Wall-E Questions

1. What are some of the prevailing themes in Wall-E? List at least 3 and choose one to explain in greater depth. Explain your answer.
I think the 3 prevailing themes in Wall-E are friendship and love, the future of the earth and the environment changes between now and the future. In my opinion, the strongest theme out of those three is the future of the earth. As I think Wall-E implied a message in warning the society that in order to save our environment, we have to change our living habits, stop wasting resources and stop creating rubbishes.

2. How does the movie explore the theme? Give examples.
- There was no one living on earth because everyone lived on the spaceship.
- Only robots and rubbishes stayed in the earth.
-The people who used to live on earth relied too much on technology.
-People cared too much about their benefits without realizing the causes and affects.
-The plan of “cleaning” with robots failed.
-After the search and found that there was still life on earth, the people moved back and started to develop a city with a better environment. It shows that the earth can be stable for living things to live on when everyone is willing to participate and help.

3. Wall-E uses references to 20th and early 21st century media, design, and society. Give examples. Why do you think these have been included in the film?
-Environmental issue
-It has been included because the director might want his audience to see and compare the world in modern time and future.
-The director might also want his audience to be aware of the environmental issues around the world. Since the fact is that if we are careless about the world we live in, it will soon be destroyed.
-The design of technology has been included (For examples: spaceship and robots), is a sign of our future. It also refers to the lifestyle and demands in out society. Every tool or equipment being invented has been more convenient and easier to use.

4. Choose from the following: sound design, character design, cinematography, editing, script, architecture, lighting, character animation, or music. How was the particular element used to convey emotion, describe context, move the plot etc…Describe an instance in which your chosen element is used effectively.
Sound design:
In the movie, the creator used many different sound effects
- Adventures and happy moments: The music gives an exciting atmosphere. Although, the characters did not have much to say, but their tones were pleasant.
-Sad and Unhappy moments: A dimmer kind of music or soundtrack takes place. And the tones of characters would then become softer.
-Some of the sound effects also show the mysteries atmosphere of space.
- For each and individual robots were given a signature/unique sound that they would make to express their emotions.

5. The movie uses repeated motifs (for example the cockroach getting run over). Describe one and explain why you think it is repeated.
-Wall-E always had his hands put together in front of him.
-Showing that Wall-E is feeling lonely with only him on the planet.
-Meaning that Wall-E is longing for someone to care and love him.
-Also meaning that Wall-E wishes to be in a society with others and not be isolated alone.
-It shows that a robot like Wall-E has feelings and emotions too.

6. The robots take on human characteristics and the humans have taken on robotic characteristics. What does this serve?
It might be stating that robots in the future might have a better organization and self-control than humans. As referring to the movie, the people are mostly relying on the technology they were given. For example, when the people were on the spaceship, walking was not ever required, leading everyone having lack of exercise and getting fatter day by day. However, for the robots, they had to work and do basically everything by hand. Showing that, people who are lazy can be easily replaced by robots.

7. Overall, would you describe this film as a “good” film? Why? Why not? What would you change?
Wall-E is a “good” film. It is an interesting film since the main character started off with having limited words, but bringing out a huge message. The movie implies an environmental message stating that people in the past did not pay much of an attention to the recourses that they wasted, or to the environment that they live in. However, if I was able to change something in the movie, I would like to add the clip “burn-E” back into the movie. Although, it has nothing to do with the environmental issue, but it shows how the system of the spaceship works, which would make the film more interesting.

by: Derrick Cheng