Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Brad Bird, I Love You

You've worked on some of my favourite things (like the Simpsons, the Incredibles, the Critic...) and you just keep on going.
The Incredibles was... well... incredible. The look of the film was amazing, it captured that 50s-esque style I love so much, from the opening shot to the end credits. The animation itself was flawless, the hair was enough to make me want to weep with joy. It was funny and poignant and clever. It was more than I could have ever hoped for.
There isn't one second of the film I could find fault with. The only less than positive thought I had when the end credits rolled was "How the hell is he going to top that?"
Well, you answered my question, with of all things a rat. (Don't get me wrong, I'm quite fond of rats.)
Ratatouille is, quite simply, the best piece of animation I have ever seen. I don't think I can even come up with praise worthy of this film.
The animation is mind-blowing. The shots of Paris at night were perfect, absolutely perfect. The characters all had such a... a life to them. And I hate to keep coming back to it, but I understand what a job it is, the hair! Good lord. Especially in a movie where half your cast is covered in it, the hair was just... I don't even have a word for what it was. And that's how I felt before Remy fell in to the water, before he and his father stood in the rain. I didn't think it was possible, but it actually got better.
And I could spend all day babbling about just the look of the movie, but the movie itself, the story was wonderful. It's something I know I'm going to watch again and again, just trying to take it all in. Trying at once to process the beauty of the film and the fabulous story is something I know won't loose any of it appeal any time soon. The characters alone are enough to keep me coming back. (I think I actually love Anton Ego as much as I love Edna Mode.)
I know it's not enough to cover just how wonderful everything you've done has been, but thank you. It's people like you and films like these that keep my faith in movies alive.

PS - If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask. I'm here, ready and willing to be your gofer.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I love Anton Ego too. A stellar example of pitch-perfect characterization, our Anton. Hot damn, Brad Bird, please come up with a spinoff....I want to know more about him... I want to see more of him.... I haven't been infatuated with a Disney character like that since... bloody... George Sanders's Shere Khan!!!