Pixar Perfect Review #12 - A Bug's Life

[@TheRealJims]

Music Credits (full credits at the end) 0:00 "river of sine waves" - posu yan 2:47 "Mercenary Boxing" - Malcos 7:26 "Funky's Tricks" - Malcos 11:05 "The Leidenfrost Effect" - Level 99 & Hemophiliac 14:37 "The Traveling Band's Last Song" - Artem Bank

[@Awsome2464]

Pixar themselves admits that this movie goes under the radar. That's why every year, they have a "Bug's Life Appreciation Week" at the studio where they watch the film, read the script, and even sometimes get Flick's voice actor on the phone.

[@SuperGamer61499]

Well that's neat. Glad to know Pixar still acknowledge this movie because it's probably their most underrated honestly. Then again, I can understand why considering all they're other films are pretty damn solid and iconic at this point. To me, this is like the underdog of Pixar. Good film but not as remembered fondly and I kind of blame that on the fact that Dreamworks and Pixar were doing a similar kind of movie at the same time.

[@jeffreyquinde6707]

Cole Goodrich do they really?

[@bernebelmont1857]

Amazing Kinda like year of Luigi

[@mpdalyful1]

Kevin spacey made a great bad guy

[@alexgomez6723]

@@mpdalyful1 Because he’s a legit bad guy.

[@supermariof0521]

One issue I have with this movie is the "Liar revealed" aspect. But not for the reason you may think. Rather its because Flik gets chewed out for lying about the circus bugs being warriors, but Flik never calls out Princess Atta for sending him to the city to find the circus bugs, just as a method to get him to stay outta their way while they tried to fix his mess. Like maybe Flik could feel betrayed cause he genuinely tried to redeem himself, he thought he was given a chance to do so, only for reality to bitch slap him, so when Dot tried to convince him to return to the island, Flik could've been like "Why should I?!". Flik would feel too betrayed and would want NOTHING to do with Princess Atta and could care less if she and the queen get screwed over, and then Dot would use the rock as a seed metaphor, Flik would give it some thought, hesitate a little, until finally reluctantly getting the nerve to come back.

[@wishfulink1219]

I actually love Bugs Life. This movie was my favourite movie as I watched it alot as a kid. I identified alot with Flick. I have Autisim and I was often treated like an outcast, but I tried to remain hopefully and optimistic. And I had my own Hopper, my stepfather, but he was a bit more vicious... I'm not gonna say due to the fact I don't want to trigger any others survivors of abuse. But after standing up to him and setting myself free, I've been stronger ever since. Bugs Life, is such a fun and smart movie and deserves more attention

[@TheRealJims]

After writing the review, I walked away admiring the movie but understanding why it's not one of Pixar's more popular films. It kinda lacks that character relationship hook that makes audiences connect more closely with other films. It has fun characters and a lot of exciting moments, but a lot of that stuff is very surface level. Not a ton of introspection, not a ton of core character growth at an individual level. What I admire about "A Bug's Life" is its optimistic take on how people unite together, and work toward a common goal. It strikes me as being a "big picture" sort of film, which is really unusual for Pixar. I can't think of another one quite like it.

[@WheelyMan260]

TheRealJims loving these vids man, click on them as soon as they come up on my feed. Keep up the good work!

[@dddmemaybe]

It's because it always gets confused with the movie Antz. And for the love of god, I'd doubt there's many people who don't get revolted by the thought of that movie.

[@InfernoFlower64]

TheRealJims Also kids think bugs are gross so they dont want to watch it

[@aikaterineillt9876]

Lord Slug lmao Idk about all that, I literally had a crush on Flick as a child

[@Yoseqlo1]

Good analysis. I like A Bugs' Life since childhood. It was funny, with action and good moral that still holds true. I still use that movie as an analogy to critize totallitarian systems.

[@OmnipotentGoggles]

"And he's played by Kevin Spacey, who totally owns psychological manipulation." Oh noooooooo

[@skibot9974]

3:32 that line aged a bit TOO well

[@clickycal]

OH nooooooo

[@klotothemontothex]

Its funny that Bug's Life is the lost child of the Pixar films - it's my favorite of all of them. Incredibles comes second.

[@Georghiou2D]

this film just looks so nice, visually

[@ZetsubouSensei005]

I definitely agree on most of your points, especially the optimism. I think it holds that same 90s feel to it that Kamp Krusty did.

[@hettyscetty9785]

It's actually really interesting to look at how the animation has evolved from movies like Toy Story, a bug's Life and Toy Story 2 into movies like The Good Dinosaur, Inside Out and Coco. You can see how far the technology has come and how much more the animators are able to put into a movie. It adds a whole new level of appreciation for how fantastic Pixar are at creating whole new universes and creating characters we ultimately care about as well as giving us stories that we can learn from.

[@Red-Wolf-Ben]

This movie is so great, and it really has layers. Yes, there's, "Pretend that's a seed." Yes, there's the uprising bit (which I love) in Hopper's speech in the Sombrero and later Flik's speech. But if you look a little deeper, I also like how virtually every main character (all of whom help save the day at the end) see themselves as a failure, or less than, or inadequate. The circus bugs get a whole montage of how bad they are. "My children's children will walk down the street and hear, 'There goes the spawn of Flik, the loser!' " "No one really believes I can do this. It's like, they're all watching me, just... just..." "Waiting for you to screw up." And if course, Dot's struggle with her wings.

[@greywolfesdinner8990]

I just rewatched this film for the first time in over 10 years and I have say this film is definitely underappreciated. The main villain is great and intimidating, The protagonist grows on you throughout the film and feels real. The side characters had some great humour with adult jokes I would have never got as a kid. Honestly was so happily surprised how well this film holds up.

[@kenbenobi36]

One of Pixar's least discussed films. I know a lot of people who have seen it least once in their lives, but it doesn't spur much conversation unlike Toy Story or Incredibles. You're also right that the villain Hopper does carry this movie to some degree but No matter the flaws, Bug's Life will always be one of my favorites

[@vivimariefedorov7374]

The lairs reveals trope is definitely pointless in this scenario. Sure Flik lied, but it was after he discovered his mistake. Just a crazy misunderstanding between him, the circus bugs, and his colony. He knows that they'll be greatly disappointed with him if he tells them this sudden realization. So he's forced to work with what he has. And the bird scheme would actually be a foolproof strategy. If I were one of the ants, I would be slightly disappointed with the lie, but at least continue with the strategy. Especially since they cannot meet Hopper's quota!

[@superjackster0165]

Agreed. I love A Bugs Life. It’s my second favorite Pixar film. But I’ll admit that it’s clearly the worst example of the Liar Revealed trope. He makes a good point. The Ants have already built this giant bird that pretty much gonna work. So the fact that Flik lied to the colony shouldn’t have mattered by that point

[@ToonReel001]

They definitely seemed to push the idea that the ants were weak willed. They were all for a plan when it seemed the odds were stacked in their favour, but the moment they found a hole in it, they threw Flik under the bus and went back to being subservient. Not to mention them just standing and watching him getting brutally beaten to death until Flik gave them their resolve.

[@alicemargiela]

I agreed with everything except the implication that the Randy Newman credits song was bad. That track's genuinely fire, don't play with Randy's name like that. 💯

[@theotakuguy8957]

What an interesting Simpson's review.

[@TheRealJims]

My original review was "Not enough Homer. 0/5" but I wanted to be nice.

[@VGamingJunkieVT]

@@TheRealJims Flick bumbles things for the entire community and has to redeem himself by saving them from the oppressive people threatening their death. If you squint hard, Flick is Homer and this is The Simpsons Movie.

[@JamesPlaysGames95]

im still waiting for bugs life 2. but there are 3 cars movies

[@maxresdefault_]

Amazing review. I love how you can take a mostly forgettable movie and talk about the metaphors of totalitarianism. Really makes me appreciate the medium of animation.

[@AkaKon]

A bugs life will always have a place in my heart, never knew people didn't really "know" about it, it's probably my favourite Pixar film.

[@JeyJey88-9]

It was good but the best Pixar Film? Slow down buddy, Pixar was the Studio that created Wall-E and Ratatouille

[@greenhowie]

I'll tell you who remembers A Bug's Life - people who appreciate PS1 hidden gems. Not only did it have movie clips in the days before most folks had internet but it's also just really fun and well put-together, which was extremely rare for licensed games of the time. edit: dammit I forgot Spacey was in this. So many movies are tainted now.

[@jefferyjones8399]

I remember really enjoying this one as a kid. I feel it's time for a rewatch.

[@robxholicfoxyfan8552]

Hopper is my favorite character. Thumper scared the crud out of me as a kid‚ and I had (and maybe still have) a Flik stuffed animal that I loved a lot.

[@pauljankootje3943]

A Bug's Life is somewhat special to me because it was the first movie I ever saw in the Cinema. Good Review.

[@TheRealJims]

Up next: A film in which the protagonist watches a film featuring the antagonist.

[@joeschmoe9863]

Up before Good Dinosaur??? Wanna fite m8?

[@VNReader]

I am glad you're not hating on The Good Dinosaur, I honestly thought I was the only one that liked it. That being said I would have still put Toy Story 1 above it.

[@louisplace7057]

It's ratatouille. It opens with the bad guy, Anton Ego.

[@TheRealJims]

While this is probably one of my more pointed hints, I write them in a way to point toward at least two possible films. Unless I'm forgetting someone, this hint has two or possibly three answers. (That being said, I will neither confirm nor deny that #10 is "Up.")

[@auggiecunningham]

Up, Ratatouille, or Toy Story 2

[@snaketooth0943]

This movie is underated. There's lots of funny jokes, the circus bugs were great, the villain was great and the edning was nice.

[@davecerv]

I love A Bugs Life. Still my favorite Pixar movie.

[@Mysterious0Bob]

Kind of shocked you made a 16 minute long video about this movie without once mentioning Seven Samurai.

[@derekmatzek9551]

It seems like the kind of thing this guy would do, I’m surprised as well

[@JakeRileyDavies]

I've not long found your channel, and i love it. the Simpsons theories and Pixar videos are my favourite so far. you've done some good work friend :)

[@TheRealJims]

Thanks!

[@Ineedgames]

I doubt a sequel would ever happen now since the whole Keven Spacy thing and parents wouldn't want their kids to watch the first movie with him in it.

[@itscompletelyunderstood]

11:52 I would definitely count Wall.E, he got the crap beaten out of him throughout the entire film

[@guikreilaf]

Greetings from germany, i really love your videos! Maybe the problem for "a bug's life" ("das große krabbeln" in german) was that "antz" came out in the same year. I was 10 at the time and i remember that all my friends and me thought that "antz" was much cooler (it had sylvester stallone in it...). Anyhow, in hindsight i really like "a bug's life" and totally forgot everything about "antz"

[@TheRealJims]

Thanks! And I barely remember anything about Antz either, lol. I recall not liking it as much as A Bug's Life, but not much else. What did you think of the Heimlich character, living in Germany, by the way? I'm pretty ignorant to how Disney releases stuff overseas, but I assume they released a German version of the film. But then having a character that is specifically supposed to have a German accent, has to be kinda interesting when you actually live in that country. (Actually, wait, would Heimlich be a specifically German-accented character in the German version of A Bug's Life? I have confused myself.)

[@guikreilaf]

TheRealJims yes, that's right. There is a german version of nearly every movie that's released in germany. Heimlich's name is Gustl in the german version and he has a thick bavarian accent. That happens a lot. If there is a german character in an american movie or tv-show he will have an accent in the german version. Same applies to Uter in the simpsons (i think he is german in the original?). In the german version he is swiss

[@JAMTC10]

Congratulations on 10 000 subscribers! Well deserved

[@doctoreggnog6644]

I might be odd in that I liked A Bugs Life more than all three Toy Story movies.

[@DorimiPrism]

Oh yeah, Cars has a sequel, two actually. Why...

[@crimsondynamo615]

Trim Prism “we’ve got to have *MONEY!* “

[@ToonReel001]

The awkward 'crashing down' moment in the movie is iconic a cliche, dubbed the 'liar revealed' trope. Characters lies (usually for good intentions), others find out and chew him out, character mopes and then redeems themselves. It's done so often as a painfully built up climax in so many movies. I think what is maybe off putting about A Bug's Life is not only how paint by numbers it's done but how it adds to how weak willed the other ants are, how they'll keep throwing Flik under a bus and immediately abort the plan and stay submissive if they find the slightest hole in it or the spokesperson for it. I mean Flik has to pour his heart out just to get the other ants to save him from being beaten to death. Combining this with the aforementioned lack of sympathetic bonds throughout the movie, and only the kid kinda comes off endearing enough you want her to be liberated in the end.

[@Rubberman202]

I've once see someone describe A Bug's Life as "Seven Samurai but with bugs". I suppose that description is apt, although in Seven Samurai, the warriors they collect are legit ronin (wandering samurai without masters), as opposed to Flik taking the circus bugs' act of trying to intimidate a bunch of bully flies at face value. Really, A Bug's Life is just a series of misunderstandings that, despite causing a number of set-backs, end up working out in the end. I'm always a bit annoyed by "liar revealed" plotlines and the forced drama they cause, and this one's no different, though what's interesting here is that the Queen and Princess Atta weren't wrong when they said Flik prioritized himself and jeopardized the entire colony just because he was too ashamed to admit he didn't actually find warriors to fight off the grasshoppers. Flik tries to insist that the fake bird they made will work, but it makes sense that they wouldn't listen to him, especially since Flik has failed so many times in the past and just betrayed their trust. Flik never fully owns up to this, but he DOES take punishment from Hopper by saying the bird was his idea (which it was), and at the very least, he also gave the ants the courage to stand up for themselves by having them realize what Hopper was afraid they'd realize; that they all outnumber the grasshoppers and can easily overwhelm them. Speaking off, what's up with Hopper insisting that they should go back? Apparently he knows the grasshoppers have enough food such that they don't need to keep taking from the ants, but does it anyway to preserve their "way of life" and to "keep those ants in line". Hell, he outright KILLS three grasshoppers for pointing this out and questioning why they should do it. I feel like this was still at a point where Pixar villains weren't as fully nuanced as they are in later Pixar movies, since I don't think we get a clear indication of why Hopper is dead-set on preserving this structure, other than, I guess, the sense of power and domination he enforces, not just on the ants, but his fellow grasshoppers. He definitely comes off as one of the baddes Pixar villains as a result, I think. Edit: I should clarify that I like A Bug's Life, but it's definitely not one of my favorites. I do like how it's one of Pixar's more outright "political" movies, and it just goes to show how even early on, Pixar's movies were more than just family entertainment movies.

[@uknownada]

9:46 Something wrong, Dot?

[@TheRealJims]

...Dot had a really long day.

[@vivimariefedorov7374]

A few too many aphid beers I see! 🍺🍺🍺🍺

[@SonicHaXD]

Even if it's forgettable. I still watched more then 10 times. Good movie XD

[@magno958]

we have been blessed

[@spaghettimon3851]

I completely forgot a bugs life was a pixar movie.

[@LucyRomana]

ant-agonist

[@dracomundo1498]

Man I'm always completely thrown off by your use of megaman X music. I just caught myself humming blizzard Buffalo's theme because of your video LMAO

[@superjackster0165]

I love this movie. It’s actually my second favorite Pixar film

[@adammartinez8061]

Also not sure if you read this….but at the screen frame of thumper(facing hopper)? Flik on the ground and the other screen frame of hopper facing the ants as they murmur and Flik standing…..am I the only one who noticed the parallels and simulates between those screen frames.

[@Jekkyboi]

WHOO I FUCKING KNEW IT

[@seiretzym]

I love your Simpsons reviews and always sort of avoided the non-Simpsons content but this was great! Thanks for sharing your ideas.

[@kaitlyn__L]

This was my favourite as a tiny childe. I had Flik and Dot cups lol. I was always a bit sad for it that it’s somewhat underrated. At least online leftists like it for the revolution part haha

[@TobeyFairre7861]

I can't wait for KH3 for this movie.

[@FrailShiver]

So when Disney plus first came out I was watching all the Pixar movies in order. I had a hard time completing Bug's Life because of flicks annoying laugh. XD

[@calpin5852]

Mate your channel is growing man. At Christmas you were at 5k and today April 1st you are at around 11k

[@calpin5852]

FROM ENGLAND

[@MasterJimenez]

Still kinda different but Lightning McQueen got real messed up in Cars 3. And Woody got ripped in Toy Story 4.

[@nicholassims9837]

Colinlookback A Bugs Life villains: Hopper, Molt, Thumper nameless grasshoppers Bird.

[@mybigboiphilip6997]

i am Russian. this movie was the capita of my childhood.

[@kapitan7357]

The Liar revealed thing and Atta's character in general were the only really detracting features for me. Other than that I have no real gripes with the movie.

[@hughbathurst1761]

Why attas character?

[@KAYSC3A]

I love bugs life

[@ashwolftheva2891]

Do Wall-E next!

[@TheRealJims]

I can't do WALL-E next. Then I would have to rank it at #10 and I don't want to rank it at #10. So he has to wait for now. :p

[@PeterParker-ff7ub]

Its underrated

[@VyreXP]

The Bugs Life is a piece of socialist cinema - its a film about class struggle and ultimately the necessity of revolution.

[@PizzaHutAsuka]

Wait, why are these being uploaded in reverse order?

[@dontspikemydrink9382]

it is a countdown

[@carchu5182]

i kNoW iTs a rOcK

[@spazerdazer8421]

Never watched this review because I don't remember A Bug's Life and want to rewatch it first. Finally decided to now because I realized with how little I care for it I wasn't going to watch it nor would I care about spoilers. For the video to start with "Nobody really cares about A Bug's Life", I had to pause and jist sit there. It just hit waaaay too close to home.

[@FarelForever]

It's a flawed movie, but has some good points :)

[@TheCoolWhip]

NOTIFICATION SQUAD

[@MrFilm18]

A Bug's Life? Ahead of Toy Story... Seriously

[@TheRealJims]

I'll admit right here that, after re-watching both back-to-back, it was basically a tie for me. Went back and forth several times and eventually landed here. I might just be throwing a bone to the little guy here, not sure, the two films are kinda apples and oranges.

[@MrFilm18]

I understand. Also I hope your Simpsons video thing gets sorted out soon. I know every episode, every line of dialogue, and every inflection of every episode of the Simpsons. It's the only show I refuse to stop watching no matter what. I definitely look forward to your videos. So I hope Fox snaps out of it soon.

[@TheRealJims]

Ah, but you're in luck. The strike expired on its own and the video is back! :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/mauqmauiZ694abM (Ended up hiding the KZbin copyright videos but am leaving the Kittens for posterity.)

[@MrFilm18]

In the words of Bart Simpson "That ain't not bad" (Grift of the Magi - Season 11, Episode 235)

[@joseantoniosuarezcarriles2474]

Villabarnes

[@TheCoolWhip]

FIRST I R S TSRIF

[@tryhardfinessedyou]

Why did you think the background music was a good idea? Yeesh mang

[@gregorycfederico8432]

First like

[@brianmew986]

So your analysis is that the grasshoppers are simultaneously an allegory for free market capitalism AND 1984 Orwellian IngSoc/socialist totalitarianism? Lol what? Also it's interesting that you don't mention Kurosawa's Seven Samurai as a source of inspiration which may be why you interpret the film as a critique of "systemic" issues. If anything the grasshoppers are stand-ins for Seven Samurai's bandits / brigands-- not capitalists, socialists, politicians, or a representative of any "system." If that was the issue this film was addressing, the ants would be rebelling against their own monarchy (which is never critiqued or questioned, and endures from beginning to end).

[@greenhowie]

Reading this comment made me feel very sad. I hope you're taking care of yourself.