|
Product Description: From the creators of CARS and THE INCREDIBLES comes a break-through comedy with something for everyone. With delightful new characters experience Paris from an all-new perspective. It's "terrific movie making" raves Leonard Maltin of ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT. In one of Paris' finest restaurants Remy a determined young rat dreams of becoming a renowned French chef. Torn between his family's wishes and his true calling Remy and his pal Linguini set in motion a hilarious chain of events that turns the City of Lights upside down. RATATOUILLE is a treat you'll want to enjoy again and again.System Requirements:Running Time: 111 Mins. Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating: G UPC: 786936727173Amazon.com: One key point: if you can get over the natural gag reflex of seeing hundreds of rodents swarming over a restaurant kitchen, you will be free to enjoy the glory of Ratatouille, a delectable Pixar hit. Our hero is Remy, a French rat (voiced by Patton Oswalt) with a cultivated palate, who rises from his humble beginnings to become head chef at a Paris restaurant. How this happens is the stuff of Pixar magic, that ineffable blend of headlong comedy, seamless technology, and wonder (in the latter department, this movie's views of nighttime Paris are on a par with French cinema at its most lyrical). Director Brad Bird (The Incredibles) doesn't quite keep all his spinning plates in the air, but the gags are great and the animation amazingly expressive--Remy's shrugs and nods are nimbler than many flesh-and-blood actors can manage. Refreshingly, the movie's characters aren't celebrity-reliant, with the most recognizable voice coming from Peter O'Toole's snide food critic. (This fellow provides the film's sole sour note--an oddly pointed slap at critics, those craven souls who have done nothing but rave about Pixar's movies over the years.) Brad Bird's style is more quick-hit and less resonant than the approach of Pixar honcho John Lasseter, but it's hard to complain about a movie that cooks up such bountiful pleasure. --Robert Horton
Customer Reviews:
- Delicious DVD: I remember the first time I ever saw a teaser for this movie. I thought it looked silly and I had to wonder just what Pixar and Disney were thinking. A rat wanting to get fancy Frency food. Please.
But time went by, and cuter trailers appeared, and I found myself wanting to see the movie about the cute rat in the restaurant. So it came out and I had a free weekend.
This is one of those movies where you spend the whole time thinking "This is so good!" while at the same time barely having enough time to think so as you are so caught up in the story and the stellar animation. It's subtle, heartfelt, and downright hilarious with a character-driven plot and so many themes I can't possibly count them all.
Remy is a rat not altogether satisfied with his garbage-eating existence in the French countryside. He was born with an extreme sense of smell, which makes him useful to his colony when it comes to sniffing out rat poison--one of the many reasons his fellow rats despise humans. But Remy is fascinated by humans and their ability to create things, and eventually his interest leads him into the world of cooking when his nose becomes handy in blending flavors. A tragedy leads him to Paris, more specifically Gusteau's, the fallen-from-grace restaurant that had once belonged to the deceased chef Remy admired. Here he meets Linguini, an awkward young man who can't cook, and they figure they can help each other out.
Do not be misled--this is far from being the only part of this incredible story. Rather there is a series of incidents created by a colorful cast of characters that leads us not only from movie's beginning to end but through some amazing character development and more plot events; it's infinitely better than contrived and forced plots that are so often shoved down our throats. This has many stories: the aforementioned, Remy's division between the worlds of rats and humans, an adorable love story between Linguini and a driven cook by the name of Collette, and that of Skinner, the new head chef determined to keep the restaurant under his own power. While we all love an intense character, "Ratatouille" keeps its players surprisingly realistic and subtle rather than making them into a circus of stereotypes. Admittedly, disbelief must be suspended in certain parts, but the story is so endearing and good that you are certainly willing to do so.
The complexity of so many things is what make this film stand out. As Remy is torn between the worlds of humans and rats he is faced with the contradiction of what he is: a rat wanting to cook, but stealing food at the same time. Also there is the problem of Remy wanting credit, but neither wanting to lose his place in the world of gourmet. You must also notice the range between the fanciful talking rats and the realistic problems of wills and DNA testing. It works.
I know I said I could not name the many themes circulating through this movie, but I must go at one. The title "Ratatouille" is not only a pun referring to the rodent characters, but is also a peasant dish never to be served at a fancy French restaurant. It's low, it's common, but as the movie shows can be more than any other food. This is a story about finding greatness in the ordinary.
I feel this is one of Pixar's finest. It is a film that will stay with you long after it has finished. - WHAT A DELIGHFUL MOVIE!!: This movie was really fun!! We went to the movies to see it when it was first released in the summer of 2007 and my 6 year old son didnt want to sit through it because it was too LOUD..LOL Anyway, after much anticipation, we rented it on DVD and what a gem!! We've already watched it more than 10 times..it's one of our favorites, right up there with "Over The Hedge" "The Wild" and the entire "Shrek" series. This is a movie you don't want your children to miss...it teaches the simple truth; "anyone can cook..." Pick it up!!
- Great seller-prompt and professional: great movie-Very happy to own it...I am very happy everytime I watch it with my G'kids....
- Fun Movie: I love to cook and am a child-at-heart who loved this movie about a rat chef. The story is sweet, and in typical pixar style, it is excellently well-made. I completely recommend this movie to pretty much anyone.
- Oh, Rats: Rats! That is what the folks at Pixar threw at us for the delightful "Ratatouille," the anti-Willard of kids movies. Filmed in a sweeping style (the visions of Paris after dark are almost dreamlike in their beauty), the story of Remy, the Rat who would be Chef, is the kind of Disney "can-do" movie that they've been making for years. But this is easily the best they've done since the original Toy Story.
Remy has to overcome his upbringing and his species after he gets separated from his clan. A series of events leads him to Linguini, kitchen help at a famous but downtrodden French Restaurant. From there, Remy and Linguini form an alliance and taste success. But they still have a big obstacle to overcome, food critic Anton Ego (Peter O'Toole, "Ratatouille's" only celebrity voice-casting). How they manage to warm his heart and save the day is fun and funny, only leaning into mean-spiritedness once or twice. (Unnecessary French bashing, Remy's Dad seems too simple a character).
The animation is way beyond average. Remy is fluid and lifelike...conveying more with a shrug or shimmy than most live critters (including two legged ones). His ride down the stream is breathtaking, as are the visions of Paris. (For Purists: there's a disclaimer at the end of the movie that 100% Aninamtion - not motion capture, etc - was used to create "Ratatouille.") The story of being who you are despite what others expect is positive, even coming from a hoard of Rats. What they have in "Ratatouille" that gets a bit different is that there isn't any stunt casting, the cast doesn't suddenly break into song, and the language doesn't revert into cliche of the day. It just starts a good story and follows it though to a happy ending. One you can watch with anyone, any age, and likely, for repeat servings.
|
