RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Found a Bug? Squash It! Report Bugs Here
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / Upcoming / Bugs!
Bugs!

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Bugs! (2003)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
87 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:31

Fresh:27

Rotten:4

Average Rating:7.2/10

Genre: Education/General Interest

US Box Office: $0

Synopsis: Bugs! is a live-action nature drama filmed in awe inspiring, totally immersive 3-D. Shot on location in Borneo and in a purpose-built studio in Oxford, England, Bugs! explores the dramatic and... Bugs! is a live-action nature drama filmed in awe inspiring, totally immersive 3-D. Shot on location in Borneo and in a purpose-built studio in Oxford, England, Bugs! explores the dramatic and savage lives of an Old World praying mantis and a beautiful butterfly, known by their Latin names, Hierodula and Papilio. This 40 minute feature combines incredible footage with cutting-edge IMAX technology to deliver a fantastically entertaining and enlightening experience about the little guys in life. The stars of Bugs!, Hierodula, the mantid, and Papilio, the butterfly, are born in the same part of the exotic Borneo rainforest. Their home is the foliage around an abandoned and dilapidated shack on the edge of the river. Here, we witness Hierodula and Papilio mature and grow. Hierodula develops by incomplete metamorphosis; emerging from his egg as a mini-mantis and shedding his skin regularly on the way to gaining his adult wings. Papilio goes through a complete metamorphosis, from caterpillar to butterfly via the pupal stage. As they develop we meet a fascinating array of creatures who share their habitat. After many near misses, the hunter, Hierodula, acting on instinct, catches Papilio. In an uplifting ending we discover that Papilio had managed to lay her eggs before being caught, and the film ends with her offspring emerging from her tiny egg to continue the circle of life. -- © SK Films [More]

Reviews for Bugs!

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

An extraordinary inspection of a universe rarely invaded by motion picture cameras. You've never been here before.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
03/01/07
Harry Haun
Harry Haun
Film Journal International

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
12/30/06
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
09/23/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

One of the finest movies that ever came to the IMAX at the Putnam, "Bugs! In 3-D" flies right into your face. And you'll like it.

Full Review Source: Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) | comment Comment
03/15/06
Linda Cook
Linda Cook
Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

Astute use of 3-D effects, accomplished insect wrangling and studious avoidance of gross-out elements make this acceptable for target family auds.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
06/02/05
Ronnie Scheib
Ronnie Scheib
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Does effectively showcase the life-and-death struggle waged constantly among creatures that, at least in numbers, dominate the planet.

Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | comment Comment
06/02/05
Melinda Ennis
Melinda Ennis
Atlanta Journal-Constitution

[Bugs involves] us emotionally with [its] subjects.

Full Review Source: Charlotte Observer | comment Comment
12/21/04
Lawrence Toppman
Lawrence Toppman
Charlotte Observer

Thanks to specially built equipment, audiences are treated to a bug's-eye view of the stars' evolution from adolescence to adulthood.

Full Review Source: Denver Rocky Mountain News | comment Comment
06/04/04
Erika Gonzalez
Erika Gonzalez
Denver Rocky Mountain News

Entertainingly anthropomorphizes the insect residents of a tropical rainforest.

Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment Comment
05/28/04
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press

The 3-D effect is terrific throughout, and the surround-sound design heightens the sense of being immersed in a lush tropical environment.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
04/03/04
Sheri Linden
Sheri Linden
Boxoffice Magazine

That hulking gorilla in King Kong and those rampaging dinosaurs in Jurassic Park have nothing on the amazing monsters in Bugs! in 3-D.

Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment Comment
03/29/04
Kirk Honeycutt
Kirk Honeycutt
Hollywood Reporter

Learning stuff has never been this cool.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
03/25/04
E! Online
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It's worth seeing just for the extraordinary time-lapse footage of the caterpillar metamorphosing into a butterfly.

Full Review Source: Philadelphia Inquirer | comment Comment
01/15/04
David Hiltbrand
David Hiltbrand
Philadelphia Inquirer
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
01/15/04
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The 3-D work is extremely effective, giving us a realistic, close-up view of insects unlike anything previously viewed.

Full Review Source: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | comment Comment
10/24/03
Jack Garner
Jack Garner
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

For once the 3-D is more than just a gimmick, transporting the audience to a Borneo rainforest so lush and verdant you can almost feel the sunlight on your eyelids.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
10/05/03
Neil Smith
Neil Smith
BBC

It's startling how quickly you adjust to the giant scale and start seeing the world through a bug's eyes.

Full Review Source: Boston Globe | comment Comment
09/28/03
Louise Kennedy
Louise Kennedy
Boston Globe

Captivating, peppered with breathtaking images.

Full Review Source: San Diego Union-Tribune | comment Comment
08/08/03
Arthur Salm
Arthur Salm
San Diego Union-Tribune

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 ... Bugs! is still pretty fun.

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
08/01/03
Jeff Vice
Jeff Vice
Deseret News, Salt Lake City

Provides enough of an 'Ick!' factor to please the kids as well and might even inspire some budding entomologists.

Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment Comment
07/31/03
Frank Scheck
Frank Scheck
Hollywood Reporter
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
See All

More Movies

Coming Soon in Australia
Tomatometer Percentage Movie Date

68% 68% Sherlock Holmes 26/12
39% 39% The Lovely Bones 26/12
100% 100% The French Kissers 26/12
84% 84% Bright Star 26/12
82% 82% Nowhere Boy 26/12
20% 20% Alvin and the Chipmunk… 26/12
08% 08% Did You Hear About the… 26/12
05% 05% Old Dogs 26/12

What’s Hot On RT

New Alice Trailer

New Alice Trailer

Tim Burton returns to the rabbit hole

20 Must-See Films

20 Must-See Films

Your essential Summer Movie Guide

James Cameron

James Cameron

We look at the Avatar director's career

Golden Globes!

Golden Globes!

See who got nominated for the awards

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Bryan Singer Returning to X-Men for First Class Source: Superhero Hype
94
  • Mark Strong Talks Kick-Ass, John Carter, and Robin Hood Source: Collider.com
1
  • How Avatar Happened: The Path to Innovation Source: CinemaBlend.com
19
  • Rob Marshall Says Pirates 4 Is Still a Maybe Source: ComingSoon.net
30
  • ET Teases Iron Man 2 Teaser Source: Collider.com
28
  • Tobey Maguire Refutes Hobbit Rumors Source: Hollywood Reporter
9
  • Prince of Persia Featurette Posted Source: Yahoo! Movies
4
  • Trailer Bulletin: Robin Hood Source: ComingSoon.net
61
  • Mel Gibson Plans a Mexican Vacation Source: Variety
8
  • New Iron Man 2 Clue Posted Source: Screen Rant
26
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Awards Tour 2009: Golden Globe Noms Here!
144
  • Total Recall: James Cameron Movies
76
  • Critics Consensus: Avatar Is Certified Fresh
71
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Girlpower Rules Again with Princess at #1
70
  • Awards Tour 2009: Inglourious Basterds Lead Critics Choice Noms
44
  • Awards Tour 2009: Avatar Best Picture at NYFCO!
38
  • Weekly Ketchup: James Cameron Plans a Fantastic Voyage
34
  • Awards Tour 2009: SAG Nominations Are In!
34
  • The Effects of Where the Wild Things Are
32
  • Friday Harvest: Iron Man 2, Tron Legacy, and more!
20
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
21
  • Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland
2
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
12
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
23
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • RT on DVD: Wassup, Bruno
3
  • Scott Hicks Talks The Boys Are Back
0
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Richard Kelly chats about The Box
2
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Bugs! at Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh Links

Featured
40 Best Films of the 2000s
40 Best Films of the 2000s External Link

Last week, Moviefone offered us their worst films of the 2000s. Now see their 40 best!

Virtuoso Vistas of The Lovely Bones
Virtuoso Vistas of The Lovely Bones External Link

Techland examines the visual splendor of Peter Jackson's upcoming film.

Worst Hollywood Remakes of the Decade
Worst Hollywood Remakes of the Decade External Link

Movieline gets bravely swept away with the recycled refuse of the 2000s.

Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Twitter
Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Twitter External Link

Get all the latest movie updates, reviews, interviews and features here.

Competitions
Win Alvin and the Chipmunks 2 prize packs
Win Alvin and the Chipmunks 2 prize packs External Link

We're giving away a bunch of stuff from the upcoming Squeakquel.

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.