dtstratovarius (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} dtstratovarius) wrote,@ 2008-04-23 21:20:00 |
|
Some assorted anime thoughts, and a movie review of Disney/Pixar's Ratattouile.
Hey all,
Well, forgot about reviewing "Ratattouile" since I saw it last night before I crashed (along with half of the "A Pixar Story" documentary that is exclusive to Starz this month. So, let me ramble on a few things before getting to the movie review. :)
-ANIME:
--Inadvertantly saw the first episode of "Tokko," when I DVR'ed the anime OVA, "Psychic Wars." I fast-forwarded through the OVA to see who the VA cast was after watching a few minutes of "Psychic Wars," but it was one of those early Manga Entertainment UK dubs. I fast-forwarded a bit too far, and realized that "Psychic Wars" was only a 50 minute OVA, and not the 1:30 that DirectTV programmed. So, after fast-forwarding a bit far, then rewinding a bit, I had the first episode of "Tokko" on there. So, deciding to watch "Pyschic Wars" another time...I watched "Tokko." "Tokko" is a short little 13 episode police/supernatural/demons/etc...series that seems to be formulaic, with a few twists. Brother & sister, now both cops, come home after the first earthquake/wave to find their parents (father = cop) dismembered with blood all OVER the place. A few years later, the brother is haunted by dreams about a mysterious woman with a sword killing these demons. Turns out that woman's on the special forces division of the special investigations unit that the brother, Shingo, just was assigned to. However...if you watch "Tokko" on SciFi, you can obviously tell they do "edit" the dub with some silent "bleeps" on curse-words, which is annoying. An LA dub (the ever-great Bang Zoom Studios handling the dub), which shows as you can obviously tell Tony Oliver's voice as Shingo. So far, an intriguing story that has promise. I'll definitely be interested to watch more.
-I'm continuing to watch the new airing/never-released-on-DVD episodes of "Black Lagoon: the Second Barrage," and dammit, I wish Funimation would just pick the rest of this series up already and release it. So far, these six new episodes have been tremendous. The three-episode arc with the "Vampire Twins" was downright EVIL (especially what happened to the twins to make them what they are). The current three-episode arc with "Greenback Jane," a money forger is very interesting, especially after Benny cracks her dead admin's code, and she practically JUMPS Benny with Rock watching. Plus getting some nice background on "Sister" Eda of the Doublecross Church was "enlightening."
MOVIE REVIEW - "RATATTOUILE"
-Okay, honestly, "Cars" was the first Disney/Pixar CG film that I really didn't want to watch, but it won me over after I got it on DVD. A few months after it came out on DVD and probably a few weeks after it premiered on Starz, I FINALLY watched "Ratattouile." Honestly, when the theatrical previews started to air for this, BEFORE it released in theaters....I honestly thought this would be the first blemish on Pixar's reputation, as they pretty much are the only studio to have a perfect record when it comes to their films. I can honestly admit that I was wrong.
Led by writer/director, Brad Bird, who seemingly has a perfect record going as well, "Ratattouile" further shows how Pixar kind of bucks the trend especially given the fact that Hollywood can't come up with a good original story to save their lives (hence the bazillion remakes we have to look forward to). Remy (voiced by comedian Patton Oswalt) is a rat with a passion for food, taste, and being creative. His inspiration, after the human of the house falls asleep watching cooking shows, is the Chef Gusteau (Brad Garrett with a pretty subdued voice this time around), widely considered to be the best chef in all of France. That is...until Gusteau gets a bad review by famous food critic, Anton Ego (Peter O'Toole). Gusteau's restaurant looses two stars from its former 5-stars, and from the shock, Gusteau died. This comes to a shock to Remy, which alerts the old lady of the house, who starts shooting her shotgun at the rats. So, Remy's dad, Django, (the colony's leader, voiced by Brian Dennehy) abandons the colony retreating to the sewers, as Remy struggles to catch up, because he went back to get the cookbook, "Anyone Can Cook" by Gusteau that Remy valued. Remy gets lost in the sewers of Paris, only to have his imaginary visions of Gusteau lead him to Gusteau's restaurant.
Presently, Gusteau's restaurant and fame are being run into the ground by his former right-hand chef, Skinner (Ian Holm), who is milking Gusteau's fame for a line of various microwave frozen foods. The restaurant's reputation has taken a pretty big hit too, maintaining it's 3-stars. Suddenly, Alfredo Linguini (voiced by Lou Romano) brings a letter to Skinner from Linguini's late mother asking for a job. Before things are said, Linguini is hired as a garbage boy, who at times attempts to help cooking badly, until Remy gets involved and is caught. Skinner orders Linguini to get rid of the rat, and Linguini reluctantly leaves. He's about to drop Remy into the Seine, and he realizes with Remy's nodding/shaking head that Remy understands what Linguini is saying. So after some experimenting, Remy controls Linguini helping him become a popular chef. Meanwhile, Skinner's lawyer discovers in Linguini's mother's letter that he's the lost son of Gusteau, which Skinner absolutely flips about.
All-in-all, "Ratattouile" is a very underrated, but as always, near-perfect effort out of Pixar Studios. Brad Bird cast the voices perfectly, and even got Pixar lucky charm John Ratzgenberger ("Cheers") in as a voice. You'll easily be able to recognize him. :)
RATING: A-; while not Pixar's best film, it's one of that'll make you feel good at the end. Brad Bird and John Lasseter seem to have the Midas touch with animated film lately, and can seemingly do no wrong. Definitely check this out, as adults and kids alike will like this one. :)
Hey all,
Well, forgot about reviewing "Ratattouile" since I saw it last night before I crashed (along with half of the "A Pixar Story" documentary that is exclusive to Starz this month. So, let me ramble on a few things before getting to the movie review. :)
-ANIME:
--Inadvertantly saw the first episode of "Tokko," when I DVR'ed the anime OVA, "Psychic Wars." I fast-forwarded through the OVA to see who the VA cast was after watching a few minutes of "Psychic Wars," but it was one of those early Manga Entertainment UK dubs. I fast-forwarded a bit too far, and realized that "Psychic Wars" was only a 50 minute OVA, and not the 1:30 that DirectTV programmed. So, after fast-forwarding a bit far, then rewinding a bit, I had the first episode of "Tokko" on there. So, deciding to watch "Pyschic Wars" another time...I watched "Tokko." "Tokko" is a short little 13 episode police/supernatural/demons/etc...series that seems to be formulaic, with a few twists. Brother & sister, now both cops, come home after the first earthquake/wave to find their parents (father = cop) dismembered with blood all OVER the place. A few years later, the brother is haunted by dreams about a mysterious woman with a sword killing these demons. Turns out that woman's on the special forces division of the special investigations unit that the brother, Shingo, just was assigned to. However...if you watch "Tokko" on SciFi, you can obviously tell they do "edit" the dub with some silent "bleeps" on curse-words, which is annoying. An LA dub (the ever-great Bang Zoom Studios handling the dub), which shows as you can obviously tell Tony Oliver's voice as Shingo. So far, an intriguing story that has promise. I'll definitely be interested to watch more.
-I'm continuing to watch the new airing/never-released-on-DVD episodes of "Black Lagoon: the Second Barrage," and dammit, I wish Funimation would just pick the rest of this series up already and release it. So far, these six new episodes have been tremendous. The three-episode arc with the "Vampire Twins" was downright EVIL (especially what happened to the twins to make them what they are). The current three-episode arc with "Greenback Jane," a money forger is very interesting, especially after Benny cracks her dead admin's code, and she practically JUMPS Benny with Rock watching. Plus getting some nice background on "Sister" Eda of the Doublecross Church was "enlightening."
MOVIE REVIEW - "RATATTOUILE"
-Okay, honestly, "Cars" was the first Disney/Pixar CG film that I really didn't want to watch, but it won me over after I got it on DVD. A few months after it came out on DVD and probably a few weeks after it premiered on Starz, I FINALLY watched "Ratattouile." Honestly, when the theatrical previews started to air for this, BEFORE it released in theaters....I honestly thought this would be the first blemish on Pixar's reputation, as they pretty much are the only studio to have a perfect record when it comes to their films. I can honestly admit that I was wrong.
Led by writer/director, Brad Bird, who seemingly has a perfect record going as well, "Ratattouile" further shows how Pixar kind of bucks the trend especially given the fact that Hollywood can't come up with a good original story to save their lives (hence the bazillion remakes we have to look forward to). Remy (voiced by comedian Patton Oswalt) is a rat with a passion for food, taste, and being creative. His inspiration, after the human of the house falls asleep watching cooking shows, is the Chef Gusteau (Brad Garrett with a pretty subdued voice this time around), widely considered to be the best chef in all of France. That is...until Gusteau gets a bad review by famous food critic, Anton Ego (Peter O'Toole). Gusteau's restaurant looses two stars from its former 5-stars, and from the shock, Gusteau died. This comes to a shock to Remy, which alerts the old lady of the house, who starts shooting her shotgun at the rats. So, Remy's dad, Django, (the colony's leader, voiced by Brian Dennehy) abandons the colony retreating to the sewers, as Remy struggles to catch up, because he went back to get the cookbook, "Anyone Can Cook" by Gusteau that Remy valued. Remy gets lost in the sewers of Paris, only to have his imaginary visions of Gusteau lead him to Gusteau's restaurant.
Presently, Gusteau's restaurant and fame are being run into the ground by his former right-hand chef, Skinner (Ian Holm), who is milking Gusteau's fame for a line of various microwave frozen foods. The restaurant's reputation has taken a pretty big hit too, maintaining it's 3-stars. Suddenly, Alfredo Linguini (voiced by Lou Romano) brings a letter to Skinner from Linguini's late mother asking for a job. Before things are said, Linguini is hired as a garbage boy, who at times attempts to help cooking badly, until Remy gets involved and is caught. Skinner orders Linguini to get rid of the rat, and Linguini reluctantly leaves. He's about to drop Remy into the Seine, and he realizes with Remy's nodding/shaking head that Remy understands what Linguini is saying. So after some experimenting, Remy controls Linguini helping him become a popular chef. Meanwhile, Skinner's lawyer discovers in Linguini's mother's letter that he's the lost son of Gusteau, which Skinner absolutely flips about.
All-in-all, "Ratattouile" is a very underrated, but as always, near-perfect effort out of Pixar Studios. Brad Bird cast the voices perfectly, and even got Pixar lucky charm John Ratzgenberger ("Cheers") in as a voice. You'll easily be able to recognize him. :)
RATING: A-; while not Pixar's best film, it's one of that'll make you feel good at the end. Brad Bird and John Lasseter seem to have the Midas touch with animated film lately, and can seemingly do no wrong. Definitely check this out, as adults and kids alike will like this one. :)
