浙江 江 丽

WALL·E is an American science fiction comedy drama film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and directed by Andrew Stanton.It is Pixar's ninth animated（栩栩如生的）feature film.Released on June 27,2008,the film earned $23.2 million on its opening day,and $63.1 million during its opening weekend in 3,992 theatres,ranking number one at the box office,with overwhelmingly positive reviews among critics.

The story follows a robot named WALL·E,who is designed to clean up a wastecovered Earth far in the future.He falls in love with another robot named EVE,who also has a programmed task.The human population,who abandoned Earth for outer space,sent EVE to ascertain if any life still remains on Earth,and WALL·E follows her into outer space on an adventure that changes the destiny of both his kind and humanity.Both robots exhibit appearance of free will and emotions similar to humans,which develop further as the film progresses.

Most of the characters do not have real human voices.Instead,they communicate with body language and robotic sounds,designed by Ben Burtt.

The movie has a wonderful look.Like so many of the Pixar animated features,it finds a color palette（调色板）that's bright and cheerful,but not too pushy,and a tiny bit realistic at the same time.And a lot of thought must have gone into the design of WALL·E,for whom I feel a curious affection.WALL·E,looks rusty and hard-working and brave,and expresses his personality with body language and（mostly）with the cameras that serve as his eyes.

WALL·E,reflects consumerism（消费主义）,nostalgia（怀旧）,environmental problems,waste management,and the huge influence that humans have on Earth.There is also a rather major theme through this movie,which is about human nature,and the direction that the human race is headed.WALL·E is seen as a movie that appeals to both conservative and liberal audiences.

Reading Check

1.What's most critics'attitude to WALL·E?

A.Tolerant. B.Ambiguous. C.Approving. D.Disappointed.

2.What does the second paragraph focus on?

A.The popularity of WALL·E. B.The plot of WALL·E.

C.The ranking of WALL·E. D.The background of WALL·E.

3.How do most of the characters communicate in WALL·E?

A.By using real human voices.

B.By using animals'voices.

C.By using body language and robotic sounds.

D.By using a special space language.

4.What major theme is conveyed in WALL·E?

A.Politics. B.Technology development.

C.Communication. D.Human nature.

Language Study

Useful expressions

be directed by 由……执导 animated feature film 动画故事片

be released 上映；发行 rank number one 排名首位