MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS, HILARIOUS SPOILERS…
Last night a group of us went to see WALL-E, and adorable story about humans who messed up planet earth and then get saved the robots who serve them. It inspired me to write a detailed post comparing an contrasting this newest Pixar movie with my favorite SciFi drama, Battlestar Galactica, an intriguing story of humans who messed up 12 planets and then get killed by the robots who serve them.
I know there are not enough of you who are yet completely enamored with BSG, and not everyone’s seen WALL-E, so apologies to everyone but the three of you who’ll know what I’m talking about. Because of that, and because it already feels like we should be on vacation, I’ll just do a summary of some differences and similarities that I noticed.
DIFFERENCES:
- The basics: WALL-E is a cartoon, BSG is live action
- Your bone structure is failing: WALL-E features people who have gotten fat from inactivity, BSG features people who box, but get fat anyway. And then get thin again over the course of a week or two.
- You have no sense of “go”: In WALL-E, humanity is forced to live on a space ship, with a seemingly unending supply of fuel. In BSG, they risk life and limb to find more fuel for the space ships on which they live.
- “Sucks” to be in the airlock, don’t it?: The moment of crisis in WALL-E involves the good guys having a brush with death via airlock. BSG has Laura Roslin, who’ll airlock you in a second if you look at her cross-eyed.
SIMILARITIES:
- Sexy Robots: BSG has number six, WALL-E has EVE.
- Oh my God, I was wrong / it was Earth all along: In BSG, we’re not exactly sure what happened to Earth yet, but it’s FUCKED. In WALL-E, the return to Earth still didn’t seem all that great. Who’s going to clean up those satellites?
- Feel art again: BSG has Kara Thrace and her special destiny: that nebulous painting she puts everywhere. WALL-E’s credits are like a crash course in art history and an epilogue.
- Gravity, like evolution is just a “theory”: The crew of BSG never seem to have trouble keeping their feet on the floor, despite spending the entire series in space. (Chalk that up to some amazing anti-gravity boots, even when they’re knocking boots?) At least the people in WALL-E float around on their fat behinds, as one would while living in space.
Any of the three of you think of anything else? As for the rest of you lot, I’ll be back with a more user-friendly post next time.
14 responses so far ↓
Dutchess of Kickball // July 2, 2008 at 9:46 am
Is there a correlation between BSG and the plant in Wall-E? Or do any of the characters names sound just like Riley when spoken by my niece?
Not really. Any of the plants we’ve seen in BSG are not central to the plot.
3carnations // July 2, 2008 at 9:56 am
Well, I saw Wall-E, but not Battlestar Gallactica, so I can’t contribute much to this conversation (yet I commented anyway).
Thanks for stopping by anyhow! Now go watch BSG.
Allie // July 2, 2008 at 11:52 am
Hahaha! Lee’s fatsuit drove me NUTS! It was ridiculous how fast he “dropped” the weight, but I was relieved when he did.
I just read this thing about how conservatives are all bunged up about Wall-E’s leftist message. Now I really want to see it.
There was basically no violence in WALL-E, so that’s probably why the conservatives didn’t like it.
Laurel // July 2, 2008 at 11:58 am
OMG.
OMG.
OMG.
This is the best post you have ever written, as I am one of the lucky three who love both BSG and WALL-E.
I would add that the commanders of both the Galactica AND the Axiom are free thinkers and not afraid to disobey and order for the good of the human race!
I hereby dedicate this post to you, then! Adama = Axiom Capitan!
Jennifer M. // July 2, 2008 at 12:18 pm
One difference is that the robots on BSG rebelled, consequently starting a massive war, hid out in space for decades and came back looking less like toasters and more like skin jobs and in an attempt to fulfill the Word of their monotheistic God, nuked 12 planets in an attempt to rid the universe of polytheistic humans.
WALL-E and Co . . . did not.
That’s one way to put it.
Adorable Girlfriend // July 2, 2008 at 12:43 pm
The Republicans are not liking you for seeing this snuff video…
http://www.amconmag.com/blog/2008/06/30/wall-es-conservative-critics/
Way to get it so terribly wrong, again, guys.
manager mom // July 2, 2008 at 1:17 pm
You know, I have yet to get into BSG. although I am a huge sci-fi geek who still mourns the cancellation of Buffy…
I loved me some Buffy, too! I think that makes you perfect for BSG viewing.
stefanie // July 2, 2008 at 1:44 pm
I’m not in those three, but I do agree we should be on vacation already!
It warms my heart that you could take at least one thing away from this post.
Deb on the Rocks // July 2, 2008 at 6:16 pm
I have no idea what you were talking about, but it sounded cool in that Nerd-Geek way I love.
Thanks!
nancypearlwannabe // July 2, 2008 at 8:30 pm
I haven’t seen Wall-E (yet!), but seriously: what the hell was up with Earth?!
For real! And we have to wait a whole summer until we find out? Unfair.
Sobe // July 2, 2008 at 10:37 pm
I didn’t read your blog. I was afraid of spoilers. But I wanted to say hi.
Well hi, yourself!
Chuckles // July 2, 2008 at 10:40 pm
*pushes glasses higher on his nose*
As a point of fact, the ships in Battlestar Galactica have gravity plating (whatever that is). The plating is mentioned in at least one episode, specifically a season four episode.
I figured I should have done some more research before committing that to print. I probably missed that line as I was so distracted by Gaius’s hair.
Adorable Girlfriend // July 5, 2008 at 5:43 am
What is Chuckles doing over here geeking it up?!!
xsquared // July 5, 2008 at 8:05 am
I’ve been avoiding reading this post, but now I’ve seen Wall-E. Great movie, and love your compare/contrast. How’s this:
Eve risks life and limb to bring the plant to the captain. Starbuck risks life and limb to bring the Arrow to the President.
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