Pixar's new movie WALL•E comes out Friday. And I am really looking forward to seeing Fisher Stevens, Ally Sheedy and the ever-awesome Steve Guttenberg reunite for what looks like a Short Circuit prequel. The fact that none of their names are on the cast list must be a misprint.
Right?
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I remember seeing the posters and cardboard set-ups for Wall-E earlier in the year, and the first time I saw it I turned to my husband and said, "they're making another Short Circuit? Awesome!"
This was followed by a long discussion over whether Wall-E was the robot from Short Circuit or not.
I really feel like Pixar just didn't feel like coming up with a NEW robot...
Number 5 is alive!
So is this supposed to be a short circuit type character or do they think we forgot all about No. 5?
Johnny Number 5 is gonna go loco about this!!
Los locos kick your ass
los locos kick your face
los locos kick your balls into outer space
oh and when he charges in the sun, he makes that bong sound. totally not original. its so obviously the mac sound! jeez.
oh and the bad guy being hal 9000 really original...
man pixar just stole all kinds of things.
shucks.
I thought this was a major copyright infringement when I first saw it, actually, I still do.
Or it could be that Pixar was trying to make a statement (note how EVE looks like a modern I book if it were egg-shaped?), invoke some tropes (Auto's voice is done by the Apple voice generator, and I'm 100% certain the HAL thing was intentional), and take advantage of the utterly cute (both Johnny 5 and WALL-E).
There's a difference between tribute and theft, and Pixar didn't get close to the latter. Let's go over the difference, shall we?
WALL-E Doesn't:
-Have a weapons-grade laser on his back.
-Have a body type even close to resembling J5.
-Require input.
-Talk.
-Have a third wheel on his back.
-Spout inane cultural references and depend on that for its humor value.
J5 Doesn't:
-Collapse into a box.
-Compact trash.
-Have a pet cockroach.
-Chirp.
-Collect solar energy.
-Have replaceable parts.
Rather large list for 'major copyright infringement'
Just bought the DVD. It looks like an extension of Max Headroom and Idiocracy, if not downright copies. Idiocracy is a must see movie in the context of Wall-E. Max Headroom the ABC/Chrysalis version for the USA also, and the defunct TV series. This has been done before. Its adult subject-matter tossed at kids. It is over-emotional for some, and a blatent rip-off/recycle for others. Age and memory are determinate factors.
Please note the following theme: Even though we give up meat, we can still become fat blobs of goo addicted to TV, the internet, and phones. The axiom that a brand-new vegen world will result from today's habits is an axiom to be criticized. It is an axiom that is still frought with more of the same, but not the same.
Now upon the merits of the movie... its done well, very well. It is the over-the-top stuff that makes PIXAR great. That includes the story-line for the uninitiated. But again, do the research like the captain does... research Max, and Idiocracy. You will find a storyline within spanning 22 years.
Glad to see some remember these things like EVA and SC. Now EVA looks exactly like the Mork-from-Ork spaceship. One more copyright. And really, with Disney buying ABC years ago, WALL-E turns out to be recycle of Max Headroom, and Mork's spaceship. Sorry, no infringement.
Idiocracy, on the other hand, maybe you have a beef.