Wall•E is the answer to that question. It's really more than that -- a lot more -- but that question came into my head in the first 5 minutes of the film. Wall•E, the new Disney/Pixar film, happens to also be the first Disney movie that scares the parents more than the kids. I don't think there was much in this special film to scare the target demographic -- the villain is one that adults will identify with much more than kids. Fortunately, there is plenty of excitement, as in all good animated features, and adventure. And for a movie that has very little dialog, even from the humans who eventually appear, it is remarkably deep. Everyone should see it with our without kids. If you go without kids, I recommend going in the evening though if you want to minimize the interruptions. See Roger Ebert's review for a good idea of the overall story.
My wife, Abi, made the great point that the sleek white probe robot EVE is like the dove in the flood story retrieving the sign of renewed life. In fact, Wall•E is a modern day flood story. When I said that she suggested that this had the opposite of a flood as there seems to be no water in the future. What if our greatest threat, the one thing that would not easily recede or evaporate, is the waste that we generate? The deluge that drives these inhabitants onto their ark is that of trash. And what a deluge it is! There are not mountains of trash, but skyscrapers of it. If this is a flood story, and I think it is among other things, it raises may questions. I don't like thinking of questions much when watching these kinds of films. Really what's the point? Why didn't the people at the Wal Mart-like Buy N Large want to take animals on their ark, the Axiom? What happened to the people in the rest of the world? The answers might have been answered if this were a story by Phillip K. Dick or a film in the vein of 28 Days Later, but they're too gruesome and depressing for a film like this. However, I think it's clear now why this movie is much scarier for adults than for kids. We're asking these questions even as we're enjoying the movie.
Evidently, the co-writer/director Andrew Stanton wasn't intending this to be a polemic piece. Or that's the talking point. In any case, it's a solid pro-green message. With some jabs at the Bush administration, too. The green part is self-evident and brilliant -- I cringed at the sight of the overflowing theater trash cans spilling out oversized cups and uneaten pop corn. So are the jabs. First of all, corporations don't just get incentives and apparent tax breaks they get to take over the world. The winning corporation, which acts as a benevolent dictatorship (who the dictator is is the surprise), with it's first CEO being a GWB-like guy who says things like "stay the course" and does a lot of smirking. On a level that isn't so far below the surface, this is kind of like a Michael Moore film for the kiddies. There's plenty of entertainment and messaging to go around. I almost wrote preaching, but I'd be the proverbial "choir".
All of Pixar's movies are chock full of great details. This one has plenty. Along with some of the messagey stuff I just mentioned with borrowed lines and so forth, there are some sight gags that offer a moment of recognition or even a quiet chuckle. There's plenty in the first act as we get to know Wall•E and see what his life is like, then as we get to know EVE and her capabilities and watch a romance blossom. My favorite, though, comes as Wall•E is hanging on to the side of a space ship and they leave Earth's orbit, which has become it's own sort of landfill of satellites. All of Pixar's movies also have incredible closing credits, since they take the place of the more typical opening credits. Wall•E's credits are brilliant and grow right out of the ending. As a onetime student of art history, I just loved them. That's all I'll write -- they're brilliant and need to be seen first hand.
Go see it. Take a kid. Don't take a kid. Pixar is cool enough so you don't have to look like you belong there.
One last thing, there's some talk about how this would be a good Sci Fi film if it were only live action. Roger Ebert mentions this, too, but he allows that it might just be anyway. Since it took him 30 years to recognize Blade Runner as a Great Movie, I'm going go ahead and put it out there this is already a great Sci Fi movie.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Barack Obama Asked. I Answered.
Sen. Barack Obama spoke about his plans to make us more competitive globally last week in Michigan. After the speech he posted the video and asked people to watch and answer a question over on LinkedIn: What ideas do you have to keep America competitive in the years ahead? My answer is below. I would like the answer to be more thorough, but time being short these days it's still a pretty good thought. Watch the speech after my answer.
The Answer: Innovation in education, energy and infrastructure are key to our reemergence as a global leader. The value of education eludes most boomers and the WWII generation largely because their days of needing the system for their own children are past. However, the stability and the success of our society is directly linked to the ability of all children to be competitive both at home and in the world. You say it well — keep saying it.
As for energy, conserving is as important as creating. Amazingly, we have reached a point where business plans revolve around energy rather than activists alone. You refer to the steel plant that converted to a wind turbine factory retraining its workforce for the conversion. There are so many stories, but two more stories come from purple states that highlight the business value of energy. In the Washington Post, is the story of how Ikea determined that the cost of fuel justified building its first factory in the U.S. Now a forgotten Virginia manufacturing town is revived by Ikea and other foreign investors who need to stay competitive in our market. Thomas Friedman wrote in the NY Times, about how Texas Instruments found more value by building green and in the U.S. Than going conventional in China.
These are stories that are repeated in nearly every state and under Democrat and Republican alike. You already tap into much of this narrative, but there is so much more out there.
The Answer: Innovation in education, energy and infrastructure are key to our reemergence as a global leader. The value of education eludes most boomers and the WWII generation largely because their days of needing the system for their own children are past. However, the stability and the success of our society is directly linked to the ability of all children to be competitive both at home and in the world. You say it well — keep saying it.
As for energy, conserving is as important as creating. Amazingly, we have reached a point where business plans revolve around energy rather than activists alone. You refer to the steel plant that converted to a wind turbine factory retraining its workforce for the conversion. There are so many stories, but two more stories come from purple states that highlight the business value of energy. In the Washington Post, is the story of how Ikea determined that the cost of fuel justified building its first factory in the U.S. Now a forgotten Virginia manufacturing town is revived by Ikea and other foreign investors who need to stay competitive in our market. Thomas Friedman wrote in the NY Times, about how Texas Instruments found more value by building green and in the U.S. Than going conventional in China.
These are stories that are repeated in nearly every state and under Democrat and Republican alike. You already tap into much of this narrative, but there is so much more out there.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Barack Obama for President
I am so glad that the primary season is over. I am so glad that Obama is the probable nominee. I am so glad that Senator Hillary Clinton gave such a rousing and emotional speech to endorse him.
Just about every Democrat, let alone much of America, respects both Bill and Hillary Clinton. Much of that respect has led to immense and loyal support of her candidacy for President of the United States of America. But much of it has led to real disillusionment -- disappointment -- with both of their legacies. I know I was at real risk of losing the goodwill built up through the 90s, despite the tumultuous impeachment and the sad result that we had taken our eyes of the ball of terrorism. I also know that had I not had a better choice, I would have supported Hillary Clinton in 2008. However, I wouldn't have been this involved.
I'm glad that Senator Clinton has come on board, because I can say her name with pride. One of the trickiest aspects of attracting so many first-time voters, the way we have this year, is that they don't get politics. We don't get it. It took Hillary facing down disappointed and disgruntled supporters to remind us all that we are all still Democrats. So I get it now. We are all on the same team. We always have been. I know that much of the noise about all the fighting words that the Clinton campaign used had to do with her attacking her own family. I know that, but when Obama says that he's a better candidate for having faced Hillary Clinton he's so right.
So thank you, Senator Clinton. Let's spread the word -- we're all one team. We seriously have to shut out the opponent. We have to win.
Just about every Democrat, let alone much of America, respects both Bill and Hillary Clinton. Much of that respect has led to immense and loyal support of her candidacy for President of the United States of America. But much of it has led to real disillusionment -- disappointment -- with both of their legacies. I know I was at real risk of losing the goodwill built up through the 90s, despite the tumultuous impeachment and the sad result that we had taken our eyes of the ball of terrorism. I also know that had I not had a better choice, I would have supported Hillary Clinton in 2008. However, I wouldn't have been this involved.
I'm glad that Senator Clinton has come on board, because I can say her name with pride. One of the trickiest aspects of attracting so many first-time voters, the way we have this year, is that they don't get politics. We don't get it. It took Hillary facing down disappointed and disgruntled supporters to remind us all that we are all still Democrats. So I get it now. We are all on the same team. We always have been. I know that much of the noise about all the fighting words that the Clinton campaign used had to do with her attacking her own family. I know that, but when Obama says that he's a better candidate for having faced Hillary Clinton he's so right.
So thank you, Senator Clinton. Let's spread the word -- we're all one team. We seriously have to shut out the opponent. We have to win.
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