Great film! One of Pixar's best ones.

Rating: 10/10 (17 June 2007)

I also had the fortunate opportunity to attend a pre-screening yesterday at Century City, CA. I was very impressed and moved by this film. It's definitely better than Cars, Monsters Inc, and A Bug's Life.
The screenplay was brilliant, as was the comedy, animation, the Frenchish musical score, and the voice acting. The movie, most importantly, also had the heart and soul that we've come to love from all the Pixar films.
When you read reviews about people going into tears by the film's end, it's not because the movie was dramatic and tear jerking. It's because the movie was just so utterly satisfying. The mouse was also the symbol of happiness that we, as an audience, can identify with. He represents our universal love for food, art, and also giving back to the world with a generous heart. So in many ways, it was like a Rocky or Cinderella story for Remy. By film's end, he spends the rest of his life doing what he loves to do, no matter how dumb it may appear to be. And that is why the film was pretty moving.
By far, I felt a bit hesitant whether to give the film a 10 because the story, although marvelously written, is a bit lighthearted compared to the urgency and scope of the ones in Toy Story 2 or The Incredibles. But at the same time, the film is so sophisticated and has a universal feel that it seems like it could be a masterpiece.
Either way, I fully recommend it. I'm sure by the time the 200 or so critic's reviews come out, the film will at least average in the A- category. That's how good it really is. =]