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Bugs!

Play trailer Poster for Bugs! Released Jul 25, 2003 40m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
82% Tomatometer 34 Reviews 59% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
This IMAX documentary, shot in vivid and squirm-inducing 3-D, journeys to the lush rainforest of Borneo to examine in minute detail the various fascinating and sometimes creepy insects that exist there, including ants and beetles. But the film is given dramatic momentum by focusing on the short-lived adventures of a praying mantis named Hierodula and a caterpillar named Papilio, the latter eventually metamorphosing into an exquisite butterfly. The film is narrated by actress Judi Dench.

Critics Reviews

View All (34) Critics Reviews
Dave McGinn Globe and Mail Much of what bugs do, unfortunately, isn't all that interesting. Rated: 2.5/4 May 25, 2011 Full Review Natasha Aitken Empire Magazine Bugs! doesn't rely on sinister spider shots for thrills: seeing these insects in their full, magnified glory is a spine-tingler in itself. Rated: 4/5 Dec 30, 2006 Full Review Derek Adams Time Out Trouble is, both the script and Dame Judi's delivery are a bit old-fashioned. Sep 23, 2006 Full Review Harry Haun Film Journal International An extraordinary inspection of a universe rarely invaded by motion picture cameras. You've never been here before. Mar 1, 2007 Full Review Linda Cook Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) One of the finest movies that ever came to the IMAX at the Putnam, "Bugs! In 3-D" flies right into your face. And you'll like it. Rated: 4/4 Mar 15, 2006 Full Review Tenley Woodman Boston Herald Rated: 3.5/4 Jul 16, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (11) audience reviews
Audience Member Bugs is an absorbing, beautiful, grotesque, educational documentary with tremendous 3D that transports us to the world of bugs. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member this film was boring and wasnt my kind of movie Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Audience Member For all my reviews visit my website idacashmansmoviereviews.webs.com Please note that the rating above might not accurately reflect my thoughts, you will see a rating sentence at the end of the review. A Beautiful telling of a Bug's Life (no not the movie.) Bugs are BUGS. BUGS ARE BUGS. BUUUUGSSSS. Even for one as I who is afraid of Bugs in the unnecessary respect, really loved this movie. It was absolutely beautiful. We were attached to the characters, and that's all they were, characters. Not actors, just characters. It was a DOCUMENTARY AND I'M ATTACHED TO THE CHARACTERS. That is impossible to pull a feet. Especially with such creatures as BUGS. BUGS. BUUUGSSS. Now, of course you may be wondering "what about the 3-D Effect?" It was sometimes a little worse and sometimes a little better than the best 3-D I've seen, however this was made 7 years before such. So it's extremely groundbreaking. And the only important 2003 movie I've reviewed during this summer. I think part of the reason why I'm so attached to the bugs are because of the narrator. She is absolutely perfect for this role. Usually you either get that over-the-top MonsterQuest voice, or just a monotone voice, or something that's just lame. But this narrator is perfect! Absolutely amazing. She is friendly, and knowledgeable. We've all heard the facts before, and we know what the bugs haft to do, but the narrator makes it all exciting and dramatic. It's a beautiful movie as well, the scenery and the cinematography is top notch. Especially considering that they had to use two 3-D IMAX cameras using like 300 roles of film right next to each other to film every moment without a second take. IT'S FLIPPING IMPRESSIVE. This must be the hardest genre of film to make, IMAX Documentaries in 3-D. You may think this movie is for kids from the title and it's arrangement in the DVD store. It's not. Trust me, it's absolutely astonishing. The Rating? I'm thinking 4.4/5 Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Audience Member szegény Papilio hogy megjárta! Köcsög Hierodula! :) imaxban érdemes megnézni! ;) Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Bugs is an absorbing, beautiful, grotesque, educational documentary with tremendous 3D that transports us to the world of bugs. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Are you not entertained!? Bugs! 3D! Sounds interesting. Should be interesting but unless the experience was 100% different and by that, I mean better on the Imax screen, then this was a real disappointment. The 3D was good, considering, though I did see in via the RED/CYAN format which obviously has its drawbacks, but it was still very effective. The 40 minute documentary short follows several insects who reside in the rainforest, some fight, though be it slowly, some forage and some hide and literally 'make like a tree', but don't really leave. And though this is interesting, Imax demands more if we are to be entertained. The DVD: The DVD is a rarity, available on Region 2 DVD but only in Germany, and the now defunct HD-DVD, again in Europe. It's worth it as a collectible but not as a Saturday night's entertainment. Rent "Dumbo" if a short film is your pleasure! Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Bugs!

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Movie Info

Synopsis This IMAX documentary, shot in vivid and squirm-inducing 3-D, journeys to the lush rainforest of Borneo to examine in minute detail the various fascinating and sometimes creepy insects that exist there, including ants and beetles. But the film is given dramatic momentum by focusing on the short-lived adventures of a praying mantis named Hierodula and a caterpillar named Papilio, the latter eventually metamorphosing into an exquisite butterfly. The film is narrated by actress Judi Dench.
Director
Mike Slee
Producer
Alexandra Derbyshire, Phil Streather
Distributor
SK Films
Production Co
Principal Large Format, The Film Consortium
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
British English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 25, 2003, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Jun 5, 2007
Box Office (Gross USA)
$16.7M
Runtime
40m
Aspect Ratio
IMAX (1.43:1)