Ratatouille

There is a saying- "Better late than never". Months after the movie, Ratatouille released locally, much to my relief and excitement, I finally able watch the Animation Movie of The Year which was still playing in the cineplex. Yeah!

Pixar did it again! After a rather generic but visually shining "Cars", my initial feeling about this movie was not very encouraging. I was thinking the story was a bit like "City rat and country mouse" or something like that after watching the 1st trailer. Not really fancy that kind of story plot. Soon i heard its developing story which turn out to be something else. Still I didnt get my hope up. When i finally watch the movie, i never expect i was thrown a curve ball by Pixar. And i love it.

Remy was no ordinary rat. He was born able to taste, smell and appreciate fine food- something that his family, brother Emile and father Djangon finds it odd. Guided by Remy's imaginary mentor, the recently deceased legendary chef, Auguste Gusteau, he aims to live a life of gourmet. But in the world where rats are considered as the much feared dirty food stealing pests, it was an impossible dream. Remy's life set to change, when he was accidentally separated from his rat colony and ends up in Gusteau's restaurant in "Paree" (Paris). And his chance came when a new garbage boy, Alfredo Linguini "cooks" up an incident that form a partnership between the rat and the hopeless as a cook boy.

Like the finest food, the movie was served with the best of both world- storyline and visual, all mixed so perfectly. Director, Brad Bird was truly a genius at storytelling combining with the great wizards at Pixar making this movie not only a visual feast but an endearing fun story for the whole family.

True to Pixar's standard, the animation in the movie was truly breathtaking. Paris was rendered in its most beautiful best on the big screen. Food so real you can almost taste and smell it. And characters animated so believable you just wanna hug them (or slap them silly depending on who). Some details were so fine you have to pause the movie to take a better look (one reason to buy the DVD).

The idea of Remy's voice narrating his story through the movie was with all the pausing effect, the talking illustration of Gusteau, the cooking training of Linguini, the rat's prepective of Paris urban life, the visualizing of taste and the trigger-happy grandma was really fun to watch. Any movie-goer whom missed this should have a rat put under his or her shirt.