So, this didn't get posted yesterday (on Movie Monday), because I was busy and Zach was breaking in a new game on the computer. The computer, by the way, is also brand new, to replace the old laptop whose hard-drive crashed. So bear with us as we get this new one up and running (we're still downloading and installing a lot of stuff on the new machine).
Anyhoo...
We watched Ratatouille this weekend! Yay Pixar!
If you didn't know the story already (surprising, as it was a well-marketed Disney movie, but just in case), Ratatouille is a tale of a young rat (Remy), blessed with an exceptional sense of taste and smell, who dreams of being more than a thief and muncher of garbage, as a rat is destined to be. He wants to be a chef! Fate smiles upon young Remy when he meets Linguini, a hopeless in the kitchen, who happens to be working in the kitchen of a (formerly) five star restaurant.
For years now, Pixar has been raising the bar in computer animation, and in animation in general. You watch these characters, and the world they live in is so rich and detailed. Fog on the Seine, or Paris lights in the background, or the Rose window at Notre Dame... so many touches that enhance the movie so beautifully. Or raindrops on the river, looking almost real. And the characters' facial expressions are priceless!! I really liked that Remy and Linguini communicate, but never talk. So much more is handled through their facial expressions and body language
Pixar's writing is classic, always a nice blend of jokes the adults get, and ones for the kids. A lot of nice subtle visual effects too. For example, Anton Ego (a villain of sorts) is a food critic reviewing the restaurant. He's known as the Grim Eater because of his restaurant-breaking reviews - take a look at his study as they first show him. So many clever little touches!
The voice actors in this are great. Anton Ego is Peter O'Toole, for crying out loud!! And Colette is Jeanine Garoafalo, a favorite of mine for playing cute-but-tough little spitfire characters. And Patton Oswalt, the voice of Remy, is a W&M grad (Tribe Pride!!). Neither here nor there, but I liked the trivia :)
Don't forget, if you're watching the DVD, to watch the extras. The Pixar short on this one ("Lifted") is hysterical. Once again, no talking but so much said with body language. Anyone who's ever had a performance review or taken a driver's exam will appreciate this one. My all-time favorite is still "Birds on a Wire", but that's because I know those birds!! Also on the DVD is the short, "Your Friend the Rat" hosted by Remy and his insatiable brother Emile. A hysterical history of ratkind-mankind interactions.
Overall, definitely a 5 of 5. Pixar has yet to have a miss, at least in my book (well, I haven't seen Cars yet, but it's on the Netflix list, so eventually I will!) Great characters, beautiful animation, clever writing. Two thumbs up all around. I want to see Wall-E now that it's out too, but we need to find a better theater than the one in Victorville. (sigh) the trials of living in the middle of nowhere!
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