Licensed to chill

"You know? This whole ice age thing is getting old. You know what I could go for? A global warming." Sid, the sloth (voice by John Leguizamo)

The movie Ice age is all about the adventures of a giant ground sloth - Sid, a mammoth - Manny and a smilodon - Diego.This commputer animated movie by Blue Sky Studios, was directed by Carlos Saldanha and Chris Wedge adapted from a story by Michael J. Wilson. The movie was followed up with two sequels Ice age 2 or Ice age : The Melt Down and Ice age 3 or Ice age : Dawn of the Dinosaurs. The three movies showcase the journey Sid, Manny and Diego through three different eras. The Ice Age movies, which revolve around environment related problems have helped set a bench mark for other computer animated movies. Much critically appreciated and one of the biggest box office hits, this movie has wooed kids and adults alike.

Ice Age, the first movie was released in 2002. The new concept of mammals trying to save a human baby and to take him back to his father was not only accepted well by kids but also gave an insight to the idea that animals and humans can share a bond. The movie pictures the journey of Manny the mammoth’s migration to the north with a ground sloth named Sid following him and their adventures together when they find a human baby. During this journey they are joined by a Diego the smilodon who initially plans to lead them into a ambush setup by his herd but changes his mind when saved by Manny.  The movie ends by the three returning the baby to the humans.

This  movie, about the connection between three mammals and their connection with the humans, acts as an eyeopener about the ice age era brought alive through computer animation. The sub story of Scart, the squirrel and his efforts to save an prized acorn adds humor to the story. Everyone will agree to the fact that Scart is the silent hero of the movie who has simply impressed the audience purely with his actions.

The sequels take us through the meltdown (Ice Age 2) and the world of Dinosaurs (Ice Age 3). Ice Age 2 shows the meltdown of glaciers and ice which the animals don’t realize to be a harmful and just enjoy the pleasant sunny weather. A vulture tells them that a giant tree can save them and the animals set a journey in search of the tree. During this the three main characters Sid, Manny and Diego are joined by another three characters. Two opossum and Ellie, a mammoth who thinks she is a opossum. The journey is filled with action, love and overcoming fear and the flood situation together. However the third part of the movie The Dawn of the Dinosaurs surprised everyone with the ice age heroes finding out a world of Dinosaurs. Sid the sloth adopts three abandoned eggs and they hatch into baby Tyrannosaurus in the morning. Soon the mother of Tyrannosaurus takes her babies and kidnaps Sid. Manny and Ellie decide to save Sid and in the process discover a whole new world of Dinosaurs. The additional character, an one eyed insane weasel called Buck adds humor to the already funny movie.

Through out the three movies the audience is taken through the three different phases of the world from the past and are given an insight to what harm they have done to earth and its inhabitants. Ice Age has helped the kids understand complex problems in an easy and a funny way. Choosing three extinct animals as the main protagonists of the movie clearly states the purpose. The sub zero heroes are indeed the real heroes. 

Some of my favorite quotes from the movie

Freaky Mammal: Well, why don't they call it The Big Chill? Or The Nippy Era? I'm just sayin', how do we know it's an Ice Age?

Freaky Mammal: Because of all...

[ shouts]

Freaky Mammal: The *ice*!

Freaky Mammal: Well, things just got a little chillier.

[passing a Stonehenge-like structure]

Manfred: Modern architecture. It'll never last. 

Manfred: Mammoths can't go extinct; we're the biggest animals on Earth.

Diatryma Mom: Uh, what about the dinosaurs?

Manfred: The dinosaurs got cocky. They made enemies.  

Emerging Realtiy Of The Reel World

Tamil cinema world has continued to set an example of how movies can be used as a mirror to reflect the happenings in the society and this can be credited solely to the writers. From the days of Annadurai Tamil cinema has been influenced by great writers and their works .This trend set off in the early 1940’s. Velakari (1949), a movie based on class conflicts, written by Annadurai was not just a box office hit but the reception by the audience and the impact it created was strong. Each dialogue from the movie showcased the ill treatment of the poor by the rich. The famous “Sattam Oru Iruttarai. athiley vakkilin vaathamoru vilakku. anaal athu ezhaikku ettaatha vilakku" (The law is a dark room. In which the lawyer's arguments are like the lamp light, but the poor cannot get it) sums up the predicaments of the society in just two meaningful lines.

It will be apt to say that movies penned by writers like Kalaingar Karunanidhi has brought into light the black marks of society and has also influenced the audience to understand the complications in it. The movie Parasakthi’s climax dialogue delivered by Sivaji Ganesan not only provoked the emotional feelings of the audience but also conveyed the various forms of cruel elements in the society. The metaphor used by Kalaignar ‘Kodiyorgalin Kudaram’ to refer the state of society in the same movie clearly identifies the talent of a writer to put in the hard view in beautiful words.

Bhaskhar Sakthi, script writer of Vennila Kabadi Kulu, whose short novel is being made into a movie, Azhagar Samy Kuthirai voiced his opinion on a writer’s role in cinema by saying “A script is the back bone of a cinema. Cinema is a way for us to express and share our thoughts and lessons from life and this is what cinema is also about. However, perceptions differ from one writer to another and also the style of writing.” He also added his comment on books being adapted into movies by saying “Adaptation of books into movie takes the novel to the next higher step. It gives the book another dimension and certain areas are developed in the process of making the movie”.

The very first time Padma Bhushan ,Tamil literature winner,writer Jayakanthan’s Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal was adapted intoa  movie with the same title. Crazy Mohan who has penned lots of humors dramas and dialogues for movies has conveyed messages with a tone of humor. Also women writers like Anu Radha and Shiva Shankri having been contributing to the glory of Tamil Cinema.This clearly shows the growth time line of Tamil cinema world.From portraying a small issue like family conflicts to social problems like class and status conflicts up to the recent technologically sound movies like Endhiran Tamil cinema continues to prove itself as the hub of cinema and is growing towards the point of becoming an icon internationally.  Along with this phenomenal growth is the new found recognition and celebration of writers. Be it a lyricist or a script writers they are all getting their rightful share in the title credits.