The summer treats have truly begun arriving. It has been a scorching summer till now with hardly any relief. Ice Age 3 (IA3) comes as a soothing shower that will be liked by kids and adults alike. If IA3 is anything to go by, one wouldn’t mind waiting for IA100 too and view it repeatedly. It’s simply superb.
IA3 is third in the series of Ice Age movies. The first Ice Age computer-animated movie was released in 2002. It revived 20th Century Fox’s animation division that had almost failed after the rise of CGI animation and Titan A.E. failure. IA1 was well received and stood third in grossing mega bucks after Monsters Inc and Toy Story 2.
IA1 is the story of a squirrel Scrat and its escapades. It meets Sid a sloth during its journey to warmer climes escaping the ice and chill. Manfred (Manny) a mammoth saves Sid. Soto, leader of Smilodon pride wants revenge on humans and eat the chief’s son Roshan. Soto’s lieutenant Diego goes to find him. Manny takes care of Roshan (Pinky). Diego, Manny and Sid fight Soto’s gang. Manny leads Soto to his death by falling icicles. Roshan finally returns to his tribe. The three then head for warmer climate. The characters were all prehistoric animals.
Its sequel was Ice Age 2: The Meltdown (2006). It was all about the melting of a dam due to global warming and the resulting floods. Scrat, Sid, Manny and Diego are there. The ice is melting. Fast Tony, a con artist predicts flood and that he has the potion to save everyone. The glaciers are melting but the floods are diverted and animals are saved. Scrat is washed away. Manny finds a companion in Ellie. The relief comes when Scrat wakes up and is back among his friends.
The third sequel Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs was released on July 1, 2009. The film focuses on dinosaurs coming to Earth. It is a 3-D computer-animated movie. Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Queen Latifah, Seann William Scott, Josh Peck, Simon Pegg, and Chris Wedge have lent it their voices. The film was released in RealD. Queen Latifah recorded a song “Walk the Dinosaur”.
Ellie (Queen Latifah) and Manny (Ray Romano) are expecting their first child. Diego (Denis Leary) unable to catch a gazelle (Bill Hader) decides to leave the herd. Sid (John Leguizamo) “adopts” three abandoned eggs that hatch into baby Tyrannosaurus. The three dinosaurs with their loud behavior scare all kids.
The mother dino, Momma, soon returns and carries both Sid and her children underground. Diego, Manny, Ellie, Crash and Eddie (Seann William Scott, Josh Peck) follow them and discover the world of dinos.
An Ankylosaurus threatens the herd. A one-eyed, slightly crazed weasel named Buckminster, or Buck (Simon Pegg) saves them from reptiles. Buck is chasing Rudy (a huge white Suchomimus), intending to avenge his lost eye.
Ellie gives birth to a baby girl Peaches. Momma saves the herd from Rudy, who is then presumed to be dead. Buck joins the herd but soon changes his mind when he comes to know Rudy is alive and stays back underground.
The parents won’t allow Sid to babysit Peaches. Scrat (Chris Wedge) as usual retrieves his precious acorn. He meets with Scratte (Karen Disher) and the two fall in love after Scrat saves her life. He loves her more than the acorn. In the end he loses both his love and the acorn.
The movie is doing roaring business at the box office. It shares the top spot with Transformers 2. A video game too has been developed by the same name. The game allows the player to take control of Manny, Sid, Diego, Scrat, Scratte and Buck as you take on or run away dangerous dinosaurs, roll an egg to safety, chase for your beloved acorn, and explore caves and jungles.
If IA3 is anything to go by, one wouldn’t mind waiting for IA4 and all future sequels. A good movie is always welcome. These dinos and cute animals will win your heart and walk away with all your love. In 3-D they look out of this world.
So if you wish to chill out for 94 minutes, head for IA3. It will leave you chilled, filled, thrilled and willed (for future sequels). Go for it. Enjoy!
