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Pixar has certainly outdone themselves with the animated feature Ratatouille; the story of a young rat named Remy who pairs up with the imbecile (but well meaning) Linguini to form one of the greatest culinary talents Paris has ever seen. Much has been said of the “if you put your mind to it” angle as well as the staple stereotypes (e.g., “don’t go near humans,” etc.). But what really struck me was what the critique, Anton Ego (voiced by legendary actor Peter O’Toole) said as he was pondering what to write in his food column. “In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face is that, in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is more meaningful than our criticism designating it so. But there are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the new. Last night, I experienced something new, an extraordinary meal from a singularly unexpected source. To say that both the meal and its maker have challenged my preconceptions is a gross understatement. They have rocked me to my core. In the past, I have made no secret of my disdain for Chef Gusteau's famous motto: Anyone can cook. But I realize that only now do I truly understand what he meant. Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere. It is difficult to imagine more humble origins than those of the genius now cooking at Gusteau's, who is, in this critic's opinion, nothing less than the finest chef in France. I will be returning to Gusteau's soon, hungry for more.” Critics in most circles usually have the necessary machinery to get their message across and as Anton Ego pointed out, they –“thrive on negative criticism” – as this is what causes controversy; a demand; and in most cases, even a need. But Ego also makes his readers (or in the case of the movie, listeners) realize is that despite what any one critic or person says, the most important opinion is that of your own. Well, that’s what I got out of it. What did you get out of it?Read full review
This is a Review I saw in the New York Times and thought you might want to see it. "The moral of “Ratatouille” is delivered by a critic: a gaunt, unsmiling fellow named Anton Ego who composes his acidic notices in a coffin-shaped room and who speaks in the parched baritone of Peter O’Toole. “Not everyone can be a great artist,” Mr. Ego muses. “But a great artist can come from anywhere.” Quite so. Written and directed by Brad Bird and displaying the usual meticulousness associated with the Pixar brand, “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. Its sensibility, implicit in Mr. Ego’s aphorism, is both exuberantly democratic and unabashedly elitist, defending good taste and aesthetic accomplishment not as snobbish entitlements but as universal ideals. Like “The Incredibles,” Mr. Bird’s earlier film for Pixar, “Ratatouille” celebrates the passionate, sometimes aggressive pursuit of excellence, an impulse it also exemplifies." — A. O. Scott, The New York TimesRead full review
On its surface, the animated feature Ratatouille is the story of a rat with the cooking skills of a great chef teaming up with a bumbling human to be successful. On a subliminal level, it deals with the adage that you can't tell a book by its cover. The Blu ray format reveals every nuance of the superb rendering from the fur and whiskers of the rats to the light and shadows that give the film an almost three dimensional quality. Add an excellent Dolby Digital soundtrack to top things off. The quality voice overs from top-notch actors; Patton Oswalt is perfect as Remy and Peter O'Toole is sublime as Anton Ego, the food critic. Great support from Ian Holm, Lou Romano, Brian Dennehy, Jeanine Garafalo, and Brad Garrett. If you enjoy animated films, this belongs in your collection!
First off, this is one of the best looking movies available on Blu Ray. If you have been looking for that movie that shows off the difference between Hi Def and Standard Televisions, this is the one you need to have. It is so crystal clear and lifelike that you almost get lost in the visual beauty of the film. Second, the sound is fantastic. It comes in 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround, so those of you with a decent sound system will truly escape in the sound. The film makes great us of the entire set up with voices and ambient noises coming from all directions. Third, this is just a great movie. It has a much more endearing story than "Cars" and you will be laughing and maybe even crying by the end of the movie. Fourth, there are some hilarious and informative extras available. This movie is a great pick up and is well worth the added price of the Blu Ray disc...a definite buy!Read full review
From the team that brought you Monsters Inc, Wall-E and many other PIXAR classics in the making. Ratatouille is a fantastic animation with a great story line. The main character, Remy, is undergoing a culinary experience driven by the motto "Anyone can cook" It's a classic story in the making of a little rat that meets a garbage boy without any cooking experience in a former 5-star restaurant situated in Paris. The movie has some great twists and turns in the storyline, but the main pleasure is an excellent graphic experience paired with high definition audio. The details of this animation is far beyond anything I have seen in the past. The music fits every scene and paired with a good dolby surround audio set it really makes you feel you are part of the story. Whether you are an adult or a small child you will never forget this cinematic treat! Audio Video equipment used: - Onkyo TX-SR606 receiver - Polk RTi6 Main speakers, Polk Audio CSi5 Center Channel, Polk LC80i rears - Sony BDP-S350 Blu-ray player - Sony KDL-40v3000 40" LCD TV at 1080P (all signals where delivered via HDMI)Read full review
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