Just saw Ratatouille!!

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 6/12/07 at 1:56am

This isn't much of a formal review--just my quick thoughts after seeing the latest Disney/Pixar film, Ratatouille (I have to brag to someone). I apologize for any spelling and grammar errors, I wrote this very quickly.

It was great! The audience was laughing and clapping the entire time (granted, everyone in the audience personally sought out tickets for this preview, so they were most likely all die-hard fans).

**potential spoilers***


First, what I loved:
The art design for this movie is beautiful. The color palette and lighting just felt very "French" and gave the film a certain dreamy quality (as you could probably tell from the trailers). The character work was phenomenal, particularly with Remy. His character was able to say so much with the simplest gestures and subtlest movements. It was impossible not to love him, he was adorable. The animation of the scampering rats, the delectible food, the panoramic view of Paris--it was all just amazing. The movie was very funny, but I feel like I need to see it again to catch all the jokes, because the movie FLEW BY. I really liked that about it. It was sentimental and sweet without dwelling on those moments too much (sometimes I felt like Cars got boring because it took so much time during the sentimental moments). The action is fast and the story finds it groove very quickly. It didn't have as many laugh-out-loud moments for me the way, say, Finding Nemo did. But like all the Pixar classics, it was beautifully animated, funny, cleverly crafted, and endlessly entertaining. It had an endearing timelessness to it that I think puts it very much in the realm of the great Disney classics. I think it will still be adored years from now, where as Cars may begin to feel a little bit "of its time," as it gave way to pop-culture jokes a la Shrek (not saying that's a bad thing, just saying that, down the line, it may give the film a somewhat cheaper feel). Anyway, I won't dote on the good, because rest assured, it is another Pixar classic (if anyone has any specific questions, I'd love to answer).

the Bad:

Like I already mentioned, it didn't have as many clever one-liners and character inside jokes as the other Pixar films...but ultimately, this is ok to me, because it had great physical comedy and can be seen as more of a work of art than a long stream of jokes (though it would have been nice if a couple of the chefs or rats could have had quirkier individual characteristics--like Edna Mode, Rex, Heymlich (sp?), Mater, Dory, etc).

Sometimes, it was hard to understand what was said because of the accents (particularly the character Collette).

Besides those things, I really can't complain much. Although I loved Cars, this film was a breath of fresh air, as it steered clear of the puns and pop-culture references of Cars and the Shreks (again, not that they are all bad...I just think it is an acheivment that a film can be funny, endearing, and gripping without being entirely of its time).

[pab]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 10:58am

This movie is getting great reviews

Updated On: 6/29/07 at 10:58 AM

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 11:26am

I saw it and I couldn't agree more with the NY Times: "'Ratatouille' is a nearly flawless piece of popular art, as well as one of the most persuasive portraits of an artist ever committed to film. It provides the kind of deep, transporting pleasure, at once simple and sophisticated, that movies at their best have always promised."

I didn't miss the one-liners at all. Glad they are gone.

[Calvin]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 11:43am

Even that guy who thought the penguins movie was a homo lovefest liked this one! He thinks it teaches children the greatness of capitalism.
Screwball talks

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 12:49pm

94% on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 100% from the Cream of the Crop

Updated On: 6/29/07 at 12:49 PM

[AnnaK<3LMIP]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 1:07pm

Mmmmm my mummy makes the best Ratatouille. Yummy.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 1:08pm

I actually really want to see this film It looks charming and funny.

[iHeartMyGeek]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 1:11pm

Am I the only one who's kind of sick of seeing hese kind of cookie-cutter kids films from Disney/Pixar that keep coming out? Maybe I just don't know becuase I honestly haven't seen one in a really long time, but it seems like they're just kind of throwing them out ther one after the other now. I could be completely off-base, though.

[CostumeMistress]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 1:12pm

I'm seeing it this weekend with a gal pal. Can't wait!!!

[mirramar]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 1:28pm

I feel like the best movies I've seen over the past several years were all animated! I can't wait to see Ratatouille, I'm expecting good things!

[Pippin]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 1:39pm

Geek, I know what you are saying, but I think that the majority of people get all those schlocky dreamworks cartoons (madagascar, surf's up, shark's tale) and so on confused with one of the most amazing film companies to ever make movies.

The name Pixar means quality, and I have seen every film that they have done
Toy story 1 and 2
a bug's life
finding Nemo
Cars
the Incredibles
Monster's inc.

and all these movies have been unanimously praised by critics (for the most part) and audiences alike.

Pixar is in a completely different realm of filmaking than all the other studios who put out pop culture crap. The two grande fromages over at pixar, John Lasseter and Brad Bird, always put the story first, and don't need to rely on pop references and childish fart humor to make their movies entertaining. That's what puts Pixar apart. most movie companies are all style over substance, but Pixar manages to utilize both of those and sync them amazingly together, never sacrificing one for the other.

so far, they have been 7 for 7, and now it looks like they can add yet another entertaining, classy film to thier resume.

so all that is to say, please do not confuse Pixar with all of that other crap being churned out by second rate animation companies.

Updated On: 6/29/07 at 01:39 PM

[mirramar]

Posted: 6/29/07 at 2:57pm

I like a lot of stuff that Dreamworks has put out. Yes, they definitely have several movies that I've disliked/not seen, but between them and Pixar, a lot of great animated flicks have popped up in recent years.

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 6/30/07 at 11:35am

wouldnt it be cool if pixar re did the old classic disney movies like BATB and the TLK put them back in theatres-give them to a whole new generation.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 6/30/07 at 11:39am

No, it would not.

Leave well enough alone.

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 6/30/07 at 6:57pm

Pixar's caveat is "Story first" and it shows. I have yet to see a Pixar movie that I did not like in some way.

Having said that, I thought Ratatouille was utterly charming. The cast is outstanding, the design is probably the most breathtaking of all their films, and the story is a quietly sweet delight. Plus, Remy is so cute!

[The_Jackal2]

Posted: 6/30/07 at 8:44pm

I just saw the movie today, and I have to say I thought, especially as far as animated movies these days go, it was pretty darn brilliant. I have loved pretty much every Disney/Pixar movie and I think they do amazing work.

[Broadwaywest2]

Posted: 6/30/07 at 9:17pm

I saw the film as well. I thought it was absolutely brilliant. It avoided a lot of the cliches of recent normal animated fare. There were no stupid sidekicks, or pop culture toons. The film did not advertise it celebrity voices. The animation was just spectacular. This was hands down the most gorgeous film of pixar. It was a great script and story. And of course it had that "make me tear up moment" for me it was the end when ego was giving his review of the restaurant and he talks about man and the artist. I was tearing up, as an artist. Because it's very true. Is it me or does every pixar film seem to have that one moment that get's your choked up or teary eyed?

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 6/30/07 at 11:16pm

Oh yeah. Let's see if I can break it down:

Toy Story: When Buzz briefly achieves flight, only to fall all the way to the landing. The look on his face always gets me.

Toy Story 2: "When She Loved Me." I'm a mess after it every time. Actually, a lot in that movie gets me.

Monsters Inc: When Sully says goodbye to Boo, and then their reunion at the very end. "Kitty?" You're smiling through your tears!

Finding Nemo: Dory's speech: "I look at you and I'm...I'm home." And then when she says she doesn't want to forget and all Marlin says is "I'm sorry, Dory, but I do."

Ratatouille: The very end. I won't give spoilers, but it gives you warm fuzzies.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/30/07 at 11:54pm

Well, I saw it. A monumental visual achievement but way, way too long and simply not enough humor. First Pixar movie I've seen (and I haven't seen em all) where I found myself looking at my watch and wishing it would end already.

The short subject was great though.

[mominator]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 12:31am

Just got home and loved this movie. The short before was one iof their best.

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 12:34am

I think Toy Story 2 is one of the only good sequels out there.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 10:10am

Ratatouille! Makes me think of "La Cage Aux Folles"!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 4:58pm

It was great. The CGG were very realistic

It helped cheer up Mrs R for awhile

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 8:57pm

CGG?

[DAME]

Posted: 7/1/07 at 9:12pm

Just came from the movie. LOVED IT. See it on a big screen.