THE MOVIE MYSTIC
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by Stephen Simon 
WALL-E is a completely original work of staggering, visionary genius. The film also possesses so many brilliant nuances and human insights, and has such a pure and gentle heart, that it truly has no filmic antecedent. Wall-E is a robot, living alone (almost) on earth, cleaning up the trillions of pounds of trash left behind when humanity departed its uninhabitable planet. Wall-E's earth wasn't ravaged by either a war or a meteor. No, it was decimated by consumerism, greed, gluttony, and environmental neglect. Wall-E isn't living on a post-apocalyptic planet. He's living on a post-stupidity planet. At night, Wall-E, whose only companion is (of course) a cockroach, seeks refuge inside a metal transport where he collects human memorabilia. His most prized possession is the same, ancient VHS video that he watches every night. What does the only robot on earth watch? Terminator? Armageddon? Robocop? Of course not. He swoons every night to a love scene from the 1969 film musical HELLO DOLLY. Watching the on-screen lovers hold hands sends Wall-E into a reverie of love and longing that matches any comparable human scene ever put on screen. One day, a spaceship lands, depositing a newer, sleeker robot. Wall-E is at first frightened but then becomes utterly smitten. That new robot just must be female. He doesn't know why. He just knows. After some wonderfully touching and comedic moments, the robots find a way to communicate. Sure enough, her name is Eve and Wall-E is a goner. When, however, he shows her a tiny living plant that he has found, she immediately grabs it and shuts down. Just as quickly, her ship returns, whisks her inside, and takes off. Not to be abandoned by his true love, Wall-E attaches himself to the ship and takes an interstellar journey that culminates on one of the huge spaceships on which humanity now resides. As to the humans aboard, well, folks, the good news is that we are pampered from morning to night by every automated convenience that we could possibly imagine. We don't work. We don't need money. We have no conflicts. We have everything we want to eat and drink at any time we want it and are whisked everywhere on cushy recliners. The bad news? We have all become so fat that we literally can't even walk! It is on that ship that the rest of the film plays out as Wall-E and Eve strive to rouse humanity from its hedonistic trance and encourage us to take our first steps (literal and metaphoric) towards the renewal of our species. WALL-E is beyond dazzling to watch. To say that it's an animated film is somewhat like saying redwoods are just trees. That oceans are just bodies of water. Or that the sky is just, well, whatever. I have never seen or even imagined that computer-generated images could look or feel like this. As I marveled at the visual wonders of each frame of film, it occurred to me that the images were not really computer-generated. They were born of the human artists who program the images. In a strange, beautiful way, both WALL-E's story and technology wrap us in the warmth of knowing that our humanity can indeed surpass and transcend our technology. The film also shows us how self-indulgent we have become as a species and how we can, and must, reverse that trend. For those reasons alone, it is an inspiring, uplifting experience and a bracing and beautiful change from so many of the films of the past several years. And, as we experience the film's wisdom and wonder, we never forget that WALL-E is also a poignant, warmhearted, and endearing romantic comedy. It's not just "take a seat, R2D2/ C3PO." It's "Move over, Romeo and Juliet!" WALL-E (the latest film from the inestimably brilliant Pixar Studios) has so much on its mind, in its heart, and in its vision that you truly need to experience the film for yourself. No, not yourself. Take your whole family. Your whole neighborhood. Everyone you know. Everyone you don't know. Just go!! It just may reinvigorate your hope not only for movies, but also for our own humanity. Stephen Simon co-founded www.spiritualcinemacircle.com and produced such films as SOMEWHERE IN TIME and WHAT DREAMS MAY COME. He also directed and produced both CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD and INDIGO and is the author of THE FORCE IS WITH YOU: MYSTICAL MOVIES MESSAGES THAT INSPIRE OUR LIVES. Body & Soul: Diana & Kathy is part of the Spiritual Cinema Circle DVD collection in May, 2008. For more information please visit www.spiritualcinemacircle.com. SPIRITUAL CINEMA CIRCLEKUNG FU PANDA "Kung Fu Panda," in theaters now, is a CG-animated comedy about a lazy, irreverent slacker panda, Po, who must somehow become a Kung Fu Master in order to save the Valley of Peace from a villainous snow leopard, Tai Lung. Set in the legendary world of ancient China, this is the story of Po, our unlikely hero, who enters the rigid world of Kung Fu and turns it upside down. Po ultimately becomes a Kung Fu hero by learning that if he believes in himself, he can do anything and that his greatest weaknesses turn out to be his greatest strengths. HARRY POTTER 6 The movie of Book 6: "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince" will be released on November 21. The decision was made that the final book in the series, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow," would be released in two parts, one in November 2010 and the second part in May 2011. The reasoning is that the final book in the series "is packed with vital plot points that complete the story arcs of all of its beloved characters. That said, we feel that the best way to do the book, and its many fans, justice is to expand the screen adaptation of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" and release the film in two parts." David Yates will direct. He also directed both the "Order of the Phoenix" and the "Half-Blood Prince." TRY IT ON EVERYTHING FOLLOW UP "Try It On Everything!" is a documentary, released earlier this year, that explores EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), a healing tool based on the body's subtle energy systems and meridians. It is, in large part, a visual exploration of the work done by Gary Craig and the thousands of people using the technique. The film was made with a group of people who benefitted from the technique and much of it was filmed at Steve Munn's Clear Point Center in Stafford. If you have seen the film you'll be interested in an update of how the participants are doing six month later. Cath up with them at www.tryitoneverything.com/the_story_continues.html. PASS IT ON One of the criticisms of "The Secret" was that it didn't have practical examples of how to put the Law of Attraction to work in your life. "Pass It On" seeks to rectify this oversight by having the presenters explain the nuts and bolts of how the Law of Attraction works and how we can apply these principles in our daily lives. "Pass It On" de-mystifies the Law of Attraction and explains how the energy we exert in our daily lives can and will return to us. Released in 2007 you can see the trailer at www.passitontoday.com. SPIRITUAL WARRIORS "Spiritual Warriors" is the story of a misguided actor, who meets a mysterious elderly man, claiming to know him from the past, who convinces him become his student and prepares him to fight the evil power of darkness that threatens the world. Includes past life experiences and a journey to Egypt. Not in theaters, but is being shown at spiritual cinema venues. See trailer at www.spiritualwarriors.com. ASTRO 12 "Astro 12" will be the first audiovisual series to make the connection between astrology and personal development, using spirituality, mythological and human archetypes as its primary focus. This series also singles out the relationship between the zodiac signs used in Western astrology and other esoteric traditions such as those found in the Kabbalah, yoga, mythology, chakras, alchemy, and tarot cards, among others. It is a collaboration with the website Astrology.com and the full series is entitled, "Astro 12: The Collection & Other Esoteric Traditions." The series, about personal growth and spiritual evolution, will be the first of its kind to hit the commercial market and will be released this fall in time for the holiday season. It will offer a wealth of material, including 12 episodes, 5 music CDs, a book, downloadable wireless content, and various other complementary products. Much of this material will be available on Astrology.com, a website owned by a subsidiary of NBC Universal, Inc. MICHAEL MOORE'S NEXT FILM Michael Moore's next film will be a searing and provocative follow up to his groundbreaking 2004 documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11;" which was Moore's view on what happened to the United States after September 11; and how the Bush Administration allegedly used the tragic event to push forward its agenda for unjust wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Moore has made three of the top five highest-grossing documentaries of all time including "Fahrenheit 9/11," "Sicko" and "Bowling for Columbine." He has also written and starred in the TV shows "TV Nation" and "The Awful Truth," both of which established his trademark style of presenting serious documentaries in humorous and engaging ways. As with all of Moore's projects, the subject matter of the new film is being kept under wraps by all the principals. The film is scheduled for release in 2009. The Spiritual Cinema column is written by Jon Roe, who can be reached at (860) 875-4101 or Jon.Roe@comcast.net. He publishes the Conscious CT website (www.consciousct.org), which focuses on holistic activity East of the River in the Hartford area. The website includes a Spiritual Cinema section (www.consciousct.org/spirituality/movies.htm) with information that supplements this column. |