Flight of the Butterflies

October. 01,2012      G
Rating:
7.1
Trailer Synopsis Cast

It takes two or three generations for the monarch butterfly to reach the Canadian breeding grounds, but it is one "supergeneration" that makes the 2,000 mile return trip back south into central Mexico. The documentary film covers Dr Fred Urquhart's interest in monarch butterflies, with perspectives of Urquhart as a child wondering where the butterflies went, his years of research and study into their life and migration, to his time decades-later as a senior scientist looking back at his investigations and discoveries about the insect's life pattern.

Megan Follows as  Narrator
Gordon Pinsent as  Dr Fred Urquhart
Shaun Benson as  Ken Brugger
Sofía Sisniega as  Chloe
Stephanie Sigman as  Catalina Aguado
Jayden Greig as  Ice cream boy

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Reviews

Odelecol
2012/10/01

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

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Salubfoto
2012/10/02

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

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Juana
2012/10/03

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

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Billy Ollie
2012/10/04

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

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nanwerner
2012/10/05

I saw this film about 1.5 years ago at the Science Museum of Minnesota. Wonderful film - it felt like you were actually there with the 3D. I have raised Monarch butterflies for 47 consecutive years as of summer 2015, and in the 1980s I sent Dr. Urquhart a letter about my monarch raising and received a kind, encouraging letter back from him in return which I will always cherish and be grateful for.I just recently discovered on Monarch Watch website for 2015 tag recoveries that one of my flutters raised from egg and released 9/1/15 was discovered in Rosario Hills, Mexico on 2/26/16, which I am just completely thrilled to know. I can only imagine how Dr. Urquhart felt when he found his tagged butterfly-he must have felt as if the heavens opened before him! There are very few things the word "awesome" is used to describe nowadays that are truly awesome, but this and this film are two of them. A must-see for everyone who loves the flutters!

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Horst in Translation ([email protected])
2012/10/06

"Flight of the Butterflies" is a 44-minute IMAX nature documentary from 4 years ago written and directed by Mike Slee. Well, actually it is half documentary, half acting as the cast includes Gordon Pinsent and a couple other actors playing characters that were linked to the scientific research of the monarch butterfly. I personally would have preferred to keep this fictitious story to a minimum and instead focus more on great impressive video recording of the butterfly instead of the story they put in here, but that is just personal preference. Same goes for the use of animation. Why not show us the real ones instead of animated CGI butterflies, even if it still looks somewhat impressive. These are my 2 major criticisms with this documentary. The topic is such an interesting one, so I am a bit disappointed with the execution. Still it's by no means a bad film, just clearly inferior to what this documentary could have been actually. Overall, I recommend the watch.

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rgcustomer
2012/10/07

I was looking forward to seeing this film, both for the IMAX 3D format, and for the Monarch butterflies which are in news recently for declining population.Cons first: This film doesn't really make much use of the 3D format. Those things which have the most 3D effect appear to be CGI, rather than actual butterflies. I don't know whether they are, but the fact they look like they might be is disappointing. Peter Jackson is right when he switched to High Frame Rate for 3D, to reduce motion blur or snapshot effect, and look more life-like. Also, the IMAX at the Henry Ford Museum seems to have some trouble holding 3D together. Sometimes there's 3D, and sometimes (particularly toward the edges of the screen) there's just two flat 2D images next to each other. I attribute that to the theatre, rather than the film. But viewers should be aware that it can happen.Pros: This is more on the monarchs than I've seen before. But it's presented at a level that kids can understand. And it does seem to do a good job of covering the story of the discovery of the migration route between places like Toronto, ON, and a forest in Mexico. Actors portray Urquhart and his wife, and two other in Mexico (Wikipedia says Brugger and Aguado, but I'm unsure if that's who they identified in the film). It is thrilling when the migration route is discovered, even though we all know it's coming. I'd recommend the film, but probably not in 3D, and maybe not in IMAX either. The content doesn't justify extra expense.

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bsaiken-126-724519
2012/10/08

I saw this movie in 3D. Seeing children 2 - 12 all reaching out to catch the virtual butterflies was one of the best movie experiences I ever had. Don't get me wrong, the story itself is fascinating, and one can not help but marvel in the wonder of creation and the power of the human spirit. Monarch butterflies accomplish the seemingly impossible. Their very survival is threatened and the movie makes a compelling case for better stewardship of our planet without any finger pointing or name calling.Recently, I saw the movie again in 2D, to wow my friend. I am sad to say it was a disappointment. See this movie in 3D (only) and take the kids - you will thank me later.Brian A

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