Well, it's safe to say that the power of animated character is not only made incredibly apparent but thrown right into the face of those who fear it most, as Wall•E takes the metaphorical ball and metaphorically runs with it. Despite positive reviews from just about everybody, a few hold outs are doing what the Internet does best (factionalizing ad infinitum) and the conserva-prigs at Free Republic are hilariously fuming at the film. Whatever it takes to keep the headlines off this douche, right guys?
It looks like Republicans are hating this movie, just because Fred Willard's character drops the "Stay the course" line. Why, yes. Yes it is anti-Republican. It shows us exactly what the world would look like 800 years after a third Bush presidency. The earth will be full of garbage and devoid of human life, and the rare few who somehow manage to escape will be fantastically wealthy and their society will be built on the remnants of whatever and whoever they stepped over to get there.
They didn't complain one bit when Grade-A Crank Brad Bird's looney Randroid screed, The Incredibles, told their audience that some people are born "special" and are therefore criminally suppressed by the rest of society, who should be thankful just to have them around. Republicans LOVED that one, because it reinforced their deep seated paradigm notion that there are, indeed, certain people deserving of much more than others. Brad Bird, you're a cock. Choke somebody on you.
Fat people are now, apparently, a political base of their own, now. I guess I should start getting my membership card pretty shortly, I could use that 10% off at KFC and the Enema Bag Emporium. Being a man who could stand to lose weight, but not a man whose weight has lost him the ability to stand, I have not yet lost touch with the reality of satire. The ultimate animated "Americans are fat" movie, The Triplets of Belleville, to which Pixar owes a great deal in the comedic style and pacing of Wall•E, was never given a broad release by Sony because the fat "lobby" was so offended by it. The "Fat Lobby" sounds like a really smelly place.
But then, of course, fat people are more than welcome to head over to Kung Fu Panda, a film tailor made to their purposes. I believe they just wheel in the Happy Meals by the cart now. It's got everything that Wall•E doesn't... a happy-go-lucky (yet insipid) main character, dozens of well known (yet insipid) A-list voice actors, and more pop (yet insipid) cultural references than you can shake your enormous, enormous booty at. Let them have it, I guess. It's all there, and by the truckload.
If I seem to be commenting frequently on the H.G. Wells characters, the Morlocks and the Eloi, Wall•E seems to reinforce my suspicions that the distinction is happening faster than we think. The film doesn't answer everything, and that's really great. A truly good film won't prechew thought for you like the food the Hoverchair family in this film has to slurp down.
All is not so bleak, I suppose. The truth is that Pixar is a proven quality, and not a single one of their films has ever lost a dime. Parents will bring their kids to Wall•E, young adults will go to Wall•E, post-ironic hipsters such as myself will go to Wall•E. If, perchance, it makes people think about the ramifications of a McCain presidency, so much the better.
posted by Chris on October 30, 2007 10:03 AM in Comics
That's right. Pixar rules. Suck it Dreamworks! A webcomic just totally burned you! HOW DOES THAT FEEL, SPIELBERG?! SUCK IT. Originally published on 09-14-04.
We love Pixar here at The Weekly Geek. We talk about their new movies like we talk about an unborn child. Precious, full of potential. It's not often I really like another company's computer animation, but Blur studios made something incredibly awesome with A Gentleman's Duel. They really capture all the good qualities of Pixar, making it their own style. Check out this short, it's freaking cool.
This past weekend, White Mage and I got a chance to see Pixar and Brad Bird's latest magic joyfest, Ratatouille. Chris, Caspian, and their respective ladyfriends were also in attendance.
As with all Pixar films, I've been excited to see this ever since the first teaser trailer came out. They just do everything so right. Pixar owns the world of CG animated movies, and there is no disputing that fact.
For those of you who don't know, Ratatouille is the story of a rat named Remy who is born with an amazing sense of smell. Not content with eating garbage like his rodent brethren, he sneaks into the house in the French countryside where his colony is inhabiting the walls and puts together culinary delights for himself to snack upon while watching his favorite TV chef, August Gusteau. An accident forces them all from their home and Remy gets seperated but ends up in the sewers below the late Gusteau's very own restaurant in Paris. Remy befriends a clumsy garbage boy from the kitchen of the restaurant and uses him to live out his dream of being a famous chef.
posted by Chris on July 2, 2007 6:08 PM in Podcast
The Geek, Chris and Colette sound like they are in a cave this week as they discuss Ratatouille, movies that don't suck, the iPhone, Kwik-E-Marts and other geeky things that probably you care about. Download the show now or subscribe using the magic of RSS.
posted by Chris on June 18, 2007 8:31 AM in Podcast
The Geek and Chris yap it up this week about Pixar, online game rental services, Spamalot coming to town, Geeky Vacations, bonding with your dad via killing people, soda and board games like Carcassone. Also, there's a new contest! Listen to the podcast to find out the details. Movies, video games, cartoons and fun conversation. What more can you ask for in a podcast? I challenge you to find more to ask for!
posted by Chris on April 2, 2007 7:34 PM in Podcast
This week Frodo went to Disneyland and The Geek didn't! So they talk about that in this week's podcast. But that's not all! Frodo endorses Meet the Robinsons, both applaud EMI for their DRM-free iTunes songs and they talk about the announcement of Rock Band (the game). The mailbag is opened, and last but not least: a rant about spam. It truly is a fulfilling episode of The Weekly Geek. Download it here, or subscribe to it. Notes after the beep.
posted by Chris on June 11, 2006 6:23 PM in Podcast
In this week's video game podcast, the Geeks discuss Pixar's Cars, Nintendo DS Lite, and video game end music. Lots of Nintendo stuff this time around, so if you HATE FUN, don't tune in!
posted by Chris on January 29, 2006 8:07 PM in Podcast
Finland Finland Finland. Oh? Hello. I was pretending to not see you there. This week on The Weekly Geek, Frodo, The Geek and White Mage welcome Nevery to the cast. He, like all of us, will soon feel the cold hand of death as he ages into obscurity. This week we discuss more Pixar and Disney, the Nintendo DS lite, E3 restrictions for this coming year and old Tiger electronic lcd games. And a fun time was had by all. Here are some show notes.
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Well, it's safe to say that the power of animated character is not only made incredibly apparent but thrown right into the face of those who fear it most, as Wall•E takes the metaphorical ball and metaphorically runs with it. Despite positive reviews from just about everybody, a few hold outs are doing what the Internet does best (factionalizing ad infinitum) and the conserva-prigs at Free Republic are hilariously fuming at the film. Whatever it takes to keep the headlines off this douche, right guys? 
