52 in 52 brings us to 1998.
Two very good animated movies came to the theatres that year:
Mulan
A Bugs Life
It is a real tough choice, butI decided to go with A Bugs Life. For the only reason that Mulan has been shown on ABC Family a lot lately. A Bugs Life, I have not seen in years.
A Bugs Life seems to be the one PIXAR movie that gets lost in the shuffle of PIXAR movies. When you think PIXAR movies this one does not come to mind right away. I think it gets lost a bit in time because it was squeezed in between Toy Story and Toy Story 2. That is just a guess. It is not a bad movie. In fact it is exciting and clever. It also has very funny moments.
It follows a kind of misfit ant named Flik (David Foley), who is always thinking outside the box, in hope that he can help his ant colony. Sadly, his ideas seem to hurt more than help. As the ant colony is bullied around by a grasshopper ( Kevin Spacey) and his henchgrasshoppers, Flik sets out into the world to find and bring back help to defend their land.
I say the same thing every week, Disney/PIXAR does wonderful jobs casting voice talent, this is where their success starts ( credit director: John Lassitor and Andrew Stanton).
In addition to Spacey and Foley who are both great, you have:
The return of Richard Kind (Molt) and John Ratzenberger (P.T. Flea).
Also:
Phyliss Diller (Queen)
Julia Louis Dreyfus (Atta)
That is only to name a couple. I could go on and on and bore you, I will just say it is large talented cast of voice actors and leave it there, trust me.
The film is very creative by taking us into a world where few of us really think much about (I remember after watching this film the first time I felt bad accidentally stepping on an ant). As we enter that world it gives us Flik, a wonderful central charactor we cannot help but cheer for. The film really works in wonderful humor, highlighted by the carneys (the carnival scene is the highlight of the movie). A movie like this also needs a great bad guy and Hopper the grasshopper is mean as all get out. So humor; bad guy; action/suspence; fantastic voice work; all equal another enjoyable PIXAR film.
I have a couple small faults. The movie comes in at 95 minutes and for some reason it still feels long, I cannot explain why, but at the sixty minute mark I looked at my watch and started thing "wow 35 minutes still to go?". I guess writing drags a bit in the middle. Also, I just hated the character Atta the princess. I just thought she was snobby-mean. Yes she got nicer, but then turned her back on Flik again. I thought, nice friend, when things get tough she turns her back. I just did not like her and I think they wanted me to. Only a couple faults, so not bad.
Well fun and not so fun facts:
David Foley originally tried out for Slim. That part went to David Hyde Pierce.
The two mosquitoes heading toward the light zapper ( a very funny moment),were voiced by directors Lasseter and Stanton.
Well sadly, A Bugs Life did not reach the level I remember a couple of years ago. In life we approach moivies at a certain mindset whether you know it or not. I think as you get older or if your life is in a different place a movie can look different. Maybe that is why A Bugs Life is not the 5 Mickey movie I remember. Remember, I review the movies on the quality, entertainment, and how it holds up since the last time I saw it. I would give it 4 out of 5. Not putting it down..4 Mickeys is a very good movie.
Well next week I have to choose again between two popular animated movies.
Well have a peaceful week and stay away from the bug zappers. Stay away from the light!
Two very good animated movies came to the theatres that year:
Mulan
A Bugs Life
It is a real tough choice, butI decided to go with A Bugs Life. For the only reason that Mulan has been shown on ABC Family a lot lately. A Bugs Life, I have not seen in years.
A Bugs Life seems to be the one PIXAR movie that gets lost in the shuffle of PIXAR movies. When you think PIXAR movies this one does not come to mind right away. I think it gets lost a bit in time because it was squeezed in between Toy Story and Toy Story 2. That is just a guess. It is not a bad movie. In fact it is exciting and clever. It also has very funny moments.
It follows a kind of misfit ant named Flik (David Foley), who is always thinking outside the box, in hope that he can help his ant colony. Sadly, his ideas seem to hurt more than help. As the ant colony is bullied around by a grasshopper ( Kevin Spacey) and his henchgrasshoppers, Flik sets out into the world to find and bring back help to defend their land.
I say the same thing every week, Disney/PIXAR does wonderful jobs casting voice talent, this is where their success starts ( credit director: John Lassitor and Andrew Stanton).
In addition to Spacey and Foley who are both great, you have:
The return of Richard Kind (Molt) and John Ratzenberger (P.T. Flea).
Also:
Phyliss Diller (Queen)
Julia Louis Dreyfus (Atta)
That is only to name a couple. I could go on and on and bore you, I will just say it is large talented cast of voice actors and leave it there, trust me.
The film is very creative by taking us into a world where few of us really think much about (I remember after watching this film the first time I felt bad accidentally stepping on an ant). As we enter that world it gives us Flik, a wonderful central charactor we cannot help but cheer for. The film really works in wonderful humor, highlighted by the carneys (the carnival scene is the highlight of the movie). A movie like this also needs a great bad guy and Hopper the grasshopper is mean as all get out. So humor; bad guy; action/suspence; fantastic voice work; all equal another enjoyable PIXAR film.
I have a couple small faults. The movie comes in at 95 minutes and for some reason it still feels long, I cannot explain why, but at the sixty minute mark I looked at my watch and started thing "wow 35 minutes still to go?". I guess writing drags a bit in the middle. Also, I just hated the character Atta the princess. I just thought she was snobby-mean. Yes she got nicer, but then turned her back on Flik again. I thought, nice friend, when things get tough she turns her back. I just did not like her and I think they wanted me to. Only a couple faults, so not bad.
Well fun and not so fun facts:
David Foley originally tried out for Slim. That part went to David Hyde Pierce.
The two mosquitoes heading toward the light zapper ( a very funny moment),were voiced by directors Lasseter and Stanton.
Well sadly, A Bugs Life did not reach the level I remember a couple of years ago. In life we approach moivies at a certain mindset whether you know it or not. I think as you get older or if your life is in a different place a movie can look different. Maybe that is why A Bugs Life is not the 5 Mickey movie I remember. Remember, I review the movies on the quality, entertainment, and how it holds up since the last time I saw it. I would give it 4 out of 5. Not putting it down..4 Mickeys is a very good movie.
Well next week I have to choose again between two popular animated movies.
Well have a peaceful week and stay away from the bug zappers. Stay away from the light!
