Remember WALL-E

This holiday weekend, most movie-goers will be flocking to Men in Black III and The Avengers, blockbusters full to the brim of comic book nostalgia, humor, and plenty of explosions.  As for me, the movie I'm most excited to see today (in a planned triple feature) also happens to be my favorite movie of all-time: Pixar's 2008 masterpiece, WALL-E.

To celebrate the holiday, and in anticipation of Brave's forthcoming release, Pixar is re-releasing its last four best movies (Cars 2 not included) into AMC theaters.  Participating venues will host screenings of Ratatouille, Up, WALL-E, and Toy Story 3 this weekend, and while I'd gladly take in all of them, time is of the essence, and there are other movies calling my name, so I'll only attend the Hello, Dolly!-tuned beckoning of my beloved robot friend.

I usually see Pixar movies on opening day, but for whatever reason, WALL-E was an exception.  I saw it within the week or so after it released, having heard raves from friends and family who had seen it and watched as a mountain of glowing reviews accumulated.  It sounded so odd: a partially silent robot romance.  I went in with hot anticipation, and I wasn't disappointed, though it was too much to take in all at once.

I left the theater knowing I had seen something really special.  The eerie quality of an abandoned Earth, the soaring score as EVE takes her majestic flight after landing, the adorably budding romance buoyed by Michael Crawford's peerless voice.  While looking to the distance future, WALL-E pays tribute to the cinematic pass, employing silent-era slapstick, innocent handhold-desiring romance that would've been perfectly acceptable in the Hays Code days, and songs from a much-maligned (but seriously good) big-screen adaptation of a beloved Broadway show. 

The strange melding of genres, the environmental message that is obvious but never heavy-handed, the memorable cast of characters - many of whom are Pokemon-like in their ability to only say their own names - all add up to a film that celebrates love in its purest form.  I've said it before and I'll say it again: WALL-E is the rare film that is both timely and timeless, a romance that defies expectation and, against all odds, makes you care about a relationship between two robots.

Today will be the sixth time I see my favorite movie on the big screen (I also saw Toy Story 3 in theaters six times, all in the first week), and I couldn't be happier.  Andrew Stanton's masterpiece has proved so moving, so inspiring to me, that he's the only person I've ever written a fan letter to, and he will forever have my devotion.  Yes, I loved John Carter.  So sue me.

If you find yourself wondering what to see this weekend, and you've already exhausted the quality new releases, treat yourself to seeing one of Pixar's greatest, and look forward to the release of another classic in the line-up in just a few short weeks.