Ratatouille Goodies
Check Out a Japanese Trailer and Images From Pixar Flick
Here are some more Ratatouille bits to keep you going until June 29th.
(Source: www.filmick.co.uk, www.disney.co.jp)
I'm starting to sense a whiff of desperation from the folks at Disney with all the Ratatouille stuff they're tossing onto the Interweb. Between the three (so far) featurettes, the nine-minute clip on Disney's site, and all the movie images popping up on various servers, I'm getting the feeling that the Mouse House is terrified that moviegoers will be so preoccupied with Transformers or Harry Potter that they won't be interested in the story of a rat who wants to cook.
It's a shame if that's the case, because all indications are that Ratatouille is looking to be one of Pixar's better flicks. Sure Brad Bird had to take over directing duties after Jan Pinkava dropped out (I still haven't gotten the full story on that one), but everything I've read and heard says that Bird did a hell of a job with what he was given. If Ratatouille is as good as all everyone seems to believe it is, it would be a real shame if this is the first Pixar movie to tank at the box office.
On the other hand, there are some strong indications that the Number 3 doesn't have the same drawing power that studio executives wished it had. Spider-Man 3, Shrek the Third and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End have all experienced steep box office drop-offs since their theatrical debuts, and are looking to have the lowest box office of their respective franchises. Combine that with the surprise debut of Judd Apatow's Knocked Up, and there's the possibility that moviegoers are interested in a good, original idea (even if it may have been stolen from Rebecca Eckler).
With all that said, here's our first piece of Ratatouille-ness. film ick (happy, Brendon?) got their paws on some images, both from the movie and behind the scenes. We've seen a few of these images before, mainly in the various trailers that have popped up from time to time. Of course, seeing these as static images allows you to appreciate the insane attention to detail that Pixar puts into their movies.
To my mind, the more interesting images are the behind-the scenes shots, such as Bird directing Peter O'Toole (who voices Anton Ego, a sinister restaurant critic), Pixar mainstay John Ratzenberger (who voices Mustafa) standing between Bird and producer Brad Lewis, and Lewis laughing as Brad Garret (who voices Gusteau's ghost) delivers his lines. Check out the first batch of Ratatouille images over here, and some more over here.
Going back to trailers, it's always fascinating to see how a movie is marketed in another culture. In North America, Ratatouille's promoters have really gone for the gag quotient, emphasizing the various pratfalls and jokes in the flick. Whereas in Japan, Ratatouille has been marketed as a family drama about the rat who dreams of becoming a great chef. For instance, Gusteau's ghost (who plays a pivotal role in inspiring Remy) has been totally absent from North American previews. I guess the Japanese are more relaxed about that sort of thing in a kids' movie. Anyway, you can check out a Japanese trailer for Ratatouille by clicking here.
Ratatouille opens June 29th.
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