Ratatouille Discussion Thread (Previews, Reviews, etc.)

[PatrickvD]

I'm with MM1 on this. The vast majority of reviews are raving about the movie and I can't wait to see it. As one review from Rotten Tomatoes said, though, I can see it not making as much money as the other Pixar movies because it doesn't have as much kid appeal. I still hear friends and co-workers make that complaint about Cars. Some people still have it in their head that animation is for kids, and if kids don't take to this film, word of mouth may hurt its box office total. Regardless of what happens, I hope Pixar continues to do what they are doing. Instead of making films for parents to use as electronic babysitting, they treat animation as an art form, just as Walt Disney did.

I think Ratatouile will surprise at the Box Office. The sneak previews have succesfully created an enormous buzz and the movie is tracking pretty high right now. It's set to open #1 in its weekend above Die Hard 4.

People are desperate for something original in a summer filled with sequels. If the movie is, good, it will ultimately sell itsself.

I don't believe in the whole animation is for kids. Back in 1989 Disney executives were expecting The Little Mermaid to make less money than Oliver & Company, because it was "a girls movie". right.

Box Office does not follow rules. Ratatouille will be big. I think it can rival the 5th Potter movie.

[castleinthesky]

Right now Ratatouille has a 100% fresh rating on rottentomatoes.

Many people might think Cars hurt Ratatouille's chances of doing well, but Cars only enhanced it. Cars brought a new demographic into Pixar films. I think Ratatouille will do really good at the box office. It will have good legs (for those that don't know what legs are, it means that it will do well at the box office for weeks in a row instead of falling rapidly.)

[magicalwands]

Box Office does not follow rules. Ratatouille will be big. I think it can rival the 5th Potter movie.

I believe it can rival it too. But Book 7 might stop the box office for a week or so.

To those who saw the movie: Did you find yourself laughing throughout the whole movie? I'm in the mood for a laugh session with my friends.

[Okie Tigger]

There's a good amount of laughs but I wouldn't say it's Pixar's funniest.

Many people might think Cars hurt Ratatouille's chances of doing well, but Cars only enhanced it. Cars brought a new demographic into Pixar films.

Could you elaborate on that. I'm not quite following.

[Luke]

Review posted here:
http://www.ultimatedisney.com/ratatouille-0629.html

[MadonnasManOne]

Thanks for the review, Luke. I am sorry to read that it didn't completely win you over. Different strokes for different folks. Perhaps, as you suggest, you may need to see it again, in order to fully appreciate it. That was the case with me, and Cars. I liked it, but, I wasn't in love with it. It wasn't until I saw it, a second time, that I truly fell in love with it.

I can't wait to see it, to judge it for myself. I am taking my sister and my nephw to see it, during the first showing, on Friday. While I will keep my expectations in check, from the majority of reviews I've read, I will likely enjoy it.

[Simba3]

Thanks for the review Luke. I saw the sneak preview and I thought the movie was really cute, but it had so many wonderful predecessors that are hard to live up to. I thought Ratatouille was really cute, and was certainly better than Cars. I am really looking forward to seeing the film again so I can really absorb it and form a better opinion of it.

Thanks for the review, Luke. I am sorry to read that it didn't completely win you over. Different strokes for different folks. Perhaps, as you suggest, you may need to see it again, in order to fully appreciate it. That was the case with me, and Cars. I liked it, but, I wasn't in love with it. It wasn't until I saw it, a second time, that I truly fell in love with it.

Really? I just watched Cars again for for my second time, and I went into it with a mindframe of, "Maybe if I see it again I will appreciate it more". Unfortunately, that was not the case. After watching the film for a second time, I think I actually enjoyed it less than I did the first time. Mater is by far the shining star of the film, but outside of him it just really doesn't do much for me. I think the animation in Cars is amazing, but as for the storyline, I feel that it is by far Pixar's weakest film. But, like you said, "Different strokes for different folks"...

[yoda_four]

Yay for Luke and his review! I am glad somebody agrees that there are some real shortfalls to this movie, especially it being from Pixar

I've also been thinking that there wasn't very much Brad Bird in this movie, and if that is in fact the case, a lot of the deficiencies with the movie stem from Pinkava and his storyline and handling of the movie. And really, off the top of my mind, if Bird only hopped onto Ratatouille a year before it was released, it's highly unlikely he *was* able to make any significant changes.

But, once again: not very Pixar like, odd storyline, weak side characters, beautiful animation, better than Shrek 3, worse than any other Pixar film (IMO). Overall, it's an okay package, and pretty good compared to the other films in theatres this year, but certainly not up to the Pixar standard.

[katemonster]

I'm looking forward to seeing Ratatouille for a second time this weekend - I think it's going to be one of those movies where you find something new to marvel at each time you watch it. (And also my boyfriend wants to see it 'cause I won't stop raving about it.)

If anyone needs something to tide them over till Friday, there's a Cuuuute new animation test clip of Emile on YouTube. It's adorable!

[Maerj]

I'm very surprised by the reactions I am seeing on here to this film. Has the backlash begun already?

As far as not being like the other Pixar films... is this not a good thing? You wouldn't want them to do the same thing every time would you? People complain online all the time about repetition, about films from Disney or Pixar not doing something different but when they do try something different people complain about it. This is not directed to one person in particular but to the many posts I've seen over the years.

This movie is not a laugh a minute slapstick comedy like many of the other CG animated films. This film builds slowly to the funny moments and allows them to pay off before going for the next gag. In terms of story and visuals Pixar is still years ahead of the pack and Ratatouille continues this tradition.

Okay, I will climb down from my soapbox now.

PS Take your ticket stubs to the Disney store for your free Pins! Woohoo! Free stuff!

[MadonnasManOne]

I'm very surprised by the reactions I am seeing on here to this film. Has the backlash begun already?

Actually, with the exception of Luke's review, which wasn't necessarily negative, and yoda_four, who seems to dislike it because it is Pixar, all of the reviews I have read are positive. In fact, the film is still 100% Fresh over at Rottentomatoes.com ( http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ratatouille/ ), with 13 reviews posted. It seems that the reaction to this film has been very positive, and I imagine, will continue to be.

[Simba3]

I thought the movie was really great, and so did everyone I saw it with, and they weren't all Disney and Pixar enthusiasts like myself. The movie is getting really great reviews and I am really excited to see how its opening weekend at the box office goes. I hope it does really well. Hopefully it will be a huge hit and then we will get a wonderful 2-disc edition right away in November instead of a crappy 1-discer like we got with Cars

[Maerj]

I'm very surprised by the reactions I am seeing on here to this film. Has the backlash begun already?

Actually, with the exception of Luke's review, which wasn't necessarily negative, and yoda_four, who seems to dislike it because it is Pixar, all of the reviews I have read are positive. In fact, the film is still 100% Fresh over at Rottentomatoes.com ( http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ratatouille/ ), with 13 reviews posted. It seems that the reaction to this film has been very positive, and I imagine, will continue to be.

I wasn't basing that off the rottentomatoes reviews but more on some of the comments I was seeing here on this thread. (Didn't know Yoda_Four hated Pixar!) But its nice to see its getting some good press as I really think it deserves it. I think they picked a really bad time to release it tho, with all of these other big movies coming out.

[Simba3]

I wasn't basing that off the rottentomatoes reviews but more on some of the comments I was seeing here on this thread. (Didn't know Yoda_Four hated Pixar!) But its nice to see its getting some good press as I really think it deserves it. I think they picked a really bad time to release it tho, with all of these other big movies coming out.

Though there are a lot of great movies already out, and set to come out this summer, there aren't a lot of childrens movies, or family movies out right now. I know Surf's Up is out, and so is Shrek (but that has been out for quite a while now) and other than those, I can't really think of many. It's summer time and kids are out of school - I think Pixar has earned a great reputation and therefore "Ratatouille" will have no problem succeeding at the box office.

[DisneyGirl22]

just curious, at the disney store when they do the bring your stub for a surprise thing, do they keep the stub? I want to send mine in for points if I end up going but I would want the pin too lol

[ichabod]

I found this an interesting article, even though Mr Hill sometimes provides biased judgements, but read it yourself <a href="http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/ ... x">here</a>.

You know in spite of this movie obviously being of great quality I'd tend to agree that this Summer's overcrowded blockbuster schedule probably will dent Ratatouille, but then in all fairness it's pretty much dented every film released this Summer.

[Maerj]

just curious, at the disney store when they do the bring your stub for a surprise thing, do they keep the stub? I want to send mine in for points if I end up going but I would want the pin too lol

They don't keep it, I think they just stamp it and it give it back to you.

[MadonnasManOne]

I found this an interesting article, even though Mr Hill sometimes provides biased judgements, but read it yourself <a href="http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/ ... x">here</a>.

Jim Hill is the biggest naysayer I've ever seen. Yes, he likes the film, but, he sure likes to spell doom and gloom for both Disney and Pixar.

The fact that a Disney employee supposedly E-mailed him, and said that he/she hopes that this film fails, to prove that Pixar isn't perfect, is shameful. Why would anyone want Pixar to fail? Why does anyone wish failure upon anyone? Why is it that, because Pixar has done well, others want to see them fail? I don't understand this, but, you see it all the time. You see it from some of the members here, who want to see Pixar fail. It's jealousy, and jealousy is a terrible thing. I wish them success. I wish Disney success. These are both great companies. Why would I want them to fail? They haven't caused me any harm. They haven't done anything immoral.

Articles like this are why I don't visit Jim Hill Media. If I always wanted to hear negative news, I'd just turn on my local news!

It doesn't matter to me if Ratatouille makes "mega bucks", or doesn't. I obviously would like to see the film be a financial success, only because I want to keep seeing these great films. However, my measure of success comes from one simple thing...if I enjoyed the film. What ever happened to those days, when we were all excited to see a film, and didn't give a care in the world how much money it made? As a society, we've become too engrossed in how much money things make. I think that's ridiculous.

[Anthony]

Not that it matters, but I'm confident that Ratatouille will easily make at least $200 million domestically. With Independence Day next week, kids off for summer vacation and the lack of other animated films being released in the coming weeks should make it successful.

I personally don't care how much money it makes. I'm just excited to see the movie!

[DisneyGirl22]

i REALLY wanna see this, and I just remembered I have two certificates for free tickets but I dont know for certain if my daughter would sit through it. I know I would hate to have to leave in the middle but I probably wouldnt be willing to go back again to finish it. I get one day off every two weeks so I would def. be taking Alexis. She did sit through 50 minutes of the new Holly Hobby movie and we were in the theater probably 20 minutes before it started but Im not sure....anyone who saw it already, what do you think? Enough going on on-screen to keep a 2 y/o attention?