The Antman (2003)
“The Antman” is a lovingly-made but sluggish monster-movie parody, done with German-speaking actors on a sparse soundstage standing in for 1950s Mexico. Promising concept is bolstered by colorful performances by Gotz Otto and Lars Rudolph, and the filmmakers have fun with pic’s look, right down to tacky lighting worthy of Roger Corman. But Marc Meyer’s script isn’t fast or funny enough to keep pace with energetic visuals. The first in a projected series of B-movie homages grouped as “Planet B,” the producers might want to call in Joe Dante to supervise the rest, as “Antman” seems unlikely to crawl very far beyond its native borders
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I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.
It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional
Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.
Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.
The Antman doesn't only make you sweat in you seat because of the scorching heat in the desert, but also because of the permanent tension between the actors with the very 'heavy' German language and, the seriousness and fun of the situations, supported with very appropriate supported music.At the same time the film is pleasant to watch, with now and then a little thrill effect, to prevent you from smiling continuously during the runtime of the film. These constant contradictions of emotions make the film special. The Antman is not comparable with a similar theme of a transformed animal in the movie Fly.Our war hero Don Jose is just married with Bella Bonita - a self assured city women, and returns to a completely isolated village in the Mexican desert. After their first passionate wedding night the major El Busto 'suggests' the new guests better leave, but Don José is determined to stay. You wonder why, because the inhabitants don't approach the couple with a lot of enthousiasm.From his family members there's only his mysterious and not completely 'compos mentis' brother. His brother is only a little bit stranger than the other inhabitants. What happened to his father and mother? In the queest for the secrets of the village, this B-film shows rather a lot of theme's as heroism, the closeness of a village, propagation and experiments with it, retaliation, weakness that becomes strongness and vice versa.As time goes by, you wonder if the major is really the major, or is she just a puppet on a string?From technical point of view I complement the director for the smart and modern changing of scenes.When you go home, make sure that you have insecticide ..
I saw the antman at the fantasy film fest and was totally surprised. What on earth was the director thinking - this is a truly fun movie. Something you can't say about Germany films in general. The story takes place in Mexico in the strange and deserted village Campo del Sol. Mexican war hero Don Jose (Götz "is-he-sexy" Otto)takes his just married wife home to meet the family - but there is none. Only strange people, like the major (Elisabeth Volkmann) who swares and sings all the time and is married to an indian (Goiko Mitic) - what a great casting! On the other side of the street lives a totally luny man, who turns out to be a mexican super bad guy. A man who wants to cross ants with humans - and he picks the heros wife. Does it sound like the plot to a B Movie. It sure is, but one with a lot of fun and singing. This is new in German cinema - we need more of that. Sit back and enjoy the antman and sing along.