Like Justice Stewart, I know it when I see it.

Every back and forth, zig-zagging Rube Goldbergian threat-a-second chase scene in the Toy Story movies. The same in Ratatouille. The same in Cars. They all feel like filler rather than something supported by the plot. None of them are funny. Finding Nemo and Up were fairly tame in this regard, although I did think the final battle on and around the villain's airship was forced.

Ratatouille, really? The only action I can think of is the chase through Paris for the genetic evidence letter that ownership of the restaurant hinged on. Not supported by the plot? Huh?


Ok, to each, I suppose.

Last night I streamed an interesting documentary called "Into the arms of strangers: Stories from the Kindertransport." I'd consider it worth a watch. It was about Jewish children shipped out of Austria by their parents when Hitler first came to power there, and their experience both of being sent off, and what happened after that.

Anyway, it's on Netflix.

My father and his older brother came to America as kids in 1935 and 1936 as part of this:

One Thousand Children.

Basically the same story. Different destination. No Oscar.

I believe there were a number of hyperkinetic "Kill the rat" chases that pretty much put me to sleep.

I am compelled to respond. Other than the chase through Paris (which was not a Kill the Rat chase), there was only one - in the kitchen, when the rat first arrived. Again, the central-to-the-plot situation of a rat in a restaurant kitchen sort of calls for a scattering hide-a-run.

Sorry you did not like Ratatouille, it's one of Pixar's best. Stick to Dreamworks. :p

I liked Ratatouille a great deal. Not as much as many people. I don't care if the rats got run through the dishwasher; they were still rats in a kitchen. Also, Linguini was an unlikable sh*t-for-brains. But it had heart. And some uninvolving chase scenes.

As for sticking to Dreamworks, maybe they haven't done something as good as "Up," but they also haven't done anything as dreadful and evil as "Cars."

Shark Tale?

Exactly. Though I could also peg the Shrek sequels as inferior to Cars.



And I'm no Cars fan.

I'll be seeing Dragon tonight, at the Drive-In (yay!).

Shark Tale made me gnash my teeth and roll my eyes. I thought Kung-Fu Panda was terrific fun, and a real high point for Dreamworks.

I'd be interested to hear more from those whohated Cars, just out of curiosity. I liked it but did not love it. I've had mixed positive reactions to a lot of Pixar films of late, with minor reservations about the last several. But Ratatouille is the only one I currently feel like I'm going to want to see again.