Ratatouille

Ratatouille, despite Pinkava's unusual storyline choice, is ultimately a surprisingly predictable spectacle. It is impressive, sufficiently entertaining, and impeccably polished in true Pixar fashion, but still clearly predetermined. It greatly benefits from the romantic atmosphere of Paris, pleasant cuisine full of diverse dishes, and Anton Ego as a dark restaurant ghost who makes each of his monologues thrilling. However, when compared to movies like Cars, which could have easily gotten lost in their schematic nature, I feel a slight disappointment in Remy's journey for flavors and aromas. 70% (01/30/2008)

Culinary passion may torment your reflexively reacting taste buds, but Pixar is becoming too childish, or rather Brad Bird seems to have forgotten the distinctive otherness he used to entertain even adult audiences within the world of flavors and aromas (the red menace of The Iron Giant, or the comic passion of The Incredibles). Wherever we expect a clever allusion, we come across a simple joke that amuses but fails to warm the heart. (10/18/2007)

The master chefs at Pixar have thrown together this delicious casserole that deserves the highest marks. A great story composed using only the best ingredients, taking a pinch of originality, a hint of good-old playfulness and this gourmet dish is ready to be served. And it is all exquisitely spiced by the brilliant music of Michael Giacchino. The animated movie of the year. (10/24/2007)

Ratatouille does not have a great geyser of visual and verbal gags like Shrek, nor does it have such a well-crafted and universally understandable script as Finding Nemo. Nonetheless, it can be considered the current pinnacle in the field of feature-length animated films, mainly due to its superb animation, which represents the current technological peak and at some moments looks almost like a live-action film. It is also noteworthy for its interesting visual design, which at times resembles avant-garde art projects. This is especially evident in the scenes above Paris or in the staircase maze, where the little hero seeks refuge from pursuit, but also in the closing credits. The script itself is just above average, and the plot may be difficult to digest, particularly for young children. Overall impression considering the visual design: 90%. (10/16/2007)

Animation with music perfect, and I ate so much food while watching the movie last time I watched Cutting it Short, but I really didn't need to see such a collection of screenwriting clichés. I guess I'm more suited to DreamWorks cartoons and their pop culture references. Otherwise, I was supremely unsympathetic to the character of Linguini and really wished the worst for him, not to mention Remy's fat brother, who would have been killed in real life even by the most fanatical PETA member. Just a total disappointment. (11/23/2009)