Microcosmos [DVD] [1996]: Amazon.co.uk: Claude Nuridsany, Jean-Marc Perennou: DVD

Reviews

Special Features

1.85 Wide Screen
16:9 Wide Screen
DVD 5
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo English
Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo

Synopsis

A fascinating, close-up view of the world of insects, snails, spiders, and other tiny invertebrates as they work, eat, fight and procreate. This acclaimed French documentary was filmed with special microscopic cameras and high-resolution microphones, utilizing slow motion and time-lapse photography to capture bees collecting nectar, spiders ensnaring their prey, mosquitoes hatching, and other minute wonders of the insect world, resulting in a breathtaking glimpse of the beauty and poetry that exists underfoot.

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Customer Reviews

12 Reviews

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.8 out of 5 stars (12 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mesmerising, beautiful, astonishing, 24 Jun 2004

By	Cartimand (Hampshire, UK.) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

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.

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.

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44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "where time is measured out in moments", 11 Jul 2004

By	Alejandra Vernon "artist & illustrator" (Long Beach, California) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

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 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.

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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Epic voyage of discovery, 27 Dec 2004

By	ofcourseistillloveyou "ofcourseistillloveyou" (The Misty Mountains) - See all my reviews

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

5.0 out of 5 stars microcosmos
This is a fantastic dvd for all ages, I bought it for a two year old, it is so magical he was enthralled. Extremely good value

Published 1 month ago by Mrs. Janet B. Jones

5.0 out of 5 stars Utterly beautiful
I first saw this film at Glastonbury late at night.
I can think of no better place to watch it than in a field
surrounded by nature (it even started raining at the... Read more

Published 8 months ago by Ashbeth

5.0 out of 5 stars Something Special
Ooooooooh this is so gorgeous, especially if you're recovering from illness,stress, feeling down, or just stuck in on a rainy day or listing to a childs first sentences. Read more

Published on 12 Oct 2007 by Eye Can

5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating...larger than life, literally!
Absolutely brilliant. Free from all bias, which makes it all the more easy to simply sit back and enjoy the wonder of the world beneath our feat. Read more

Published on 30 Sep 2007 by skeetabomb

5.0 out of 5 stars And I thought my life was hard!
I bought this DVD to share with my retired father - and when he'd seen it we shared it with a room full of cynical teenagers... Read more

Published on 8 Jun 2006 by Reader under a wild olive tree

5.0 out of 5 stars Microcosmos - the best film I've seen in years
This film is absolutely spectacular. You might think that a whole film full of insect footage may be a bit too much but it isn't at all. It is just brilliant.

Published on 12 Nov 2005 by Ms. C. A. L. Bridge

5.0 out of 5 stars Who would have thought insects could look so beautiful?
This is a magnetic, fascinating film. The sounds and images glued me to the screen. It's just 70 minutes of insects and scenery, but trust me, it's a remarkable film. Read more

Published on 11 Oct 2004 by Jason Mills

5.0 out of 5 stars A look at nature, how it should be done
This DVD shows how life is beneath the tips of grass... from the eyes of ants, spiders, bugs... how they experience a raindrop, a mudpool, the lenght of one day is one season, the... Read more

Published on 4 Nov 2003 by Christoph Heylen

3.0 out of 5 stars no naration, no comentary, just moving pictures
this dvd shows life in a medow, from the point of view of mini-beasts. There is some good photography, however there is no dialog at all, no naration, no comments, no words, just... Read more

Published on 17 Aug 2003 by lpedley

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	59% buy the item featured on this page: Microcosmos [DVD] [1996] 4.8 out of 5 stars (12)
	13% buy Microcosmos [Remastered Edition] [1996] [DVD] 4.2 out of 5 stars (4) �5.98
	12% buy Koyaanisqatsi / Powaqqatsi [DVD] [1983] 4.4 out of 5 stars (30) �4.98
	8% buy Naqoyqatsi [DVD] 2.7 out of 5 stars (14) �3.98

Microcosmos [DVD] [1996]

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