It is not easy making a documentary about insects interesting, especially if they are not your cup of tea or if the subject does not sound appealing. That does apply to me admittedly. Still saw 'Bugs' anyway as someone who loves Judi Dench and who has seen many very well done IMAX documentary short films over the past year or so. Have also seen documentaries covering insects that are good and make the subject interesting, so that the subject has been done well in the past gave me some reassurance.
On the whole, 'Bugs' struck me as quite good. It may not have much that is innovative and there are other documentaries with more consistent pacing and a wider range of emotions, but 'Bugs' does a good job making the subject interesting and informative and does have a lot to recommend. It is not one of the best IMAX documentary short films seen, not by a long shot, but it is also not one of the worst. Somewhere firmly in the solid middle is more like it.
'Bugs' looks great first and foremost. The scenery is both gorgeous and unforgiving, enhanced beautifully by the vibrant photography. The IMAX is very well done and is not overused or gimmicky. Personally liked Dench's narration, which did have authority and was soothing. The writing also didn't come over as schmaltzy, preachy or melodramatically corny. The insects are a good mix of the cute and the creepy.
There are two particularly good sequences here. One is the rhino beetles duel, which had a good deal of uncompromising tension and excitement. The other is the one with the praying mantis, though it is not a sequence for the faint hearted. Despite the lack of originality, the information presented still entertains and teaches.
Having said all that, 'Bugs' is not perfect. Will agree that it is intrusively scored, it could have been used a good deal less and it did overbear and sound like it was trying too hard to be like a dramatic film and didn't need to be.
Like all the IMAX documentary short films, 'Bugs' is also too short and also did think that some of the information could have been delved into more. Trying to not include too many things and focus on a longer period of time on a few of the insects would have solved this.
Summing up, not great but pretty good. 7/10.
On the whole, 'Bugs' struck me as quite good. It may not have much that is innovative and there are other documentaries with more consistent pacing and a wider range of emotions, but 'Bugs' does a good job making the subject interesting and informative and does have a lot to recommend. It is not one of the best IMAX documentary short films seen, not by a long shot, but it is also not one of the worst. Somewhere firmly in the solid middle is more like it.
'Bugs' looks great first and foremost. The scenery is both gorgeous and unforgiving, enhanced beautifully by the vibrant photography. The IMAX is very well done and is not overused or gimmicky. Personally liked Dench's narration, which did have authority and was soothing. The writing also didn't come over as schmaltzy, preachy or melodramatically corny. The insects are a good mix of the cute and the creepy.
There are two particularly good sequences here. One is the rhino beetles duel, which had a good deal of uncompromising tension and excitement. The other is the one with the praying mantis, though it is not a sequence for the faint hearted. Despite the lack of originality, the information presented still entertains and teaches.
Having said all that, 'Bugs' is not perfect. Will agree that it is intrusively scored, it could have been used a good deal less and it did overbear and sound like it was trying too hard to be like a dramatic film and didn't need to be.
Like all the IMAX documentary short films, 'Bugs' is also too short and also did think that some of the information could have been delved into more. Trying to not include too many things and focus on a longer period of time on a few of the insects would have solved this.
Summing up, not great but pretty good. 7/10.