I've already reviewed Disney•Pixar's RATATOUILLE in depth upon its theatrical release, but here's a quick recap leading into my review of the new DVD release on Tuesday, November 6th:   RATATOUILLE demonstrates and celebrates what Pixar does best: center a film on a simple but solid story with plenty of emotional resonance, then tell their tale in animation that is classically inspired and cutting edge.  Based on the company's track record, the extra element which extends an already proud tradition of success is director Brad Bird, who has cooked up an ingeniously entertaining triumph.   As with any of Pixar's previous hits, and just as true for any delectable gourmet dish, RATATOUILLE transcends the sum of its ingredients to meld into one delightful offering which will remain as fresh and satisfying on its fifth viewing as its first.

RATATOUILLE on DVD

Director Brad Bird's tale of a Parisian rat hungering to be a gourmet chef is served up in a clear, flawless presentation in standard format DVD release, as viewed on my Sony upscaling player.  The digital transfer shows off the colorful characters and brassy culinary world of Ratatouille with vivid, detailed precision even in high action sequences, like Remy's sewer rafting thrill-ride which pushes standard DVD conversion to its limits.  The results hold up extremely well and only comes up short if compared to the film's simultaneous high-definition Blu-Ray disc release.

DVD viewers enjoy RATATOUILLE in its original widescreen aspect ratio as seen in theaters, which continues showing off the lush world of Paris street life and expansive rooftop vistas.  This format also preserves the brilliant layout work introducing Remy into the hectic, fast-paced world of a five-star chef's kitchen.  The likeable blue rat's comedic scurry under rolling carts and between striding footsteps is as dizzying and enjoyable as it was in theaters.

RATATOUILLE offers two audio track choices, a basic Dolby 2.0 stereo option and the lively, well-balanced 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound mix.  The latter audio track immerses home viewers in the suburban fields outside Paris, where wind, rain and water play across the audio space to pleasing, realistic effect.  Of course the hustle and bustle of busy city life show off the 5.1 surround mix even better, skillfully blending the main dialog track and Michael Giacchino's first-rate score with the crystalline tinkle of wine glasses and murmuring of restaurant patrons on the film's periphery.  RATATOUILLE sounds as good as it looks in its standard DVD presentation, and given the film's high entertainment value, that's a proud accomplishment.

BONUS MATERIALS

Given prior DVD releases of Pixar hits such as THE INCREDIBLES, this one-disc offering of RATATOUILLE might seem light on bonus materials — especially making-of featurettes — but the special features given are unique choices, and choice delights.

The most unexpected of these extras is Fine Food and Film: A Conversation with Filmmaker Brad Bird and Chef Thomas Keller.  Producer Brad Lewis hosts a discussion about the mysteries and powers of creativity, from the perspectives of the Pixar storyteller and the renowned restaurateur from award-winning The French Laundry in Northern California.

The pair of creative artists share their philosophies and practices that motivate them daily as they strive for excellence in their respective arts.  Brad Bird engenders excitement in his crew of animators to keep expanding and exploring the visual frontiers of digital animation drama.  Chef Keller harnesses his passion for gourmet food to produce a remarkable dining experience for his customers.  Both artists give viewers a glimpse of how this aim for perfection is both rewarding and never-ending, and this featurette offers an entertaining look at how similar the two pursuits are, not to mention how the fine arts blended quite naturally into the film RATATOUILLE.

RATATOUILLE characters Remy and Emile co-host a whimsical animated short Your Friend The Rat, a factually fun look at the history of rats and how they spread around the globe as humans explored it.  The brothers enlighten the rat-phobic on how some societies revere the furry little creatures — the Chinese even dubbed the first year of their calendar after the rat as a symbol of promise.  Though quick-shot laughs and music, Remy and Emile plead for the beneficial, peaceful co-existence between human- and rat-kind, animated in a style reminiscent of the old school, vintage Disney Studio educational shorts which, no doubt, Pixar animators grew up watching.  This short may not hold up in multiple viewings, but it's a fun bonus entry on the disc. 

Four Deleted Scenes offer glimpses into writer/director Brad Bird's editorial process of storytelling, as he shows sequences in rough animation which were ultimately cut before feature animation brought them to fruition.  Bird also hosts tag moments to explain why these otherwise entertaining scenes were dropped, almost always boiling down to their failure to advance the story or deepened the main characters for audiences.  One example — a spectacular opening shot, tracking from high above Paris down through the doors of the restaurant and flying over tables and between waiters, at last introducing Gusteau himself, ultimately got the clever because it was inventive but offered no character's point of view.  Film lovers can thank such DVD releases for preserving these otherwise-lost moments of inspiration which teach fans much about the laborious, lengthy animation process. 

A final and utterly entertaining bonus bit is the Pixar digital cartoon Lifted, which screened just before RATATOUILLE in its theatrical release.  This stellar animated short tells the wordless tale of a space alien-in-training attempting to abduct — literally lift via a flying saucer tractor beam — a sleeping human subject from his cozy bedroom.  Writer/director Gary Rydstrom's experience mastering audio tracks for Skywalker Sound informs the poor alien neophyte's nightmare, attempting to find one right lever out of a thousand identical knobs on the UFO's control panel.  Lifted is a brilliant collision of physical humor, sound design, character animation and comedic timing.

FINAL WORD

Disney•Pixar's RATATOUILLE retains all its humor, grandeur and distinctive entertainment flavor it its DVD release in a handsome, well-portioned single disc.  As sharp and colorful as audiences saw it in theaters, this homestyle serving is further sweetened by several bonus features, and the combination should be a must-have favorite as the holiday season arrives.  Bon appetit, mes amis!