DIRECTOR'S CUT: Therapist Reacts to WALL-E
Added 2024-01-08 16:00:11 +0000 UTCWhy is curiosity so important? How do we stop being complacent?
Licensed therapist Jonathan Decker and filmmaker Alan Seawright are reacting to WALL-E and comparing and contrasting curiosity and complacency. Jonathan talks about how WALL-E’s contagious curiosity affects everyone he meets and shakes them out of complacency. He also explains why curiosity is so important for our mental health. Alan is in awe of Pixar’s filmmaking and storytelling expertise in conveying so much with so few words. Pixar is so good that he’s kind of upset. Damn you, Pixar!
Comments
They did such a good job of making him sympathetic.
Cinema Therapy
2024-12-27 17:36:15 +0000 UTCIm supposed to be laughing why do I feel so sorry for Walle when he gets hurt at the start?
Roknad Hornadl
2024-12-27 01:36:45 +0000 UTCTechnically speaking removing trash is too licrative to pile Up that much. Unless BnL trashed the Planet on purpose, to create demand for their cruiseships
Roknad Hornadl
2024-12-27 01:23:41 +0000 UTCBetween this and Elemental, I desperately need more Pixar love stories because both of those movies are phenomenal!
Sunny Solstice
2024-10-11 01:08:37 +0000 UTCSo freaking good. There's a reason this is the only movie I have downloaded on my phone
levi duppong
2024-09-12 17:43:15 +0000 UTCAll the feels with this one. I remember watching this with my nephew when it was first released when he was three, and it was the first movie that saved me from his never-ending demands of watching Elmo in Grouchland. Don't get me wrong, I love Mandy Patinkin, but I was so relieved to have a break from "Make it Mine" lol.
SaucyJTD
2024-04-27 20:44:22 +0000 UTCWall-E is an absolutely adorable movie. I love him and “Ee-va” so f*king much. Also you two just make me laugh. “Chaunting” 🤣🤣🤣
Meg W.
2024-04-20 20:40:17 +0000 UTCYou guys need to watch film theory’s episode on how they all survived so long
Tyler Cozzubbo
2024-03-12 17:49:37 +0000 UTCI don't think people are meant to look fat, I think they are supposed to look like babies. They are waking up for life for the first time and experimenting everything for the first time. They are a bunch of chubby babies, some old, some young but all babies.
Carolina Silva
2024-02-20 13:42:37 +0000 UTCI laughed and cried with you this whole episode 🖤
Omen the Black Cat
2024-02-08 12:38:20 +0000 UTCAccurate, haha!
Cinema Therapy
2024-01-18 15:46:18 +0000 UTCAlan, I too have spent my life telling people “My emotions get too big and then escape out of my eyes” as I cry
Shalah Kay
2024-01-16 22:36:21 +0000 UTCThis must have been the last recording of the session. You guys are running wild.
Michael Emerson
2024-01-14 15:48:55 +0000 UTCWe all die a little bit when we get too complacent... this really smacks me today. I recently had this realization in myself. Safety is beautiful but too much means you stagnate...
Nova Villmark
2024-01-12 21:39:51 +0000 UTCNow that remember I need psychology of the auto pilot wheel bot
Red MafiaPanda
2024-01-12 11:15:13 +0000 UTCMan, that’s so interesting because recently I’ve had a renaissance of having a good time at my house, practicing my art, and exploring books instead of being out all the time haha. Parallel lives. I’m glad to hear you’re excited about change. I think that’s awesome!
bread michael
2024-01-12 04:26:42 +0000 UTCWhenever I see Buy n Large, I think of Amazon.
Hannah Vaughn
2024-01-11 16:45:27 +0000 UTCWhen you guys were at DragonCon did you see the WALL-E with all the droids? He's adorable!
Amy Robinson
2024-01-11 14:58:13 +0000 UTCWall-E is hands down, from my point of view at least, the epitome on perfection in cinema. There is no point in the movie that is not profound. It skirts sensitive issues while not crossing any lines and is the definitive masterclass in visual storytelling. There are certain movies I hold dear that I cannot watch often, because the effect watching them has on me is so profound. Wall-E is one of them. Ten out of ten, two thumbs up, this film is embodiment of movie magic.
Danial McCoy
2024-01-11 04:51:30 +0000 UTCI’m with Alan Seawright I was absolutely balling my eyes out wholesomeness makes me cry “ Damn you Pixar “ 🥺 my god perfection Pixar 👌 , Alan that was mean of you but hilarious as hell 🤣 you definitely broke Jono 🥴☮️💚
☮️🪬Sonar IllusionFox🪬☮️
2024-01-10 21:12:03 +0000 UTCWhen Pixar released A Bugs Life on DVD, one of the audio tracks was sound effects only; no movie, no dialogue. It was fascinating. I believe that was Gary Rydstrom who did that one. There are two science-fiction critiques I have that always bug me when I watch WALL*E. One is, they could not survive by shoveling all that trash into space, even on a big luxury liner style space ship. Without recycling, they would run out of resources over the span of the voyage. Two, presumably the ship has artificial gravity. Spinning the wheel should not have caused the whole ship to "tilt" against gravity and making everyone slide across the deck into one wall. (And if it did... didn't the water stay in the pool?) That aside, this is nearly a perfect movie from Pixar's prime.
Michael Charboneau
2024-01-10 19:49:51 +0000 UTCAnother great therapy and filmmaking session with you two! Complacency really is what will bring about our own demise, and curiously will NOT kill us. It brings us joy in discovery of what is to come, and making the unknown known is what drives us towards the future. Thank you for the reminder to always keep seeking and being curious. To those out there who say this movie fat-shames people: you’re definitely projecting some deeeeeeeep insecurities about yourself onto the movie, and I hope you get a better understanding of the movie through this analysis by Jonathan.
Hikari Yamato
2024-01-09 23:27:51 +0000 UTCDammit, #cryingwithalan
Hikari Yamato
2024-01-09 23:15:12 +0000 UTCMy buddy threatened to kick me out of his house when I told him the end of Your Name was when the meteor hit the town.
Vanille’s lost hearing aids
2024-01-09 21:30:40 +0000 UTCSame! When have we ever seen a movie where all the people are good and warm and fat and delightful! I love them all!
Amelia from the BitchenBoutique
2024-01-09 20:36:48 +0000 UTCI relate to this movie so hard on a level I never did before. Over the past year with my steady job that I love where I can work from home that pays enough for me to cover my bills, I never really had to worry about much of anything and I never left the house except to buy groceries and I started to feel really... melancholic. I realized that complacency sucks, but I still couldn't really do anything about it. And now I've lost that job, I should be even MORE sad and also kind of panicking, but, honestly, I'm kind of excited about what new opportunities this could bring, which is kind of crazy to think about.
Lightning Dragon Master
2024-01-09 19:10:50 +0000 UTCI don't feel like the film is fatphobic, because as a fat person I didn't feel like I was being mocked or made the butt of a joke. It was just... yeah this is what would happen. But there's no morality placed on their weight, they're still able to be (quite easily) good people when they're shaken out of their complacency, and I like that.
Magnus Taliesin
2024-01-09 17:50:26 +0000 UTCNot gonna lie, my favorite part was the bit about Costco because who hasn't felt that way? And the hotdogs ARE super cheap, especially for the quality!
Demi
2024-01-09 13:06:20 +0000 UTCThe fact that this movie was pre-smartphones, yet accurately portrayed our gadget addiction is frightening
Olga Makarova
2024-01-09 08:46:42 +0000 UTCI was a couple months away from eight years old when this movie came out, and I very vividly remember the very first time I saw it. I rarely remember the first time I see movies, but this made such a huge impact on me at the time that it stuck with me. This movie is the reason why curiosity and unspoken communication fascinates me so much. This movie is the reason why I'm so aware of the world around me, it's also the reason why I'm a hopeless romantic. It's a gorgeous movie with an even more beautiful story
Opal Evergreen
2024-01-09 06:05:23 +0000 UTCI was just coming to say the same thing! When she leans in to him with her sorrow that the Wall-E she knew isn't there and that little spark happens, the CONNECTION happens, and he wakes up...makes me cry every time
Draktheon
2024-01-09 02:47:38 +0000 UTCFunny how you mention that Walle is similar to a cat, and I have to agree, as my first pet growing up was a cat, and we chose to name him Walle, after the robot in this film. Also, this is a movie I've rewatched as well in my environmental science classes, for some reasons that are self-explanatory.
Blitz Cam
2024-01-09 02:39:31 +0000 UTCI liked the trivia about WALL E’s sounds being from the same person who did R2-D2! Regarding the claim that this movie has elements of fat phobia… I think it helps to ask the question, “is this fat neutral?” I think it’s hard to make the argument that the movie is fat neutral because, given the dystopian context, the implication is that one of the downsides of a complacent society is fatness. I also think the humans are animated in a such a way that makes them all look like large babies, which is kind of cute, but also infantilizing 🫤
Milena Fox
2024-01-09 02:02:58 +0000 UTCI remember there being commentary when this movie came out surrounding the lack of dialogue in the beginning and how no one would watch something like that. Not only were they wrong, but the emotional response to Wall-e’s sacrifice is up there with Up’s opening for a lot of people. The environmental message of the film didn’t surprise me, but the representation of positive masculinity in an opposites attract relationship involving robots felt like it came out of nowhere. I’ve loved Wall-e since I saw it in the theaters, and I think Wall-e, EVE, and M-O deserve all of the love and adoration they get. 💙 love this choice
Jimmy Danielle
2024-01-09 00:21:49 +0000 UTCLoved this episode! Also, I just want to share some appreciation for the random funny banter at the very beginning of the show when the movie/show hasn’t been announced yet! Keep those up Alan, they’re awesome
Cam R
2024-01-08 22:34:05 +0000 UTCI'm surprised you didn't mention what I think is one of the *most* incredible emotion-through-animation moments...after Eve repairs Wall-E and he's back to his original programming, we are completely heartbroken. Then the moment of his eyes softening when he remembers Eve. , that depiction of "thank God, he's still Wall-E!" and the immense relief through the simple animation of just a pair of lightbulbs rotating. Damn you Pixar. I'm not crying, you're crying. I just have allergies.
Jennifer Sherman
2024-01-08 21:45:04 +0000 UTCThis had such “sleep-deprived 6th grader best friends at 3:00 am at the sleepover” energy and I adored every moment. Your joy and passion are infectious. Great episode! P.S. i don’t know what I did to make Jono so angry but I’ll do better next time
Nicole Colombatto
2024-01-08 20:34:43 +0000 UTCMy introduction to Wall-E was that teaser trailer, which showed nothing about "robo-romance," and instead told that story about the napkin notions that led to Bug's Life, Monsters Inc, and Finding Nemo, and then the last one, their concepts for a story about a robot, and then it showed little scene of Wall-E doing his compactor stuff, then looking up at the stars. In my worst moments, I try to find time to look up at the stars too, and remember that no matter how big and terrible my personal problems feel to me, from a larger perspective, they aren't nearly as dire.
Wren Teslok
2024-01-08 19:47:23 +0000 UTC“We die when we get complacent….” woah that’s powerful, that hit me hard.
Andrew Kershaw
2024-01-08 19:16:50 +0000 UTCLoved this episode! Loved the editing 😂 Now I have to rewatch WALL·E again 🥰
Victoria Hudson
2024-01-08 18:54:50 +0000 UTCAgreed. If anyone picked up fatphobic, it was probably a trigger.
Angie
2024-01-08 18:50:55 +0000 UTCI do not think the movie is fatphobic - no one is belittled or shamed, and the people, once removed from the corporate influence, are lovely.
Allaina Humphreys
2024-01-08 18:36:50 +0000 UTCI saw it about 12 or more years ago as teenager and didn't like it that much. I rewatched it just now so I'd know what this episode is about and it made me cry, thank you for making me rewatch it. Don't know if movie is fatphobic but either way I like it and I'm lazy and have a hobbit bod so I can
BlackAdder
2024-01-08 18:17:41 +0000 UTCThis might be my favourite episode you’ve done yet
Pam Jackson
2024-01-08 18:12:23 +0000 UTCOne thing I love about Wall-E (aside from basically everything else) is that when you turn on subtitles, it actually DOES tell you what the characters are saying! Wall-E saying "pathetic..." after he was trying to practice his romantic gestures while on the Axiom is both cute and hilarious. 🥰
Metronoid
2024-01-08 18:01:24 +0000 UTCThat prank really got me! 😂
Sean Goettsche
2024-01-08 17:46:08 +0000 UTCI loved this episode so much, Wall-E is one of my favorite movies of all time 🙏 on the subject of machines, I’m curious if y’all would ever look at Infinity Train! I know y’all don’t do shows often, and it’s a lesser known cartoon due to a sudden cancellation, but it’s a concept I’d like to see y’all both discuss. I’d be interested in seeing John’s thoughts on a almost entity like being forcing people to solve their own problems, and wether it’s a good or bad thing
BlindEyiezz Z
2024-01-08 17:35:35 +0000 UTCI was sobbing at the end of this movie after revisiting it as an adult. It's a timeless gemstone of a film that teaches everyone so much, and I hope to one day love someone as much as Wall-E and Eve love each other. 😊
Metronoid
2024-01-08 17:24:48 +0000 UTCI haven’t seen this movie all the way through ,,, 🥴 am I in for a treat ?? 😅 someone plug the leak in Alan’s tear ducts it’s a Pixar movie the CT studio is gonna flood 🥴 looking forward to seeing this episode guys 😉☮️💚
☮️🪬Sonar IllusionFox🪬☮️
2024-01-08 17:12:27 +0000 UTCAnother comment: do you guys think that Wall-E is inspired by the society portrayed in Farenheit 451? I find both visions very similar. No direct talks, not wanting to know how things work.... Not searching for answers to questions, no questions allowed about the system.... It is what it is and that's it.
Dorikuu Garcia
2024-01-08 16:55:23 +0000 UTCI loved WALL-E when it first came out, but haven't had a chance to revisit it in a long time. Was so much fun being in awe of Pixar's pure genius together!
Panko213
2024-01-08 16:53:41 +0000 UTCTroll 2? No. Trolls 2? Also, probably no. 😂 I really enjoyed this episode. I remember having a general opposition to seeing the movie in the first place because my dad thought the title was so funny that he kept saying “Wall. Eeeee” but we all loved it once we actually saw it. I need to watch it again with my kids, I think they’re old enough to understand it now. -Erin
Stefan and Erin S
2024-01-08 16:46:28 +0000 UTCI love Wall-E! Is my fav Pixar movie! I had one sales representative from the company I worked that told me I this was the perfect movie for me because I am like the daughter between Wall-E and Eve: adorable, kind hearted, responsible, and with a deadly gaze and mood if necessary. After that I received 4 different Wall-E collectibles from people in the office that agreees with him xD I love this so much. Thank you for doing this review of characters and what we can learn from the movie!!!!
Dorikuu Garcia
2024-01-08 16:34:33 +0000 UTCOh my, now I'm going to have to view the non-Patreon regular release just to see if Alan's description made the cut 😂
Angie
2024-01-08 16:27:14 +0000 UTCI haven't seen this yet, but I am willing to put money on someone quoting THAT Ted Lasso line this episode 😂
William Stollery
2024-01-08 16:25:00 +0000 UTC
