Matt Zimmer (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
matt_zimmer) wrote2007-07-26 06:35 pm
matt_zimmer) wrote2007-07-26 06:35 pm
Ratatouille Review (Spoilers)
Also reviews for the Pixar short "Lifted", The latest issue of Walt Disney's Comics and Stories, the last issue of Shazam!: The Monster Society of Evil, the latest two issues of Gargoyles, and the latest issue of Buffy: Season Eight.
Review of Season Two of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine will be forthcoming within the week.
Ratatouille
I was disappointed with Cars but Ratatouille is a return to form for Pixar. The message of the movie about how anyone can achieve greatness is a good one and the movie is tightly paced with great comic timing. Remy is an adorable hero and I loved how the Food Critic despite being portrayed as one of the villains becomes the hero of the piece. His review of the Ratatouille soup that Remy made is truly great. I also loved all the rats in the kitchen making the food especially when Remy made them "wash their hands". Linguini was a cute "chef" and a wonderful foil for Remy. I think Pixar is getting even better at expressing human emotion as all of the characters are as expressive as anything Pixar has ever done. I liked the chase with Remy, the Chef and the will too. The movie is one of those "feel-good" movies that people seem to crave without the triteness that usually goes with them. Easily the best Pixar film since Finding Nemo. Brad Bird outdid himself. It's even better than The Incredibles (And THAT is saying something). *****.
Lifted: Cute Pixar cartoon that never-the-less left kind of a bad taste in my mouth considering the sleeping guy in all likelihood died at the end. It was funny (I liked the aliens) but there was a sourness there I didn't appreciate. ***1/2.
Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #682
Donald Duck in "Blowhards" by William Van Horn: William Van Horn is no Barks or Rosa but there is NO denying that the guy is putting out good, solid stories month after month. This one is no different. Van Horn doesn't use Gladstone Gander enough for my liking so seeing him and Donald race to the island was a treat. Yes, it's a variation on Carl Barks' "Race to the South Seas" but it was a GOOD variation. ****.
Mickey Mouse in "Baby Steps": This story is REALLY bad and is the kind of thing that belongs in Archie Comics, not Disney. Unfortunately too many Disney stories are as badly plotted and unfunny. It's especially jarring when read right after a solid Van Horn story. Disney does too many stories like this. *1/2.
Donald Duck in "Quacked Quest": They do too many stories like this too. How many Lord of the Rings parodies is Disney capable of? We get one every other issue it seems. I'm sick of it. How about a Harry Potter parody? Or better yet, Buffy? Then again, Disney Comics are still doing Star Wars parodies so I won't get my hopes up. **.
Little Bad Wolf in "Oops, Wrong Story": This story with the little bear that kept saying "duh" gave me Woodland Critter Christmas flashbacks. The story still stunk though. Hail Satan! */2.
Donald Duck in "Days At the Lazy K" by Carl Barks: I love Carl Barks stories because they are unpredictable. Sometimes the nephews win and sometimes Donald wins. And sometimes everybody wins and as in this story sometimes NOBODY wins. I love that for all of the nephews troubles in trying to tame that colt that they did no better than Donald did. Hilarious. ****.
Gargoyles: "Clan-Building Part Four: Masque"
I liked the story even though the Elisa/ Goliath stuff was a little sappy. The Illuminati stuff was cool. But I had a real objection to the cliffhanger and the gut-splattering violence. I can't tell who they're trying to impress. We know Goliath isn't going to die so I can't help but wonder why they are trying to cater to fanboys who crave gratuitous violence. That isn't what made me a Gargoyles fan originally. ***/2.
Gargoyles: "Clan Building Part Five: Bash"
The Illuminati stuff was REALLY cool as was the cliffhanger but I was turned off by the swearing. I'm sick of comics based on "kids" franchises always thinking gore and swearing is cool and makes something "adult". What makes something adult is clever storytelling and not talking down to your audience. I keep feeling as if the fanboy inside me is supposed to approve. Meh. ***.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Seasons Eight: The Long Way Home Part Four"
I REALLY dig the idea of Buffy and the Slayers actually having to fight humanity this time out but I think that's the next logical step after the First and Ultimate Evil. I was shocked by Ethan's death and bringing back Warren and explaining how he survived was clever. Although technically if he DIDN'T die does this mean Willow will feel she's off the hook? I hope not because she left him worse than dead and what she did in "Villains" is inexcusable. I really liked this issue and I can't wait for the next one. ****1/2.
Shazam!: The Monster Society of Evil #4 by Jeff Smith
Killer conclusion to the mini-series. I REALLY hope Jeff Smith does another one as this was just pure awesomeness from start to finish. The last issue was SO exciting and cool (I really liked Savini being exposed for what he was) and Mary Marvel and Billy are still adorable. I can't recommend this mini-series highly enough. When it comes out in a trade paperback I encourage people to pick it up. I all but consider the story DCAU canon. *****.
Review of Season Two of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine will be forthcoming within the week.
Ratatouille
I was disappointed with Cars but Ratatouille is a return to form for Pixar. The message of the movie about how anyone can achieve greatness is a good one and the movie is tightly paced with great comic timing. Remy is an adorable hero and I loved how the Food Critic despite being portrayed as one of the villains becomes the hero of the piece. His review of the Ratatouille soup that Remy made is truly great. I also loved all the rats in the kitchen making the food especially when Remy made them "wash their hands". Linguini was a cute "chef" and a wonderful foil for Remy. I think Pixar is getting even better at expressing human emotion as all of the characters are as expressive as anything Pixar has ever done. I liked the chase with Remy, the Chef and the will too. The movie is one of those "feel-good" movies that people seem to crave without the triteness that usually goes with them. Easily the best Pixar film since Finding Nemo. Brad Bird outdid himself. It's even better than The Incredibles (And THAT is saying something). *****.
Lifted: Cute Pixar cartoon that never-the-less left kind of a bad taste in my mouth considering the sleeping guy in all likelihood died at the end. It was funny (I liked the aliens) but there was a sourness there I didn't appreciate. ***1/2.
Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #682
Donald Duck in "Blowhards" by William Van Horn: William Van Horn is no Barks or Rosa but there is NO denying that the guy is putting out good, solid stories month after month. This one is no different. Van Horn doesn't use Gladstone Gander enough for my liking so seeing him and Donald race to the island was a treat. Yes, it's a variation on Carl Barks' "Race to the South Seas" but it was a GOOD variation. ****.
Mickey Mouse in "Baby Steps": This story is REALLY bad and is the kind of thing that belongs in Archie Comics, not Disney. Unfortunately too many Disney stories are as badly plotted and unfunny. It's especially jarring when read right after a solid Van Horn story. Disney does too many stories like this. *1/2.
Donald Duck in "Quacked Quest": They do too many stories like this too. How many Lord of the Rings parodies is Disney capable of? We get one every other issue it seems. I'm sick of it. How about a Harry Potter parody? Or better yet, Buffy? Then again, Disney Comics are still doing Star Wars parodies so I won't get my hopes up. **.
Little Bad Wolf in "Oops, Wrong Story": This story with the little bear that kept saying "duh" gave me Woodland Critter Christmas flashbacks. The story still stunk though. Hail Satan! */2.
Donald Duck in "Days At the Lazy K" by Carl Barks: I love Carl Barks stories because they are unpredictable. Sometimes the nephews win and sometimes Donald wins. And sometimes everybody wins and as in this story sometimes NOBODY wins. I love that for all of the nephews troubles in trying to tame that colt that they did no better than Donald did. Hilarious. ****.
Gargoyles: "Clan-Building Part Four: Masque"
I liked the story even though the Elisa/ Goliath stuff was a little sappy. The Illuminati stuff was cool. But I had a real objection to the cliffhanger and the gut-splattering violence. I can't tell who they're trying to impress. We know Goliath isn't going to die so I can't help but wonder why they are trying to cater to fanboys who crave gratuitous violence. That isn't what made me a Gargoyles fan originally. ***/2.
Gargoyles: "Clan Building Part Five: Bash"
The Illuminati stuff was REALLY cool as was the cliffhanger but I was turned off by the swearing. I'm sick of comics based on "kids" franchises always thinking gore and swearing is cool and makes something "adult". What makes something adult is clever storytelling and not talking down to your audience. I keep feeling as if the fanboy inside me is supposed to approve. Meh. ***.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Seasons Eight: The Long Way Home Part Four"
I REALLY dig the idea of Buffy and the Slayers actually having to fight humanity this time out but I think that's the next logical step after the First and Ultimate Evil. I was shocked by Ethan's death and bringing back Warren and explaining how he survived was clever. Although technically if he DIDN'T die does this mean Willow will feel she's off the hook? I hope not because she left him worse than dead and what she did in "Villains" is inexcusable. I really liked this issue and I can't wait for the next one. ****1/2.
Shazam!: The Monster Society of Evil #4 by Jeff Smith
Killer conclusion to the mini-series. I REALLY hope Jeff Smith does another one as this was just pure awesomeness from start to finish. The last issue was SO exciting and cool (I really liked Savini being exposed for what he was) and Mary Marvel and Billy are still adorable. I can't recommend this mini-series highly enough. When it comes out in a trade paperback I encourage people to pick it up. I all but consider the story DCAU canon. *****.