Movie Review: WALL-E

My son, Jeremy, and I went to see the movie WALL-E on Saturday, June 28th. It was a wonderful opportunity to spend time with him and discuss how the events in the movie moved us. There were so many themes introduced that it will take some time to digest them all. I will, therefore, only touch on a few of themes here in this writing.

I have to mention my emotional reaction to the good character WALL-E exemplified. Like the advanced robot, Eve, I fell in love with WALL-E. How do you relate to a trash compactor? You make the machine an anthropomorphic underdog with a lot of personality and the capacity to show love. According to the story, this little robot had carried out his programmed duties for 700 years while others of his kind had long-since broken down. Oh, that we should be so faithful!

WALL-E resourcefully collected and stored away spare parts for himself - a practice of planning ahead for the future that helped him to “resurrect” at the end of the movie. S ee Matthew 6:20 about the importance of storing up treasure in heaven. In the end, WALL-E was a true hero, willing to sacrifice his own life for others. He, therefore, represents a type of Christ.

Finally, allow me to address how people were portrayed. In the story, they had abandoned earth, leaving because all of the natural resources had been used up and the planet was no longer capable of supporting life (with the exception of one lone cockroach). People on this giant spaceship sat in floating deck chairs, watched TV continuously, and were completely attended to by robots, who made sure that people always had a milkshake or soda in their hand. So, it should come as no surprise that the people all looked like fully inflated balloons and unable to stand or walk without great strain.

Reading other blog entries about the movie, I found that some people were insulted that people were represented as indulgent slobs. I think Pixar was actually being kind. Scripture teaches how people are. We all have sinned (Rom 6:23) and the devil has deceived those who are perishing (2 Thes 2:10). In the movie, it was revealed that all the people on the spaceship were deceived by the automatic pilot, who kept them in a type of bondage. It makes me wonder, "Are we in bondage? Have we been deceived?" Personal and patriotic pride leads me to deny these things. In John 8:33, we hear the same response of proud Pharisees who objected that Jesus implied that they were slaves. Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin." Are we ready to hear the truth? Many Americans today have become apathetic by the media negativity, church-goers are intellectually lazy, and we are also guilty of calorie-rich overindulgence.

Over 2000 years ago, our Lord told parables to help make people think and repent. Today, he is using another parable about how a brave little robot named WALL-E shook people back to reality and gave them an example to embrace responsibility for our world. If you've seen the movie, maybe my perspective will help you see it with new eyes.

How many other biblical themes can you find in this story?

- Al -