A Bug's Life

Plot synopsis:
On a small island surrounded by water ('alazhars': dude an island IS a piece of land surrounded by water Duh!), a colony of ants is preparing food for the arrival of a band of grasshoppers. Of the ants that are working, one of them that stands out is an industrious one named Flik. Flik is constantly inventing new things for the colony to try, but his ideas are often shouted down and shunned by the colony. The only one who seems to believe in Flik is the young Princess of the colony named Dot. Secretly, Flik is attracted to her older sister, Atta, who is next in line for the throne.As the time for the grasshoppers to arrive approach, the colony heads down into the anthill, intent to wait for the grasshoppers to eat the offering, and leave. Unfortunately, Flik is the last one to put his items on the offering stone, and ends up causing the platform to collapse with his piece of machinery.When the grasshoppers finally arrive and find nothing, they go down into the anthill to terrorize the ants. The leader of the grasshoppers, demands that the offering be replenished by the Fall season, and terrorizes Dot, before Flik comes forward to try and defend her. Hopper then insists that the offering be doubled, due to Flik's speaking out at him. The grasshoppers then leave, promising to return when the last leaf falls.The colony is now in trouble, as there isn't enough food to fulfill Hopper's request and provide sustenance for the colony. Flik is brought before a tribunal in regards to his causing the trouble. As the group convenes, Flik then thinks up a new idea: if the colony could get bigger bugs, they could be instrumental in scaring off the grasshoppers from ever returning to bully the colony. The others think this is a bad idea, until Flik volunteers to look. Thinking that his search will take a long time, the council decides to accept Flik's request, figuring he'll be away from them long enough to keep from causing further trouble.Flik sets off the next day to head for the big city, eventually finding his way into a 'bug bar,' asking around for tough 'warrior bugs.' His attention is suddenly drawn to a group of bugs in a corner, who it seems are preparing to take on a much larger bug. However, in the fight, the 'bug bar' ends up being wrecked, and Flik misses much of the fight. However, in the aftermath, Flik thinks he's found the perfect guardians to help his colony.He pleads his case to the group, saying how he's been looking for bugs with their talent, and asking for their help regarding the incoming group of grasshoppers. The group eagerly accepts, and they head off for Ant Island.When Flik returns, Atta and the elders are shocked that Flik actually found 'warrior bugs.' Atta is at first unsure, but one of the group named Francis (Dennis Leary), promises that they will knock the grasshoppers 'dead' when they come.A party is then held in honor of the group, including a tribute and art showing the warriors fighting off the grasshoppers. The group then grows leary, and it is then that a black widow spider of the group named rosie reveals to Flik through whispering, that they are not warrior bugs...but a group of out-of-work circus bugs!Discovering their mutual misunderstanding, the circus bugs attempt to leave, but are forced back by a bird. They save Princess Dot, the Queen's daughter and Atta's sister, from the bird as they flee, gaining the ants' trust in the process. They continue the ruse of being "warriors" so the troupe can continue to enjoy the attention and hospitality of the ants. The bird encounter inspires Flik into creating an artificial bird to scare away Hopper, leader of the grasshoppers, who is deeply afraid of birds. The bird is constructed, but the circus bugs are exposed by their former ringmaster, P.T. Flea, when he arrives searching for them. Angered at Flik's deception, the ants exile him and desperately try to pull together enough food for a new offering to the grasshoppers, but fail to do so. When the grasshoppers discover a meager offering upon their arrival, they take control of the entire colony and begin eating the ants' winter store of food. After overhearing Hopper's plan to kill the queen, Dot leaves in search of Flik and convinces him to return and save the colony with his original plan. The plan nearly works, but P.T. Flea lights the bird model on fire, causing it to crash and be revealed as a fake. Hopper has Flik beaten in retaliation, but Flik defies Hopper and inspires the entire colony to stand up to the grasshoppers and drive them out of the colony.
Before Hopper can be disposed of, it begins to rain. In the chaos, Hopper viciously pursues Flik, who leads him to an actual bird's nest. Hopper mistakes the real bird for another fake bird, and taunts it, attracting its attention. The grasshopper is eaten by the bird and its chicks. Some time later, Flik has been welcomed back to the colony, and he and Atta are now a couple. As the troupe departs with the last grasshopper, Molt, as an employee, Atta is crowned the new Queen, while Dot gets the princess' crown. The circus troupe then departs as Flik, Atta and Dot watch and wave farewell in a tree branch.

Tags: comedy, revenge, humor, cute, entertaining

Review:
(originally a response to a movie reviewer who said A Bug's Life was too much, too fast--he was "dazed and exhausted" by the visuals, and seemed to ignore the story completely)Okay, first off, I'm 26 years old, have a job, go to school, and have a fiance'.
So maybe I'm nuts and just really good at hiding it...but not only did I NOT come away from A Bug's Life exhausted or dazed, it wasn't until I saw it the second time that I could even begin to truly appreciate the artistry and humour of the spectacular visuals--because the first time I went to see this movie, I got so wrapped up in the story and the characters that I FORGOT that I was supposed to be sitting there being "wowed" by each frame visually.
Final words: A+ rating from me; please, if you're going to see it try to see it in the theatre (pan and scan video is NOT going to work for this movie); if you loved Toy Story you'll most likely love this (PIXAR knows how to make movies with heart); if you do love it see it multiple times or you STILL won't know what you're missing (the amount of detail and subtlety here is considerable); and whenever you're feeling really low, just pretend it's a seed, okay?.
"A Bug's Life" is like a favorite candy bar -- it's chock-full of great little bits that add up to something really tasty.The story couldn't have been better; it's clever, has "heart" (emotion), and every character has a nice "arc" (a growth or change).
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.
Full of "those guy actors," it is people like Richard Kind, Brad Garrett, and the late Joe Ranft as Heimlich the worm who bring the biggest laughs.Overall, it may be the simplest story brought to screen by Pixar, one that has been told in one form or the other numerous times over the years, but it is inspired enough and fresh enough to deliver an enjoyable experience.
You will marvel at the incredibly sophisticated computer animation, and the novelty probably won't wear off on the first, second or third viewing, but you?ll be drawn in by the characters which are so simple yet intriguing, that you may find yourself actually caring for them in an unexpected way, which may or may not make you feel a little childish due to the medium.Disney continues to firmly hold the title of "Greatest Animation in the World", with "A Bug?s Life" standing as one of their greatest achievements.
If you look at the star voices of both films, "Antz" is largely cast with big name "movie" stars with a few familiar "TV" star voices, where "A Bug?s Life" is just the opposite, loaded with "TV" stars with Kevin Spacey as the only stand out exception.
After dazzling everyone with its unforgettable debut that revolutionised the entire animation industry in the long run, Pixar Animation Studios' follow up to their highly revered Toy Story is another wonderful piece of imagination, innovation & animation that once again presents a unique take on life but this time from a bug's point of view.The story of A Bug's Life follows a misfit ant who thinks differently yet only ends up causing more trouble for his colony so when his latest escapade wastes away all the food ants had gathered to offer to the greedy grasshoppers, he decides to make up for it by finding & recruiting tough warrior bugs to save the entire colony from its oppressors.Directed by John Lasseter, A Bug's Life marks Pixar's second consecutive home-run & just like their previous feature, brims with so much creativity & passion that the narrative it puts on the silver screen remains finely balanced in storytelling department and is then taken to the next level by further refinement & advancement in their state-of-the-art animation.There are wide range of bugs to be found in this fable and the animators have done a fab job in envisioning, designing & rendering all of them.
The themes it deals with are nicely addressed, humour is effectively used, score is lightweight but fitting & it never loses its sense of fun.On an overall scale, A Bug's Life is definitely one of Pixar's most underrated films that may not have anything as memorable as the studio's best works but it nonetheless scores high marks in all filmmaking aspects to make up for an enjoyable & entertaining ride that viewers of all ages can benefit from plus delivers its message of 'strength in unity' with remarkable simplicity & effectiveness.In many ways, I find it to be a reflection of Pixar's very own modus operandi for it offers an interesting insight into the way these talented minds come together under one roof for the sole purpose of envisioning, creating & stringently refining stories that are fun & entertaining but also not devoid of heart, soul & emotions, with an added incentive to be able to do that without compromising with the art or quality of its medium..
Here's it's the ladybug being really "a man in touch with his feminine side." Other than that, the film is family-friendly and far better than another animated film that came out at the same time: the profane and crude "Antz."This isn't a laugh-out-loud film but there are many amusing and clever lines which makes it fun for adults, not just the kids..
Several of Walt Disney Pictures' best animated films of recent years have been released or distributed through Pixar, an animation studio that specializes in computer generated animation and "A Bug's Life", their follow up to the hugely successful "Toy Story" ranks as one of the best and funniest Walt Disney Pictures animated films.
Several of Walt Disney Pictures' best animated films of recent years have been released or distributed through Pixar, an animation studio that specializes in computer generated animation and "A Bug's Life", their follow up to the hugely successful "Toy Story" ranks as one of the best and funniest Walt Disney Pictures animated films.
Released during the same month as a similar computer generated animated film, "Antz", "A Bug's Life" suffers no bad comparisons because I consider it to be just as good as amusing as "Antz." The main focus of the film is Flik, a worker ant who has a very inventive mind and keen eye for detail.
Released during the same month as a similar computer generated animated film, "Antz", "A Bug's Life" suffers no bad comparisons because I consider it to be just as good as amusing as "Antz." The main focus of the film is Flik, a worker ant who has a very inventive mind and keen eye for detail.
Of course, nothing runs smoothly, and with the Princess Atta on the watch, it's gonna be tough."A Bug's Life" is by no means a bad film: there's plenty to keep the kids entertained, and it's fun to watch as the story unfolds.
The characters were built to know their place in this film, which in my personal view I would describe its plot as an "adaptation" (quote unquote because unofficially it is not) of Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai (1954), for they both consist of a small village or colony being subjugated by invaders demanding food during each invasion, but placed in a world of an animated colony of ants; so the protagonist, Flik, comes up with a great idea, to search for a group of "warrior" bugs (they are in fact members of a circus) to help them defeat the invaders, a group of malicious grasshoppers whose leader may be one of the best villains Pixar's creative team has ever offered, the evil Hopper.
A Bug's Life, the second ever Pixar film, tells about a distant and isolated ant colony who have been harassed by a swarm of grasshoppers for time immemorial.
It's under-appreciated, but "A Bug's Life" has the ingredients for a worthwhile PIXAR movie; conflict, characters, inventive world-building.
But the story must sustain the movie format, let's make it a colony of ants versus a gang of greedy grasshoppers, and then work on a script à la "Three Amigos" and you get "A Bug's Life", Pixar's second film.So, if "Toy Story" was to 3D what "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" was to traditional animation, well I guess that makes "A Bug's Life" a little bit like "Pinocchio", at least as far as chronology and technological improvement go, this comparison is valid, but while "A Bug's Life" didn't hold up as well as "Toy Story" 18 years, for the film's defense, it has nothing to do with quality.
And it's all justice that "Antz" suffers from the same fate, the two films, from rival studios were released the same year, and it's obvious there was some leak, but let's accept as a happy ending that they didn't go to court (although it did terminate some friendships) and that both did well at the box-office but I think I would paraphrase the Emperor Joseph's quote by saying "there were too many characters" and I'm not saying that was the problem within the story, but about its appeal.Take the ants, they are a colony where each one has a role to play, some carry the food, some guide them etc.
Flik is an individual yet the story can't allow us to root for one individual, they're insects and they all work as group, even the mercenaries he's supposed to hire, in reality circus workers covering different personalities, there is not one to stand above.The film is a triumph in characterization and high-scale animation, but take all the movies that succeeded after "Shrek", "Finding Nemo", "Monsters & Co", there was a core of significant characters, Shrek and Fiona, Woody and Buzz, the more you identify with one, the more positively you respond to the spectacle.
I first watch this back in 1999 remembering it very well, Disney really knows how to capture a child's heart and there movies are always so colorful, the animation for its time was really something great, this is one of the first animated films i ever saw, please don't hesitate buying the DVD, its a great family movie with lots of action and fun for everyone.
People say Toy Story is their favorite Pixar movie, I say A Bug's Life.
Pixar has been known for making computer animated classics like Toy Story and Monsters Inc. But out of all of the Pixar movie's I've seen, A Bug's Life is my favorite Pixar movie.The reason why this is my favorite Pixar movie is because the animation can be amazing at time's like where Flick is floating across the canyon to look for warrior bugs or when he and his friends are getting chased by the Bird.
Brighter and more colorful than the other animated insect movie of 1998 (Antz), A Bug's Life is the sweetly told story of Flik (voiced by David Foley), an ant searching for better ways to be a bug.
The scene-stealer is Atta's squeaky-voiced sister, baby Dot (Hayden Panettiere), who has a big sweet spot for Flik.More gentle and kid-friendly than Antz, A Bug Life's still has some good suspense and a wonderful demise of the villain.
It's like the team that made the movie found a way to bring us into the mind of a child and allow us to think like them, to imagine bugs the way a young mind does.Honey, I Shrunk The Kids was one of my favorite films when I was younger, and to me, A Bug's Life is like a more realistic version of that movie, if only because the animation is so breathtaking and this style of story-telling just opens up so many more narrative possibilities.
I try not to compare it to something like Toy Story (which I still maintain is the best computer animated film ever made), because the story of A Bug's Life is not quite as good as Toy Story's, but then again, almost nothing is.
And incidentally, the similarities between this crippling level of food extraction is strikingly similar to Mao Tse-tung's vicious forcing of food from his own people during the "Great Leap Forward"The fun and excitement begins when Flik, the main character, sets off on a quest to find a gang of appropriate warrior bugs to come back and help defend the colony against the grasshoppers.
The movie was released back in the late 90s, when so many films seemed to have been coming out in twos, like Armageddon and Deep Impact, Independence Day and The Arrival, A Bug's Life and Antz, etc.
While Antz was an animated movie of a Woody Allen (the voice of Z in Antz) film making references to psychology, Judiasm, sexes and other trademarks, A Bug's Life was just plain good old' entertainment where there were jokes for both the kids and adults to understand and not have to worry about a moral or being bored.If Antz dealt with the underground of ants and their life styles, then A Bug's Life has all the insects we keep as either pets or a collection of squished items on the floor.This film is about a little ant name Flik (voice by Dave Foley of Kids in the Hall) an inventor/screw-up where he messes up during the most important event of the season.
So the little ant goes into town to find any insects where in a sort of "Three Amigos" scenario he finds a group of bugs and ask to help him and the ant colony where he doesn't know that they're a bunch of circus flunkies."A Bug's Life" is a barrel of laughs where not only will people find this better than "Antz" but find something within all the characters.As for the cast line up prior to Dave Foley and Kevin Spacey, there's also Julia-Louis Dreyfus, Brad Garrett, Richard Kind, David Hyde Pierce, Bonnie Hunt, Phylis Diller, Denis Leary and more to make you want to come back for more..
"A bug's life" tells the story of a colony of ants that are terrorized by grasshoppers who demand from them that they give them every year food so they can sit on their lazy asses.
A Bug's Life showcases brilliant computer animation with a time-tested Seven Samurai story - young man must leave home to redeem himself, brings back friends, becomes a hero and changes the community for the better.
_A Bug's Life_ is the cheerier, prettier and ultimately more successful of this year's two animated insect films, but it suffers a bit from a dull yet frenetic story that takes no time to let its characters breathe and a script only moderately witty.
Disney and Pixar studios team up once again and brought us an imaginative adventure story about a misfit ant named Flik, who accidentally drops the food offerings his colony gathers for the fierce gang of grasshoppers, leaving his fellow ants to gather twice as much food for the fierce bugs.
The movie is also filled with comedy; you will have to watch the movie to appreciate the bug humor and, of course, it's typical for a Disney animated movie that the filmmakers would make the ladybug character a guy in the story.There are some slow plot points in the first half of the movie, especially during Flik's solo scenes, but the plot picks up steam during the second half, especially when the circus and ants conjure up the plan to defeat the grasshoppers.
A Bug's Life, I think was the second feature film that Pixar made.
In the city, he recruits a group of circus bugs who mistakes Flik for a talent agent.This is a good follow up to Pixar's breakout movie Toy Story.
Heimlich is a scene stealer - one of the funniest toons in the movie.The rest of the characters are great as well - so you are in for a fun time when you watch this "Buggy" film.Good companion films: "Antz", "Ice Age" and "Madagascar" 9/10.
A real classic in animated children's movies, full of wit, humor, great characters and a story that appeals to all ages.
But well, everything Pixar does is amazing and A Bug's Life is a very good animation film.Maybe the greatness of Toy Story influenced in the hype for the movie with the consequence of being a let down for some people.I think A Bug's Life has a very powerful character development which makes the main characters so lovable.
I thought A Bug's Life addressed bullying, and is the only animated film from Pixar to have done so.
Finding Nemo, Toy Story, The Incredibles, Monsters Inc. to name a few, A Bug's Life still remains as a classic Pixar animation, despite being one of their oldest movies.
In A BUG'S LIFE, The animation and quality is strictly Pixar, but the story, about the cooperation and determination against odds against them, are the stuff Disney films are famous for.The film was released alongside another ant film entitled ANTZ, which sounds like they have similar plot lines.
However, will these circus bugs be any help the army of grasshoppers?The film is probably more visually-impressive than Pixar's previous Toy Story was never reaches the brilliant animation of Finding Nemo.
With characters like Flik, and Dot, and Tuck & Roll (my favorites), A Bug's Life makes it fun to go to the movies.
Basically what I'm saying is, if you want to see what real animation is about, a good story, fun characters, good voices, and most of all a good time, rent A Bug's Life.
I don`t think Disney have been very successful with the movies in the later years, but with A Bugs Life (with help from Pixar) they really done a great job.