It's Pixar. It's about fine food. It takes place in Paris. Did I mention it was done by Pixar? Is there any way that I couldn't like Ratatouille?
(Potential Spoilers Ahead)
Maybe, but if so, they missed it. Ratatouille was one heck of a fun and enjoyable movie. And with a delicious desert of tasty CGI-animation-eye-candy. At its core it's a very simple movie, really, without any big booms, without any huge overreaching flag-waving moral -- it's subtle. Awesomely so, and crafted with all the care of a fine work of art. Actually its quite refreshing that way too. Its not that there isn't anything there -- far from it -- but it doesn't shout it from the top of the Eiffel tower endlessly. Like a book, you find it.
1 - Though I mentioned it already, the animation in this movie is outstanding. The fur, the lighting, the downright softness of the whole picture is astounding. The character's expressions are also amazing, especially Remi's. Paris looked awesome too.
2 - When you have a rat for a protagonist you offer yourself the chance to have a new point of view -- literally. The action sequences shown from Remi's vantage point/eyes were great.
3 - I love the subtle touches they gave to Anton Ego's office, the very grim reaper overtones that show up everywhere (check out the back of that typewriter).
4 - Though there are a lot of action moments there was only one that felt needlessly over the top, and it shows up right at the start of the film.
5 - No, I'm not jealous the production staff got to be tutored by Thomas Keller and ate at the French Laundry. Not jealous, no!
6 - Details, details, details. Do you notice them when they are there? Maybe not, but you sure do notice them when they're not. That's what makes Weta Workshop so amazing when they craft props, and what makes this film so downright seamless. The details are astounding, especially, I found, in the last few minutes of the film.
7 - Storytelling, storytelling, storytelling. Yeah, Pixar has this down solid too.
8 - The above notwithstanding, and despite this is the longest (I think) Pixar production to date (almost 2h) the film felt cut short, like they could have taken more time to let the flavours simmer. Granted everything in the film does take place in a short timespan, but letting the film breathe some would've made the body that much more enchanting.
9 - Now, totally standing in the above (both) this is not a kids film. It is not an adult film. I love that about Pixar. (and Miyazaki too)
10 - Be prepared to get hungry during this film.
Delightful all the way through. I'm looking forward to seeing this film again.
Posted by kannik at June 30, 2007 03:06 PM in Arts&Media, Food