 | |
List Price: $12.99 | | Label: Dreamworks Animated
Salesrank: 7459
Released: March 23, 1999 |
| Our Price: $6.81 |
| Used Price: $1.99 |
|
MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
|
Editorial Review:
LIFE IS NOT A PICNIC FOR Z, A SMALL WORKER ANT WITH VERY BIG IDEAS. WHEN Z FALLS FOR THE BEAUTIFUL PRINCESS BALA, HIS ODDS OF WINNING HER OVER ARE ONE IN A BILLION. TO GET NOTICED, HE SWITCHES PLACES WITH SOLDIER ANT WEAVER.
Description of Antz:
Woody Allen as a worker ant with an inferiority complex? Sylvester Stallone as an affable soldier ant who discovers that digging tunnels is cool? The animation playground we all knew so well is turning into a theme park full of in-jokes for grownups. Antz explores age-old topics (one person--err, insect--can make a difference, individuality and social responsibility must exist side by side, war is hell) with comic asides and Woody Allen's funniest quips this side of PG (adults will chuckle at the socialist slogans bandied about as he campaigns for workers' rights). Sharon Stone voices the rebellious princess with a fun-loving streak that doesn't quite overcome her royal bearing and court training, but she can learn. Gene Hackman is all teeth (ants have teeth?) and menacing grins as the Army general plotting insect-icide. This bug's-eye view of life on Earth gives Allen's neurotic nonconformist an epic adventure of microscopic proportions: a devastating war with a termite colony, an odyssey to the fabled land of plenty (a picnic ground), and a race to save his fellow workers from certain death. Other voices include Anne Bancroft as the Queen, Christopher Walken, Jennifer Lopez, Danny Glover, Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, and John Mahoney. The computer animation isn't exactly realistic but feels as solid and contoured as puppet animation with the smoothness and slickness of traditional cel cartoons, and the character designs and animation offer a marvelous range of expressions. The PG rating includes a gritty battle sequence that may frighten youngsters. --Sean Axmaker
Antz Reviews:
Great New Pixar Graphics, Old Story 
2009-12-27 - Characters include Woody Allen as a worker ant (the film's hero), Sylvester Stallone as an friendly soldier ant who gives Woody the chance to be a soldier and meet the queen, and then discovers that working as a tunnel digger is fun. Sharon Stone plays the rebellious, and sometimes confused, princess with the supposed destiny to marry the Army general (Gene Hackman) who is plotting to snuff out the existing colony and start his own. Woodie gets unexpectedly caught in a war with a termite colony - the war is urged by the Hackman, for reasons unclear in the film. Woodie is the only survivor, decides he wants to to to a fabled land for insects (actually a picnic ground) and ends up with Sharon Stone in tow. Woodie then discovers the general's dastardly plot, and races to save his fellow workers from certain death. The animation and clarity are excellent, per Pixar normal, but the story is a bit time-worn.
NOT FOR KIDS
2009-11-27 - So I guess there was a reason I was bored by this movie when I first saw it as a kid, and thought "A Bug's Life" was better---because this ISN'T FOR KIDS. No idea why they made this the way they did---it's far too childish for adults, and far too mature for children. Adults would certainly be entertained, though.
Obviously the main theme deals far too much with adult themes involving individuality, conformity, significance, self awareness, etcetera. Loads of "Hey it's that guy/girl!" voice moments, as Woody Allen plays Z, Sylvester Stallone plays Weaver, Jennifer Lopez plays Azteca, Sharon Stone plays Princess Bala, Gene Hackman plays General Stupid, Christopher Walken plays Colonel Cutter, Danny Glover plays Barbatus in what amounts to a glorified cameo, Anne Bancroft plays the Queen, etcetera.
Me being the militant military person I am, I have some problems with General Stupid, who I named that because he is quite frankly stupid. It's not really a major storyline moment, but a major plot point, in which the Antz are sent on a blatant suicide mission to attack a Termite colony. General Stupid acknowledges this is a suicide mission. Exactly what purpose this serves is still a total mystery to me, as all it could accomplish is massacreing thousands of Ant soldiers, and provoking the Termites into war that they could ATTACK THE ANT COLONY WHICH NOW HAS LESS OR NO SOLDIERS TO DEFEND IT. Unless he wants the Colony to be destroyed, there's no logic at all in his stupidity.
The battle scene gave me the impression of an army of something like Zulu warriors (not an insult) against an army of ELEPHANTS with FLAMETHROWERS on their heads. The Antz are armed with short spears (or rather, sticks), no armor, but are fast and agile and can jump around. The Termites are gigantic and overly fat, and shoot acid from their foreheads. Either Rule of Cool superceded actual research, or there was a critical research failure, as Termites do not work that way, either in appearance or function.
Speaking of a case of either Rule of Cool/Critical Research Failure, magnifying glasses do not work that way on ants. But I figure instantly turning to ash is less brutal for kids than an ant writhing about at fast speed. Even though kids would likely do that in real life, it's a lot different when the ants are like humans.
But leaving those nitpicking things aside, this is NOT a movie for kids. The content is too mature, the faces are a bit creepy for kids (which is exactly what I thought as a kid), and even now I still don't really like the film. It's a bit too stale and too averse to maturity. But even then, I still acknowledge it's a decent film, unfortunately spoiled by being inappropriate for its target audience. It's too good for kids.
great movie
2009-10-12 - I think this is a great movie, Woody Allen is really funny. Fun that Jennifer Lopez and Slyvester Stallone are in it, too. Some parts are a bit depressing and violent for little kids, but it is generally a really good movie.
Not for Families or Children 
2009-08-20 - Seriously disappointing. Lots of cussing, using God's name in vain. Military torture scene. Drinking beer. Very crude reference to drinking from the bottom side of an animal. Mean military commander dies violent death at end.
Too many CUSS words for a kids show! 
2009-03-05 - This is a horrible movie for kids and is boring for adults!! it has many cuss words including b*tch, tight A**, H*ll, taste like Cr*p....
