Toy Story? Toy Story came out in 1995, so that means it was at least fifteen years ago when he wrote this script. Amazing.

Though after Monster’s Inc, and Finding Nemo I have learned to trust all things Pixar and this one simply cemented them as one of the few in LaLaLand that actually get it. A movie should be about story and the characters that drive it. Any use of CGI (with obvious exceptions) should be minimal and only for enhancement of a scene instead of the entire scene (think Lord of the Rings vs The Incredible Hulk from a few years ago).

That said, something bothered me after the movie. SPOILERSPOILER What is the function of the “Wall-A”s? I’m assuming the A is for Axiom but where is their waste coming from? If it’s from all the cups, they’ve been in space for 700 years…where are they getting new cups from? At some point they’d run out of materials and also trash? Any ideas?

but watched Cloverfield last night… That was GOOOD! Wish I would have seen it in theaters though. Will probably take my niece to see Wall-E this weekend. Nice review Al.

who is antsy and figity as all 2 year olds are, saw this movie and sat through the ENTIRE 1 hr and 50 some minutes! It has to be a well done movie to keep her attention.

avoid all reviews and articles about it. It is supposed to be a fresh take on superheroes. Any knowledge of the plot going in detracts.

I would give it 2.5 stars, Wall-E 3.5 stars.

Some younger kids might not appreciate Wall-E, but my 8-year-old understood it and loved it.

That was an excellent one that was more than just a kid’s cartoon.

My girlfriend has been wanting to see Fool’s Gold since Valentine’s Day, I was able to withstand until Sunday night, and here is my review…terrible.

Kate Hudson is in a bathing suit a lot and that is about it.

I have been wanting to see Wall-E but will probably wait until DVD.

I was forced to go see this movie (I am anti-animation) and it was very good. The animation is incredible, the social commentary was witty, the love story was just a vehicle for the commentary and the kids. I wonder if some people who see this movie will be quietly offended. Strangly enough this movie reminded me of “Idiocracy”, a movie with similar social commentary but definately not a kids movie.

I recently saw a great movie, the title is “The Fall”. It’s only playing at The Landmark and it’s the most beautiful and amazing movie you will ever see. The story line is pretty straight forward but it’s touching, and oh my is it visually stunning. It’s a movie about how great movies can and should be. GO SEE THIS MOVIE, seeing it in the theatre is a must as well.

Have you seen “The Lives of Others” yet? You know the movie that beat “Pan’s Labrynth” out for best foriegn film, if not rent it. It’s one of the best movies I’ve ever seen.

For you and others, the “social commentary” may make this a must-see, but for me, it’s a must-miss. I don’t want to pay $8 to be preached to.

I loved this movie. It was absolutely incredible. But Al, how can you not mention anything about the interaction between EVE and WALL-E, I thought their story was quite beautiful very well done.

My daughter and I enjoyed it. Not the best work out of the Pixar studios. A little too sleepy and oddly preachy. Seemed like the last half hour was pieced together on the haste.

Sounds like typical liberal anti-corporate indoctrination, aimed at kids no less. Count me out, no matter how cute or heartwarming the story is.

The first half of the movie was flawless, the second half moved along a little too quick for my liking. It still should be considered an animation masterpiece.

Wall-E has joined Spirited Away as one of my favorite animated films of all time.

If anybody loves animated movies I recommend “The Iron Giant” highly. I think Ebert, et al put it amongst the top 10 animated movies ever and I would go as far as to bump it in the top five at least.

Unfortunately (for the movie), it was a Warner Brother’s production which came out right as Pixar was changing the face of animation.

But the good, old WB suits me just fine (and it is an awesome, well told story).

for a GAME thread…

I too thought it ironic that Disney spoofed Wall Mart and Big Corporations, although I agree with the message. Plenty of subtext throughout on a number of levels so it gives you much to ponder afterward.

Probably because I’m a food nerd I preferred Ratatouille to WALL-E.