tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post8254455898294988680..comments2024-03-19T07:27:06.216-04:00Comments on VOTARIES OF HORROR: Ratatouille as a Lesson in Non-ElitismKatherine Woodburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14364517253667798449noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-71541528535888059352008-08-04T11:40:00.000-04:002008-08-04T11:40:00.000-04:00I've watched it now. The dialogue is good, and th...I've watched it now. The dialogue is good, and the final "review" by Ego is the central message of the movie, I think. The animation is quality and some of the sight gags they draw are precious. For all that, the movie kind of plods along quite predictably and I had a hard time not buzzing ahead like a teenager listening to a fatherly lecture.<BR/><BR/>The DVD we borrowed from the library, however, also had some excellent shorts, and the dual interview with the chef and head animator made the experience worth the trouble. What they had to say about leadership, passion, the artistry of any endeavor, and the pursuit of excellence were very worth hearing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-81265135531369993432008-06-20T12:50:00.000-04:002008-06-20T12:50:00.000-04:00Well, there are all the movie-based coloring books...Well, there are all the movie-based coloring books, picture books, activity books, books with audio, books without audio, books with action figures, board books, easy-to-read books, chapter books . . .<BR/><BR/>Actually, I don't mind the commercialization (go capitalism!) although occasionally it bugs me that Disney knows it can earn back its money on "extras" no matter how horrible the actual movie is. <BR/><BR/>On the other hand, being able to earn back money on "extras" means Disney and other studios can afford to take risks--which is good for the industry.Kate Woodburyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06276977170991272672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-31640100680951195572008-06-19T22:47:00.000-04:002008-06-19T22:47:00.000-04:00Great. Now I have to watch the blasted thing.Isn't...Great. Now I have to watch the blasted thing.<BR/><BR/>Isn't there a book version?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-38547581758319965482008-06-18T19:27:00.000-04:002008-06-18T19:27:00.000-04:00Or as Philip Pullman puts it: "In a book for child...Or as <A HREF="http://www.randomhouse.com/features/pullman/author/carnegie.html" REL="nofollow">Philip Pullman</A> puts it: "In a book for children you can't put the plot on hold while you cut artistic capers for the amusement of your sophisticated readers, because, thank God, your readers are not sophisticated. They've got more important things in mind than your dazzling skill with wordplay. They want to know what happens next."<BR/><BR/>I also can't resist the urge to <A HREF="http://www.eugenewoodbury.com/angel/index.html" REL="nofollow">quote myself</A>: "<I>Look at the roots,</I> Milada told herself. Look at where the tree took hold. The engineer was still at work on his Sistine Chapel, digging the foundations by hand. When he was gone he wanted his life to say: <I>I made something, I created something, I left something real behind in the world.</I>"Eugenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03182644885948983861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-32629013668972802122008-06-18T13:24:00.000-04:002008-06-18T13:24:00.000-04:00Great analysis, Kate. Add in The Incredibles, and ...Great analysis, Kate. <BR/><BR/>Add in The Incredibles, and one realizes that there's some fascinating commentary on talent and elitism coming out of Pixar.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com