Customer Reviews

Ratatouille

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Michael Giacchino, the man who scored Alias, Lost, The Incredibles, Mission: Impossible 3, and The Family Stone, brings us Ratatouille, one of the most beautiful pieces of modern orchestral music out there. Like the film, the score is comedic, heartfelt, and genuine. I hope it gets the recognition it deserves with an Oscar nomination.

Some of my favorite tracks:
1.) Le Festin - Like the soundtrack insert says, Le Festin is like a classic song that's been around for ages but you've never gotten to hear it before. It's unique, and its score is repeated in different themes throughout the score.
6.) Wall Rat - I love the energy, this is simply one of the best tracks on the disk.
9.) Souped Up - I first heard this song at Wondercon with Brad Bird, it got so much excitement from the thousands of people in the theater that everyone burst into spontaneous applause.
11.) A New Deal - The first half is a heartfelt song, the second half sounds like two new friends prancing together in the park.
12.) Remy Drives a Linguini - I can see this song being played in a comedy short film; it's western and upbeat.
13.) Colette Shows Him Le Ropes - The song that plays on the Ratatouille homepage, perfect for Colette's wild personality.
14.) Special Order - Jazzy and festive, I can imagine this song being played at a salsa dance.
21.) Dinner Rush - I believe this song plays at the climax of the film. You know that Pixar-ish feeling you get when you watch a Pixar movie for the first time? I believe this was when I had that strong feeling.
22.) Anyone Can Cook - "Le Festin" but more orchestral, I think this song will help Giacchino get that deserved Oscar nomination. One of the most moving tracks in recent cinema history.
23.) End Creditouilles - A jazzier and rapid mix of a bunch of tracks from the score.
24.) Ratatouille Main Theme - Same as "Anyone Can Cook," except more dramatic, and I always get a nice shiver at the point of the song when the strings take over the orchestra. Beautiful!

Overall, I highly recommend the Ratatouille soundtrack. Look for an Oscar nomination early next year.

It shouldn't be surprising that such a charming and clever movie is matched by a similarly attractive score.

Definitely worth a purchase, the disc features songs that are playful, reflective, jazzy... sometimes all at once. As another commenter rightly noted, one of the songs -- "Anyone Can Cook" -- is particularly notable for how it tugs at your heartstrings and evokes the more sensitive moments towards the end of the film.

In contrast, "Le Festin" (the opening track) is an delicious and quite hummable ditty of a theme that'll have you smiling every time.

Oh, and listen to that amazing trumpeter saucily shine through in the jazzy-and-multi-mood'd End Creditouille (the credits-music that kept nearly all theatregoers in the show I attended quietly in their seats 'til the very last moment)

So, given that I clearly love so many of the tracks on this CD, why only four stars? Alas, a number of the tracks just don't have that repeat-listenability thing going for them. It's not a CD I'll regularly listen to from start to finish.

But, oh, the rest of the tunes! Such a pleasure, bringing back great memories from the film. They'll be listened to again and again.

Perhaps anyone can cook. But not everyone can make such engaging compositions and arrangements, and for that, I salute Mr. Giacchino :)

Okay. I'm not trying to be cute with the cooking references. I think that anytime you pair music and movies it is like having a wine and a meal. Sometimes one of the two can not be so great, yet you still have an enjoyable experience. Sometimes both are of the most excellent sort, but the combination just somehow doesn't work. Then there are instances where both are nearly perfect and they work even more perfectly together. That is the case with Ratatouille. Both score and film are deserving of Academy awards. Not only for technical achievement, but also for the art and heart with which they were crafted. Another moment of brilliance for Michael Giacchino, Brad Bird, and the rest of the Pixar/Disney staff.

Since the company began producing features-length movies with "Toy Story" over a decade ago, Pixar's legacy as animation geniuses has flourished.

Growing right alongside that legacy is another: that of producing extremely memorable music for the movies.

If you want further proof, look no further than "Ratatouille," which is a great movie with a great score. Composer Michael Giacchino proves again that his style can melt seamlessly into just about any kind of film. This score could easily have gone way over the top in its "Frenchness," given the setting -- instead, Giacchino provides just enough Parisian styling to keep us grounded; otherwise, his music serves to put us in the mindset of Remy the rat, who just wants to be all that he can be. Thus, the music is a sort of psychological journey, and it's that aspect that makes the CD so successful. It aurally replicates the experience of the film's storyline, which, I think, is one of the best compliments a score CD can be paid.

Especial praise needs to be set aside for the gorgeous song "Le Festin," a Giacchinooriginal sung by Camille (whom I had never heard of, but would like to hear more of). As far as I'm concerned, this song immediately joins the ranks of timeless Disney classics, and if at least a nomination at next year's Ocars doesn't result, I will be calling foul.

While anticipating the movie, Ratatouille, I remembered what I thought of Cars -- a great movie, but one of Pixar's lesser works. Based on that, but also remembering how great a job Brad Bird did with The Incredibles, I put my expectation between Incredibles and Cars for Ratatouille. Once the reviews started flowing in, however, I started to have higher and higher hopes for the movie.

Come June 29th, I watched this sublime movie and decided that it was one of the best Pixar films to date, rivaling Toy Story 2 and The Incredibles for my personal favorites. One great thing about the movie was the music, however. The closing music in the final scenes of the movie was beautiful, forcing me to check out the soundtrack. I later found out that the music I heard was part of the opener to this CD, Le Festin.

Listening to the whole soundtrack, I would have to say that there is not one sagging part in all of its music. There are some definite highlights, of course, but as a whole, the music is cohesive to a tee. My personal favorites would have to be the beautiful Le Festin (the sound in the middle of the song where the singer goes, "Laisser moi vous émerveillez," is golden), and then two of the chase scenes -- the very upbeat 100 Rat Dash and The Paper Chase. For those who have seen the movie, you know that the choreography to these two chase scenes is awesome. However, the factor that seals the deal was the music that accompanied them. Dinner Rush is easily the best song, though -- an anthemic, powerful piece that captures the magic of many older Disney movies.

I'm very happy to have purchased it and would urge the readers of these reviews to do the same. If you're still unsure if you wish to make the purchase, I suggest looking at the samples Amazon provides to hear for yourself.

As a food lover and an admirer of Paris, to have the two come together in one film is a dream come true. And what better genre of movie for this to happen than an animation, helmed by the old wisdom of Disney and the new talent of Pixar. I will definitely watch the film when it gets released here in Australia, but I got my hands on the score as soon as it was released.

I recall first getting to know Michael Giacchino through the score of THE INCREDIBLES, another Disney/Pixar masterpiece. I thought his music was quirky, light-hearted and expressive, but nonetheless did not impress me much. This time around, Giacchino has a brilliant story/medium on which to write his score, and he took every advantage of it. Frenchy, exciting, appetizing and at its heart - touching - Giacchino ought to be very proud of his achievement for RATATOUILLE. Indeed, I am a proud owner of it and I dare say this would finally get Giacchino a nod for Best Original Score come Oscar time next year.

"Le Festin", performed by Camille, is a fantastic opener and mood-setter. Camille's a great French chanteusse, and this song is entertaining and uplifting. I wouldn't be surprised if this song got nominated for an Oscar (Best Original Song). The theme found within "Le Festin" populates the entire score in different variations - tango-ed, slowed down/accelerated, jazzed up - it's all there.

As for the music, I find it difficult to impart to you anything more about it, other than it has your usual rich orchestration and interesting choice of instrumentation. Perhaps let me try telling you what it reminds me of: I always wanted a CD with that Parisian sidewalk cafe feeling; one that would give me a unique, indescribable feeling. Accordians on a breezy night, chattering that gives you the sense of company but never intrusively loud, soft ember glows emitted by Federation-style lamps, waiters bustling about in the most prim and proper of manners and gastronomically enticing food. RATAOUILLE conjures all these. Above all, it gives me such great pleasure listening to this CD - I'm sure you'd enjoy it just as much as I.

If you were lucky enough, such as I, to have experienced the magic of Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, and happen to recall a particular scene in which Lumierre, Cogsworth, Mrs Potts and Chip presented Belle with her dinner and the genius "Be Our Guest", and loved that - then you HAVE to get RATATOUILLE.

Three words from moi: "C'est tres bon!".

Michael Giacchino's work on the hit TV show LOST shines, but I didn't expect the soundtrack of this movie to be so good. I love how emotional it actually is. When paired with the actual animation of the movie it actually becomes even better. I love the humor and deep sadness I detect when listening to it. Sometimes I can actually hear a rat scurrying about as crazy as that sounds. I love this soundtrack and I think kids who like music will too.

The music is great all on its own. And there is a lot of it on this CD. It has the right amount of French ambiance without too much.

I loved the movie so much that I bought the cd the day after watching it. My favorite track on the cd is 'Le Festin' : great melody and vocals... such a mesmerizing and memorable track! The rest of the tracks made me relive parts of the movie: where Remy first sees Paris, when he runs away from Skinner with the will, the escape from Granny's house...etc. The instrumental arrangement is perfect: very mouse-y, lots of movement, with such emotional twists and turns. The music will make you want to smile, dance, or....even scurry around like a mouse :)

This is an excellent score from Michael Giacchino. The first two tracks capture the romance of the setting of France perfectly. Camille has a sexy singing voice on the track "Le Festina". "Welcome To Gusteau's" is a warm and inviting track. I love the accordion playing here. I love the jazzy sound of the track "Cast Of Cooks" The sax playing is cool and slick. I love the frenetic pace of the tracks "100 Rat Race" and "The Paper Chase" "Remy Drives A Linguini" is a very fun track about the relationship between the two main characters. The music featured in the ending credits is sensual. It has a tango like sound. This score is so much fun to listen to.