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Amazon.co.uk Review
Using revolutionary cameras, the directors of this French film (with minimal English-language narration) have made an amazing chronicle of the insect world. There are at least a dozen fascinating, memorable images and the carnage is held to a minimum. Some favourites include a caterpillar traffic jam, a frog's bout with a rain storm and a bird that turns into Godzilla for a bunch of ants. Then there's the snail mating scene that must be seen to be believed. Great for families. --Doug Thomas, Amazon.com
Product Description
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. A visually stunning film presented for all its high definition glory. Bonus Features include The World Of Microcosmos; The Making Of Microcosmos and The Story of 5 Cesars.
The film features English narration, and the bonus features include French narration with English subtitles.
The film features English narration, and the bonus features include French narration with English subtitles.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
48 of 48 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a mesmerizing look into the life of insects, with "real time" photography as well as slow motion and time lapse sequences. It also shows the predators who live off them, like the frogs, and the pheasant who gobbles up ants; flowers and how their life cycle is interconnected with the insects that pollinate them, as well as the carnivorous Drosera, as it devours a wasp-like creature.
There is even a portion in the night, with the nocturnal activity seen in the glimmer of moonlight, and also a marvelous rainstorm, with close-ups of the droplets falling.
The two most memorable scenes are the snails who mate with grace and abandon, and seem to become "one flesh", and the horned beetles in a battle that shows incredible violence and tenacity; both these segments seem to reflect "human" qualities, and fill the mind with wonder.
There is even a portion in the night, with the nocturnal activity seen in the glimmer of moonlight, and also a marvelous rainstorm, with close-ups of the droplets falling.
The two most memorable scenes are the snails who mate with grace and abandon, and seem to become "one flesh", and the horned beetles in a battle that shows incredible violence and tenacity; both these segments seem to reflect "human" qualities, and fill the mind with wonder.
There is a beautifully written but short introduction and epilogue, read by Kristin Scott Thomas, and a score by Bruno Coulais, which consists mostly of vocal music, sung by mezzo Mari Kobayashi, and the charming young voices of Hugo and Louis Coulais; much of the film is in silence however, with just the sound of the insects.
A visual feast that is the creation of the Claude Nuridsany and Marie Perennou, who share credits as director/writer/cinematographer, and additional cinematography was done by Thierry Machado and Hugues Ruffel.
Total running time is 80 minutes, and you will never look at a lowly snail in the same way again.
29 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
In similar vein to Reggio's seminal Koyaanisqatsi, Microcosmos is a film without commentary, other than a one-sentence introduction and a few poetic words at the close.
It presents the viewer with a gorgeous series of tableaux starring the amazing micro-fauna resident in a meadow. I guarantee the first thing that springs to mind when viewing Microcosmos for the first time is "how did they film that?!!" Achingly beautiful close-ups of ants, caterpillars, butterflies, snails, ladybirds, the bizarrely alien-looking mantis and dozens more give us an unique insight into the oft-ignored world beneath our feet.
It presents the viewer with a gorgeous series of tableaux starring the amazing micro-fauna resident in a meadow. I guarantee the first thing that springs to mind when viewing Microcosmos for the first time is "how did they film that?!!" Achingly beautiful close-ups of ants, caterpillars, butterflies, snails, ladybirds, the bizarrely alien-looking mantis and dozens more give us an unique insight into the oft-ignored world beneath our feet.
The whole 72 minutes is one great therapeutic trip - just sit in your comfiest chair and let the vivid colours and sumptuous sound (natural insect noises occasionally punctuated with minimalist ambient music) wash over you.
Favourite scenes include the sissyphus-like dung-beetle, the ants at the "waterhole", the snail lovers, the spider's "aqualung", the stag beetles' battle and the jaw-droppingly stunning finale of the nascent mosquito breaking free of the meniscus of the pond on its impossibly long legs. Even the moment of microcosmic horror, when a strangely prehistoric looking pheasant perpetrates some genocide, is magnificently filmed and utterly satisfying.
Possibly the first wildlife film to cross the boundary into pure art.
I guarantee you will feel a better and more harmonious person for having viewed Microcosmos.
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is absolutely superb! One of my first experiences with a docu-film that doesn't have a commentary & it was absolutely riveting. The music blends effortlessly and emotional;ly with the visual feast. My only complainmt would be the lack of special features, on which would hopefully have included an explanation of how the producers made the film and an explanation of some of the creatures seen. Then the film would also have an educational element.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Microcosmos Miracles
This is the most wonderful film of all the tiny creatures we hardly see. All insect life is here in its most spectacular form. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Cathy Timblerlake
Life on earth, close up
Sit in the garden for long enough, and nature will come to see you. The miniature world of insects is all around us but most of it goes un-noticed, too fast, too small, or just too... Read more
Published 6 months ago by a Brit in the Pyrenees
nature films at their best
i have 2 copies now but dont regret getting it. One of the grearest nature films ever made. Puts humans in their place on this planet
Published 8 months ago by freddie fast
Microcosmos - Special Edition
Beautifully filmed, showing how insects live and the dangers that bestow them down there under our feet. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Documenternie
Of its time...
Im afraid that this film, which was doubtless brilliant in 1996, was, well... brilliant in 1996.
Its a not bad little documentary/movie of bugs and things on a very... Read more
Its a not bad little documentary/movie of bugs and things on a very... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Christopher Morgan
Superb production
This is one of the best film productions ever.
It features amazing footage of the animal life in an area of French countryside. Read more
It features amazing footage of the animal life in an area of French countryside. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Robert Paradise
Not quite what it seems
There is no disputing that this is an astonishing close-up of the insect world in crystal clear clarity. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Barry Wood
Microcosmos Special edition (Blue ray) 1996
I purchased this for my husband when I bought him a Blue ray machine. It is the most wonderful video on insects and the meadows we have ever seen. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Mary Sharp
An enjoyable and relaxing film.
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. Read more
Published 15 months ago by J. MILLER
Good, but not perfect
This is a documentary mainly about insects with many shots using macro photography. The picture quality is mostly very good; there are just a couple of sentences by a female... Read more
Published 17 months ago by DasWiesel
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