I have next to no interest in food, cooking, the whole thing, so when I heard that Brad Bird, one of my favourite filmakers was giving me 2 hrs spent in a kitchen, thematically revolving the story around food, i was less than thrilled.

But the movie is brilliant. Clever script, wonderful use of film language. A triumph. Once again Mr. Bird brings home the bacon.

when i saw the first commercials for this movie I thought it would be another Disney film with your rise of the unlikely hero, then the downfall, then the crazy rise again, well, I was pleasently surprised at how great this film did that genre, I would dare call it one of my favorite Pixar films, everything about it was original, the script was extremely clever and the animations were top-notch

Oh hum...I enjoyed the movie, but I didn't find much original in the movie and in some ways it was too simple. I didn't find it intellectually or emotionally satisfying. It was an action movie with a food as a premise. I probably will look forward to No Reservations when it comes to food.

I'll stick with my fave five list:

Spirited Away (2001). An amazing contemporary Japanese animated movie fairy-tale. IMDb #42.

La Planete sauvage
(2004). The most delicious, socially relevant and dazzling uses of contemporary state of the art animated movies of the best. The brings home the art of the possible and captures the supreme essence of animation at its best. IMDb #73.

The Incredibles (1973). A predecessor to Spirited Away (2001), an animated fantasy of surrealistic proportions.

Finding Nemo (2003).

Sin City(2005). A great looking live action graphic novel adaptation that brings into virtual reality the animated character drama of the imaginary fifties of male violence, strong women, and big heart only slowed down by unnecessary attempt to fill the screen with too many storylines. [Reviewed 4/3/05]. IMDb #75.

I saw Ratatouille again yesterday and I still love it, everyone should watch it!

Well peeps, I broke down and saw this movie today. The animation was top notch, and the story was pretty cute, with a nice message. Overall, it was enjoyable.

However, I'm sticking with my earlier argument that Pixar seriously needs to break out their box story-wise. It still felt very formulaic to me. I'd love to see such a talented group of animators tackle a darker, more complex story free from the Disney-style moralizing.

I totally accept your interpretation, eric, and also appreciate what seems to be a thumbs up review, but maybe we can dig deeper if you say what the Disney-style moralizing is that you see in this movie which separates it from other, "non-moralizing" movies, such as Knocked Up.

quote:

Originally posted by mark f:
I totally accept your interpretation, eric, and also appreciate what seems to be a thumbs up review, but maybe we can dig deeper if you say what the Disney-style moralizing is that you see in this movie which separates it from other, "non-moralizing" movies, such as Knocked Up.

How about the whole "Don't steal" subplot? That was a little lame, since they were rats!

OK, but the Hero kept stealing!

quote:

ericg75 Posted 15 July 2007 06:51 PM

Well peeps, I broke down and saw this movie today. The animation was top notch, and the story was pretty cute, with a nice message. Overall, it was enjoyable.

However, I'm sticking with my earlier argument that Pixar seriously needs to break out their box story-wise. It still felt very formulaic to me. I'd love to see such a talented group of animators tackle a darker, more complex story free from the Disney-style moralizing.

Right on point!

How so? What would you have changed?

As our society ages, one of the most difficult issues that we will face is death. We had Bambi and her parents death. We have Snow White and a comatose person in perpetual death. Issues of love and tragedy. I know for a children's family movie, it's a delicate matter, but that's what great movies can do. I think American Tail has already provided us with discrimination and prejudice.

Personally, the quality of animation needs to be carefully judged as its a continuing moving target and too often the movie is rated on the brilliance of its special effects not on the storyline and acting itself. I thought the animation was great and the facial expressions aptly revealing a human range of features. I agree with ericg75 that a darker, more substantial family movie that incorporates themes of love and death, betrayal, and bravery and resilience would be a great step forward.

Now that I think of it - child abuse, sexual abuse, drug abuse, divorced parents, domestic violence...these issues faced by young children everyday are topics that need exposure in an age appropriate way - a comedy-drama animated feature that really has developmental theme for today's youth.

quote:

Originally posted by tabuno:
Personally, the quality of animation needs to be carefully judged as its a continuing moving target and too often the movie is rated on the brilliance of its special effects not on the storyline and acting itself.

I agree. I think I've said it before, but if these Pixar stories didn't have terrific animation backing them up, I don't think anyone would care about them. If you took the general story of Ratatouille (which is a bit of a bastardized Cyrano de Bergerac), and dropped in in a live action movie (minus the rats of course), there's no way it would be getting a 95 on Metacritic.

quote:

Originally posted by ericg75:
If you took the general story of Ratatouille (which is a bit of a bastardized Cyrano de Bergerac), and dropped in in a live action movie (minus the rats of course), there's no way it would be getting a 95 on Metacritic.

Much as I enjoyed the film, I think this is correct. I think it was charming, but, even if it becomes a "classic" animated feature, I doubt it's future as a "classic film."

quote:

We had Bambi and her parents death. We have Snow White and a comatose person in perpetual death. Issues of love and tragedy. I know for a children's family movie, it's a delicate matter, but that's what great movies can do..

Interestingly, I think many of the Disney films that we think of as the classics, have death, and parental abandonment as a central theme. Think of the early Disney films. Snow White, Bambi, Pinocchio, and countless others. There is at least one missing parent, or a parent killed, or separation from a parent or parent figure. This isn't, I don't think, unique to Disney. However, they were astute in exploring this theme, which I think is probably universal in childhood. Even crops up in Ratatouille. He gets separated from his father...

Regarding the screenplay of Ratatouille, I have two points to make.

1. The screenwriters branch of the Academy honored Brad Bird with a nomination for Best Original Screenplay for The Incredibles, which means that writers thought it was one of the five best original scripts of its year. I believe that Ratatouille will be similarly honored.

2. I realize that this wasn't actually suggested above, but in case I misunderstood, I'm happy that they didn't turn Ratatouille into Taxi Driver 2.

quote:

Originally posted by mark f:

2. I realize that this wasn't actually suggested above, but in case I misunderstood, I'm happy that they didn't turn Ratatouille into Taxi Driver 2.

Wait, an animated version of Taxi Driver using only animals!? It's a crazy idea, but it JUST. MIGHT. WORK!

Robert DeNiro: rat
Jodi Foster: little white mouse
Cybill Shepherd: little calico cat
Peter Boyle: basset hound
Harvey Keitel: weasel

quote:

Originally posted by mark f:
2. I realize that this wasn't actually suggested above, but in case I misunderstood, I'm happy that they didn't turn Ratatouille into Taxi Driver 2.

Hey mark, I think you're being a tad dramatic. Obviously, I'm not suggesting Pixar or Dreamworks make an animated Scorsese or Quentin Tarantino film. My biggest beef is that these movies is that they all seem to follow the same formula and rarely break out of that mold.

I realize that they're primarily kids' movies, but it's a bit insulting to kids to assume they won't enjoy anything that's not a lighthearted comedy following the same story arc.

I remember reading books as a kid that dug into much deeper themes than this. One that sort of came to mind (since we're talking about rats) is Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, which explores a few of the same ideas as Ratatouille (intelligent rodents, independence from humans) but has a much darker storyline. Death, violence, a murder plot, and use of the word "damn" almost got the '82 animated version, The Secret of NIMH, slapped with a PG rating.

Friendly question, eric. Rank these MOVIES: The Secret of NIMH, Watership Down and Ratatouille.

I'm leaving Fritz the Cat, Heavy Traffic, Coonskin, Akira, Urotsukidôji and Heavy Metal out of the equation for now, although feel free to include any/all of 'em.

Visually, Ratatouille would win, but I appreciate the darker, more mature stories in NIMH, and especially Watership Down. The latter has a level of sophistication rarely seen in children's films. You'd never see a film like that come out of an American Studio like Disney. And I sadly say this 30 years after the Brits made Watership Down.

The movie version of NIMH suffered from a good chunk of the book being axed in the adaptation, although I still think it's a more intriguing tale than Ratatouille. Also, Don Bluth's animation was pretty great for the time.

Heavy Metal and Fritz obviously aren't aimed at kids, so it's tough to compare them to Ratatouille. However, I wouldn't be opposed to the idea of a Pixar film for adults. Richard Linklater has shown recently, with Waking Life and A Scanner Darkly, that animation can be used effectively to tell adult stories.

I have no problem with an Adult Pixar film. That's why I love The Incredibles and Ratatouille!

I just don't see any reason to castrate a wonderful script to make it more "adult". I still have a tough time understanding what you, Tabuno, and kendo think are somehow "immature" and "unoriginal" about the two movies above. I think it has to do with preconceptions that certain films are somehow superior to others. Hell, I agree with you, but I don't agree with which films!!