Originally Posted By Admin This topic is for Discussion of: <a href="http://www.LaughingPlace.com/Blogs/FanBoy/View-ID59.asp" target="_blank">6/18/07 Ratatouille Countdown: My Thoughts</a>
Originally Posted By magnet Excellent choice to have someone named "Ratzenberger" (pronounced Rats-in-burger) in this film. Hmmm, rat burgers - probably what that guy with the dead rats hanging in the window of his shop was making. So, you liked this one less than Cars? Wow, I'm a bit shocked. That's just the first I've heard anyone rate Ratatouille lower than that film, though I realize on an absolute scale, you think rather highly of both movies. I was so unimpressed with the trailer for Cars that I've just never bothered to see it, and I've not heard good things about it in general, but maybe I'll go check it out now.
Originally Posted By ChiMike For me, CARS was the first Pixar film to brake out of the Pixar mold. And it suffered for it. CARS seemed to be from the bizzaro-Pixar Studios. All the rules Pixar had set to distinguish itself, to prevent itself from carrying down the rocky-road that everyone knew was destined for WDFA and Dreamworks, were broken with CARS. I thought it put the onus on casting celebrity voices more for reason of celebrity rather than if it fit the character. Add on the inclusion of cameo voices like Bob Costas and Jeremy "One-Dimensional" Piven and it adds to the problem. It used pop culture music. It used pop culture references and in-jokes. It also had an unsympathetic protagonist and a weak antagonist. I felt I was watching a Dreamworks production with better animation. -And that was the one bright spot of Cars; the quality level of animation. Well, outside of the character design which was questionable. I still maintain, since opening night, that the biggest thing that hurt CARS was Joe Ranft's untimely passing. After seeing CARS, it quickly reinforced how important Joe was at Pixar. Pixar violated so many of their own principles with CARS. Like Disney has done with their own principles in the parks and with the consumer in general. It was troubling at the time because Pixar was now joining Disney at the hip and their last project (w/o such a tight relationship with Disney) already presented the compromises. Ratatouille was certainly a step back in the right direction. I find it amusing that John likes to think of himself as the living embodiment of Walt Disney. Well Walt flopped early on with Alice in Wonderland and CARS certainly shares many of the same problems, among them, a weak, unsympathetic, hero. So I guess John also had to have his "Alice" I just don't think CARS will age as well as Alice has. Hopefully I am wrong.
Originally Posted By LPFan22 ~~~For me, CARS was the first Pixar film to brake out of the Pixar mold.~~~ Hee hee, brake, get it?
