Demolition Man

Directed by Marco Brambilla and screenplay by Daniel Waters, Peter Reneau, and Peter M. Lenkov from a story by Reneau and Lenkov, Demolition Man is the story a cop from the 1990s who is cryogenically frozen for 36 years as he is reinstated to go after an old foe who was also cryogenically frozen in a futuristic society. The film plays into the aspects of utopia and dystopia where a cop and a criminal from the 20th Century deal with the new rules of the new world as a cop gets the aide of a 20th Century-loving officer. Starring Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes, Sandra Bullock, Nigel Hawthorne, Benjamin Bratt, Denis Leary, Rob Schneider, and Bob Gunton. Demolition Man is a silly but very exhilarating film from Marco Brambilla.

Set in 2032 in a futuristic city called San Angeles that combined three Californian cities in the aftermath of an earthquake, the film explores a utopia that becomes disrupted by cryogenically frozen criminal who escapes as he is ordered to kill a rebel leader prompting the police force to revive his cryogenically frozen foe in a former cop. While it’s a film with a simple plot that does take many of the dystopian ideas of Aldous Huxley, it’s a film that not only pokes fun at the idea of utopia but also how flawed it can be. The film’s screenplay not only create this utopian world where there’s little-to-no violence as well as no anti-social behavior or anything that can harm humanity. It also creates this world where there’s no usage of profanity, no sex, no touching skin, no smoking, no eating red meat, no vices, and there’s no toilet paper where people have to use three seashells in case they wanted to take a shit. Essentially, it’s a fucked up world where everyone acts like a bunch of pussies.

The protagonist in John Spartan (Sylvester Stallone) and the antagonist in Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes) are two men who were part of a world that is very violent and destructive where Spartan’s actions to capture Phoenix led to the death of many hostages that Spartan was supposed to save. The disgraced Spartan and the already-dangerous Phoenix were forced to take part in an experiment where they’re both cryogenically frozen for 36 years until Phoenix in a parole hearing escapes. Phoenix’s actions in San Angeles which allowed him increased programming to hack into computers and do more than he already knew makes him a viable threat to the city. Especially where the police force reluctantly revive Spartan to capture Phoenix as Spartan would have trouble adjusting to his new world and the family that he had lost.

While Spartan is seen by many in the future as this brutish caveman, his new partner in Lenina Huxley (Sandra Bullock) is a woman fascinated by the past as she learns about Spartan’s actions while telling him the rules of the new world. Leading this idea of a utopia is San Angeles’ leader Dr. Raymond Cocteau (Nigel Hawthorne) who has a very warped view about how society should live where his ideals are being threatened by a rebel leader in Edgar Friendly (Denis Leary) who lives under the city with a bunch of people who refuse to live under Cocteau’s rules despite the risk of starvation. Once Spartan realizes what Cocteau is about and how Phoenix is being used to carry Cocteau’s plan to kill Friendly. It becomes not just more complex but also filled with this concept that there is no such thing as a perfect society where even the deranged sociopath in Phoenix even questions Cocteau’s own ideas. It’s the script’s willingness to ask the big questions while putting enough humor that is among the key strengths of the film.

Marco Brambilla’s direction is pretty typical of the action-blockbusters in terms of approach to extravagant action sequences as well as some stylish approach to fights and gunplay. Yet, Brambilla does know how to slow the film in order to explore this idea of utopian San Angeles and how pacifism can lead to this idea that there is no bad in the world. Much of Brambilla’s compositions in these light-hearted moments are very simple in terms of its close-ups and medium shots in the way he plays out the drama. In his approach to humor, it is also light-hearted with some very offbeat references such as Spartan discovering that Arnold Schwarzenegger was President of the United States despite not being a natural-born American.

There’s also elements of style such as a weird sex scene between Spartan and Huxley which involves virtual reality since actual sex is forbidden. The action scenes are pretty intense with lots of explosions and fighting as Brambilla knows how to keep things engaging without losing insight into what is at stake. Even as it can get over the top at times while mixing it with some offbeat humor. Overall, Brambilla creates a very enjoyable yet intelligent film about two men from the 1990s who are reawaken in a futuristic utopia gone wrong.

Cinematographer Alex Thomson does amazing work with the film‘s cinematography from the stylish and mesmerizing look of San Angeles in day and night to the look of the grimy underground with its low-key lights. Editor Stuart Baird does excellent work in creating a very straightforward style in the humor and drama while putting in some stylish jump-cuts and fast-cuts for the action scenes. Production designer David L. Snyder, with art director Walter P. Marthishius and set decorators Robert Gould and Etta Leff, does fantastic work with the set pieces from the futuristic look of San Angeles from its museums, police station, and its Taco Bell restaurant.

Costume designer Bob Ringwood does superb work with the costumes from some of the futuristic clothing the characters wear that includes the dress that Huxley wears at Taco Bell. Visual effects supervisor John C. Wash does nice work with some of the film‘s visual effects such as phaser gun bullets and other futuristic objects that Phoenix would use. Sound designers Michael Geisler, William Griggs, Sam Horta, and Kevin Spears, with sound editor Robert G. Henderson, do terrific work with the sound from some of the layers of sounds in the action sequences to the stun baton that the police uses. The film’s music by Elliot Goldenthal is pretty good for its orchestral bombast that plays into the action and humor while the soundtrack features an array of jingles that serves as the oldies radio station plus a re-worked version of the Police song Demolition Man by its front man Sting.

The casting by Ferne Cassel and Joy Todd is incredible as it feature some cameo appearances from MTV host Dan Cortese as a Taco Bell lounge pianist, Jack Black as one of Denis Leary’s gang members, Rob Schneider as a humorous police receptionist, Andre Gregory as an older version of the cryo-prison warden, Brandy Ledford as the naked video girl that Spartan sees, and Jesse “The Body” Ventura as an associate of Phoenix. Other notable small roles include Glen Shadix as Dr. Cocteau’s aide Associate Bob, Bill Cobbs as an old cop who knows Spartan who suggested that Spartan should go after Phoenix, Benjamin Bratt as the content but violence-phobia officer Alfredo Garcia, and Bob Gunton in a superb performance as the police chief George Earle who despises Spartan’s brutish tactics. Denis Leary is excellent as the rebel leader Edgar Friendly who opposes Dr. Cocteau’s ideas of utopia as he is just trying to get food for the people as Leary has this very funny rant about how he wants to live.

Nigel Hawthorne is amazing as Dr. Raymond Cocteau as this city leader who wants to create his own idea of society as he is described an evil version of Mr. Rogers. Sandra Bullock is fantastic as Lieutenant Lenina Huxley as this young cop who is eager for action as Bullock brings a charm that is fun to watch as well as some funny moments where she tries to say some puns to impress Spartan. Wesley Snipes is phenomenal as Simon Phoenix as this offbeat villain who says some amazing puns as well as being very diabolical as it’s one of Snipes’ finest performances. Finally, there’s Sylvester Stallone in a marvelous performance as John Spartan as Stallone brings that sense of tough guy attitude to his role with some humor that allows him to be overwhelmed and the butt of jokes as it’s one of his more underrated performances that has him be cool and funny.

Demolition Man is a spectacularly off-the-wall and entertaining film from Marco Brambilla that features great performances from Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes. Along with a great supporting cast led by Sandra Bullock as well as very engaging themes on utopia, it’s a film that has enough entertainment value for fans of action films but it’s also very funny and has some unique satire that makes it a cut above most action sci-fi films. In the end, Demolition Man is one absolutely ass-kicking film from Marco Brambilla.

© thevoid99 2014

The Amazing Spider-Man

Based on the comic by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, The Amazing Spider-Man is an origin story of how a teenage Peter Parker became Spider-Man as he searches for what happened to his parents while meeting a scientist who knew his father. Directed by Marc Webb and screenplay by James Vanderbilt, Alvin Sargent, and Steve Kloves from a screen story by Vanderbilt. The film is new interpretation into the Spider-Man saga by interpreting a new take on Spider-Man’s origin story as he is played by Andrew Garfield. Also starring Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan, Campbell Scott, Sally Field, and Martin Sheen. The Amazing Spider-Man is an enjoyable blockbuster from Marc Webb.

The film is essentially a re-telling of the origin story of how Peter Parker became Spider-Man as it relates to the disappearance of his parents and why he had to live with his uncle Ben (Martin Sheen) and aunt May (Sally Field). The film also explores his relationship with his high school classmate Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) whose father is the police captain George Stacy (Denis Leary) who is suspicious about Spider-Man’s vigilante antics. Yet, the story follows Parker trying to find answers into why his parents disappeared which leads him to meet Oscorps scientist Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans) who had been trying to create a regeneration formula that can help restore limbs for humans where Parker helped out giving him an algorithm. Instead, things go wrong when Dr. Connors becomes the Lizard forcing Spider-Man to stop him unleash the formula all over New York City.

The screenplay by James Vanderbilt, Alvin Sargent, and Steve Kloves does allow the film to be both a superhero origin story as well as a bit of mystery where it relates to Peter Parker’s search for answers on not just about his parents but also some of the secrets his father had been hiding. Notably the algorithm in a folder that he had been hiding as he showed to Dr. Connors where Parker would unfortunately set off some things that he shouldn’t have. Along with other incidents that Peter Parker would have to endure, he realized the role he has to play along with the responsibility he would have to carry for all of his life. Still, the film is more about how Parker became Spider-Man and how he would have to bear the responsibility of his role though there are several things in the script like what really happened to Peter’s parents that remain unresolved.

While characters like Uncle Ben, Aunt May, Gwen, and Captain Stacy do get provide some key aspects to the story. It’s Dr. Connors who is the most interesting as he is a man who has good intentions for regeneration as he’s a man that had lost his right arm. Yet, there’s an ambiguity to Dr. Connors as he might know about what happened to Peter Parker’s parents or he doesn’t know what really happened as his superior Dr. Ratha (Irrfan Khan) makes a threat about revealing something that relates to Parker’s parents. Yet, Dr. Connors attempt to test his regeneration formula would have some dire consequences as he becomes this giant lizard that is wreaking havoc on New York City.

Marc Webb’s direction is pretty good as he does a lot of what is expected in a superhero blockbuster story while he also finds the time to make it standout a bit from the previous Spider-Man films that were helmed by Sam Raimi. Notably as he creates some engaging moments in the drama as well as some of the humor of the film that includes a hilarious scene of Spider-Man and the Lizard fighting in a library. While it is shot on location in New York City, there are some scenes where it’s a mix of real-life action and CGI where Webb creates moments that are engaging though there are some shortcomings which relates to the story. Overall, Webb creates a solid and entertaining blockbuster film that does what is needed to do though it doesn’t do enough to make it standout more against its predecessors.

Cinematographer John Schwartzman does nice work with the film‘s cinematography from the look of the day and nighttime exterior scenes to some stylish moments for some of the film‘s nighttime interiors with its lighting schemes. Editors Alan Edward Ball, Michael McCusker and Pierto Scalia do terrific work with the editing as it‘s stylized in a few montages as well as some rhythmic cuts for the film‘s action sequences. Production designer J. Michael Riva, with set decorator Leslie A. Pope and supervising art director David F. Klassen, does excellent work with the look of the Oscorp building and some of its labs inside the building.

Costume designer Kym Barrett does good work with the costumes as it is mostly casual. Visual effects supervisors Jerome Chen, Kevin Kolodinsky, and Jim Rygiel superb work with some of the visual effects of Spider-Man flinging his web from place to place as well as the look of the Lizard. Sound editor Shannon Mills and Addison Teague do wonderful work with the sound to create some nice sound effects as well as some moments in the film‘s action scenes. The film’s music by James Horner is brilliant as it is a mix of orchestral bombast as well as some somber piano pieces to play out some of the growing pains Peter Parker goes through. The soundtrack is decent as it features a few rock cuts by the Shins and Phantom Planet as well as a piece from Coldplay that is just terrible.

The casting by Francine Maisler is remarkable for the ensemble that is used for the film as it features some memorable small appearances from C. Thomas Howell as a father whose son was saved by Spider-Man as he would return the favor, Chris Zylka as school bully Flash Thompson, Hannah Marks as a classmate of Parker, Campbell Scott and Embeth Davidtz as Peter’s parents who appear early in the film, and a hilarious cameo from Stan Lee as a librarian who is oblivious to the fight Spider-Man and the Lizard. Irrfan Khan is OK as Dr. Connors’ superior Dr. Ratha where Khan doesn‘t really get much to do except be used as someone who would drive Dr. Connors into drastic situations. Sally Field is great as Aunt May who worries about Peter’s activities as she also has to remind him that she will always worry about him. Martin Sheen is superb as Uncle Ben Parker as a man who is concerned about Peter while instilling him the role that Peter would have to use as a person.

Denis Leary is excellent as Captain George Stacy as a man is trying to maintain his role as a man of law and order as he sees Spider-Man as a vigilante while trying to deal with the Lizard. Rhys Ifans is brilliant as Dr. Curt Connors as a man whose experiments on regeneration wants him to do good but has him becoming maniacal and ambitious as he nearly loses sight on himself. Emma Stone is very good as Gwen Stacy as a classmate of Peter who knows a lot about science as she also tries to deal with his role as Spider-Man as she would help him fight the Lizard. Finally, there’s Andrew Garfield in a marvelous performance as Peter Parker/Spider-Man as Garfield infuses all of the anxiety of a teenage boy as well as someone who is troubled by what he’s dealing with as Garfield adds a lot of dramatic weight to his performance that makes him a major highlight of the film.

The Amazing Spider-Man is a very stellar film from Marc Webb that features an amazing performance from Andrew Garfield. Along with a strong supporting cast and a unique take on the origin story, it’s a film that is definitely enjoyable and engaging to watch though it does have a few flaws in the shortcomings to the screenplay. In the end, The Amazing Spider-Man is a pretty good film from Marc Webb.

Spider-Man Films: Spider-Man - Spider-Man 2 - Spider-Man 3 - The Amazing Spider-Man 2 - Spider-Man: Homecoming - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse - Spider-Man: Far from Home - Spider-Man: No Way Home - Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse - (Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse)

© thevoid99 2013

Jesus' Son

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 3/6/04 w/ Additional Edits & Revisions.

Based on Denis Johnson's collection of short stories, Jesus' Son is the story of a 1970s heroin addict who tries to do good only continually mess things up as he wound encounter tragedy and redemption. Directed by Alison Maclean and screenplay by Oren Moverman, David Urritia, and Elizabeth Cuthrell, the film explores a young man trying to deal with addiction as well as doing what is right. Starring Billy Crudup, Samantha Morton, Jack Black, John Ventimiglia, Denis Leary, Will Patton, Holly Hunter, and Dennis Hopper. Jesus' Son is an extraordinary film from Alison Maclean.

A young drifter named FH aka Fuckhead (Billy Crudup) is hitchhiking as he hopes to return to Iowa to meet his girlfriend Michelle (Samantha Morton). After a horrifying car accident that he was apart of, FH looks back at his life where he recalls the moment he meets Michelle three years earlier at a party held by a guy named McInnes (John Ventimiglia) as the two later have another encounter where FH's friends Jack (Mark Webber) and Dundun (Michael Shannon) watch something horrifying happen. FH meets Michelle again a year later as the two start a tumultuous relationship as they would become full-blown heroin addicts that would have its wandering moods as it would often include FH's incompetence.

With Michelle gone, FH reaches out to fellow addict Wayne (Denis Leary) where the two make money in destroying an abandoned home and steal some cables where they both earn a good payday. The success allows FH to get back with Michelle though she presents some startling news that would prompt him to try and clean up. Working with another addict in Georgie (Jack Black) as an night-shift orderly in a hospital, the two delve into several hijinks as a doctor (Greg Germann) examines a patient with a knife in his eye where Georgie would make things worse. The two go on a road trip where they would kill a pregnant bunny as they tried to take care of the baby bunnies only for FH to screw things up as usual.

After another breakup with Michelle who leaves him to work in Mexico with a guy named John Smith (Will Patton), FH would have a strange encounter with a snakeskin-jacket man (Alan Davidson) as he tries to deal with his own relapsing drug addiction. After another reunion with Michelle that doesn't go well, FH eventually goes to rehab as he meets with a former addict named Bill (Dennis Hopper) whose story would help FH changes his life. After moving to Phoenix, he meets a former alcoholic named Mira (Holly Hunter) and works at nursing home while being entranced by a singer (Rebecca Kimball). With this new life, FH wonders about where he is going with this new life.

What makes Jesus' Son such an interesting film is in Alison Maclean's direction. While the film's script at times is hard to follow with its flashbacks and varied subplots, MacLean and the screenwriters make sure the story is appealing in its offbeat structure and tone. Even by adding elements of black comedy and drama, the film doesn't lose itself in it's pacing. In the more harrowing scenes of hallucinations, MacLean brings up the surreal tone of drug addiction at its darkest and campy. Even the film's look by cinematographer Adam Kimmel is amazingly captured in the film's three-act structure. From its blue look early on to the more colorful, hazy tone in the second to a more cleaner, enlightened tone in its final act. Even the film's music with an original score from Joe Henry as well as a wide mix of music from the 70s ranging from rock, pop, soul, and country to enhance the gritty, natural tone of the film.

The film's cast is extraordinary from its group of smaller roles played by Mark Webber, Michael Shannon, Alan Davidson, John Ventimiglia, and Greg Germann to its veterans like Dennis Hopper, Will Patton, and Holly Hunter in their small but respective roles that are performed wonderfully. Standing out in the supporting cast easily is Jack Black who delivers a hilarious, brash performance as Georgie by giving the film some much-needed comic relief. Denis Leary also provides a funny performance as Wayne as he comes out of the film like a drunk by beating people up and fucking things up as possible in one of Leary's best performances.

Samantha Morton is astonishing as Michelle by portraying a beautiful addict who can be unlikable at times yet for the British actress, Morton provides a sense of sexiness and sympathy in her troubled performance as an addict. Billy Crudup is amazing as the film's protagonist FH by being charming and loveable in his role despite being a total fuck-up. Crudup carries the film with ease and strong dramatic moments without being too vulnerable or too stupid. Crudup gives one of his best performances of his career, particularly as the film's narrator.

Jesus' Son is an entrancing yet harrowing film from Alison Maclean that features terrific performances from Billy Crudup and Samantha Morton. Along with a great supporting cast that includes Jack Black and Denis Leary, it's a film that explores the dark world of drug addiction as well as a man yearning to find redemption. Notably as it revolves a guy who tries not to live up to his namesake as incompetent fuck-up. In the end, Jesus' Son is a powerful drama from Alison Maclean.

(C) thevoid99 2012

A Bug's Life

1995’s Toy Story ushered in a new era of cinema with the advent of computer-animated films as that film was the first feature-length computer-animated film ever made. The success of that film helped Pixar Animations studio as they were set to create various new projects that would help build the studio and their relationship with distributor in Walt Disney Studios. For their second feature film, the studios chose to create a film that mixes Aesop’s fable of The Ant and the Grasshopper and Akira Kurosawa’s legendary 1957 film The Seven Samurai into A Bug’s Life.

Directed by John Lasseter, with additional direction by Andrew Stanton, and scripted by Stanton, Donald McEnery, and Bob Shaw that was based on a story by Lasseter, Stanton, and Joe Ranft. A Bug’s Life tells the story of a worker ant who seeks help from other insects to fight off against grasshoppers whom they had been gathering food for. Unaware that the insects he hired are circus insects, he teams up with them to fight off the grasshoppers they had been slaving for. With an all-star voice cast that includes Dave Foley, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Hayden Panettiere, Kevin Spacey, Denis Leary, David Hyde Pierce, Phyllis Diller, Madeline Kahn, Bonnie Hunt, Brad Garrett, Roddy McDowall, and John Ratzenberger. A Bug’s Life is a fun yet adventurous film John Lasseter and company.

With ants gathering food for grasshoppers before the harvest is to end, Flik (Dave Foley) is an inventive ant who tries to get things better only to cause trouble as his latest invention has him causing an accident. The accident has upset Hopper (Kevin Spacey) who demands that the ants work double-time before he and his group of grasshoppers return for harvest’s end. Wanting to find a way to keep things going and get rid of Flik, Flik suggests getting other insects to help rebel against Hopper and grasshoppers. Princess Atta (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) likes the idea thinking it will get rid of Flik as she lets him go. Upon his journey to the city, Flik encounters a group of fired circus performers he believes are warriors as he asks them for help.

The troupe takes the job thinking it’s a gig as they’re welcomed by the ants led by the queen (Phyllis Diller) as she along with many believe are the warriors that will help them. Yet, the troupe realizes through a celebration of what they’re asked to do as Flik learns that they’re really circus performers. When the queen’s youngest daughter Dot (Hayden Panettiere) is in danger from a bird, the troupe and Flik save her as they decide to stay. Realizing that Hopper is afraid of birds, Flik and the troupe create a bird with a group of ants to stop Hopper and his gang. With the plan working, everything seems to be in place until the arrival of the troupes’ former boss P.T. Flea (John Ratzenberger). With Hopper finally returning and the ants worried, it’s up to Flik and the troupe to remind the ants who are the stronger species.

The film is about an ant who rebels against a group of grasshoppers by hiring a group of circus performers to help him and the ants out. Yet, it’s a plot that is sort of similar to Akira Kurosawa’s 1957 epic The Seven Samurai that is about a group of villagers asking seven samurai warriors to fight against rebels. Still, John Lasseter and his team of writers do create a story where an ant is trying to make up for his mistakes while trying to win over the acceptance of a princess who is groomed to become the next queen.

Then there’s the circus troupe who are a very eccentric, lively bunch. There’s the intellectual stick-bug Slim (David Hyde Pierce), a male-centric ladybug named Francis (Denis Leary), a fat yet hungry caterpillar named Heimlich (Joe Ranft), a black widow named Rosie (Bonnie Hunt), the moth Gypsy (Madeline Khan), Manny the cricket (Jonathan Harris), Dim the beetle (Brad Garrett), and twin ticks who barely speak English (Michael McShane). They’re just a bunch of insects needing a job while using their talents to fight off against Hopper and his gang while being accepted by the ant colony. Yet, they become more than that as the script allows them to develop and forge an alliance with the ants. The grasshoppers may be villains but that’s only because their leader Hopper is a ruthless insect who is aware of how weak his species are and tries to use his wit and power against the ants.

The direction of John Lasseter and Andrew Stanton is definitely very broad as they shoot everything with wide angles to let the audience be enraptured by the locations the characters are at. Since this is the first film from Pixar to use the widescreen format, it allows Lasseter and Stanton to go for bigger compositions and to create more ants to help fill in the frame. The action sequences allows the directors to move the camera move and create some exciting sequences. The overall work is definitely phenomenal as John Lasseter, with additional help from Andrew Stanton, creates a lively yet magical film.

Cinematographer Sharon Calahan does some fantastic work with the lighting for many of the exteriors of the ant hill as well as its surroundings while the inside look is truly gorgeous. Editor Lee Unkrich does a great job with the editing by creating wonderful rhythmic cuts for the film’s action moments along with more relaxed cuts for the dramatic and funny moments. Production designer William Cone, along with art directors Tia W. Kratter and Bob Pauley does a wonderful job with the look of the ant hill and city that Flik goes to along with the interiors of the ant colony itself. Sound designer Gary Rydstrom and sound editor Tim Holland do amazing work with the sound from the grasshoppers breaking through to the circus event where P.T. Flea create a fiery stunt.

The film’s score by Randy Newman is definitely a highlight of the film as its orchestral score is thrilling with loads of pieces to complement the emotions and adventurous moments of the film. Even as it features another Newman original song in The Time Of Your Life to play up the joy and humor of the film.

The voice cast that is assembled by Mary Hidalgo and Ruth Lambert as it features various voices such as Frank Welker as the scary grasshopper Thumper along with the bird plus Edie McClurg as the young ants’ teacher Mrs. Flora and Roddy McDowall as one of the ants’ key top figures in Mr. Soil. Other notable small roles include John Ratzenberger as the greedy P.T. Flea, Jack Angel as a bunch of flies, and Richard Kind as Hopper’s dim-witted brother Molt. For the roles of the circus troupe, there’s standout performances from Michael McShane as the foreign-talking ticks Tuck and Roll, Brad Garrett as the sensitive beetle Dim, Madeline Kahn as the exotic moth Gypsy, and Jonathan Harris as the dramatic Manny.

Joe Ranft is hilarious as the overweight Heimlich who sports a German accent and has an insatiable appetite while Denis Leary is really funny as a tough ladybug who eventually gives in to his feminine side when he spends time with the little ants. David Hyde Pierce is really good as Slim, a stick-bug with a wonderful intellect who wishes he wasn’t just a prop while Phyllis Diller is great as the queen who is trying to maintain her colony’s safety while prepping Atta for her big role. Kevin Spacey is superb as the villainous Hopper who is smarter than a lot of his grasshopper minions while trying to realize that he has to be smart unless the ants realize how powerful they are.

Hayden Panettiere is wonderful as the queen’s youngest daughter Dot who is determined to fly while seeing Flik as a role model as someone who doesn’t quit. Julia Louis-Dreyfus is excellent as Atta, a princess who is trying to become a leader as she learns the importance of trust. Finally, there’s Dave Foley in a brilliant voice performance as the everyman Flik who tries to make a difference while being the one to stand up against Hopper.

A Bug’s Life is an extraordinary film from John Lasseter and Pixar studios proving that they have ambition and do big ideas. While it may not be up there with more revered films like the Toy Story trilogy, or the films that other Pixar directors like Andrew Stanton, Brad Bird, and Pete Docter has done. It is one of the essential films of their large collection of films as it help set the stage for the ambition that the studio would do in later films. In the end, A Bug’s Life is a glorious yet entertaining film from Pixar studios.

Pixar Films: Toy Story - Toy Story 2 - (Monsters, Inc.) - (Finding Nemo) - The Incredibles - Cars - Ratatouille - WALL-E - Up - Toy Story 3 - Cars 2 - Brave - Monsters University - Inside Out - The Good Dinosaur - (Finding Dory) - (Cars 3) - Coco - Incredibles 2 - Toy Story 4 - (Onward) - Soul (2020 film) - (Luca (2021 film)) - Turning Red - (Lightyear) - (Elemental (2023 film)) - Inside Out 2 - (Elio) – (Toy Story 5)

© thevoid99 2011