Ratatouille

[furtech]

I saw Ratatouille and (without giving anything away) I think it's a candidate for best Pixar movie so far! Absolutely charming!


There are two things that make this movie so great: first, the main character (Remy) is the best animal-in-human-world I've ever seen. He is anthropomorphic in thought, but 100% rat in body language. Whoever developed the character and animated him did more than watch a rat in a cage for a few weeks: there we so many subtle and dead-on rat-isms that I have to believe that someone involved at that level had pet rats (and loved them). The difference is the same as if you studied a cat for a few weeks (you'd get a number of mannerism, pretty accurate) and owning one (where you know ALL the crazy, quirky things that cats do for no reason and on no schedule).

The second marvelous thing about Ratatouille is that the story-- while typically Pixar/family-- has the usual story structure: unusual premise--bumps in road--happy ending. But what makes this film special is that the route the storytellers take to get to that resolution is neither what you expect nor is their story any less wonderful because they chose the more difficult road.

I attribute this to the creative atmosphere that has been created by Jobs and Lasseter: an organization gets its personality from the top down. If the heads think nothing of their employees, the employees take no pride in their work. If egos at the top never want to hear a negative thought or criticism, workers hesitate to point out flaws and eventually give up trying to make things better. The attitude at the top is reflected by the workers all the way down, and is eventually reflected in the final product. That is why companies like Apple come up with something totally innovative like the iPhone and why each of their products (especially under Jobs) is not just an improvement on existing products-- but is a quantum LEAP to wholly new devices. Apple has a very nurturing atmosphere for creative thinking and encourages new ideas. Over time, the really talented people migrate towards companies like these and this concentration of talent results in wonderous products.



I'm jazzed: I think I'm going to do my rat costume. I have some ideas I've been wanting to try and this film was just inspiring. *skeek*!

Comments

[karisu-sama.livejournal.com]

Oh I'll see it. I like good animation, and the reviews say it has a good story. But it's still a boy-buddy-pic... :/

I'm still waiting (but not holding my breath) for the overwhelmingly guy-filled American animation studios to make movies that have a female(s) characters in the main role(s), not as a lone female secondary side character among a host of male side characters (Colette, Dory), or (oh no not again) a "love interest". If, for example, Ratatouille were to befriend a young woman working in a fancy kitchen, they could discuss the respective prejudices they both need to overcome...

Disney is pretty much the only one that writes female main characters, but even Disney Princesses all revolve around "Teh Marriage Issue", and one of their primary focuses is being allowed to make their own marriage choice while still trying to end up as the good tradition-hampered girl they are supposed to be. No career goals for these ladies.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

I think Disney's been sensitive to the independent female: true, many are princesses-looking-for-their-prince, but that's a classic theme (and what the average little girl expects). Beauty and the Beast had a generally non-princessy/marry theme, for instance. Get any more PC and the movie becomes about that, rather than a good story.

There's always Miyazaki for strong female roles: plenty of those!