Ratatouille

***1/2 Stars

The geniuses from Pixar Animation are some sort of collaboration put together by God to save a genre that has been struggling to survive. Of course old Disney classics like The Lion King, Peter Pan, Oliver and Company, Alladin, and others included are no longer existent, but because of Pixar, a new generation of classic films are being created for both children and adults alike. Ratatouille is another worthy addition to the library of Disney's hall of fame.

Director Brad Bird (The Incredibles) is bringing a new level to animation, as he swiftly blends classic story telling with artistic beauty. In every frame, the audience is dazzled by the movements and small touches he puts in, especially when the story is in the kitchen. Rats in a kitchen never looked so good.

The story is in fact about rats doing something good in this world. Is that a hypocrisy or what? Well, if you can escape away from reality, you will be able to believe the premise. The plot revolves around Remy, a rat who dreams of becoming a great French chef like his mentor Chef Auguste Gusteau. When Remy is tired of eating plain and old garbage, he tries to spice up his appetite with some new ingredients. When he accidentally gets caught stealing spices by an old lady, his entire tribe who lives above her house must flee. While escaping, Remy ends up in the sewer under Gusteau's famous restaurant. Even though completely socially unaccepted, Remy will stop at nothing to make his dreams become reality and enters Gusteau's kitchen to find what's missing in his life. Yes, apparently rats do indeed have a dream. I was waiting for Martin Luther King to appear in rat form to appropriately give a speech.

Artistically, Ratatouille is perfect. It has the scope of Finding Nemo and the brains of a brilliant creator. In fact at some points, it almost felt too sophisticated for a Disney film. Many children may not pick up on several of the hidden references to French culture and a culinary atmosphere. But as always, Pixar always sends a great message in their pictures, with Ratatouille telling us never to give up on a dream even if people don't take you seriously. Even the villain in this film, a food critic voiced by the legendary Peter O'Toole, has his humanistic side as well, who is reminded of why he entered his career in the first place. Director Brad Bird is becoming the D.W Griffith of animated films.