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Ratatouille, a review by Dragonfire

Ratatouille My Thoughts I finished up my Pixar binge with Ratatouille - I've remembered how to spell it again.    I first saw the movie in twice in the theater and I still love the movie. The short, Lifted, is very cute and entertaining and I really enjoy it.  The plot for Ratatouille is very entertaining and having a rat want to be a chef is definitely different.  Rats aren't usually thought of as being that cute, and they are definitely not welcome in kitchens, but somehow, it works for the movie.  The movie deals with the idea of following dreams and has a message that is handled well.  There really isn't any mystery or suspense to the story, though I was surprised by some of the developments.  Some of what happens is slightly predictable, but I don't think the movie is predictable overall. The character of Remy is wonderful and he's very likable.  Humans are around a lot, mostly in the kitchen of the restaurant, but they aren't as developed as Remy.  Linguini is a bit of an idiot and he is helpless is the kitchen without Remy.  The voice cast works wonderfully with all the voices fitting the characters. The animation is gorgeous and it looks amazing on Blu-ray.  When I first saw the movie, I noticed the details in Remy's fur and the water, but that stuff looks even better on Blu-ray.  I noticed more little details like I have with the other Pixar movies I've watched on Blu-ray.  Many of the surfaces in the kitchen are reflective, and it looks believable.  The food, even though it is animated, looks really good and appetizing.  The extras on the Blu-ray are focused on the making of the movie and very entertaining.  There are still some of them that I haven't gotten to.  I'm very glad I picked up the Blu-ray and think this movie, like the other Pixar titles, is a good one to upgrade to Blu-ray. I did post a review on Epinions after seeing the movie in the theater in 2008. Ratatouille

(From Dragonfire88's Alphabet Marathon on July 10th, 2010)

Sabrina, a review by Danae Cassandra

Sabrina
Year of Release: 1954
Directed By: Billy Wilder
Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, William Holden
Genre: Romance, Comedy

Overview:
Sabrina is charming, humorous and aglow with some of Hollywood's greatest stars. Humphrey Bogart, William Holden and Audrey Hepburn star in a Cinderella story directed by renowned filmmaker Billy Wilder (Sunset Boulevard, Some Like It Hot). Bogie and Holden are the mega-rich Larrabee brothers of Long Island. Bogie's all work, Holden's all playboy. But when Sabrina, daughter of the family's chauffeur, returns from Paris all grown up and glamorous, the stage is set for some family fireworks as the brothers fall under the spell of Hepburn's delightful charms.

My Thoughts:
This was a lovely movie to watch on Valentine's Day.  Audrey Hepburn is charming and lovely, Holden is appropriately handsome, charming and unreliable, and Bogie is dapper and serious.

While I understand her noticing David first, because he is handsome and wild, and Linus is so solemn and practical, I can't understand ever preferring David.  I guess that is the side-effect of watching this at 40 - and the point of the film, in Sabrina growing up and becoming more mature.  In fact, each of them has a nice character arc, and I found the script and story to be very well done. 

This is an old-fashioned romance, so don't expect anything racier than dancing and kissing.  There was also a much more romantic feel to it than many more modern films.  You don't see films like this any more.  Recommended for lovers of classic cinema.

Bechdel Test: Fail

Overall: 3.5/5

(From Within My (Mom's) Lifetime Marathon on February 15th, 2015)

Charmed Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

9. There's Something About Leo
Leo's announcement that he is an Avatar causes pandemonium in The Charmed Ones' lives. Blood is shed when the distracted sisters are unable to fulfill their duty to protect the life of an Innocent.

My Thoughts:
A good... but not great episode... it is one of those episodes I call a "what if Episode"... where something is brought out into the open... just for the one episode to see how things would turn out.  There is nothing really special about this episode... but it isn't bad either.

10. Witchness Protection
Leo is forced to protect the Seer upon the Avatars' insistence that she has information that can help destroy the demons while Agent Brody shares his darkest secret with Paige.

My Thoughts:
This episode I really enjoyed a lot... unfortunately this is the last episode to guest star Charisma Carpenter.

11. Ordinary Witches
The underworld's most powerful demon transfers The Charmed Ones' powers to innocent bystanders who run amok with their new abilites.

My Thoughts:
A good episode... but once again nothing really special.

12. Extreme Makeover: World Edition
With the impending doom of the Avatars' Utopian transformation of the world where all humans must be put to sleep, The Charmed Ones become victims of a paranoia spell that attracts and kills an Avatar.

My Thoughts:
Once again an alright episode. For some reason I never really cared about the whole Avatar storyline. I am just glad that the Avatar storyline didn't last the whole season.

(From Charmed Marathon on July 13th, 2008)