Movie Review of Gattaca and Wall-e

Many humans have tried to predict the future of humanity. While the predictions of futurism are often vastly different, they often have a similar underlining. The feature films Gattaca and WALL-Ediffer in regards to the current state of the Earth, the physicality of humans, and the mentality of humans, but converge on the idea of a hopeful future for the human race.

While the current state of the Earth in Gattaca is sophisticated and spotless, the humans in WALL-E had to depart from their Earthly home because it had become so filthy. The populous and modern atmosphere in Gattaca is present through the bustling buildings, equipment, and precision showcased throughout the film. The buildings, especially at the Gattaca Aerospace Corporation as well as Vincent and Jerome’s home portray a world of clean lines, unblemished surfaces, and order. This order is seen through the precise arrangement of occupied desks and the DNA checkpoint at Gattaca. Similar to Gattaca, order is present in WALL-E by the fluorescent pathways on the floor that individual’s hover chairs travel across while aboard the Axiom. However, this order on the Axiom is juxtaposed by the immense filth still present on Earth. While the uninhabited Earth is filled with trash, the humans have left the Earth while small robots clean the Earth’s surface for them. Gattaca and WALL-E share a similar use of order; however, futurism in regards to the physical Earth in Gattaca is bustling and polished while WALL-E is vacant and filthy.

The future physicality of humans in Gattaca isevolving positively while the future physicality of the humans in WALL-E is deteriorating due to humans being obese and unable to function without the use of a hover chair. The humans in Gattaca were mostly conceived using eugenics; making a vast majority nearly biologically perfect. To ensure that these humans were biologically perfect, their parents used eugenics to ensure that their offspring would acquire traits that they deemed desirable (Parker 2). This perfection is seen through the regulation of DNA samples and athletic testing to track an individual’s heartbeat. Unlike the humans in Gattaca, the humans in WALL-E have lost bone mass while aboard the Axiom. As a result, these humans are not equipped to walk, let alone stand on their own two feet. Due to this lack of bone mass, humans rely on hover chairs to transport and physically support them. The futurism of physically differs between the two films: Gattaca boasts biological perfection while WALL-E presents biological decay.

The two films differ in future human mentality: while the humans of Gattaca are well educated and social, but segregated, the humans of WALL-E appear to have lost all interest in academic or social affairs. There are two types humans portrayed in Gattaca; valids and in-valids. The in-valids are outcast from society; unable to obtain careers, lifestyles, or relationships of their choice. Rather, they must complete the unwanted tasks of the valids, such as janitors, or even become homeless. While some parents chose to conceive a child out of love, other opted to insure their child’s future by using eugenics. Even though Vincent ultimately gained happiness and achieved his dream of going to outer space, others were not as fortunate and remained in a dehumanized state. In contrast to Gattaca, the humans of WALL-E are not segregated, bur rather, live peacefully with one another. However, these future humans do not physically interact. Instead, these individuals rely on their personal digital screens to provide them with entertainment and information. Due to these personal screens, men and women fail to notice their surroundings, including a large swimming pool in the middle of the Axiom. Similar to their oblivion, these humans seem to take no interest in education or ingenuity. This society has been repeating the same daily routine for over seven-hundred years with no alterations. This lack of change highlights the lack of mental ability within the population. This lack of mental ability is carried throughout the social interaction onboard the Axiom. Men and women video chat on their personal screens, but no one seems to physically interact. This deterioration of academic and social dexterity showcases the deterioration of future humans. By the difference in human societies, Gattaca and WALL-E contrast in their predictions of human mentality in the future.

While Gattacaand WALL-E differ in most aspects, they both possess a hopeful future for mankind. At the end of Gattaca, Dr. Lamar implies that he always knew that Vincent was an in-valid. However, as Dr. Lamar’s own son is valid, but not all that was promised, he expresses how he hopes his son will break past adversity just as Vincent has. This fault in eugenics and Vincent’s ability to overcome it shows how genetics can only determine a portion of an individual’s life (Parker 3). Similar to Gattaca, the humans from WALL-E eventually fly back to Earth with hopes to restore the beauty that once was. This newfound interest in Earth conveys a positive outlook on the future. The two films differ in many aspects, but at the end of the film, they both offer hope and favorable outlooks on the future of humanity.

Many individuals have attempted the futurism of mankind. The theories of futurism offer unique and different possibilities, buthave a similar features. The filmsGattaca and WALL-Econtrast concerning the current state of the Earth, the physicality of humans, and the mentality of humans, but converge on the idea of a hopeful future for humanity.