​FILMS

bugs!

A few bugs in this documentary but still enjoyable.

2016 review number 26:

Bugs!: (Documentary): 72 out of 100: If ever there was a documentary to turn down the volume and focus only on the visuals, this surely has to be it! Judi Dench might be a brilliant actress but she narrates this piece as if she were reading a story to young children. Concentrate on the images instead and you will encounter the stunning rituals of a selection of tiny creatures. 

 

Bugs! is a live-action 40-minute nature documentary filmed in the large IMAX format in 3D. Shot on location in the jungles of Borneo, the film follows the life cycles of the caterpillar known as Papilio and the praying mantis known as Hierodula. As a caterpillar, Papilio dines on leaves, builds a cocoon, and becomes a butterfly before searching for a mate and laying eggs. As a butterfly, she survives by drinking the nectar from flowers. Meanwhile Hierodula catches flies for dinner, sheds his outer layer, and mates with a female mantis twice his size. Also includes large-format footage of other creatures, such as beetles, scorpions, tarantulas, frogs, and bats. (Synopsis courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bugs-a-rainforest-adventure/)

 

This is a beautifully photographed documentary, not only presenting the rainforest in all its glory, but also featuring many close-ups of minibeasts. You'll be amazed with the intricate habits of these creatures and to follow the progress of some of them, the filmmakers have been clever enough to focus on the caterpillar and praying mantis. This technique allows the audience to invest their emotions in these two 'characters', thus bringing them to life. We are interested in what happens to them because they have been given names and the cameras follow their every movement. 

 

This documentary would definitely appeal to young children so schools who are considering taking their classes to see this will be rewarded. However, you do have to deal with some twee narration. An example would be when referring to their eating habits, Dench says that some creatures like to dine out but others prefer home delivery. All said in a voice that sounds like she is reading a fairy tale to her class. 

 

The close-up shots are maximised by the use of 3D. The adult next to me jumped and screamed in her seat when a spider suddenly appeared on the screen. That's how real the images were. It wouldn't surprise to see young children reach out to try to touch some of these creatures. 

 

"Bugs!" should be seen but not heard. A for the arresting visuals, D for Dench and the quaint narration. This is not a new release as it first screened in 2003 so it goes to show that it's a documentary that can stand the test of time.

 

Narrated by Judi Dench

(40 minutes)

Additional scene during or after credits: Yes, during the credits there are more scenes featuring the minibeasts in action

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FY5ZkgE6C2E (Movie trailer)

 

(Reviewed on Sunday 14th February, 2016)

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