Bugs! 3-D

To many people, the idea of seeing insects as small as they are is bad enough. But the idea of seeing them blown up to the size of an automobile? In 3-D? Eek!

Needless to say, "Bugs!" will not be their cup of tea. Those who are interested in such creepy-crawlies — or are at least not put off by them — will have a considerably better time with the large-screen mini-documentary (which is being shown in 3-D).

While it's not exactly the be-all, end-all insect documentary, the one that pretty much tells you all you'd ever want to know about them (that would still be 1996's "MicroCosmos"), "Bugs!" is still pretty fun.

Narrated by Dame Judi Dench, whose voice lends a certain authority to things, "Bugs!" takes a look at the variety and sheer number of insects that are growing in Southeast Asia's rainforests.

Managing to narrow that rather wide scope a little, the film focuses on the differences between insect species, particularly those between the herbivorous (typified by a caterpillar, which is seen metamorphosing into a butterfly) and the carnivorous (typified by a praying mantis).

As it turns out, there's a particular reason director Mike Slee and his crew follow these two specific insects . . . though it's best not to give too much of the film's "plot" away.

The 3-D effects are sometimes a help and a hindrance. It's a fun scare when a huge spider seems to "plop" right into the lap of the audience. But the camera also tries to simulate what the praying mantis' hundreds of eye lenses see — and in 3-D it's headache-inducing.

"Bugs!" is not rated but would probably receive a G. It contains some scenes of animal violence (attacks by bugs and other predatory animals) as well as some talk of animal reproduction. Running time: 40 minutes.

---

E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com