Nov 04, 2007 12:07 PM
2429 Views
(Updated Nov 04, 2007 12:46 PM)
When you walk, anywhere, you trample, tread and kill many of them - albeit unknowingly!!
Now Now do not get paranoid! This is not about being moral and not even about bringing to the subconscious the murderous life we lead!! Its about the life of these teeny weeny creatures and yes they do lead one helluva LIFE!!*
ANTZ
A spectacular cinema of animation. Bringing to life the turmoils, the hardships and the romance that these animals can share!! A surreal depiction of very human emotions that you can gel with, yes ANTZ is very** US!!
This film is all about Z, an ANT,his zest, his opportunities, his life, his love and his, of course, **DREAMZ!!
Quite aptly, Z, Woody Allen (Voice only), is a very straight, full of life young ANt, who has the ambitions of leading the life of a happy man till he gets directed to the WORKERS column where he sits up and asks, "I am supposed to do everything for the colony?? But, what about my needs?"
America rises to its true democratic spirit here too!! But in an ANT colony there is certainly no respet for an ANT who has his own mind, is there?? Relentlessly he is thrown into the task of creating a TUNNEL as an emergency. This whole act is led by the task master, cold and ruthlessGen Mandible, Gene Hackman (Voice only), supported byCol. Cutter, Christopher Walken (Voice only), to the extent that they even declare to theQueen, Anne Bancroft (Voice only), that there is an expected TERMITE invasion and the colony needs to act upon it immediately. Meanwhile Z, is drowning his sorrows in a club where mechanical, robotic Ant dancing is rampant and turns his ANTZ stare onPrincess Bala, Sharon Stone (Voice only). He gathers enough courage and does a waltz of sorts with the princess. With robots around, the Princess is taken by the free form of dance that Z leads her into and is actually enjoying it immensely. When she leaves the scene Z is half swooning already. In order to get closer to the lady of his dreamz, he persuades his warrior friend,Weaver, Sylvester Stallone (Voice only), to let him go to war against the termites. There is plunder and pillage at the war and somehow our discerning young man, frightened out of his wits, returns home as aHERO!! **He receives a welcome befitting a KING and he is all amorous and glitZy in front of his Princess.
When Z and Princess Bala eventually find their way out of the colony, the search for INSECTOPIA, (here it means a garden where people come for picnic and the ants have a huge party), a place certainly meant for ANTZ to go on a leisurely DATE.
Does Z get to Insectopia? Does he win his lady love?? Does Princess Bala get married to Gen Mandible?
Well... **FIND OUT!
This film by Directors,Eric Darnell, (Madagascar, Gas Planet fame) & Tim Johnson, (Over The Hedge, Sinbad - Legend of Seven Seas fame), are both winners ofMedia Prize for Gas Planet & Annie and Audience Award for Over the Hedge respectively. **It shows in their effort the understanding of the subject of animation. They have even morphed the faces of the ants to look a little like the voice over of the actors given to them. This film was a 1998 release and even then it took the BO by storm.
Given the hilarity of the topic there are some stunning scenes that need a mention here;
Antz drinking nectar from the hindquarters of Aphids and our hero Z saying that, " I maybe crazy but, I have a thing about drinking from the anus of another creature!!" Thats a proud mindset at its hilarious best coming from an ANTZ mouth :))
An ant caught in water and strugling given the resistance offered by the surface of water to come out of it.. A very DROWNING experience!!
All ants chorus, "All we are saying, is give Z a chance"... Voice of true American democracy directly relating to todays scenario!!
*These immediately brought a smile to my face!
I can only say that this film is a must watch for all those who havent yet. Get that DVD, sit with your little ones and hear them gurgle with laughter!! This Diwali thats my FIRECRACKER that I want to listen to :))
I have a lot more to say but you need to watch it and comment on it here!!
All this is taking place underneath Central Park, New York (my fetish with York doesnt end), so do not go peering down looking for Z, for he might just wink back at you and say, **"Hey, what are you doing staring down here, go get your life, I am leading my OWN!"
