Flight of the Butterflies

2012
7.2| 0h45m| G| en
Details

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.

AD
AD

Watch Free for 30 Days

Stream on any device, 30-day free trial Watch Now

Trailers & Clips

Reviews

Tedfoldol everything you have heard about this movie is true.
Beystiman It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.
Afouotos Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.
Edwin The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.
Sunny Lewis Here's a classic case of bad music spoiling a movie. There is way too much of it and it is way too loud. I often found the need to mute the soundtrack and follow along with closed captions to spare myself the misery of the insipid score. Music should be enhancing, not overwhelming. In addition, I have to agree with other reviewers that some of the butterflies seemed to be the product of CGI, which was also disconcerting, as was the overall gearing of the film toward a school-aged audience. Nevertheless, the inspiring story of the Monarch migration and fortuitous convocation of events that resulted in its eventual discovery make this film worth viewing. But you might want to keep a finger close to the mute button.
nanwerner 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!
Horst in Translation ([email protected]) "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.
András I saw Flight of the Butterflies at the IMAX theater of the American Museum of Natural History. This was one of the most interesting short films I ever saw in an IMAX theater. Usually the films take advantage of the format, even abuse it, without much story. This film has an excellent story line. The IMAX format allows the viewer to immerse into the presented world, but you never feel they made this for the sake of showing off the IMAX. I learned about the butterflies in these 45 minutes more, than in my entire life. I came to admire and appreciate them. Without giving too much away and any spoilers, I can tell you it follows an individual specimen through a complete cycle for a year. You will be amazed. I would recommend it to anyone age 3 to adult.