A Bug's Life is perhaps Pixar's most under-rated film. Personally, I love everything about it, from the world creation to the themes that it discusses. It is also one of the few Pixar films that does not warrant a sequel because it works incredibly well on its own.
A Bug's Life is the story of an ant who goes looking for warrior bugs to save his colony from grasshoppers. There are so many things to love about this film. Firstly, Fliks' character arc is flawless. Flik is an inventor who gets laughed at by the rest of the colony because his inventions never work. It is because of this that the colony sends him away to find warrior bugs because they know he will fail. The important thing is that he does not fail, and the warrior bugs help Flik realize his potential, and by the end of the film the entire colony has realized how important he is to their survival. Also, the relationship between the grasshoppers and the ants is quite interesting. The ruler of the grasshoppers, Hopper, believes that they are at the top of the bug food chain. However, he also acknowledges the fact that the ants present a potential threat to them. There is a wonderful moment in the film where Flik teaches Hopper a lesson by explaining to him who really needs who. This is a lesson that teaches us that just because someone is bigger and more threatening does not mean they are more important. In fact, it is the little guy that is crucial to the big guys' survival. There is also the issue that is discussed, albeit briefly, regarding the character of Francis the Ladybug, and the fact that just because Francis looks like a girl does not mean he actually is one. I personally believe that this character is Pixars' way of showing support for the LGBT community, and that you can be whoever you want to be in life. All in all, A Bug's Life is a wonderful movie that is the total package for people of all ages.
John Lasseter is the director of A Bug's Life. I love the world that Lasseter creates in this film because it actually operates like a human world. There are different hierarchies, the bugs have friends from different locations, and there are even cities and suburbs. All of these aspects give the film such a grand scale, and give Fliks' journey an epic feel. I also love that both of the grasshoppers arrivals to Ant Island are treated like something out of a horror film. This puts more emphasis on how evil and intimidating they are. The final battle between the ants and the grasshoppers in the rain is so thrilling to watch and, in a true "circle of life" moment, Hopper meets a grisly demise. Throughout this entire film, you can feel Lasseters' passion for storytelling, and he succeeds brilliantly.
Maybe it is just me, but when I hear people talk about the Pixar films, I do not hear anyone mention A Bug's Life. This film deserves so much more recognition than it gets. If you have not seen this film, I highly recommend that you do.
Showing posts with label John Lasseter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Lasseter. Show all posts
Sunday, June 4, 2017
Friday, March 24, 2017
They Are Alive!!!! -- Part 1
Toy Story was the first computer-animated feature film, and the crowning achievement of Pixar Animation Studios. It has become a classic among children and adults, and is one of Pixars' best films. It is one of those films that, even after more than twenty years, reminds you what it is like to be a kid.
Toy Story is the story of how a cowboy doll and a spaceman figure compete for the affection of a young boy. I have always loved that this is not an origin story of how the toys are able to come alive. Within the first few minutes of the movie, it is understood that they have come alive for a long time, possibly even before Andy owned them. I also love the fact that, for a majority of the film, Buzz Lightyear thinks that he is real. Woody is always attempting to convince him that he is a toy, but Buzz always dismisses him, which makes Buzzs' realization later in the film that he actually is a toy so much more heartbreaking. This also begs the question: Did Woody and all of the other toys have a moment like this as well, or did they always know they were toys? I also like the fact that this movie does not look down upon children owning toys. There is a moment in the film where Woody is telling Buzz how awesome it is to be a toy that is owned by a child. I love this moment so much because it puts emphasis on how special and important toys are to children. Toy Story was a landmark in the history of film and, in my opinion, it is cinematic perfection.
John Lasseter is the director of Toy Story. The key aspect of the movie is the fact that this is a family/comedy film. When you hear about a film where the toys come alive, you automatically think that it is going to be a horror film. However, thanks to Lasseters' directing and shaping of the tone, we see that the toys function as any normal family would. They laugh together, fight together and even have romantic relationships. As a matter of fact, these romantic relationships are actually part of a laundry list of adult-themed jokes throughout the film. I have always praised the Pixar films for having adult themes in them. These themes and jokes happen throughout this, and the other, Pixar films, and are vague enough for children not to understand them, but they always get a good laugh from the adult viewers. I also love the fact that Andy feels conflicted about his toys once Buzz Lightyear enters the picture. He does not know who to spend more time with: Woody or Buzz. This is how all children feel when they get a new toy. The new toy is shiny, has blinking lights and electronic sounds. The older toy has fabric that is frayed and the pull-string is worn out. It always makes me smile that Andy realizes that both Woody and Buzz are important to him, just in different ways. Every toy is special to a child, and I am glad Lasseter included this aspect in the film. As a child and as an adult, I have always loved the character of Sid. His bedroom is the stuff of childrens' nightmares because he blows them apart, and then puts them back together in twisted new ways. This comes back to haunt him forever when the toys come alive in his backyard. I also feel like Lasseter put the character of Sid in the movie in order to represent what would happen if a toy actually came alive in front a persons' eyes. It is horrifying, yes, but I also love that it is treated in a humorous way in this film. This entire film showcases the brilliance in John Lasseter as a director.
Toy Story is such a magical film that is filled with great characters and a wonderful story. It is also the first film in what would become a long line of computer-animated films that would make Pixar the gold standard of storytelling. If you have not seen the original Toy Story film, I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Toy Story is the story of how a cowboy doll and a spaceman figure compete for the affection of a young boy. I have always loved that this is not an origin story of how the toys are able to come alive. Within the first few minutes of the movie, it is understood that they have come alive for a long time, possibly even before Andy owned them. I also love the fact that, for a majority of the film, Buzz Lightyear thinks that he is real. Woody is always attempting to convince him that he is a toy, but Buzz always dismisses him, which makes Buzzs' realization later in the film that he actually is a toy so much more heartbreaking. This also begs the question: Did Woody and all of the other toys have a moment like this as well, or did they always know they were toys? I also like the fact that this movie does not look down upon children owning toys. There is a moment in the film where Woody is telling Buzz how awesome it is to be a toy that is owned by a child. I love this moment so much because it puts emphasis on how special and important toys are to children. Toy Story was a landmark in the history of film and, in my opinion, it is cinematic perfection.
John Lasseter is the director of Toy Story. The key aspect of the movie is the fact that this is a family/comedy film. When you hear about a film where the toys come alive, you automatically think that it is going to be a horror film. However, thanks to Lasseters' directing and shaping of the tone, we see that the toys function as any normal family would. They laugh together, fight together and even have romantic relationships. As a matter of fact, these romantic relationships are actually part of a laundry list of adult-themed jokes throughout the film. I have always praised the Pixar films for having adult themes in them. These themes and jokes happen throughout this, and the other, Pixar films, and are vague enough for children not to understand them, but they always get a good laugh from the adult viewers. I also love the fact that Andy feels conflicted about his toys once Buzz Lightyear enters the picture. He does not know who to spend more time with: Woody or Buzz. This is how all children feel when they get a new toy. The new toy is shiny, has blinking lights and electronic sounds. The older toy has fabric that is frayed and the pull-string is worn out. It always makes me smile that Andy realizes that both Woody and Buzz are important to him, just in different ways. Every toy is special to a child, and I am glad Lasseter included this aspect in the film. As a child and as an adult, I have always loved the character of Sid. His bedroom is the stuff of childrens' nightmares because he blows them apart, and then puts them back together in twisted new ways. This comes back to haunt him forever when the toys come alive in his backyard. I also feel like Lasseter put the character of Sid in the movie in order to represent what would happen if a toy actually came alive in front a persons' eyes. It is horrifying, yes, but I also love that it is treated in a humorous way in this film. This entire film showcases the brilliance in John Lasseter as a director.
Toy Story is such a magical film that is filled with great characters and a wonderful story. It is also the first film in what would become a long line of computer-animated films that would make Pixar the gold standard of storytelling. If you have not seen the original Toy Story film, I cannot recommend it highly enough.
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