Heading out to the movies this holiday weekend? If your "two tickets, please," is for last weekend's #1 flick, Pixar's Wall-E, you might be getting a jumbo bucket of leftist propaganda with your price of admission. But it's a cartoony-thing, right?! But it's a cartoon-y thing with an apparently serious leftist message.
The National Review's global-warming blog says “it was like a 90-minute lecture on the dangers of over consumption, big corporations, and the destruction of the environment.” Oh! That sounds like a cute and funny movie! What??
But wait, there's more! Glenn Beck says, "I just see Wally and he's on the Earth and he's cleaning stuff up and I looked at my wife and I said, it's a frickin' global warming movie, it is how we destroyed the Earth." Over at Dirty Harry's Place (a conservative look at film, punk) Harry says of the Pixar tale, "they stop things cold, yanking you out of the story with the liberal nonsense. Quite a disappointment. Anyway…"
Lars Larson was on with Dan Abrams backing all of this up, saying it gives "little kids the idea that human beings are bad for planet Earth." At Townhall, they agree with the propaganda claim, but say it's "actually a brilliant exposure of liberalism’s flaws."
Is all of this possible out of a cartoon? Is Wall-E propaganda in the world's cutest package?
Check out Buzz's brilliant review for more info on the plot and characters — and hey, 4.5 out of 5 stars ain't bad!
In Puncto
Development
Diane von Furstenberg
The movie definitely has a clear message, some will call it propaganda, some won't. I can't see anyone denying that it is clearly supposed to make people more conscious of waste.
1My generation has spent their entire lives listening to how we humans are destroying the earth in some way shape or form. Is anyone surprised by this?
2Why do all movies have to be overloaded with messages nowadays? Why can't you just go to the movie theater and have fun? Isn't that what movies are supposed to be for? Entertainment?
3Wow after watching that clip I'm really glad I never watch MSNBC!
4if the message was "kill your parents" that would be one thing - but didn't shell silverstein's books have messages too? like sharing, and dreaming, and communicating? is the fact that we are wasteful (yes, FACT) really a liberal bias? we are. look at the stats. there is no way to dispute that. who is really being hurt by showing kids the importance of conservation and the consequences of not protecting the environment?
5There are a lot of other messages in the film (and cabaker, you are ridiculous if you think movies in the "good ol' days" didn't have messages... every movie and every story ever told contains messages and moral, even the freaking bible).
Why not focus on other messages in the film? Resourcefulness, making the best of bad circumstances, and not being afraid and limited by your immediate experiences?
6sorry marcella but i don't see "treat others as you would want to be treated" and "the planet is better off without humans" as the same message.
when you're talking about movies having a moral message, thats one thing, but when the message is consistently either that the USA is a monster, the US govt is a monster, or something similiar, then no I don't thinnk thats the same thing and no, i wouldn't want my kids to see that.
7Oh, and I completely agree with yesteryear. I don't think our consumption problems are a liberal or conservative issue.
8At the end of the day people will pull out of a movie what they want to see and if they don't agree with the message, they just won't go to see it.
Gotta love that!
9whoa, cabaker. who said the movie's message was "the us is a monster"? maybe you're confusing this with the video of hitchens getting waterboarded (in which the US is a monster, heh).
10seriously though -- i haven't seen the movie (im guessing you haven't either), but if the message is indeed consumption, it's not just a US problem... it's global. we've been the main consumers for the past 60 or so years, but as you know, other countries are jumping on the bandwagon now - and quick. i still don't see a problem with teaching kids to think about their consumption and waste choices.
im not saying this particular movie has that message, just many movies recently (admittedly not children's movies) have that message.
and environmentalism isn't a bad thing and it should be talked about and promoted, but done so in a manner that isn't alarmist and doesn't present doomsday scenarios to children.
i don't know if the movie does that or not, because i haven't seen it, but i would hope its not as bad as the far right people think and most likely, it probably isn't.
11frankly i don't see this to be any different than if someone on the left wouldn't want to take their kid to see The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe...
12I saw this movie and I feel it has something for everyone. For young children, it's visually beautiful and many may not even get the message. For the adults forced to or choosing to see it, is has a message in a beautiful package. Is there really anything wrong with making the point that earth is our home and it is wonderful and that we are on a path to killing it? I personally don't think so. I actually find it quite funny that people are complaining about a beautiful wrapped message to save the world. Isn't that what most movies are about? Saving the world from one thing or another.
13personally, I'm tired of saving the world from asteroids.
14Eeesh, does everything have to be liberal vs. conservative? Lots of people are wasteful regardless of their political affiliation. I haven't seen Wall-E so I can't really comment on the movie itself, but...I don't really see anything wrong with a movie having a--gasp!--message.
Oh and cab I'm curious about what you mean in terms of the Lefties not taking their kids to see Narnia movies...
I'm a leftie Catholic and would take my kids (if I had them) to see that in a heartbeat.
15You might Em, but I'm sure there are plenty of people who wouldn't.
Some people object to the Christian themes in the Narnia movies, so they wouldn't take them.
16I find the fact that this is being painted as a political really irritating. Wastefulness (or Consciousness of our wastefulness) should not be a partisan issue.
17It's possible, but is it worth the time that they are spending on "real" News shows to discuss it when we have American Citizens in Iraq, or a Presidental Race going on etc. All movies including all kids movies typically have a morale or a theme and it's the rights of us as American's Left, Middle, or Right to be able to create these movies, and up to us as American movie watchers to either watch or not! At least this attack on Wall-E is giving the attacks on Barack Obama a break...right ahahahaha!
18I actually once read an article (time and publication escape me) that criticized elementary education for introducing things such as global warming and the destruction of rain forests and such to youngsters. The article (now I really wish I could remember where I read it) suggested that young minds can't process such strong moral dilemmas and don't have the emotional capacity to find a solution that will ease their worries about such things. In some ways I agree, so when I see these movies (although I haven't seen this one) it kind of worries me that kids might be alarmed about such catatrophic problems in the world. On the other hand, early awareness isn't a bad thing.
19Why do these groups always have to decide for everyone else why people should or shouldn't see something. Can't we just either see it or not see it based on our own opinions? And you know what? If it does have a political bent, then it's a good chance for people to talk about it and discuss different points of view. Imagine a parent doing that with their child.
20I can't believe this is an actually story. This left vs. right thing is just ridiculous. Why is teaching kids to be resourceful and care for the earth wrong? So I guess only liberals want to protect the earth, I know of a few conservative who are environmentalist too?
On a side note Narnia had Christian themes? I so didn't notice that now I feel duped. Damn Hollywood.
21Bambi has an anti-hunting message, Mulan's all about feminism, Beauty and the Beast is about tolerance, 101 Dalmatians is totally pro-animal rights, the Lion King is about diplomacy over strength and no conservative should read Dr. Seuss if they're sensitive to liberal propaganda.
22simply fab, don't feel bad - i went to a catholic school and was given the chronicles of narnia by a teacher of mine to read. i read the entire series and didn't realize it had a religious message until many years later. now THAT's dense! but to me those books were and still are just really great fantasy fiction.
lovelie, i agree that some issues are too much for kids to take... some are even too much for me to take! when i think of this argument i'm torn. i dont want to ruin a kids innocence and hope about the world by telling her that it's all going to be gone by the time she's my age... but at the same time, i fear another generation being raised on the grotesque diet of junk and waste that we all were. it's not fun, but these are the realities of the world we are living in, and hopefully our kids will be a part of the solution.
23Yeah, the whole series of Narnia books has a really strong Christian theme. CS Lewis was a very well known Christian apologist.
And good grief! People can find propaganda wherever they look for it.
24The gentlemen who works at Pixar which is 15min. from my home is a liberal and the story of Wall-E was created in 1992 about fifteen years ago.
Yes I agree that the story shares a message that preserving the earth instead of running it into the ground is expressed. I also have no problem with that what so ever. It's a good message.
25I agree yy- I remember being a kid learning about what we've done to the environment and recycling and being the impressionable youth I was, would go home and really fret about things. I'm sure many kids don't carry such issues around as a burden, but even now, my mind has a hard time grasping solutions to these problems. So I think that children should be introduced to things like, how to be a good citizen. Maybe if we just tone down the "peril" that always seems to be attached to these life lessons.
26Cab, I took my daughter to see Narnia - she liked it well enough but begged off the sequel cuz she found it all too violent and mean. I didn't even tell her about the Christian messages. She considered seeing the Golden Compass because her school warned against it, but decided being ornery wasn't worth sitting through the battle scenes.
27I love the Narnia books and I'm not particularly religious. Spiritual absolutely...religious not so much. I also love Lord of the Rings. Both of these series have biblical metaphors. But honestly anything with a good vs. evil theme that involves a touch of rebirth is going to be interpreted that way. Some even think that the Harry Potter series has biblical themes. I also love biblical fiction and also read the bible sometimes. Just because I don't believe that we should follow the bible word for word doesn't mean I'd like to avoid everything that has anything to do with it.
As far as Wall-E goes I have a very strong feeling that this propaganda claim is completely silly, but I will reserve my judgement for when I see it (which will be in a few hours).
28Like all examples of great, resonant storytelling, it does have a theme, in this case an environmental theme, but that doesn't make it propaganda. First and foremost, it's a story.
29I loved the Narnia books and I didn't realize for years later that it had Christian themes!
The Narnia movies were pretty violent though, thats for sure.
Its always fascinating to see how diffrent people react to the same movie, some people will watch it and say its left, other people will watch and say its right...
I just don't want kids to be all stressed out, so I think lovelie is on the right track..
30HAHAHA isn't that the truth Cab? I remember finding out the effects of aerosol sprays on the ozone. I was obsessed with it for years and kept writing letters to the companies and my congressman. Although...that's not necessarily a bad thing now that I think about it. It's okay for kids to want to help their world I think.
31I agree that we live in a wasteful society. However, if a movie is going to be used as a platform to preach to the audience, I'd rather know that upfront than be blindsided by it once I'm in the theater. I also find it interesting that this movie is geared towards children, so are the producers trying to get to the parents through the children? Similar to sugar cereal commercials and the likes on tv? I don't like that either. Just be upfront with what you're trying to say, and if you have a message you want to get out, then let people know that. Why does everything have to be so sneaky?
32Yea its def. a good thing for kids to be aware and encouraged to get involved, as long as it doesn't detract from their play time and it doesn't come from a sense of impending doom! I mean, geesh they are kids! Let them enjoy life before they find out reality sucks!! JK!
33Well what about Ferngully: The Last Rainforest. That was about the lumber industry and how it's destroying our rainforests. Would you consider that propaganda?
34Oh the OUTRAGE that a movie dares us to actually *think*!!!
35the movie is intended for a family, and aimed towards the younger kids (even though its great for all ages).
36BUT...do they really need to scare the children?
According to a national earth day survey last year, kids were more scared of global warming than terrorist attacks, car crashes, and cancer.
I think that when going to the movies, it isn't necessary to try and preach to the younger audience about your views of our waste so intensely.
Yes, back in the day with Mulan, and 101 Dalmations etc... it was MUCH more lighthearted with a more encrypted message whereas other movies these days are so forward and forcing/pushing on certain views down your throat.
Like cabaker said, can't we just go to the movies and have some fun?
Advertising is sneaky and people don't get upset about that. What movie doesn't have some point of view - "It's a Wonderful Life" promotes family values AND people over business.
37You'd be requiring movie businesses to risk limiting their audiences if ads had to say things like 'this film promotes violent oppression of minorities and women, and waste of petroleum products' or 'this film promotes non-violent problem solving'.
ugh, you'd rather be told about it upfront, kimpossible? what about allowing art to tell a story in a creative and engaging way? so should we have a new ratings system that gives people the "message" of the movie up front so they can choose whether or not to see it? i totally disagree with that. i'm a big girl. if i don't like a movie's message i can figure it out on my own.
38I haven't heard anyone complain about Wall-E not being fun - except my daughter who doesn't like the way the computers talk (??)
39yeah, I'm not sure I said what I wanted to say very clearly lol...
40I don't mind movies having messages, I love movies with messages especially for children. I think though like blondie said, with the older movies it's more lighthearted and encrypted, where as this one seems to be more in your face and scary especially to children. But I haven't seen the movie so I don't know. I will say though that when the commercials for this movie started showing on tv and my children were all very excited to see it, all I kept thinking was the commercial was stupid, I don't even know what this movie is about. lol
I think most people don't notice messages when they are in movies done well and subtly, but some movies are just over the top and preachy with messages and thats annoying. Because again, most of us go to the movies to be entertained and when the message takes away from the entertainment factor, thats where I get off. I am not paying 10 bucks to see a PSA.
41I can definitely see where people might feel that the "message" in Wall*E was a little strong. But I've seen the movie, and without giving any spoilers, I'd also say that that movie's more negative themes are more than balanced out by its very positive themes, of courage, hope, and the power of human beings to change their world, and even fix it as needed. It's not just about how humans and corporations mess up the world, but also strongly about how humans can band together to save the world as well.
42Phew - heavy subject for the 4th. Why don't we all just live in a cardboard box. wears yellow jumpsuits and sterilize the masses. Oh yeah and plant a big garden cause we know how bad those meat eaters are with their cow farts messing up the planet. Thank goodness I'm not a movie buff; I'm scared to death to see this movie. God Bless America we need it.
What ever happened to the love we had for one another after 9/11? Outta sight, outta mind.
43Why is this a heavy subject? I don't get it. Every cartoon I've ever seen has a moral of the story. What does not promoting wastefulness have to do with not loving one another? I simply don't get it. I also think that people need to stop making these assumptions WITHOUT EVEN SEEING THE MOVIE. Everytime the right OR the left freak out about a movie or a book they normally haven't even seen or read it. It completely baffles me. Is it fear of the unknown?
44Good grief! It's a movie. Really, a message. Sure it may have a message or a moral tied into the story line, but that came from whoever wrote the script and storyline. Watch Shawn of the Dead a few times and realize that dead people are NOT coming to get you tonight.
45The only cartoons I watch are Ren & Stimpy and I definitely get their message loud and clear. Silly!! I think Ren is on the left and Stimpy is usually on the right. Correct me if I'm wrong.
46Teaching kids that it's important to care for our planet isn't leftist propaganda, it's necessary. Just like children's movie themes of the past taught us life lessons like being compassionate, unselfish, etc, movies today have expanded to include lessons for the current generations. Global warming is a serious matter. And since some people of our generation still think it's liberal propaganda, our children may be the only hope.
47LOL Amber! I couldn't watch Ren & Stimpy. It grossed me out!
48I have trouble going to see this movie because they've just revamped Johnny 5 (from short circuit). That movie wasn't that good, and the machine definitely wasn't that strong of an actor...
49harmonyfrance - they are gross, really my hubby dies for them so I gotta watch. A few years ago I bought him Ren & Stimpy dolls for Cmas with VHS tapes. He's never opened the boxes, they're his prized possessions and he still tells people about them. He also has some Billy Beer stashed away
Am I giving my age away?
UnDave35 - I have no clue what you're chatting about. Are we still on the planet dieing movie?
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