Insectia (insect mini-series)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: B-     Extras: C-     Episodes: B

 

 

Though not for everyone, Insectia is an interesting (if creepy for some) 13-part mini-series that is more than a tired showing off of macrophotography of endless breeds in their habitat.  Instead, this series shows how insects have become a part of culture all over the world, as well as their uses for medicine, food and even living jewelry.  It really defines the idea of odd-but-true.

 

It also shows how deeply rooted and often ignored or marginalized insects are.  This show is done in 13 parts for half-hour broadcast time slots and are presented over four DVDs as follows:

 

1)     Living Art

2)     Silent Partners

3)     Myths & Legends

4)     Invertebrate Inventors

5)     New World Order

6)     Wicked Butterflies

7)     The Mating Game

8)     Mad About Bugs

9)     Insect Gods

10)  Insects a la carte

11)  Child’s Play

12)  Six-Legged Warriors

13)  Champions Of Evolution

 

The series has a serious pro-insect bent, especially when trying to convince us that some make great food, but that will always be under the category of acquired taste.  That can also apply to this set, which is a rare opportunity for fans and those studying the subject.  For others, this may just be far more than they need to know, but the content is consistent in offering new facts, ideas and creatures, so it is a quality show.  It’s still not for everyone.

 

The full screen, videotaped image is good for a more recent analog NTSC production, though it does not have the detail film would offer, the tape will still show much vivid footage of the subjects at hand.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo offers healthy Pro Logic surrounds for the entire set, which also helps as host George Brossard’s voice is a bit on the whispery side, even when not slowly crawling up on his subjects.  Extras include a quiz, biography on Brossard, and bloopers segment that is somewhat of a put-on.  It is built around the actual bloopers, though.

 

Brossard makes a great host and is probably one of the most knowledgeable persons in his field.  The series, by the box’s own admission, would not have been possible without him or his influence.  He is the “Crocodile Hunter” of his field.  The one thing I can say is that after watching all these amazing insects, you may think twice before stepping on one for no good reason, because they are remarkable and we still do not appreciate them, even as we now build robots to duplicate them.  This Imavision set is available from Goldhil Media at www.goldhil.com where you can find this and many other exceptional documentary sets.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo