Seeming like a quaint anomaly in a time when so many large-format theaters are being co-opted by blown-up versions of Hollywood blockbusters, this kid-friendly nature documentary should well please parents looking for some educational cinema outings for their youngsters -- not to mention the eyeball- and butt-friendly 40-minute running time. Fortunately, "Bugs!" provides enough of an "Ick!" factor to please the kids as well and might even inspire some budding entomologists. It opened Friday at the Imax Theatre at Loews Lincoln Square in New York.
Narrated in witty and elegant vocal style by Oscar winner Judi Dench, the 3-D film breaks technological if no new stylistic ground in its amazing depiction of several members of the insect species. The two central "characters" are Papilio, whose life span is charted from caterpillar to butterfly stage, and Hierodula, a praying mantis. The latter is probably better described as a preying mantis, since his predatory skills are depicted in stunning and shocking detail suffice it to say that the film's ending, for at least one of the central characters, is not a happy one.
Filmed in the rain forests of Borneo as well as a studio in the United Kingdom, where a microcosm of a tropical rain forest was created for the close-ups, the film also depicts in mega-sized detail the habits of other bugs, including leaf cutter ants, several types of beetles and various insects displaying remarkable camouflaging abilities. Needless to say, the visuals are stunning, with the extreme magnification (up to 250,000 times) and giant-sized images dwarfing the impact of such previous similarly themed ventures as "Microcosmos." After seeing this fascinating portrait of the most prevalent creatures on Earth, you'll think twice before stepping on a bug ever again.
Thanks to Ridge Walker for sending me this review, which appeared in the Hollywood Reporter on July 31, 2003.