DVD Review: WALL-E

After hundreds of lonely years of doing what he was built for, WALL-E (short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class) discovers a new purpose in life (besides collecting knick-knacks) when he meets a sleek search robot named EVE. EVE comes to realize that WALL-E has inadvertently stumbled upon the key to the planet’s future, and races back to space to report her findings to the humans (who have been eagerly awaiting word that it is safe to return home). Meanwhile, WALL-E chases EVE across the galaxy and sets into motion one of the most exciting and imaginative comedy adventures ever brought to the big screen. Joining WALL-E on his fantastic journey across a universe of never-before-imagined visions of the future, is a hilarious cast of characters including a pet cockroach, and a heroic team of malfunctioning misfit robots.

Review:
WALL-E is Pixar’s finest work to date, and easily one of the best films of the year. I do not know one person that has seen it that hasn’t fell completely in love with the little robot. This animated romantic comedy is simply pure genius.

WALL-E tells the story of a lone robot who has spent hundreds of years doing exactly what he was built for: to restore Earth to livable conditions after mankind has basically destroyed it. WALL-E (which stands for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class) spends his days compacting trash and collecting little odds and ends along the way. However, he finds a new purpose to life when he meets EVE, the robot that the humans have sent back in order to check on the condition of the planet. WALL-E manages to get EVE’s attention after a series of slightly violent, yet adorable encounters. He proceeds with trying to woo her by showing her things that he’s collected over the years. When WALL-E shows her a plant that he has recently came across, she immediately takes the plant and goes into hibernation mode. WALL-E spends his days trying to figure out what has gone wrong with her, until the space ship that brought EVE returns and recollects her. WALL-E hitches a ride and soon finds himself on the mothership where all the humans have basically been on a space cruise for the last few centuries. EVE presents her findings to the Captain, and a whole new set of problems arise that WALL-E and EVE must tackle together.

While WALL-E is truly the best case scenario of what would happen if robots were able to think for themselves and process emotions, it’s an endearing movie that you can’t help but to fall in love with. It appeals to all ages, and makes for an excellent film for the whole family. Now, you’ve probably realized that I can’t say enough good things about this film. I was jumping up and down when we got the DVD here at the office to review. I was excited to see all the extras that the DVD was sure to have, and I was by no means disappointed. On the Blu-ray edition, you get everything from the standard release (including the adorable and hilarious shorts: Presto and BURN-E , all the deleted scenes, Easter Eggs, commentaries, etc…) plus additional commentaries, a retro suite of video games with a WALL-E twist, plus special features for online enabled systems including:

• Movie Chat – Communicate with your friends on-screen using any text-enabled device such as a laptop, desktop or PDA device such as a Blackberry, iPhone or most other cell phones. Your chat session will appear over the movie and occur in real-time while watching the movie together.
• Movie Mail – Blu-ray owners will be able to record a personalized video message of themselves, superimpose that capture into a pre-selected clip of the movie, and send it off to a friend, colleague or relative. This specific feature enables the WALL-E Blu-ray Disc owner to personalize a very special greeting as never before.
• Movie Challenge – Users will be able to test their skills against online players in a synchronized, real-time, online trivia game while watching WALL-E. There is always a Movie Challenge game in progress to join, regardless of the time of day.

Disney and Pixar do DVD releases right. WALL-E fans couldn’t have asked for a better release. Be sure to pick up a copy for your own collection or as a stocking stuffer for a loved-one this holiday season! And if you’re picking it up for die-hard WALL-E fans, consider packaging it with one of these.

Review by Emma Loggins

Grade: A+++
Official site: http://adisney.go.com/disneyvideos/animatedfilms/wall-e/flash_site.html
Buy on Amazon: WALL-E