Ghosts and rats

We spent a good chunk of the blazing hot weekend here in Central Ohio in movie theaters. Saturday we saw 1408, a decent ghost story based on a Stephen King short story. John Cusack is a writer of literary fiction who, after the death of his daughter from cancer, splits with his wife and wastes his talents on a string of "ghostbusting" books about supposedly haunted tourist sites. He winds up in room 1408 in the Dolphin Hotel in New York City; the manager, Samuel L. Jackson, tries to talk him out of staying in that room, telling him the details behind dozens of previous deaths, and saying that no one has survived more than an hour in the room. Cusack is anxious to expose the room as a fraud, but when his clock radio suddenly switches from the time to a 60 minute countdown while blaring the Carpenters' "We've Only Just Begun," the horror rollercoaster begins. Most of this hour of the film is well done--good frights, nice effects, and a effective sense of entrapment. Of course, this being King, the writer's psychological baggage plays a large part in the chills and thrills, but by the end, when an FX extravaganza goes on a bit too long, Cusack's sense of guilt, fed by his estranged wife, over his daughter's death becomes the central plot point and things get a bit gooey/weepy for my taste. Cusack is not a perfect fit for the role--too serious and not snarky enough. Still, for the most part, it's a fun ride.

Speaking of rides, while watching the new Disney/Pixar film Ratatouille, my partner Don whispered in my ear during a sewer escape scene that he figured this would be the basis for a new ride in Orlando one of these days. He's probably right, though for the most part, this is not an overstuffed action cartoon like the dreadful Monster House. I'm not a big fan of animation these days, but Don is and this one got some of the best reviews of the season, so I went. I mostly enjoyed it, though if would benefit from a little judicious trimming here and there. Remy, a French country rat, has the gift of very sensitive taste and smell which he uses to warn the other rats in his colony away from poisoned food. He dreams of going to Paris to use his gifts to cook, and he gets his wish when, after the sewer escape scene, he winds up in Paris, befriended by a boy named Linguini, a janitor in a fancy restaurant who aspires to be a great cook. The rat, hidden beneath his hat, helps him gain a reputation for interesting new recipes, but their partnership is soon threatened, not only by a health inspector, but by Linguini's love for Colette, a fellow cook, and by the obnoxious head chef, Skinner. As this is a Disney film, there is a subplot focused on an absent parent, and there's a happy ending for the good guys and an appropriate comeuppance for the bad guy. Sweet-natured and well animated. The kids in the matinee showing we attended seemed to get a bit bored in the middle, but by the climax they were interested again. Don loved it because he loves Brad Bird movies; I found The Incredibles to be a giant bore, but that may have had to do with the muscle relaxant I was on the day we saw it, so I should give that one another shot some day.