A Bug's Life (1998)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Directors:

John Lasseter
Andrew Stanton (co-director)

Writers:

John Lasseter (story) &
Andrew Stanton (story) ...

Release Date:

25 November 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Animation | Comedy | Adventure

Tagline:

An epic of miniature proportions.

Plot:

A misfit ant, looking for warriors to save his colony from grasshoppers, recruits a group of bugs that turn out to be an inept circus troup.

Plot Keywords:

Ant | Grasshopper | Bug | Circus | Misfit

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 11 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

Dave Foley	...	Flik (voice)
Kevin Spacey	...	Hopper (voice)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus	...	Atta (voice)
Hayden Panettiere	...	Dot (voice)
Phyllis Diller	...	Queen (voice)
Richard Kind	...	Molt (voice)
David Hyde Pierce	...	Slim (voice)
Joe Ranft	...	Heimlich (voice)
Denis Leary	...	Francis (voice)
Jonathan Harris	...	Manny (voice)
Madeline Kahn	...	Gypsy Moth (voice)
Bonnie Hunt	...	Rosie (voice)
Michael McShane	...	Tuck / Roll (voice)
John Ratzenberger	...	P.T. Flea (voice)
Brad Garrett	...	Dim (voice)

Also Known As:

Bugs (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Brazil:Livre | Portugal:M/4 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Belgium:KT | Canada:G (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Finland:K-8/5 | France:U | Germany:o.Al. (w) | Hong Kong:I | Ireland:PG | Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:G | Peru:PT | Singapore:PG | South Korea:All | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:U | USA:G (certificate #36295)

Company:

Pixar Animation Studios

Trivia:

The face of Geri from Geri's Game (1997) (a Pixar short) can be seen modeled in the tree above the ant colony.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the very beginning, the sun is glinting off the water to the left of center, but when the view pulls back to show the island the shadows are all falling to the left, as if the sun is to the right of center.

Quotes:

Manny: I now summon the voice of Confucius...
Fly: Get off the stage, you old hag!
Manny: Huh? I demand to know who said that?
[Manny is pelted with fruit]
Manny: How dare you? Ingrates!
[leaves]
Gypsy: [inside box] Manny? Manny?

Movie Connections:

References A Clockwork Orange (1971)

Funniest film in a long time

This is a FUNNY film. It has all the usual Disney components (music, great range of characters, story, appeal), entwined with superb animation and the excellent voice talents of less well known actors as those in say "Antz" and "Price of Egypt".

The characters work really well, and have a strong appeal, and the humour is aimed at a wide level which overcomes generational barriers. The movie is also presented in superb cinemascope format, which adds to the cinema experience.

Call me crazy, but I have seen the film three times, and I intend on taking more friends to see it this weekend. Many skeptics have seen this film on my recommendation and not been disappointed. I work in a multiplex, and I can honestly say that no-one has ever walked out of this movie without a sense of satisfaction.

See it, and don't be put off because it is animated. You are sure to enjoy this movie, and make sure you stay for the end credits! The bloopers and out-takes at the end are the funniest part of the film, which is packed with laughs throughout.