Letters to the Editor
Serai1
Published Letters: 503 Editor's Choice: 32
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*sigh*
[Read the article: "Ratatouille"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I rarely read your reviews, Stephanie, because from the past I've come to see that you and I don't see movies the same way, and so your essays are not helpful to me personally. (That's not a slam - everyone sees things differently, and I'm sure many people are in tune with your views.) But this time we're definitely agreed, in that Ratatouille is indeed a gorgeous, beautifully written and supremely well-executed work of art.
HOWEVER.
I must strenuously object to the way you keep characterizing this as Brad Bird's film, as though everything about it were to be laid at his feet. His colors? His design? Did you bother to sit through the credits to this film? (I hope you did, as they were animated in a completely different style, quite wonderful on its own.) Did you see how many people worked on this film? Did you happen to notice that not only is one person not responsible for those aspects, but there were whole departments creating the character designs, working on color, lighting, camera work, etc.
The auteur theory of filmmaking went out a long time ago, Stephanie, and any filmmaker worth his salt will gladly tell you that films are a collaborative effort, and that even though a director is the force that pulls it together, it is no more his film than it is the lead actor's, or the DP's, or the producer's. It's even more ridiculous to talk about an animated film as though one guy is responsible for it, let alone a CGI film, which often (as in this case) has hundreds of people working on it. You said your favorite animated film is Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Were you aware how many (uncredited) people worked on that masterpiece, or did you assume Walt did it all on his own? (Just because he had the ego to slap his name on his studio's output and refuse credit to any of his artistic talent didn't make his lie true.)
Please consider writing about filmmaking in a more truthful manner next time. As I said, there were hundreds of very talented people creating this film, and although it's certainly not possible to list them, at the very least, have the grace to acknowledge their existence. After all, if they brought you so much pleasure, don't they deserve at least that?
Or are they "nobody", like the little rat that Gusteau championed?
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@Anonymous
[Read the article: Hives among us]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I live in Silverlake, between Hollywood and Glendale. When I read that sentence in the article, I thought the same as you did. But after a moment, I realized Repohl was speaking metaphorically. After all, if I know the geographic position of the Valley, clearly someone who lives there will know where he lives even better.
Not everything people say should be taken literally. Sometimes they're, you know, joking.
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Jesus, Cary
[Read the article: Mom's a pothead]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]You can be such an asshole at times.
Did you notice the part about the mom being in SEVERE PAIN most of the time? What, is she supposed to go around limping and unable to perform the most basic functions just because her kid decides to throw a hissy fit because he's discovered he isn't the King Of Everything?
Would it be better and healthier for the family if this mother (who by the LW's account appears to function quiet well at the moment) were staggering around doped up on Vicodin or codeine? I've know people who took those and believe me, they are MUCH MUCH worse.
If you knew anything about the DARE program, you'd know it's pure scare tactics, indoctrination that (according to most experts on this subject) does NOTHING to reduce drug use, either among kids or adults. All it does is turn children into little self-righteous spies, all puffed up with their own importance. That is, of course, until they decide they're bored with being Mr. Cop's pet and decide to try some beer or weed on their own. Then they realize how they've been lied to. (Yes, lied. The DARE program is notorious for feeding kids complete bullshit with no basis in fact in order to terrify them into submission.)
Sorry, Cary, but you've really drunk the Kool-Aid on this subject. The mom is doing what she can in order to function properly, the kid is being a tantruming brat, and the LW is sticking her nose where it doesn't belong. And YOU, sir, are judging a woman who does not appear to be harming anything other than her son's overinflated, egotistical image of himself. If you can't be bothered to find out enough about a subject to speak intelligently on it, then pick another letter. One about which your "artistic", "intuitive" yammering won't sound so...well, high is the only word that fits.
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Oh Tracy
[Read the article: David Brooks takes on pop music]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]How gullible can you be? I remember exactly this same cant being thrown around back in the 60's. Young girls are having sex! Without commitment! Nobody's giving them guidelines! They're ruining their lives!
This is the same same old old Kids today!! crap that's been around forever. (Roaring Twenties, anyone?) Grumpy grownups concerned with "loose mores" and "lawlessness" trot it out every decade or so, harrumphing about how the young are running around "despoiling" themselves (read: having a good time counter to their betters' rules). Especially girls - They're ruining their pure little hearts and bodies! These awful hedonistic times are confusing their widdle bwains!
I can't believe you're falling for this hoary old crap.