Radio Lady Previews: PiXAR's Ratatouille is coming... be ready!

[Radio_Lady]

Movie opens on Friday, June 29th. My review will be out Thursday night...

[Radio_Lady]

1. Like you, I had to refresh my memory -- "What is ratatouille?"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratatouille

[Radio_Lady]

24. Thursday UPDATE: This movie is delightful! Since about 90% of reviewers have praised it,

I'm going to refer you to the on-line reviewers of note. I had a medical procedure this week and won't be able to write a full review.

Radio Lady gives "Ratatouille" a big fat "A" on Ellen's Entertainment Report Card.



Join Remy the Rat and his friends and foes at the Paris party:

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ratatouille/

http://www.us.imdb.com/title/tt0382932/

http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/ratatouille

[Fire Walk With Me]

34. Thanks for the thumbs-up. Pure Pixar (sans Disney) is some of the best stuff ever.

[Radio_Lady]

35. Several reviewers feel this is the best of the eight movies Pixar has done.

I even like their logo with the little goose-neck lamp, as well as some delightful short features they sometimes add on to their full length feature films.

Peake, I appreciate your comments. Have a wonderful weekend and a happy holiday, too.

Warm regards,

Radio Lady in Oregon

[Fire Walk With Me]

36. Thank you right back, and I hope that you're feeling well after the medical issue.

[Radio_Lady]

39. I'm scheduled to go to a rather routine meeting with a cardiologist.

I'll see him Monday at 10:30 AM. My doctor may have been a little bit alarmist (or CYA, who knows) in referring me to a specialist. Now that I have an official radiologist's report, it doesn't sound back. But, I'll see the the "interventional cardiologist" has to say.

Peake, thanks for your interest.

[Radio_Lady]

52. UPDATE: The doctor said my heart is fine. I need to exercise more and eat less.

Once more, dear friends, into the breach.

OT: I highly recommend John Robbins book "Healthy at 100." It's an amazing work.

You can get to John's web page by clicking on:

http://www.healthyat100.org

[KitchenWitch]

46. We saw it last night at the drive-in and we enjoyed it immensely

I really do like just about everything Pixar does.

[Radio_Lady]

50. Hi Kitchen Witch! Thanks for chiming in... DING -- ding!

[MysticalChicken]

2. I'm definitely going to see this...

for two reasons:

1. I love computer animation anyway, and
2. Janeane Garofalo does one of the voices (and a very good job, I must say, from the clip I saw on Craig Ferguson last night when she was on).

[AwakeAtLast]

6. I saw it, too!

I sooo love Janeane Garofalo. I even was thinking that if I were to jump to the other team, she would be the one. :D

[Radio_Lady]

9. I wish I had seen that. I love Craig Ferguson, but was watching something else.

Janeane is top drawer for me. I hope she's back to being a brunette...

Listen to the audio track for a couple of people you might miss.... including the voice of Peter O'Toole. He just keeps going and going...

[MysticalChicken]

38. It's on YouTube.

And she's been back to being a brunette since 2005.

Anyway, here's the clip:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=LnrYUH9EaXU

[Radio_Lady]

40. Gee, I'll hop right over and see if I can watch it. Thanks!

[TommyO]

3. I refuse to read your review until after I've seen the movie!

Sicko comes first, then it's the rat that got cuisine movie (possibly on July 4th after hitting the local waterpark for a few hours).

[Radio_Lady]

8. Good choices! See my post above... Have a wonderful July 4th!

They are predicting a high of 87 degrees F. -- No worries, I'll be somewhere cool. Maybe at the movies!

[Nickster]

4. Hey RadioLady, did you see 1408 yet? I was curious to see what your take was on it.

[Radio_Lady]

7. We missed the preview due to a conflict. It's getting pretty good reviews.

I like John Cusack. I'll probably see it at some point. Our summer schedule is pretty busy with grandkids, outside stuff, etc. etc. We usually see more movies from October to December. But this year? Who knows? We're going to Utah in October and Orlando in December with our families.

This week we saw:

Ratatouille (Pixar brings out a really good movie for the family. This "rat" has legs...)

SiCKO (Michael Moore hits it up again on the health care industry.)

La Vie en Rose (French film encapsulating the life of Edith Piaf, the chanteuse with amazing performances)

Positive reviews for all of the above.

[FedUpWithIt All]

22. I saw it last night.

I really liked it. It was tense and actually made me jump (NEVER happens)

Cusack was, as usual, excellent. He has to be one of the most generally likable actors around.

[Radio_Lady]

26. Yes, a very talented brother and sister, Joan Cusack. They are both excellent.

Thanks for posting. Have a wonderful holiday!

In peace,

Radio Lady Ellen in Oregon

[MissB]

5. At least the current generation of youngsters

will know how to pronounce ratatouille. :rofl: For some reason, it cracks me up that they offer how to pronounce it underneath the title.

[Radio_Lady]

11. Yes, that was adorable. I remember when news stories came over teletype from AP, UPI, etc.

They ALWAYS used pronunciation guides. Today it's rare to see a pronunciation included. Our news announcers, reading from the morning newspaper, is especially hampered by this.

It's a problem when you read copy with names or wordsthat are unfamiliar, foreign, or unusual.

I'm doing an author interview program and reviews. I try to do my homework, but I have gotten tongue tied recently.

Actor IOAN GRUFFUDD (sp)... what's his name? The cutie pie from "Amazing Grace"? I'm still not sure I said it right.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0344435/

[dropkickpa]

14. Gotta be welsh

With a name like that.

[Radio_Lady]

18. I loves me some Welsh -- but that language is pretty tough to pronounce!

http://www.omniglot.com/writing/welsh.htm

I first ran across it at the site for Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace after we visited there in May.



Here it is -- in Cymraeg:

http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page3762.asp

Diolch am ymweld â gwefan swyddogol y Frenhiniaeth Brydeinig.

Ers deg canrif, fe fu'r Frenhiniaeth yn rhan ganolog o fywyd y Deyrnas Unedig. Fel Pennaeth y Wladwriaeth, mae'r Frenhines yn cyflawni nifer o ddyletswyddau cyfansoddiadol a seremonïol. Mae'r Frenhiniaeth hefyd yn:

helpu i ddiffinio pwy ydyn ni fel cenedl
cynnig sefydlogrwydd mewn cyfnodau o newid
gwobrwyo rhagoriaeth a chyflawniadau
hybu'r ddelfryd o wasanaethu cyhoeddus a gwirfoddol.

Mae'r wefan yma'n cynnig:

gwybodaeth am waith Y Frenhines yn ein cymdeithas ni heddiw
bywgraffiadau o rai o aelodau'r Teulu Brenhinol
hanes brenhinoedd a breninesau'r oesoedd cynt
gwybodaeth gefndirol am y cartrefi a'r casgliadau celf Brenhinol
gwybodaeth am ddigwyddiadau ac ymrwymiadau diweddar y Teulu Brenhinol.
Mae'r tudalennau Cymraeg yma'n cynnig:

bywgraffiadau byr o'r Frenhines a Thywysog Cymru
trosolwg o rôl Y Frenhines
gwybodaeth am y Frenhiniaeth yng Nghymru
disgrifiad o Anrhydeddau Tywysogaeth Cymru.
Ein gobaith ni yw cynnig mwy o wybodaeth yn y Gymraeg yn y dyfodol. Byddwn ni'n falch o gael eich ymateb chi.

[dropkickpa]

19. gesundheit!

I had a friend Dave growing up (Daffyd) and his parents were welsh. Just learning to pronounce their names was impossible until he explained a couple things to me (okay, a lot).

[Radio_Lady]

28. I have a son named Daffyd, er... David. Boy, with that spelling, that kid must have

taken a lot of teasing...

Looks like DAFFY D(UCK) in English!

[MonkeyFunk]

10. tivo had a long preview (like 6 minutes)

and I thought it sucked.

[Radio_Lady]

12. Hi, MonkeyFunk... Lots of movies to choose from starting tomorrow through the holiday.

I have a problem judging trailers as a way of deciding whether to go to a film or not.

Usually, it's the other way around -- It's a wonderful trailer, but the film doesn't live up to the hype.

Don't see it if you don't want to... "we reviewers go so you don't have to!"

Check out the reviewing websites like this one:

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ratatouille/

In peace,

Radio Lady in Oregon

[MonkeyFunk]

13. Your opinion

is really no more relevant than mine, and I'm free to share it.

[Radio_Lady]

15. No worries! Share away... thanks for your comments.

[Lex]

23. The preview on my Tivo looked fantastic.

Just for the superior animation alone it's worth seeing, but I guess some people aren't into that.

[MonkeyFunk]

25. Oh, I love animation...

I just thought the preview I saw wasn't funny at all.

[Radio_Lady]

29. Right you are. But it's true here as elsewhere:

You can please some of the people some of the time. You can please some of the people all of the time. But you can't please all of the people all of the time.

'Specially with movies -- and trailers!

We saw the full trailer at the theater -- and juxtaposed with the fact that we have just returned from a trip to Paris in May, it was particularly appropriate.

[dropkickpa]

16. I'm on vacation next week

And am planning on taking Dropkid to see this. Looks cute, she (and I) love rats, and it looks better than any other kid movie out right now.

[Radio_Lady]

17. You might be interested in a PBS show called Frontline about real big rats!

they did a feature on a man who loved rodents as a child... he doesn't know why.

He has spent seven years training a large rat species from Tanzania. These rats sniff out landmines in places where the mines are still in the ground. Now they're working on teaching the rats to recognize TB.

It's fascinating! Have a wonderful vacation!

Here's the link:

http://www.apopo.org/newsite/content/index.htm

[dropkickpa]

20. The Amazing Race did something with these!

I'll definitely have to keep an eye out for the Frontline thing!! Super cool!

[cobalt1999]

30. Didn't they already make that movie...

Besides, aren't you supposed to be asleep?

[Radio_Lady]

31. Is that a photo of "Willard"?

I took a nap, but thanks for thinking about me!

This film is just a sweet and spicy blend of animation, song, voices, and a good script.

It's not scary at all -- not even a flinch from nine-year-old granddaughter and six-year-old grandson. They already want the DVD!

[cobalt1999]

32. Yes, and I knew you'd remember...

That was a creepy movie.

Glad you got some sleep. I'll definitely take my daughters to this film though. Good luck on your tests.

[Radio_Lady]

33. I just remember the rats. I never watched Willard, because I am not really fond of rats.

Hamsters and white mice, OK.

Mickey and Minnie are OK, too.

Sweet dreams and have a wonderful holiday...

Radio Lady in Oregon

[Lex]

21. I can't wait!

There was a small thread last night in the Lounge about it and I dug up a review from the AP on the movie.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=6658608&mesg_id=6658608

[Radio_Lady]

27. Appreciate your adding this AP feature article, Lex.

I happen to love animation and have been involved with cartoons since I was a teenager.

Pixar just does everything really well... so much has changed since I started in broadcasting in 1957.

You might like to look at this entry. Up on the ladder, it's me in my first job, co-hosting a Popeye cartoon show in Miami, Florida:



Full story here:

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Radio_Lady/147

Have a wonderful weekend and holiday!

Radio Lady Ellen in Oregon

[fortyfeetunder]

37. Saw it last night -- -- MUST SEE

A few weeks ago, I downloaded the trailers and behind the scenes interviews from iTunes, (they are all free) and after seeing all the details, concluded I had to see this movie, "RAT" now!

The movie does not disappoint. The textures, the images, the animation. It's too bad Pixar didn't give out recipe cards from the movie.

See this one you will enjoy it!!

[Radio_Lady]

41. Yes, that striped? multicolored? ratatouille looked delicious.

[Radio_Lady]

42. We must have had it at sometime in our lives. Do you remember where and when?

I don't.

[fortyfeetunder]

44. I think I experimented with it as a teenager

while taking French lessons. The food presentations were just awesome...

There is now a "Ratatouille" cookbook for kids and a local cooking store is giving kiddie French cooking lessons.

[Radio_Lady]

53. My ex-husband was a gourmet cook, and I think we made it once.

However, it was not striped, and I think it had several ingredients -- tomatoes and squash or zucchini.

We had a copy of a famous French cookbook... it's the Larousse Gastronomique. He got the copy when we divorced.

[Radio_Lady]

51. "Too bad Pixar didn't give out recipe cards from the movie." Excellent idea!

I'll pass it along to the Seattle publicist.

Appreciate your post, Forty Feet Under (Under what? Now, I'm curious! All I know is "six feet under." Somebody dig too deep or something???)

[philosophie_en_rose]

43. It's a wonderful film.

It's not a film that can be condensed into a catchphrase, so I wonder how it will do at the box office. However, I thought that it was enjoyable from start to finish.

[Radio_Lady]

54. We'll be tracking the numbers through the holiday and beyond.

Philosophie en Rose, thanks for your post!

[MedleyMisty]

45. I really liked it - great themes

[Radio_Lady]

55. Your post is well timed... and the last one I can respond to before the evening!

Youngest grandson is coming over to sleep! I've decorated the house with flags!

We'll be continuing the MAJOR HOUSECLEANING -- tile and grout and all... What a job! I haven't been this tired in years.

But it's a GOOD tired...

All the best from Radio Lady in Oregon!

[jobycom]

47. Just saw it. I will never doubt PIXAR again.

I had doubts about Cars, and about this film, based on the previews. Both turned out to be great. I liked this one better than Cars, not as much as Pixar's best. Still, best animated film in a while.

[Radio_Lady]

57. Jobycom, glad you got to see it and gave it such praise.

Holiday greetings from Radio Lady -- hope you (have)(are having)(had) a wonderful day!

[MysticalChicken]

48. I saw it last night...

(Copied-and-pasted from my post on the janeane.net message boards)

I am not kidding when I say Ratatouille is the best Pixar film I've seen yet. (Note I didn't say animated film--that honor goes to the fantastically wonderful Spirited Away.) Even if Janeane Garofalo weren't in it, it would still be great. When I wasn't laughing, I had this expression on my face for the whole freakin' movie: :D --only it was more of an open-mouthed grin, where the teeth aren't actually touching. Some parts made me cry as well. I think my favorite part was when Remy was being chased by--oh, I forget his name--the little short chef, and leaping from boat to boat.

Janeane did a fantastic job. Her part was much bigger than I thought it would be. I thought maybe she'd have like two or three scenes but her character, Collette, factors in for most of the movie, so she has a lot of lines and I think she's probably the third-most-talkative character in the movie. I'm also a huge fan of Patton Oswalt and he did a great job as well.

So anyway--yeah. I loved it immensely.

[zonkers]

49. Zonkers review --- thunbs down.

Saw it last night. I found it pretty boring and formulatic. The lessons it tried to impart -- "Be yourself, follow your dream" etc. were done so with little conviction. They seemed forced and obligatory. I did not feel connected to any characters except for maybe the creepy master chef who gets his at the end. He was great.

It was a gorgeous film to look at, especially the backgrounds and the charcters. And it was technically amazing. But I can only take so much repetition of the same noisy sequence whether its a rat crossing street dodging car or a rat running around kitchen dodging people and food carts or a rat running from an old lady with a shotgun. I get it. Yawn.

I wanted the rat to get a girlfriend not the kid. Didn't happen.

[Shine]

56. MrShine took the kids to see it on Sunday and they came back and made a soup!

:rofl: they were inspired, I guess.

They raved about how good the movie was and want to go see it again, with me this time. Is it really THAT good??

:hi:

[MysticalChicken]

58. Yes.

I already want to see it again.

[Radio_Lady]

59. Hello? MrShine? Is it too much to ask for the recipe? Yum. My mouth is watering already...

Ratatouille or soup and barbecued ribs on the newly-owned grill just purchased from Target.

I'm hungry at 6 AM just thinking about it. Got to put those ribs on to boil... Sunny day with friends on tap.

More later.