MovieChat Forums > Ratatouille (2007) Discussion > Anton Ego's flashblack.

Anton Ego's flashblack.


I literally yelled "fantastic" at the TV (forunately I was watching it by myself at the time), during his flashback because it's so well done, making Anton Ego's change from foe to friend believable.

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AvantGardeGuy,

I agree. Everyone seems to think it's funny rather than touching. I personally found it to be a very moving (yet humorous) moment. I think it's an artist thing (I assume by your name, you're something of an artist). That's the moment Remy's art finally connects with someone emotionally, which is what any artist (or at least I) would long to do.

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Maybe it was because of the way such a powerful character was suddenly depicted as a little runny-nosed kid.

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When I saw it, people only laughed right when Ego first tastes it and then is shocked. It's funny because of how surprised he is that's it's so good.

I dunno why people would laugh at the rest of the flashback though.

And I agree wholeheartedly with the OP. It's little parts like this that set Pixar apart from any other animation studio. They just have great storytellers working there.

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When I watched it I found it very touching, not funny. I may have been a little hormonal but I did have a little tear escape *hides* It is such a great sequence alright :)

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Ha that's funny, because I also thought that that part was very touching (and I cried like a little kid for some reason) - something about a mom making everything alright regardless of the circumstances. Who wouldn't be moved by that.

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I thought it was the best part of the film (that and Peter O'Toole's monologue) and yes shed a tear as mom's usually make things right when things go wrong.

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It's funny in a touching way. The fork dropping and the scene changing to him as a little kid coming out of the snow reminded me of Citizen Kaine, actually.

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[deleted]

I never found it funny, and I've never heard of people finding it funny until I saw this thread! Noone laughed in my cinema, I think everyone found it touching. It's one of my personal favourite scenes in any film I've seen.

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Yes it's also one of my personal favorite scenes in a film. I actually teared up. The scene really hits home for me because, ratatouille was a dish my mother made when I was young, which I always loved; I have not had it since that time, so I too have a very fond comforting food memory associated with the dish. (Mom's looked like his mother's did, rather than the gourmet version Remy created!)

So believeable, just a fantastic conflict resolution and emotional climax.

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I liked that they showed the country version of the Ratatouille in this flashback to stand in contrast to the 5 star restaurant version Remy makes. I'm not sure how many people actually notice what the Ratatouille looks like in the flashback though.

Check out my Ratatouille video, which I will be posting later on tonight on my cooking show on Youtube: www/youtube.com/ChefMerlin I add cheese to mine, which is a little untraditional, but still very good!

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I agree. I am moved to tears when I watch this scene and its ensuing monologue. As a foodie and cook, and also as a mom, this part of the movie is moving and emotionally intense. I believe those would find this scene funny are either unintelligent, unemotional, or both.

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I thought it was very sweet. I was touched.

~^~Help! Babies ate my dingo!~^~

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I teared up too!

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I thought it was moving too. I loved it

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I think the laughter was a knee jerk reaction to the scene. Nobody knew what to expect once Anton tasted the dish, and the result was so surprising that the initial reaction was laughter but I believe, followed by empathy.

The very fact that so many people have commented on this scene is a credit to the scriptwriter for provoking that reaction instead of just apathy.

Yea Scriptwriter!




Doorknob:Carved features, wooden acting.


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Your sense of smell is strongly connected to memories, and your sense of taste is strongly linked to sense of smell. If you don't believe it hold your nose and eat an orange... Being a profesional Chef, this is with out a doubt my favorite scene from the movie.

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This particular scene is one of the most moving, most touching and most perfectly executed scenes in animation history. It seemed like the whole movie was leading up to it, and it delivered in every way. The subtle touches are incredible, including the nostalgic glow of the flashback and the effortless characterisation of Ego, not to mention his facial features and texture before and after.

And it was followed by that amazing monologue. Actually, the last 20 minutes of Ratatouille are second-to-none compared to all the other animated movies I've watched. That is how you end a movie.

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Clearly, a remarkable scene of events. My favourite part of the movie indeed.

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So true! This is how you end a movie! I was left on the edge of my seat when I first watched it to see what the food critic would say after he had that delicious food made by a rat. And this scene in which Ego's attitude changes is bar none one of the best animated scenes EVER!

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I have seen the movie when it came out, and a few years later the only thing I remembered was the flashback. Great scene !

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I teared up instantly!! I thought it was so sweet and I love it when "baddies" become "goodies".

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it was the best scene of this great movie...

and remembered my of Proust, who was transfered to his childhood by the taste of a madeleine with peach-tea...

wonderful scene... i have to buy this movy :)

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That was my favorite part too, although I was watching his incredibly long, thin fingers and didn't quite tear up.

Why ain't you at the garden party you heathen?

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best scene in this wonderful movie. My heart literally opened seeing little Ego munching the ratatouille. I also think the epilogue, with Le Festin on background, was memorable

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Wow! What a powerful scene indeed! The whole scene just reaches out and grabs your heart in an instant. The showing of his mother looking at him with love, then serving him the dish clearly lands very well in the film. One can actually feel what Ego felt when he took that bite and immediately had that memory. Best scene in the film!

Yes, this is what makes Pixar so unique, they do have some good writers there.
Wall-E and UP had touching moments also.

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That's my favorite part! I always laugh because the flashback is so quick, and it's just like, "Wow, he just got owned." It is touching, too, though, because he's a grown man, and the enemy at that, and when you see a memory that makes him so vulnerable and impressionable, you're just in awe.

I also like that part because I can relate to it. There's a lot of memories I think of when I do certain things, like eat a certain food, smell a certain smell, etc.

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