1. Evidence
Captain McCrea: Well, good morning, everybody, and welcome to day 255,642 aboard the Axiom. As always, the weather is a balmy 72 degrees and sunny, and, uh. Oh, I see the ship's log is showing that today is the 700th anniversary of our five year cruise. Well, I'm sure our forefathers would be proud to know that 700 years later we'd be doing the exact same thing they were doing. So, be sure next mealtime to ask for your free sep-tua-centennial cupcake in a cup. Wow, look at that.
Analysis
The Captain of the Axiom highlights the society-induced repetitiveness and cultural insensitivity to change. The blurb is an introduction to life on the ship and is almost an exaggerated contrast with the curiosity and authenticity of choice seen just before--the scenes on Earth. Almost pathetically, the captain does not seem to be sarcastic and truly believes this was the expected outcome. The viewer, meanwhile, sees an intentionally placed exposition to life on the ship that paints a clear conflict of ideas. All in all, the quote suggests that a lack of authentic choice leads to indifferent and eventually mundane, ignorant lives
2. Evidence
Captain McCrea: Haha! Look what I got, AUTO!
Auto: Not possible.
Captain McCrea: That's right, the plant. Oh, you want it? Come and get it, blinky
Analysis
The fight between McCrea and Auto juxtaposes authentic choice and following protocol which was simply handed to Auto. The plant, symbolic of branching out and finding new paths, is the object of desire. McCrea fights for it, and Auto wants to destroy it. Again, Auto is following protocol, which represents inauthentic choice. This quote also comes from a fight scene, underscoring the nature of the conflict between two very opposite ideas. Eventually, McCrea grabs Auto, turns hims off, and engages into manual mode. The movie, in this particular scene, goes sof ar as to suggest a winner in the conflict. Therefore; the quote shows the all to familiar conflict existential ideas have with ideas, such as rules, that have been a part of culture since beginning of human society. It also suggests that in the conflict, authentic ideas will win over inauthentic choice.
3. Evidence
AUTO: Sir, orders are do not return to Earth.
Captain: But life is sustainable now. Look at this plant. Green and growing. It's living proof he was wrong.
AUTO: Irrelevant, Captain.
Captain: What? It's completely relevant. Out there is our home. HOME*, Auto. And it's in trouble. I can't just sit here and-and-do nothing. That's all I've ever done! That's all anyone on this blasted ship has ever done. Nothing!
Analysis
The captain believes a life which he feels is authentic would be better and shows the spread of the existential ideals among the human population. The captain wanting to disobey "orders" shows how he wants to break free from societal pressures and how he wants to live a new, authentic life, where he can consult himself first before resorting to following orders. For all their lives, the people of ship had never worried about not truly making their own decisions, and had no concern for the future. Tehy had been okay with life that repeats itself everyday for the duration of their existence. By the time the ship reaches Earth, all the passengers of the ship are exited about walking for the first time, growing more plants, and recolonization.The captain and the thousands of humans in the ship break free from oppressive culture, thereby showing how humanity as a whole is now ready to live a real, authentic life, and more importantly, choose it over a life of following what everyone else has been doing.
4. Evidence
EVE: Directive?
[WALL-E demonstrates his trash-compacting function]
WALL.E: Ta-dah!
EVE: Ohhh...
WALL.E: Dirrrrr-ect-tivvve?
EVE: Directive?
[WALL-E nods]
EVE: [Eve turns away, sharply] Classified.
WALL.E: Oh.
Analysis
WALL-E trying to pronounce new words shows how he is trying to break free from the mundane existence typically lived by robots like him, and how he is trying to do something above the capacity of a typical robot. He and all other robots like him were originally only capable of saying “Wall-E,” and WALL-E learning to say more embodies the existential essence of the film.