Katie and I went to a sneak preview of the new Disney/Pixar movie Ratatouille last night. We give it four thumbs up!
The story was sweet and funny and entertaining, but it was the animation that was absolutely stunning. What have they done with their software? It's like they have a pastel filter on it, but it makes things look amazing instead of blurry. Being set in Paris certainly didn't hurt.
All the rats are cute, but you should know there are at least two scenes where they're scurrying all through the old lady's house and the restaurant kitchen. It might be a bit unsettling if you're bothered by that sort of thing (if they were spiders I'da been outta there faster than you can say, "Hey lady, that's not an exit!"). Ye be warned.
Disney's Ratatouille web site has lots of pictures, downloadable wallpapers, movie clips, and a cool 19-page PDF activity book.
The animated short they showed before the movie was Lifted. It was good, definitely better than the last one (I thought One Man Band was a little high-brow, especially to be shown before Cars, even though the animation style was quite beautiful).
As this was a sneak preview, and every other sneak preview I've ever gone to has sold out long before showtime, I bought our tickets at Fandango earlier in the day. I'd never actually used the service before, and it was so easy I didn't mind paying the $1/ticket convenience charge. The best part, of course, was knowing that we wouldn't have to wait in line forever just to find out the movie was sold out. I will totally use Fandango again.
The only bummer of the evening was that this was going to be the first movie all four of us would see together in the theater. However, Jack was naughty naughty naughty earlier in the day and we're trying to teach him about consequences. He does not like learning about consequences, especially when it means staying home and missing Ratatouille. Vic wasn't so thrilled about staying home either.
So that's my not very critical critique of Ratatouille. It's really a great feel-good movie and we liked it very much. It opens everywhere June 29. Just be sure to check out the IMDB site before you go so you know who does the voices and then it won't drive you crazy the whole movie long like it did me. (Ohhhh! Peter O'Toole! Of course!!)
June 17: Rats
May 11: Stuff I stole today
My head hurts. Bad. Like, so bad I'll scream if anyone asks me to do something or insists on talking to me or looks in my general direction. Not a good day for a "Mom & Me" brunch at preschool, but Jack says I must go anyway. Gah. Miss Crystal'll be sorry she invited me.
Also, I'm mad at computers today. Long story. Not interesting.
Since I am in no mood or shape to think up thoughts all by myself today, I'm going to use the age-old blogger's technique of borrowing from another web site. These things actually made me kinda chuckle this morning.
Lame joke du jour (oregonlive.com):
What's the definition of the word "aspect"?
What you get when you bend over a chicken coop.
The problem with America is stupidity. I'm not saying there should be capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself? (kgbreport.com)
Probable future names of Hershey's candies, adding to the progression of Kisses® to Hugs® (mcsweeneys.net):
- Hershey's Kisses®
- Hershey's Hugs®
- Hershey's Handshakes
- Hershey's Eye Contacts
- Hershey's Awkward Silences
- Hershey's Restraining Orders
Surprises in the new Spider-Man movie
- Rummaging through the attic, Peter discovers that his kindly old Aunt May used to be his Uncle Jay.
- Near the beginning of the movie, Spider-Man sits down and addresses the audience directly saying, "Having gotten your attention with the previous films, I'd like to spend the rest of this one talking to you about something very important to me - The Church of Scientology."
- A surprising amount of screen time is devoted to Aunt May shopping for a new fanny pack.
- That it is possible to make a third installation of a series without it degenerating into utter crap.
- In the final shot, Spidey will reveal a new costume. It'll look exactly like his normal costume, but it'll have those armpit webs. Blackout! and roll credits.
- Action sequences are padded with footage from Spidey's 70s-era educational appearances on The Electric Company. Also included, a whole scene in which he teaches the audience about conjunctions.
- Following the trend set by the last two movies, now whenever characters make a self-referential comic book joke they will look at the camera, nod and wink.
- In a bit of fan-service, Spidey and MJ will be caught in the rain again. To "up the ante" and add more sex appeal, MJ will be revealed to have a superfluous, yet large, third nipple.
- Spider-Man and the New Goblin spend a tedious 20 minute sequence in which, in full costume, they enjoy a meal at Burger King. The only dialogue during this scene are the lines "Man, this is tasty!" "Mmm Mmm!" and "I'm having it MY way!" repeated several times.
- Continuing the series' trend of giving the villains stronger ties to Spider-Man, Peter discovers that Sandman may have killed his Uncle Ben and Kraven the Hunter used to date his Uncle Jay. (capnwacky.com)
That's all for today, because I like you. Just don't ask me for nothin'.
--Jen
P.S. Fourteen days until the new Pirates of the Caribbean comes out. Jack reminds me of the countdown several times a day ever since Vic told him last Friday, "Jack, there's only 21 more days until we can go see the new Pirates movie!" I'm actually a little more excited about Ratatouille (49 more days).
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