A Bug's Life (Collector's Edition)

Buy This Item A Bug's Life (Collector's Edition) by Disney/Pixar  Available from Amazon  $39.99  on 11-29-2008     There was such a magic on the screen in 1995 when the people at Pixar came up with the first fully computer-animated film, <I>Toy Story</I>. Their second feature film, <I>A Bug's Life</I>, may miss the bull's-eye but Pixar's target is so lofty, it's hard to find the film anything less than irresistible.<p> Brighter and more colorful than the other animated insect movie of 1998 (<I>Antz</I>), <I>A Bug's Life</I> is the sweetly told story of Flik (voiced by David Foley), an ant searching for better ways to be a bug. His colony unfortunately revolves around feeding and fearing the local grasshoppers (lead by Hopper, voiced with gleeful menace by Kevin Spacey). When Flik accidentally destroys the seasonal food supply for the grasshoppers he decides to look for help ("We need bigger bugs!"). The ants, led by Princess Atta (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), are eager to dispose of the troublesome Flik. Yet he finds help--a hearty bunch of bug warriors--and brings them back to the colony. Unfortunately they are just traveling performers afraid of conflict. <p> As with <I>Toy Story</I>, the ensemble of creatures and voices is remarkable and often inspired. Highlights include wiseacre comedian Denis Leary as an un-ladylike ladybug, Joe Ranft as the German-accented caterpillar, David Hyde Pierce as a stick bug, and Michael McShane as a pair of unintelligible pillbugs. The scene-stealer is Atta's squeaky-voiced sister, baby Dot (Hayden Panettiere), who has a big sweet spot for Flik.<p> More gentle and kid-friendly than <I>Antz</I>, <I>A Bug Life's</I> still has some good suspense and a wonderful demise of the villain. However, the film--a giant worldwide hit--will be remembered for its most creative touch: "outtakes" over the end credits à la many live-action comedy films. These dozen or so scenes (both "editions" of outtakes are contained here) are brilliant and deserve a special place in film history right along with 1998's other most talked-about sequence: the opening Normandy invasion in <I>Saving Private Ryan</I>.<p> The video also contains Pixar's delightful Oscar-winning short, <I>Geri's Game</I>. Box art varies. <I>--Doug Thomas</I> Reader Reviews A little less sophisticated than its 1998 contemporary, Antz, Pixar's A Bug's Life still has charm as it takes us along on one ant's (Flik, voiced by Kids in the Hall Alum Dave Foley) personal quest to fend off strong-arm grasshopper extortionists (think Seven Samurai here) by hiring a private army of circus performers to hold the menacing horde at bay. Got that? There's little violence but the de rigueur implied death of a villain at the end is redeemingly satisfying. Adding to the film's charm are the voice talents of some '90's A-listers, including Kevin Spacey (jeez, has he vanished or what?), David Hyde Pierce, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Denis Leary, as well as stars of more classic cinematic eras, such as Rodney McDowell, Phyllis Diller, and Madeline Khan. If you've grown up some since seeing this movie---and who among us can maintain otherwise---see it again from a new perspective. It works for young and post-young alike.

A Bug's Life (Collector's Edition) Available from Amazon Price: $39.99 Updated on 11-29-2008.

SPONSORED LINKS