Top Three Pixar

Rating: 10/10 (11 October 2007)

Pixar is one of the most successful film-creators in recent history, and rightfully so, the re-defined the family-genre with TOY STORY, not just adding enormous depth to story and characters but also showcasing stunning animations. And TOY STORY wasn't a one-hit-wonder, it was followed by several successful outings; tell me one family who hasn't seen MONSTERS INC., CARS or FINDING NEMO and I will send them a DVD right away. And Pixar took their universe a step further with THE INCREDIBLES, an amazing character-study of superheroes left behind, trying to behave like regular people. Now, in 2007 Pixar does it again; RATATOUILLE is arguably their finest movie so far. Right from the outset and throughout it's entire runtime it was a warm and powerful feeling that kept me wanting more and more of this tale about a rat-going-cook in Paris. As in any Pixar movie, there are many supporting characters which helps making it fresh and always fascinating. And as in any child-friendly movie, there are moral and life lessons, and although they have behaved a bit cheesy from time to time, they serve well. RATATOUILLE portrays Paris in the most romantic and dearly beloved way imaginable in a animation-movie, and were better to put a story than in a classy restaurant? And one should not forget the impressive main characters here; the Rat Remy and the garbage-boy-turning-cook Linguini, both being Pixar at their peak capturing character-studies. Remy delivers serious speeches about his urge of getting out of the rat-life, like a human being he wants to create something new, and not eat the left-overs from something left behind. As he arrives Paris to discover his dreams, he realizes that his big idol, cook Gusteau, is dead. But Gusteau has already entered his mind, and Remy slowly evolves from being just a rat to becoming something quite extraordinary. Linguini is quite possibly the most likable character Pixar has created yet, a troubled but behaved, ambitious but not talented boy who lives in a small apartment, bicycles his way to work and blushes more than he blossoms, he isn't just the perfect sidekick to Remy with his funny behavior, but his romance with companion cook Colette is so sweet! RATATOUVILLE couldn't have been any better, this is truly as good as family-entertainment gets.