Review by Andrea Birgers

One of the many strengths of Pixar's animators is their ability to turn creatures and objects into expressive, memorable characters. In Wall-E, the filmmakers have succeeded not only in bringing robot characters to life, but doing so with very little dialogue. While Wall-E is more serious than its predecessors, it has just as much heart, and enough cartoon wackiness to keep viewers of all ages entertained. A three-disc DVD set has a good batch of special features, though most fans will probably be satisfied with the one-disc edition.

The movie is set in a future full of garbage. Humans have fled to a space cruiser while Wall-E units (Waste Allocation Load Lifter, Earth-Class) are supposed to clean up the mess. After 700 years, only one Wall-E is still operational. He's a metal box with caterpillar tracks for feet, and soulful, binocular-shaped eyes. With his cockroach companion, he spends his days compacting trash and saving objects that appeal to him. When he wants a little entertainment, he watches a VHS tape of Hello Dolly. The story gets into gear quickly when a rocket ship shows up, depositing a sleek, high-tech probe called Eve (Extraterrestrial Vegetation Evaluator). The action then shifts to the space cruiser Axiom, where the temperature is always 72, and morbidly obese humans spend their lives on floating recliners, all of their entertainment and consumer needs seen to by robots.

While the animators show their usual knack for visual invention, a great deal of kudos should go to sound designer Ben Burtt, who is credited as the voice of Wall-E. He's responsible for the sound effects of many blockbuster movies, including the entire Star Wars series. His experience in creating the "voice" of R2-D2 must have come in handy in making Wall-E express himself.

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