How could I forget Remy?

Santa left me a surprise under the tree that made me slap my forehead regarding my year-end movie picks the other day. How could I forget Ratatouille?

This charming little Pixar delight features the enduring message that anyone with a passion can accomplish anything; only we can define our limits. Sweetie made sure I can always access that important (and entertaining) message, as well as the mind-bogglingly great and chilling film The Lives of Others. (Oh, and as for the one thing I wanted that wasn't under the tree, Sweetie held off on a last-minute purchase when I mentioned the fliers for all of the stores that are selling the Heroes set for about $20 starting tomorrow!)

My dozen five-star movies become a baker's dozen, with Ratatouille tucked in at No. 3. And given the way the government food inspector is treated and portrayed in this film, I think I could even make a case for it belonging among the anti-state films that I packed the top of the list with. Those subversive animators ...!