Kundana Jonnagadla Prof. Angela Giron MLS 598: Food Cinema June 5, 2015 RATATOUILLE: CAN EVERYONE COOK? A Cinematic Analysis 1. INTRODUCTION Considering the Disney Empire was created on a mouse, it would be hasty to terminate Ratatouille simply on the basis that it's about a rat as even the most zealous rodent-phobe will be enamored by this charming dish. This film is only Pixar's second collaboration with Disney, but it's clearly business as usual for the animation company whose line of winners remains with Ratatouille. Much of the credit lays at the feet of its writer and director Brad Bird, whose past credits include ‘The Iron Giant’ and ‘The Incredibles’. And while Ratatouille may lack the pioneering invention and sardonic wit of some …show more content…
CINEMATIC ANALYSIS 2.1 Mise-en-scene As a film student, I personally believe that mise-en-scene plays the major part of any films success. And speaking about the film Ratatouille, this concept has been taken care very well. When given a clear observation through the film, the structuring of the kitchen is aesthetic around a simple French culinary concept, the mis-en-place (translated to everything in its place). The mis-en-place is specifically this; for whatever dish is being prepared all of the ingredients and tools are pre-measured, arranged, collected and located in a common place before cooking begins. This facilitates being able to find all the necessary components as the intensity and the pressure of cooking gets into full swing. This concept is simple, elegant, and functional and provides a grounding sense of relationship between the chef, the kitchen and his food. Visually, this translates into some specific structural rules that the film makers have implemented in the dressing of the Ratatouille kitchen and technically the kitchen becomes organized spatially as to what occurs in each location (like in the soup area, meat grill, fish grill and etc.) which creates a sense of visual understanding in the audience while watching the
Giroux, Henry A., and Grace Pollock. The Mouse That Roared: Disney and the End of
Create-a-meal, no my friend, instead you are given the tools to create-a-setting. You are presented with brilliant horses and jubilant music, bright colors and beautiful scenery, a blissful introduction, indeed. Shockingly enough, in the second paragraph it is quickly taken away from you. A dagger penetrates your balloon image. You are told that the smiles and happiness of the city are not genuine. Ursula K.
Pathos is the most effective appeal used in Food, Inc. because many strong visual images evoke the viewer’s emotions. The food industry’s maltreatment of farm animals provides several examples of pathos. A particularly disturbing scene of a close up of a dying chicken lying on his back, bleeding and gasping for air appears early in the film when a farmer allows cameras into her chicken houses. A farmer, Carole Morrison, explains quite candidly that the chickens are grown too quickly and that their bodies cannot support the rapidly growing internal organs and oversized breasts. The crowded filthy conditions in which the chickens live are deplorable. Later sick cows, unable to walk and mistreated by workers, further illustrates the deplorable treatment of farm animals. The filmmaker reinforces his point that the industry is inhumane to the animals prior to slaughtering them for food, while visually appealing to the viewer’s emotions.
On the run, Chef’s mental mantra becomes “running by standing still. Surviving without distinction or attraction of unwanted attention. The interior life is more of a comfort.
The mise en scenes in this film are unique because it gave viewers the ability to have a sense of how the characters are feeling. For example, low lighting was used throughout the film to express a sense of the unknown and/or fear. Another great example of how mise en scene was used is how human shadows for night shooting were used to increase the feeling of mystery and a threating atmosphere (Awjingyi). And one of the most important examples of mise en scene used in this film is in the last scene where mirrors were used (aka the “funhouse”) to
Mise-en-scene was one method Minnelli used in displaying this sense of family unity and value. It is apparent in scenes of family interaction, whether it is conversation in the kitchen, celebrating holidays together, or sharing a family dinner together at the table. Behavior in this movie revolves around being loving considerate family members no matter what the action. Any smiles or excitement not motivated by direction were utilized and helped keep with the movies themes. When Mr. Smith brings about the conflict of the family having to move despite their wish to stay, almost immediately the family members disperse and leave him to himself.
The forward-tracking movement as used in Ernie's restaurant suggests the forward-tracking shot that is used throughout the film to show Madeleine has an allure for Scottie. Ernie's scene evokes the backward-tracking shot used throughout the film to show how Scottie is bonded to his object of desire. Together they bring out the character that an individual plays in the film. The camera movement in Ernie’s Restaurant brings out forward and backward tracks that define the point-of-view structure, but here the camera movement does not straight forwardly articulate a point of view. Instead, the camera is self-consciously set up to show the relationship between the elements of the point-of-view structure that the rest of the film enacts.
...s attachment to each other is created through the events that occur in the kitchen.
...reat Mouse Detective and 1988’s Oliver & Company still getting pummeled at the box office by former Disney animator Don Bluth’s An American Tail and The Land Before Time, respectively, the House of Mouse was in dire need of a transformation. Pivoting back to the music-driven, ornately drawn fairy tales of the studio’s heyday, such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty,” (“Ranking: The”).
As children, I believe we cannot differentiate between what is real and what is not. For the most part, many have fond memories of Disney films as did I when I was a child. Personally, children are too young to understand some of these issues and may misinterpret them altogether. The critics in Mickey Mouse Monopoly are educated and mature allowing them the ability to analyze and interpret these issues, whereas a five or even twelve year old may not. Perhaps, as one matures they realize what is really being portrayed. I disagree and agree with Mickey Mouse Monopoly. I disagree because I firmly believe children are for the most part viewing and understanding these cartoons innocently. However, I do agree that Disney has major influence on it
Food has been a great part of how he has grown up. He was always interested in how food was prepared. He wanted to learn, even if his mother didn’t want him to be there. “I would enter the kitchen quietly and stand behind her, my chin lodging upon the point of the hip. Peering through...
es indeed, animation is fun for children, but it also expresses important ideas for people of all ages. In some ways, ‘Shrek’ is your classic fairy tale for example, it has a hero, a beautiful Princess, and a dastardly villain. But unlike the traditional fairy tales, the hero is an ugly, ill-tempered ogre, the Princess is not all she appears to be, and the villain has some obvious shortcomings. The award-winning animated film, ‘Shrek’, is directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, the viewers learn that being a good person is more important than just being good-looking. It also shows that true friends help each other in difficult situations and that women can be equally as strong characters as men. These ideas are portrayed through characters such as Shrek, Princess Fiona and Donkey. The directors use camera angles and dialogue to express their ideas.
The artist used colors and light to draw one’s attention to the diner and the people in it and then to the only character not facing the viewer. This emphasis with the use of colors and light means “that our attention is drawn more to certain parts of a composition than to others” (Getlein 127); when the emphasis is on “a relatively small, clearly defined area” (Getlein 127) this is called a focal point. The focal point in this piece of art is not only the brightly lit diner sitting on the corner of an empty intersection, but also within the diner, where the eye is drawn to the individuals in the diner. In addition, the woman stands out in particular because of her red dress and the bright color of her
The widely popular film Shrek, produced and distributed by DreamWorks in 2001, grossed a total of $484,409,218 in worldwide sales (Box Office Mojo). The success of the film has led DreamWorks to create several shorts, companion films, and sequels. From its memorable characters to its whimsical, edgy humor, Shrek was an amazing, highly successful animation that would pave the way for DreamWorks to make billions off the franchise. Shrek’s success can be attributed to three main factors: the range of ages it appeals to, its creative use of intertextuality, and its ability to cover a wide range of the fairy tale functions proposed by Vladimir Propp.
For decades Disney has been the source of happy endings, fairytales, and family friendly stories for children of all ages. These stories range from realistic and familiar, to the eye-catching magical fairytale. The key to each of these stories are the happy endings brought about by each of the characters unique personalities and dreams. Disney’s films are attempted to provide children with the basic understanding of wrong versus right, but instead influences our society’s beliefs and awareness. Although Disney’s efforts to provide the basic morals to our children are misleading and affect our society strongly, they also contain the use of racism in a form which shows the major differences between characters. The once admired and well-known characters are seemed to be recognized by their species, ethnicity and even their social class. Disney films have taken out of context and have persuaded their viewers understanding of racial stereotyping, which is thoroughly explained in Henry Giroux and Grace Pollock’s novel, The Mouse that Roared. They bring awareness to the underlying racial stereotyping in Disney films, which deeply affect our societies understanding today. Giroux and Pollock bring into perception these admired and regularly watched films through precise examples and racist rendering of the specific characters species and ethnicities which strongly influence our society and lead children to intake these negative influences.