Comments on: Taste Test: One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) vs. Ratatouille (2007)

By: rml

rml — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 03:53:02 +0000

I thought Ratatouille was the best picture of 2007. Fabulously written — you cannot help but be moved by O’Toole’s speech towards at the end — and the concept was impeccably executed. It was a better movie than No Country for Old Men and it was a better movie than Slumdog Millionaire. An animated movie that transcends the genre has to be better than one that didn’t. (And by the way, Up needs to get a best picture nomination this year.)

By: AR

AR — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:07:35 +0000

UPA and Warner Bros. both played with flattened space and sketchy lines/shapes in the 50’s. Now that I think about it, Disney features and shorts did play with some of these ideas prior to 101 Dalmations, but it still l0oks more contemporary than previous features.

By: Joe Valdez

Joe Valdez — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:46:26 +0000

Megan: Go! Amanda: I'm very disgruntled that your original comment was kiboshed. The server was down an hour and a half late Thursday night. Up yours, North Korea! Anyway, I'm curious which animators you felt were ahead stylistically of Disney in the '50s. And I highly recommend adding these Pixar films to your rental queue: Up, Wall-E, Toy Story 2, Ratatouille, Finding Nemo.

By: AR

AR — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:32:46 +0000

I wrote a long reply to this a few days ago, but it wouldn’t post. I haven’t yet seen Ratatouille, so I’m unable to compare. It’s been a while since I’ve seen 101 Dalmations, but I agree that it’s pretty solid. Stylistically, Disney was behind other animators throughout the 50’s, which is not to disregard their innovations with repeat animation in the film. Or their attempt to adapt new elements to the core Disney style.

By: Megan

Megan — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 04:09:01 +0000

I still haven’t seen Ratatouille. I still can’t believe that. I’m going to have to borrow my nephew’s copy, and then I’ll get back to you on this one!

By: Joe Valdez

Joe Valdez — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:53:44 +0000

Patricia: I feel lucky charmed over here to have hit upon two movies you feel are classics, much less great films. I can't say that I disagree with anything you wrote, except that Ratatouille feels a bit like it came together, rather than the the script ever was hit into the bleachers. That is a very minor criticism though. I think it is an amazing film. Jim: I think you convinced me. I want my vote back. Thanks for commenting! Kelsy: I'm not going to ask how old you were when you saw the live action one but the word "pup" does come to mind (only in the context of this article). BB: Very interesting suggestions. My favorite live action cooking flicks are Eat Drink Man Woman and Big Night, both of which are pretty flawed when they try to leave the kitchen and would get beat by Ratatouille in every category. I do wish I had put it up against Lady and the Tramp, which was a bigger influence on Brad Bird than One Hundred and One Dalmatians, but ... NI! Thanks for commenting!

By: Fairlington Blade

Fairlington Blade — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:42:56 +0000

Interesting that the scoring was a draw: 2 – 2 with one draw.

I’d have been tempted to put Ratatouille up against a live action cooking film. Say, Big Night vs. Ratatouille.

Of course, there’s another potential idea for a taste test. Say, Big Night vs. No Reservations. c

By: kelsy

kelsy — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:56:07 +0000

I’m afraid the 101 Dalmatians that I remember is the live-action one from the 90s, so I can offer not judgment.

By: Yojimbo_5

Yojimbo_5 — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:03:15 +0000

I’d give it to “Ratatouille.” “101 Dalmations” is a great movie and has the magic Disney touch of the remaining “Nine Old Men,” but the human characters are lacking, save for Cruella, and the movie suffers from the yin-yang of elaborate character animation and cost-cutting backgrounds.

“Ratatouille,” however, has yet to be topped (in these eyes) as a detailed, full-bodied entertainment with superb voice-casting, character design and inventive …inventive… action set-pieces.

And it actually manages to say something about cuisine…and creativity…and doesn’t cheat the consequences.

legacy aside (and even included!) “Ratatouille” is the better film.

(And is puppy-skinning less off-putting than rats in the kitchen?)

By: Pat Evans

Pat Evans — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:55:32 +0000

This is one of your cuter taste tests and one where it is difficult to reach a final conclusion since both films are classic. We are so used to computer-generated animation now that earlier ones can seem flat. However I agree that this is one of Disney’s best films and its wittiness and the superb characterization, especially for the different breeds of dogs, makes it feel round and alive. I thought that Ratatouille was amazing, even if the concept of rats scurrying around a kitchen is actually a little offputting, and I marginally prefer its voice cast. You’re probably right in deeming Dalmatians the winner on balance, but it’s a close call.