Antz (1998)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Directors:

Eric Darnell
Tim Johnson

Writers:

Todd Alcott (writer) &
Chris Weitz (writer) ...

Release Date:

2 October 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Comedy | Family

Tagline:

Every ant has his day.

Plot:

A rather neurotic ant tries to break from his totalitarian society while trying to win the affection of the princess he loves.

Plot Keywords:

Ant | Princess | Worker | Individuality | Love

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 3 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Woody Allen	...	Z (voice)
Dan Aykroyd	...	Chip (voice)
Anne Bancroft	...	Queen (voice)
Jane Curtin	...	Muffy (voice)
Danny Glover	...	Barbatus (voice)
Gene Hackman	...	General Mandible (voice)
Jennifer Lopez	...	Azteca (voice)
John Mahoney	...	Grebs / Drunk Scout / Additional Voices (voice)
Paul Mazursky	...	Psychologist (voice)
Grant Shaud	...	Foreman (voice)
Sylvester Stallone	...	Weaver (voice)
Sharon Stone	...	Princess Bala (voice)
Christopher Walken	...	Colonel Cutter (voice)
Jim Cummings	...	Additional Voices (voice)
April Winchell	...	Additional Voices (voice)

Also Known As:

Ants (USA) (working title)
Fourmiz (Belgium: French title) (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
Antz (Austria) (Germany) [de]
'Z' la formica (Italy) [it]
Ants Work (Israel: English title) [en]
Antz (Denmark) [da]
Antz (Greece) [el]
Antz (Argentina) [es]
Antz - Was krabbelt da? (Germany) (TV title) [de]
Avodut Nemalim (Israel: Hebrew title) [iw]
Chianchvelebi (Georgia) [ka]
Formiga Z (Portugal) [pt]
Formigaz (Brazil) [pt]
Formiguinhaz (Brazil) [pt]
Furnicutze (Romania) [ro]
Hormigaz (Spain) [es]
Hormiguitaz (Venezuela) [es]
Karinca Z (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Mravec Z (Slovakia) [sk]
Mravenec Z (Czech Republic) [cs]
Mravljinec Z (Slovenia) [sl]
Mrowka Z (Poland) [pl]
Muurahaizet (Finland) [fi]
Z, a hangya (Hungary) [hu]

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild language and menacing action.

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Norway:7 | Canada:G (Alberta/Quebec) | Canada:PG (British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | New Zealand:PG | South Korea:All | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Belgium:KT | Brazil:Livre | Finland:K-8 | France:U | Germany:6 (bw) | Iceland:L | Ireland:PG | Italy:T | Netherlands:AL | Portugal:M/6 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:PG (certificate #36210)

Company:

DreamWorks SKG

Trivia:

The dance Z and Princess Bala do that seems to be inspired by Pulp Fiction (1994) is actually a reference to the Batusi, the dance by Batman from the TV show "Batman" (1966).

Goofs:

Factual errors: Water changes its scale at various times during the movie. Sometimes, it features surface tension consistent with the scale of the ants, then at others acts like water on the scale of humans (ie. the flood scene). The directors acknowledge this discrepancy.

Quotes:

Z: I think everything must go back to the fact that I had a very anxious childhood. My mother *never* had time for me. You know, when you're - when you're the middle child in a family of five million, you don't get any attention. I mean, how is that possible?

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Film '72: A Christmas Treat" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Guantanamera

Fabulous performances by an all star cast with fabulous animation.

Antz is a charming romantic comedy that is better appreciated by adults than children. In fact, there are some scenes that may be a bit too violent or gruesome for small children.

All of the actors perform brilliantly with an excellent script even though the plot is a bit trite. All the actors excel in their roles even the usually bland Stallone and Lopez who are more animated in this film than in most of their other roles.

I found the move to be appealing visually. Apart from some of the backgrounds that seem to be hand painted, the animation is superb.