WALL-E

I hate throwing this word around, but there's no other way to say it: This is a masterpiece.
Forget that it's animated, and forget the fact that you may be one of the only adults in a theater filled with children. No matter which way you slice it, this is an amazing achievement.
I've been a fan of Pixar for awhile, but not a fanatic like some people are. While some people declare every movie they've done to be exceptional, the only two Pixar movies I truly love are Toy Story and Monsters, Inc. Those are the ones that truly felt original; like something magical was happening. It's my feeling that every other Pixar film has varied in terms of quality, and while some were very good (Finding Nemo) others I would have been vary happy had they never been made (The Incredibles, which starts off nicely only to turn into a bland action movie). This film, however, is different. This film is what happens when creative artists have money and power: they do what they want.
A hugely successful company now on its ninth film, Pixar is now free (more or less) from the do-or-die mentality of normal studios, where every film's opening weekend spells life or death for a company. Free from these constraints, they've come up with a film that's both hugely ambitious and surprisingly simple. A film where about 90% of its running time consists of no dialogue (a huge gamble for a modern animated feature), but whose central themes are the most basic of all human emotion: Love, life, and humanity. For a modern film in any genre, this would be considered unusual, but all the more so for a $180 million dollar animated feature.
I won't bore you with long, rambling thoughts about the film or its creation. I'll only tell you this: The best way to see this movie is to not view it as the new Pixar film, or even an animated film. View it on its own merits. A little movie called E.T. opened in 1982 and has always been seen, even by people who enjoy it, as a kids' film. I don't. I think it's one of the best films ever made, because of the pure emotion and unadulterated magic that radiates from it. It's because of that magic that it appeals to kids. It's a similar thing with this film. An open heart and an open mind are the only prerequisites needed to see this movie. Leave your cynicism at the door. Prepare to be dazzled, delighted, and moved by a simple, beautiful tale.