Ice Age
A mammoth adventure
Ruwini JAYAWARDANA
Diego and Sid
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Directors Carlos Saldanha and Chris Wedge would not have imagined
that they have stumbled upon a goldmine when they made the first Ice Age
movie in 2002. The series has enjoyed worldwide success and there is
always encouragement to add more sequels to the line up.
The first of the series, Ice Age, opens by introducing Scrat the
saber-toothed squirrel and his obsession with acorns to us. Then after
this comic interlude the three main characters of the series: Manfred
the woolly mammoth who is better known as Manny, Sid the lazy sloth and
the wise-ass saber-toothed tiger Diego, are brought before the audience.
The trio is on a quest to reunite an abandoned human infant with his
family. Diego starts off by being a bad egg in the movie but later wins
us and his companions over by saving the infant and his new friends from
his pack of revenge seeking lions.
Ice Age has often been compared DreamWorks and Pixar productions like
Shrek and Monsters, Inc but the dialogues and wit of the movie show that
this production can stand on its own.
Scrat and his acorn |
One of the strengths of 'Ice Age' is in its characterization. The
gang is dynamic and likeable. They bond well and are worth rooting for.
Though each character seem to embody negative points like Manny seeking
to be isolated from the crowd, Sid's laziness and jabbering qualities
and Diego's scheming nature, we soon realize that all three are
big-hearted mammals as they venture through thick and thin to save the
baby from predators and return him back to his parents.
Another bonus point of 'Ice Age' is that it is fast paced. The
directors have also taken care not to lengthen the movie unnecessarily.
Every scene has a purpose and either adds to the storyline or opts for
good gags. The comedy here is not slapstick but ranges from being sly to
downright playful. The computer generated scenes are excellent and the
colours used in the settings are soothing to the eyes. This is not
merely a snow covered arctic background but an impressive winter
wonderland with lots of details. It is on par with the cartoon quality
expected of an international production.
Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Goran Visnjic, Jack Black,
Tara Strong, Cedric the Entertainer, Stephen Root and all the others who
have voiced the characters do a superb job. They match their voices with
the expressions and drama unfolding on the screen expertly.
Parents and children will undoubtedly enjoy the adventures of this
trio as well as the tireless and antics of an oddball of a creature in
the form of Scrat who provides comic interludes throughout the movie.
Infectious! |