Toon Talk: Ratatouille
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However, there a few parts of this recipe that don’t quite come together. Linguini’s motivation - just keeping his job - doesn’t match up to Remy’s overwhelmingly passionate zest for cooking, and the mode in which the one “controls�? the other never quite worked for me, leading mostly to some overcooked physical comedy. And, like most “knock-out falls for nerd�? subplots, the romance between Colette and Linguini feels forced and seems tacked on.
Nevertheless, the movie will delight all, maybe even parents more then their children. A scrumptious feast for all the senses, Ratatouille takes the “talking animal�? genre up a notch, and is easily the best animated film in nearly two years.
Toon Talk Rating: A-
 Food for the Soul Edition
In this ‘Toon Talk’ feature, I will briefly highlight a recommended film or DVD, outside of the Disney universe, of similar interest to the main subject. EAT DRINK MAN WOMAN
1994 - The Samuel Goldwyn Company
Yet another movie you should not watch on an empty stomach, this Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language film comes from Oscar-winning director Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain). A widowed Chinese chef tries vainly to keep his brood of three daughters together through his many eye-popping family feasts. A simple joy of a movie, gently told and beautifully acted. DVD available from MGM Home Video. In Mandarin with English subtitles. Rated PG. |
Coming Soon:
- The boy wizard returns in Warner’s Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (July 11).
- D’oh! That yellow-skinned dysfunctional family from Springfield finally makes it the big screen with The Simpsons Movie (Fox, July 27).
- There’s no need to fear, Underdog is here! (Disney, August 3).
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TOON TALK AWARDS WATCH The first computer animated feature film joined the first animated feature film on the American Film Institute’s “100 Years … 100 Movies: 10th Anniversary Edition�?. Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story ranked #99 on AFI’s newest list of the greatest American films of all time, while Walt Disney’s crowning glory, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, rose an impressive 15 spots, from #49 to #34. The films, which were the only animated films to make the final cut, were honored for their popularity, historical significance and cultural impact, among other criteria. Two other films from Disney production companies made the list as well. Pulp Fiction, the gritty and daring multi-story crime drama from Miramax, rose slightly from #94 to #95, while The Sixth Sense, the spooky thriller with that infamous twist ending (released by Disney’s Hollywood Pictures branch) debuted on the list at #89. Unfortunately, with new films moving up, some films move down - and off - the list. Such was the case for Disney’s Fantasia, which sat at #58 on the original countdown. The AFI, which celebrates its own 40th anniversary this year, is a national institute providing leadership in screen education and the recognition and celebration of excellence in the art of film. Their “100 Years�? series began in 1998 as an annual television event with the first ranking of the 100 greatest American movies. AFI has announced that they will repeat this poll of their members, film historians and critics and movie makers every ten years to provide a fresh view each decade on the best in film. For more information on the AFI, and to view the full list of winners, go to afi.com. |
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-- Kirby C. Holt
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Kirby is a lifelong Disney fan and film buff. He is also an avid list maker and chronic ellipsis user ...
Took Talk: Disney Film & Video Reviews by Kirby C. Holt is posted whenever there's something new to review.
The opinions expressed by our Kirby C. Holt, and all of our columnists, do not necessarily represent the feelings of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future plans of the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.
-- Posted June 28, 2007