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Microcosmos

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Microcosmos (1996)

October. 09,1996
|
7.9
|
G
| Documentary
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A documentary of insect life in meadows and ponds, using incredible close-ups, slow motion, and time-lapse photography. It includes bees collecting nectar, ladybugs eating mites, snails mating, spiders wrapping their catch, a scarab beetle relentlessly pushing its ball of dung uphill, endless lines of caterpillars, an underwater spider creating an air bubble to live in, and a mosquito hatching.

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Reviews

AniInterview
1996/10/09

Sorry, this movie sucks

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Actuakers
1996/10/10

One of my all time favorites.

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Rijndri
1996/10/11

Load of rubbish!!

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CommentsXp
1996/10/12

Best movie ever!

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Julian R. White
1996/10/13

I picked this up the other day at a thrift store, thinking it was a classic nature documentary like I would see as a kid. Well I was both right and wrong. I'm not sure how it works with the original French version of the film, but the problem I have with the English version? There is no narration. Literally, the entire film has pretty much no words, its all just stock footage of different insect species. Now, this isn't necessarily a bad thing depending on what type of documentary you're watching, but for this one, I feel like you'd be able to learn a lot more if the scenes we saw had some kind of bio or explanation. Some may disagree with me on that, but I can go and observe insects in the forests around my house. Who needs a film for that? To make the film better, I would have recommended more interactive information and facts.

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Scott LeBrun
1996/10/14

"Microcosmos" is a very fine nature documentary, which shows us the daily lives of insects and other minute life forms residing in meadows and ponds. The directors only occasionally use narration (by Jacques Perrin in the original French version, and by English actress Kristin Scott Thomas in the North American version), instead wisely deciding to let their amazing images speak for themselves.This is simply excellent filmmaking, using macrophotography to allow human eyes to get a real eyeful of a whole other world that they don't see every day. Gorgeous, colorful, and genuinely interesting, this doesn't necessarily give us "stories" to follow, or focus on any particular critter for any extended period of time. But it's fascinating to watch as various insects sometimes fall victim to predators like spiders and birds, an army of ants hurriedly stock up on supplies, a caterpillar makes the transformation into butterfly, a mosquito is born, and - most excitingly - a pair of stag beetles have a fight.The filmmakers' use of music is appropriate, the fairly brief running time (76 minutes) is quite succinct, and "Microcosmos" serves as vivid proof that the actual best special effects are those to be found in Mother Nature.Highly recommended to lovers of nature documentaries.Eight out of 10.

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bsinc
1996/10/15

That's how good this documentary is! I simply mentioned the snail couple because that particular scene made such a strong impact on me. I never saw more affection and love in the animal world...the two brown snails were, honest to God, kissing. Actually, they were all over each other:) I find it a little disturbing that some previous posters don't qualify "Microcosmos" as a documentary. I think that it didn't need to narrate and explain what it was about, but it indeed documented something, a part of the beautiful nature that surrounds us. The fact that so little human "presence" is required makes it even more enjoyable and somehow, pure. It is truly mesmerizing and captivating, like watching a beautiful moving painting that relaxes the body and soul. How better to honor nature?

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edgar-poe
1996/10/16

I am still not sure if it is counted as a documentary or film, but this does not matter. I always liked nature so this movie is near to my spirits. I wished to see it as 3D but I think that such a release has not come up yet. The movie does not need any comment or subtitles. Just watch it. Keep on and you will learn who you are and where you live. The documentary is about everything, although it focused mainly on insects. You can imagine what just an innocent step in microcosmos can cause. All these little cuties and monsters have their own world and microcosmos maps it with a mild sight. French are great at such documentaries and this can be seen as a kind of conclusion. Beautiful shots, I can imagine setting the camera for hours, waiting for proceeding of an ant and then show all that crusade during several seconds. Maybe it seems that this kind of movie does not need any screenplay, but I do not agree with it. When you watch it, you find out it made some sense. Insects also behave according to schedules and needs. Actually, there is no point in describing the movie here, you must see it and you will want more to see. Beautiful beauty.

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