Microcosmos

...NO rating for narration. (see why, below)I purchased "Microcosmos" on the advice of a good friend whose opinion I value a great deal. Unable to find it anywhere to rent, I decided that it was probably worth the money... and the worst-case scenario would be that I would donate it after watching it to the local library.I'm keeping it. The videography is absolutely STUNNING, and the subject matter is fascinating. It's rather ironic, actually. Forty years ago, the best "Star Trek" could muster was some pointy rubber ears to denote an alien... when in reality, the diversity of form of creatures under our very feet makes the concept of a "true" alien having no discernable difference from us other than pointy ears rather laughable. ***In fact, some of the living, breathing creatures that walk, crawl, fly over, and skitter in the waters around us... would seem absurd if they were depicted as aliens in a science fiction film. Reality really is stranger than fiction.As for the narration in "Microcosmos" it is all but absent. There are two brief interludes where a female narrator says perhaps 20 words... and frankly, she is describing something self evident (along the lines of: "...another day begins...")While the film stands on its own WITHOUT a narrative, and I personally knew enough about insects to (mostly) know what was going on, I think it's unfortunate that some form of narrative is not available... even optionally as "bonus" material.For someone who DOESN'T know much, if anything about the insect world, "Microcosmos" won't teach them a thing. They might find it beautiful and intriguing, but they won't learn anything.*** Before some Trekkie gets really upset with me, I DO understand that part of their rationale was financial. They didn't have enough MONEY to make really interesting aliens!- Jonathan Sabin

I first saw this 25 years ago and was blown away. (A certain plant might have had something to do with that). If you compare this to our more recent Earth documentaries like "BBCs Planet Earth", it is a little dated and doesn't seem so fascinating. But the composition of this film is excellent. It is art, science and entertainment all in one. I recently rented this for my 4yr old nephew. We projected it on to a big screen and he was completely captivated. I honestly can't believe he sat still and watched the entire film without losing interest or getting distracted.

This is a terrific movie. You can read the other reviews for details. However, my wife complains that, because there is almost no narration, you don't know which bug is which.In fact, in the credits at the end of the movie, they list the "cast of characters" in order of appearance. But, the list is in French. So I translated it, below.Cast of Characters, in order of appearance.The Seven-Spot LadybugThe Machaon ButterflyThe Inchworm (Measuring worm) CaterpillarThe Bee gathers nectar from a Sage Flower (butiner=gather nectar or pollen)The Great Forked-tail CaterpillarSnails of BurgundyThe new-born Caterpillar of the Jason ButterflyYellow and black Spider, genus Argiope (perhaps Argiope frelon or banded garden spider Argiope trifasciata)The Bombyle (bee-fly, untranslateable)The processionary caterpillarsRed antsHarvester antsPaper wasps (genus polistes)The sacred beetle (dung beetle)The pheasantWater striders/water skaters (Family Gerridae)Backswimmers, family Notonectidae (swimming upside down under water near surface)The Spider Argyronète (fashions a diving bell from threads of silk)Agrion damselflies (family Coenagrionidae?)The bee Eucera in love with the Orchid OphrysThe carnivorous plant DroseraThe rhinoceros beetleThe Millipede (Myriapod)The kite stag-beetles (beetles fighting)The Bucéphales caterpillars (eating leaves)Conehead Mantis (Empusa pennata), juvenile form looks like a stickThe Great Peacock of the Night ButterflyThe Cousin Mosquito completing his metamorphosis

In my long life, I’ve only purchased a handful of DVDs, but “Microcosmos” is such a magnificent and unusual film, I had to own it. Buying this film is like buying a visual symphony. I knew I could watch it over and over again and always be as completely mesmerized and bedazzled as the first time…and I was right.I’ve owned this film now for over a year and I’ve played it at least three dozen times. In particular, I play it for my elderly mother with dementia. She loves to see it and I love looking at her as she watches it. It completely grabs her attention. From beginning to end, she is enchanted. What a wonder to see enchantment on my mother’s face…a face that is so often filled with blankness. Of course, she forgets that she’s ever seen it before, so each time the movie is new and awe-inspiring. I’ve also shown it to many adult and child visitors in my home and all of them have been completely captivated. This is such an unusual film…worth every penny!“Microcosmos” is a visual symphony and homage to life. I am so glad I own it.

It was a big disappointment to discover that this is a Spanish language version. Not only is it missing the narration by the lovely Kristen Scott-Thomas but also all the menu's etc are in Spanish. (French subtitles are available.) The film itself is wonderful and fully deserving of 5 stars but two stars are removed for the vendor selling this version without mentioning it in the description. If you want the English version (which I did) then beware.

MICROCOSMOS [1996] [Special Edition] [Blu-ray] Beyond Anything We Can Imagine! It’s Jurassic Park In Your Own Backyard!A French meadow on a summer's day is the setting for this incredible, highly-acclaimed film that takes its microscopic cameras into the heart of the insect world.In this miniature environment where a single raindrop can cause havoc, we are treated to an array of jaw-dropping moments: an underwater spider makes a home out of an air bubble, a colony of ants face a massacre when a pheasant attacks; a determined beetle struggles to relocate his ball of dung.There's drama, comedy, action and even a little love in this astonishing film that invites us to share the trials and tribulations of its wonderful cast. The film features English narration, and the bonus features including a French narration with English subtitles.FILM FACT: Awards and Nominations for ‘MICROCOSMOS’ at the César Awards (France) Won: Best Cinematography for Thierry Machado, Claude Nuridsany, Marie Pérennou and Hugues Ryffel. Won: Best Editing forFlorence Ricard and Marie-Josèphe Yoyotte. Won: Best Music for Bruno Coulais. Won: Best Producer for Jacques Perrin. Won: Best Sound for Philippe Barbeau and Bernard Leroux. Nominated: Best Film. Nominated: Best First Work for Claude Nuridsany and Marie Pérennou. Nominated: Best Sound for Laurent Quaglio. Scenes from the film were used in the music video for the single "You Don't Love Me (Like You Used to Do)" from The Philosopher Kings' album “Famous, Rich and Beautiful.”Voice Cast: Jacques Perrin (French version) (Récitant / Narrator voice) and Kristin Scott Thomas (English version) (Narrator voice)Directors: Claude Nuridsany and Marie PérennouProducers: André Lazare, Christophe Barratier, Jacques Perrin, Jean-Marc Henchoz, Michel Fauré, Patrick Lancelot, Philippe Gautier and Yvette MalletScreenplay: Claude Nuridsany and Marie PérennouComposer: Bruno CoulaisCinematography: Thierry MachadoVideo Resolution: 1080pAspect Ratio: 1.66:1 [Anamorphic]Audio: 5.1 DTS-HD Surround Sound, 5.1 Dolby Digital and 2.0 LPCM Stereo AudioSubtitles: NoneRunning Time: 75 minutes + Bonus Features: 97 minutesRegion: Region B/2Number of discs: 1Studio: Second Sight Films UK / Galatée Films [France]Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: Second Sight Films UK has released a heart-warming nature documentary about myriad species of animals nurturing their young, along with a well-known stunning awesome insect film. ‘MICROCOSMOS’ focuses on a community of insects going about their short existence, as told from the point of view of millions of colourful bugs living in a peaceful meadow in the French countryside.Wildlife documentaries are popular for giving the viewer an intimate view into the world of animals, reptiles, insects and so forth, allowing us to see things we normally wouldn’t get to see due to both the dangers, and geographical logistics involved. While there have been many documentary segments done on various insects around the globe, none have gotten as astonishingly close-up to these living organisms during such pivotal moments in their existence as ‘MICROCOSMOS’ does.It took fifteen years of research, and three years of shooting on cameras that took two years to create just for this film in order to complete this documentary, and if that’s not dedication to something you love, I’m not sure what is. Luckily for Claude Nuridsany and Marie Perennou, who co-wrote and co-directed the film together, their labour of love paid off, as ‘MICROCOSMOS’ is definitely a rare experience to be had.There are a great many moments during the film’s 75-minute runtime that are just shocking to see so close. While the hatching of a butterfly from a cocoon is wonderful to watch in its own right, it was the birth of a bee, though it could have been a wasp, from its larva state all the way to it building its own cocoon, to it breaking free as a full grown bee (or wasp). It’s really amazing to see such a thing so close, as there is no privacy to be had for these insects in this documentary. There are multiple moments where mating is shown, and who knew that the biggest exhibitionist would be the snail? But they are, and as the two go at it, albeit in an affectionate looking way their “romance” is met with an orchestrated score that just screams, “These two snails are in love, now watch nature in all its glory.”Another shocking sequence is watching a rainfall up close and how it affects this world of insects. Whenever there’s a quick shower, or a day of rain, it’s a pain for us because we get a little wet while running to the car, or we can’t have a Barbecue. Well, in the world of insects that exists right below our feet, a small shower can mean the difference between life and death, and a few hours of heavy rain is the equivalent of a flash flood for us. Anthills are destroyed and caved in, while other insects are stranded as the waters rage around them. Once the storm subsides, it’s back to work, as the ants rebuild their home, and those insects lucky enough to not get caught up in the flood regain their footing and move forward. It’s these up close encounters that one never really thinks about that really make ‘MICROCOSMOS’ an interesting watch.Of course, not all of the footage was captured in the wild, as Claude Nuridsany and Marie Perennou rebuilt certain sections of the habitat in order to capture the truly up close shots that they desired to match what they had laid out in pre-production. It’s also crazy to learn that certain shots they wanted. such as the dragonflies laying their eggs, which only happened once a year, and if their schedule for that particular insect overlapped with another, they would have had to wait another full year to get the footage of that particular shot. ‘MICROCOSMOS’ is a very interesting look into the world of insects, and it still stands strong today, even though it was filmed back in 1996. It’s definitely worth seeking out, and it will make you think twice next time before you swat a spider or a fly. You’ll likely still swat it because, well, it’s a bug; but you’ll very likely think twice about it beforehand.Blu-ray Video Quality – The awesome stunning 1080p encoded image of the documentary is sharp and crisp, filled with vibrant colours, and solid darks. Presented in an enhanced [Anamorphic] for widescreen in an 1.66:1 aspect ratio. ‘MICROCOSMOS’ looks excellent for the most part. Some scenes did have a little bit of dust on them, but mainly the time-lapse shots, but everything else was so crisp and clear that individual hairs on a bees thorax were visible at all times. Colours were deep and very true to life, especially noticeable after the rainstorm when the lighting conditions change slightly. Please Note: Playback Region B/2: This will not play on most Blu-ray players sold in North America, Central America, South America, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Learn more about Blu-ray region specifications.Blu-ray Audio Quality – The 5.1 DTS-HD Surround Sound audio for the film is beautifully transferred, with the orchestrated score coming through loud and clear, especially crisp at all times. The various sounds of the insects throughout are also perfectly transferred, helping bring the entire world to life. Just like the video, it's tough not to be happy with this stereo only presentation. The sounds packed a punch when it needed to, like during close ups of newly hatched wasps drying their wings, or when the beak of the pheasant was pounding the ground while devouring ants. But most impressive is when a fly zooms all around your back speakers.Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:Special Feature: The World of Microcosmos: An Interview with the Director [1080p] This feature runs at 40-minutes in length and sees Claude Nuridsany and Marie Pérennou talk about their love of nature, and everything that went into the building of the film. They are French, so the feature is presented with subtitles, yet their passion for the topic helps make it all the more interesting.Special Feature: The Making of Microcosmos [1080p] This feature is 13-minutes in length, and is basically a behind-the-scenes look at how the filmmakers went out into the fields around their studio in order to find some of the principle “cast” for the documentary. We get to see the cameras they built for the piece, as well as the homemade set they used to get a number of the close-up shots.Special Feature: The Story of Five Cesars [1080p] This is a 48-minute feature that covers the musical side of the film, as well as the editing and sound aspects. It’s filled with interviews that are also subtitled, but it really shows how much time and effort went into putting together this documentary.Finally, ‘MICROCOSMOS’ is something that everyone should see at least once, as it gives an unbelievable perspective into a world that literally functions right below our feet. Not all sequences in the film are as interesting as others, but more often than not, the scenarios caught on film are things you won’t find anywhere else. When something is as well put together as ‘MICROCOSMOS’ it is only right to recommend this awesome fantastic Blu-ray disc. As mentioned before, as popping this stunning Region B/2 Blu-ray disc in the player gave me such a thrill, in fact I've watched it loads of times since receiving it and just to marvel at how well it is put together. I think the fact that there is no human voice or scenes with humans in it is a blessing, because you can become fully immersed into this tiny world and enjoy all it has to offer without any distractions. I would imagine that children would be even more fascinated by this film than adults would be, and based on my desire to watch it repeatedly, I could see the replay value of this to be extremely high. Ever since I purchased this in 1996 via a French PAL LaserDisc, and I have loved this brilliant French Documentary film ever since and I never get tired of watching it, as the 5.1 DTS-HD Surround Sound really fires up the Homes Cinema surround sound and really gets you up close and personal to all the fascinating creatures you get to view on your Smart 3D Flat screen Television and as mentioned above, and it has won numerous Awards and it deserved everyone, especially how long it took to make and the people behind the scene certainly had some very amazing patience in getting the fantastic images, and how it shows, especially in High Definition, but I am personally disappointed that it could not of been produced in 3D, especially with the latest technology in turning a 2D film, into 3D images. Still despite that, it is still a stunning Blu-ray disc and will give you endless hours of pleasure, as well impress all your friends and family, especially if they are heavily into nature, as each time you view the disc, you will see something totally new. Very Highly Recommended!Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film AficionadoLe Cinema ParadisoUnited Kingdom

I bought this DVD because of the reviews on this page; it is not disappointing, but it may not be quite as extraordinary to some people as the reviews imply. This is because TV nature documentaries are of such a high standard now (15 years after this film was made) that you may feel you have seen similar footage of the insect world many times before.Nonetheless this is a lovely and relaxing film which has much to recommend it.I would have liked to have seen more of the bigger insects you might find in a French meadow, for there are no big bees, hornets or cockchafers in the movie, and not much of dragonflies.But it is still a visual feast.Insect photography is a somewhat arcane branch of nature filming which relies to some extent on carefully set-up pieces filmed in a studio, and there are some of those here, however they are all very well taken and seamlessly mixed into the action. There is some music to emphasize various points, which is unintrusive.There is no plot as such, for this is the 'ambient' story of a single day in a meadow somewhere deep in France.I will not be watching this a lot; but it is the sort of thing you go to very occasionally when you want to be soothed and gently entertained. Suitable for all ages.

Microcosmos reveals the fascinating life under our feet in beautiful and awe-inspiring photography. You might have seen many nature films but there is none like this one, that shows the lives of tiny animals. You will see a dung beetle whose dung ball got stuck on a thorn; one has to admire the beetle's diligence in attempting to get that precious ball of dung loose - and I will not reveal if he did or not! Or the sound of the bird's bill, as it stands in the anthill, collecting ants. There is no text; the entire film only has music, so language is not an issue. Both fascinating and humorous at times, this film is sure to please all age groups. Wonderful for the family to watch on a rainy afternoon, or that Friday evening at home, or for a teacher to show her science class, this is just a film that everyone should see at least once.

Still a stunning piece of cinema, and I can't add anything to previous reviews when it comes to the content of the film itself, but I just wanted to post a review of this remastered version to warn anyone thinking of upgrading from their old version. Don't bother. The sound is marginally improved, perhaps, but the picture looks no better. In fact, in the opening few minutes, before it settles in to the hi-def macrovision footage, the picture looks positively awful: grainy, blurry, washed-out and pixellated. How exactly is that a remaster, I have to wonder?