The last film you´ve seen and your thoughts about it

Just come back from seeing Wall-E. And I must say it is Pixar's best ever animated feature. Almost immediately after seeing the film I just wanted to rewind and watch it all again!

Afterwards we had a chat with director Andrew Stanton and I asked him; with all the technology we have now and how we are getting closer to being photorealistic how Pixar has still managed not to get swept up with the photorealism (or at least know when to draw the line despite being presented with so much more technology) which has usually been the demise of a lot of attempts with 3D animation. He said (and I totally agree) that if you want to be photorealistic then just shoot it for real (after which I added "That's not what Lucas said"... and he had a good laugh). He said hey have taken advantage of advancements in the technology, but only to help bring the audience closer to the story (such as in the physics and the environments)... but have kept the characters and comedy very much in the scope of an animation.

I think what he said relates directly to the debate we have had over FMV versus CG in games, and the future of Tex Murphy in particular. I think that if you want to go CG, then treat it as CG and go along that tangent, because if you are going to try and be photo real, just film it.

All in all I found Wall E to be a thought provoking love story, and enjoyed how the underlying message was that love fixes everything. And to be told this message through a series of characters who emote in their actions and speak very little was an amazing achievement. So far the best animated film I've seen yet.

-Cub. =o)