Lawrence Of Arabia Seeks To Examine The Humanity Within Figures Of Legend

It may have taken me awhile to finally getting around and watching Lawrence Of Arabia, but I'm actually glad I did it on this particular weekend because it seems like the perfect companion piece to this weekends new summer blockbuster, War For The Planet Of The Apes. There's no hyper-intelligent monkeys or malicious Woody Harrelson in Lawrence Of Arabia, true, but both do have plots revolving around the psyches and inner workings of normal individuals who are propped up to mythic status by those around them. The humanity of a figure of legend is the primary source of concentration in both movies, so it's interesting to watch both of them in such close proximity to one another, though, of course, Lawrence Of Arabia provides plenty to talk about even when separated from those damn dirty apes.

Ten Years Later, Ratatouille Is Even More Delectable Than Ever

SPOILERS FOR RATATOUILLE AHEAD!

Ratatouille was released to American movie theaters ten years ago today and I'm still in utter disbelief that it exists. In a decade where American computer-animated movies were primarily imitating the more abrasive and pop-culture reference laden style of the first Shrek movie, here comes Ratatouille, bearing more resemblance to a low-key drama than most 2000's DreamWorks Animation fare, with its heavy emphasis on small-scale dialogue and contemplations on the cost and dangers of upsetting societally implemented social constraints by way of embracing who you really are. The fact that it had such a troubled production (Geri's Game director Jan Pinkiva came up with the story for this project and was originally directing the movie as well before replacing by Brad Bird) only makes it all the more mystifying that it even exists at all.