Ratatouille Chop Suey: Ratatouille (Movie Review)
My eight-year-old grandson and I saw Disney/Pixar's Ratatouille Thursday afternoon; his first choice was Transformers, but when I hesitated on that one, he volunteered to see the Disney movie based on his best friend's review.
The movie was very inventive. The Pixar computer-generated animation was quite good, with the artists nobly resisting the tendency to make the long-tailed rodents too "cute." Remy is recognizable as what he is, but as a rat with a curiously subtle palate, his rattiness had a certain gentility, a bit sly but but also tentative, which renders him a sympathetic character.
There was enough action to please viewers from age three or so on, with chase scenes that would do justice to Tom and Jerry, and one perfectly conceived villainous character (the sous chef who connives to inherit the Gusteau empire) who is just self-promoting enough to draw quiet boos.
The theme, a sort of haute cuisine "I gotta be me" story (along with a bit of a conflicted hero sub-theme, as the would-be rat chef struggles to choose between his own dream of fine cookery and loyalty to his garbage-noshing family) gives the story a bit of weight. In contrast, the noodle-head garbage boy Linguini, who is guided by Remy inside his toque to produce exquisite eats, provides plenty of comic relief as he courts the feminist but tasty cook Colette and turns out to be the long lost son and sole heir of the late great chef Gusteau.
All in all, it's a a different take on the cartoon movie genre which will amiably entertain kids between 3 and 10 years of age on a steamy summer's afternoon and give the adults along for the ride a real case of the munchies! Local bistros should be advertising apres-cinema specials in the lobby.
posted by GTC at
12:01 AM
13 Comments:
I always enjoy reading your reviews. Your grandson is very fortunate to have you in his life.
By
Anonymous, at 9:51 PM
My husband and I saw this movie last weekend. Our 12 yr. old son has outgrown the Pixar movies as of late (although he still LOVES "The Incredibles")so we went without him.
I must say that I liked the movie. As artists, (my husband worked on the animated feature, "Anastasia" for Fox Animation in 1997 and I teach art)we were very impressed with the computer animation and the software used.
But I thought the story was too "adult" centered. There were no children as main characters and the theme of the story had little to do with kids' interests.
I am surprised it made so much money the first week it opened, but can understand why it died down at the box office. Unlike "Finding Nemo", I don't think kids are wanting to see this movie again and again.
Sorry, I am with your grandson...."Transformers" is the movie kids (boys) are wanting to see this summer! I, for one, LOVED it much more that "Ratatouille".
By
Ruth Douthitt, at 10:57 PM
A spolier warning would have been really, really nice. :-(
By
Anonymous, at 12:16 AM
Saw it with a 7 and 9 year old. All of us loved it. I keep thinking Pixar is going to blow it, but they keep managing to deliver really high quality films. The animation in the film should put everyone else in the business to shame. Every new film they do, I am blown away by the improvements they have made in 3D animation. Anyway, my two kids had no trouble at all relating to the film. With all due respect, Transformers looks like the same old, same old summer blockbuster junk.
By
Anonymous, at 12:30 AM
I have to agree with Ruth. Ratatouille is a great movie, but not so great for kids. My two four-year-olds could barely follow what was going on.
Transformers, on the other hand, is aimed straight at an eight-year-old boy and is terrific. It is sure to have the same effect on him as Star Wars had on me when I was eight.
I've reviewed both these movies on my own blog.
http://www.autonomoussource.com/2007/07/shocker_transformers_is_a_good.html
http://www.autonomoussource.com/2007/07/ratatouille.html
By
Fib Dynamo, at 6:56 AM
Dear Ruth,
I guess Remy was the "kid" in the movie, a kind of "country mouse" (or country boy) who goes to make a name for himself in the big city (even though he was near Paris all the time).
I don't know how well small children could identify with a young mouse, but after all, Nemo is a young fish and kids really become one with him! I think the haute cuisine thing is what gets in the way for them in this movie.
By
GTC, at 11:43 AM
I saw this movie with my 11-year-old son and he loved it. Actually, we both did. The audience even broke into spontaneous applause at the end, a rare event. There were children watching of all age ranges and I didn't hear any of that crying/fussing from the younger ones that can happen with "kid" movies that lose their interest.
That said, I do agree that the story and the characters are a little less accessible to small children than previous Pixar efforts. However, I think that there is enough action and movement to offset that for the most part.
By
Anonymous, at 12:37 PM
My 10 year old saw Ratatouille, enjoyed it, and has demanded to go again. And again. And was also inspired to start making omelets for breakfast!
We saw it with another family which has a 10 and a 7 year old. Both kids loved it.
But most of the audience was quiet, didn't seem to get the movie. Shame. It's good to see a movie that has a brain behind it, and doesn't depend on violence or potty humor or both.
By
Elaine T, at 6:37 PM
Well, the computer animation software that Pixar is using now is state-of-the-art. I can hardly wait to talk to some of the animation students about this movie. I hope they all saw it and studied it.
The water scenes alone were breath taking.
But I cannot imagine Wal-Mart or other stores being stocked with toys from the movie.
On the other hand...I did see hundreds of Transformers toys on the shelves.
The thing about Transformers was the brilliant marketing approach: a wide target audience.
When we saw the film, we sat by grown men who were there together as well as college age guys there together. Then there were the couples of all ages, and dads with their little boys. Brilliant strategy!!
By
Ruth Douthitt, at 7:40 PM
Dear Anonymous 12:16 AM,
You'll be happy to know that I did post a "spoiler note" on my July 21 review of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows--at your suggestion! I didn't give it all away, since there are some real surprises near the end that I didn't spell out, but it's hard to say much about a fiction work without documenting what you say!
On the other hand, it's hard to believe that anyone goes to a Disney movie for children and doesn't just KNOW that the doofus guy will get the cute chick or the earnest little mouse will become a famous chef in the end! Kids would be throwing their Milk Duds at the screen if it didn't end happy ever after!!
Thanks again to all for your insightful input.
By
GTC, at 2:06 PM
I, for one, think that Ratatouille should be up for "Best Picture." The characters and voices are delightful, the plot is seamless, and the human yearnings are, for good and ill, real. The food critic alone was, for me, worth the price of admission. Beautifully done and, had it been done by "real" characters, it likely WOULD be considered for Best Picture!
By
Anonymous, at 4:50 PM
My wife and I went to see this movie with 6 of our children. We were there as guests of an organization, although I'm certain that no one in this group was aware of what I'm about to reveal about this movie. Granted Pixar can incite the senses with fabulous audio and video technology. Unfortunately, the fidelity of the production far exceeds the fidelity of the content. Did you notice that all the rats were male? That's right; there were no female voices in the mix, and there were no mothers, only fathers, uncles, and sons. They represent the homosexual activists of our society who are using theaters for a bully pulpit to subconsciously solicit pity for their "cause." The plot involves a "rat" with a nack for preparing dishes that appease the senses, hence the sensuality of the perverted. The plot thickens and twists as it uncovers an ingenious way for Remy to get his dishes prepared and served to unsuspecting proselytes. In the end, the restaurant/menu critic becomes his prize convert who forfeits even his prestigious reputation to stand with Remy and his "success" in converting the whole sensuous world to satisfy their appetites with Remy's servings, even a re-do of a commoner's portion, Ratatouille. There was no traditional family structure in this movie, nor was there an authority higher than any of the characters. The one in charge at any time was the one who was the most vocal or the loudest. The song, "I Gotta Be Me" ought to sum it up for even the most unsuspecting viewer. Ephesians 5:5-11 ends with "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness." God bless every alert and bold parent who will stand against such devices as this movie, protect their children, and warn others of their danger.
By
Anonymous, at 10:56 PM
great animation movie, more advice contained. Good.. good..
By
hanum, at 12:09 AM
Post a Comment
<< Home