For decades, the Walt Disney company has almost enjoyed a monopoly on the animation feature film- other production companies have attempted, from time to time, to compete with Disney, but the combination of top class animation and ferociously good marketing has invariably resulted in the Disney product finding worldwide success while the rival cartoon makers have struggled. But now along comes Antz, a mostly computer animated feature from Steven Spielberg`s Dreamworks company - it`s opening several weeks ahead of Disney`s forthcoming insect cartoon, A Bug`s Life and, while there may well be room on cinema screens for both, Antz will take some beating.
The animation is amazingly detailed and three-dimensional, and the characters are wholly delightful - this is one animated feature adults should enjoy as much as kids.
Z, a doleful worker ant who becomes a hero, is voiced with characteristic humour and plaintiveness by Woody Allen - he tells his analyst he`s the middle child in a family of 5 million. His pal is Weaver, a soldier ant, unmistakably Sylvester Stallone; and he loves the ant princess, Sharon Stone. The bad guy in Antz is a military man, General Mandible, Gene Hackman, and other characters are voiced by Christopher Walken, Anne Bancroft, Dan Akyroyd, Danny Glover and Jennifer Lopez - quite a cast. Antz succeeds brilliantly in telling a simple saga of courage and fortitude with great humour and constant visual invention. And, mercifully, it avoids that scourge of Disney animated films - those boring songs. The songs used here are popular standards - Woody even gets to sing \"Almost Like Being In Love\". I really liked these little creatures.
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