Movie Pick of the Week

Ratatouille is Brad Bird's 3rd film. His second, The Incredibles was one of my favorite movies of 2004 and makes the short-list of all time favorite animated films (not best, but favorite--there's a distinction). His first movie was the criminally under-seen Iron Giant. If there was any justice on this pretty ball of mud, then Iron Giant would be mentioned in the same breath as films like E.T. and The Lion King. As of now, Brad Byrd is the only person in animation who I can picture overtaking or at least eventually coming to rival the qualitative output of Hayao Miyazaki. If you aren't familiar with animation, then I'm basically saying he will be better than Walt Disney himself.

Coming into this film, my expectations were high to say the least. Yet somehow he still managed to exceed them. The movie is damn near perfect on every level. Bird manages to take the world of professional cooking and make it accessible and more important entertaining to all ages. His greatest strength lies in his ability to imbue his characters with heart. These aren't just soulless celebrity-voiced CGI constructs spouting pop culture references and making inane "dooty"-jokes. Well to be sure there are "dooty"-jokes, but the movie doesn't even begin to rely on that kind of humor. In other words, it's the anti-Shrek.

Ratatouille is such a great experience. You should see it unspoiled. In fact all you need to know is that it's a great flick about a rat wanting to be a cook. That's it. And if you don't come out of the film feeling better about yourself, the world and everybody in it, then God have mercy on your black soul you heartless bastard. Enjoy!

Bonus Listage:
Favorite 10 Animated Films:
1. Spirited Away
2. Grave of the Fireflies
3. Princess Mononoke
4. Iron Giant
5. The Lion King
6. The Incredibles
7. South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut
8. Toy Story
9. Transformers: The Movie
10. Toy Story 2 Ninja Scroll (there, are you happy?)