WALL-E

Ah, an animated film that *doesn't* feature cute talking animals, or awful "showstopper" songs. Thank heavens for Pixar. No other animation outfit would make the first 30 minutes of their tentpole summer film almost dialogue-free, relying solely on the electronic noises of two robots. Meet WALL-E, a ridiculously adorable little waste disposal unit on caterpillar treads, and EVE, a high-tech i-Pod with a blaster. It's difficult to convery the sheer amount of pleasure derived from the interaction of these two. WALL-E's the last of his kind, trundling around still doing the job he was given 700 years ago. He repairs himself from the remains of his fellow robots and has developed a magpie sensibility. Cutlery, a Rubik's cube, Christmas lights, a whisk: whatever grabs his attention is taken back to his home. What he doesn't have is company, apart from a cockcroach (see, indestructible!) and this is driven home every time he watches his prized tape of Hello, Dolly! Enter EVE, and cue some neat visual comedy as she does the Rubrik's cube in mere seconds, pops a sheet of bubble wrap in record time and inadvertently sends WALL-E crashing into the ceiling. Amusement lies in little details such as WALL-E removing his treads before going to bed or the fact that he's not a morning robot as he needs to power up from the sun. There is also the wonder of how much expression is conveyed simply through the use of what passes for the robots' eyes and body movement. You know immediately how either feels. Once the action moves to the Axiom, home of the remaining humans, it becomes slightly more predictable although still highly inventive. The first time we see the row of photos of the ship's captains we notice the decline of the human race to little more than a blob, the second time we notice the ominous encroachment of the ship's autopilot. This isn't to say that the film doesn't pack an emotional punch too. The mere thought of this last lonely little robot on Earth is heartbreaking and the sequence at the end when a repaired WALL-E seems to have lost his personality is a terrible moment. But there are good tearful moments too, such as EVE and WALL-E dancing in space (with the aid of a fire extinguisher) and the most beautiful image of all - WALL-E brushing his hand along Saturn's rings and sending stardust swirling.