Winged Migration (Special Edition)

Much has also been said that the directors 'cheated' by imprinting birds to the camera crew to make those memorable camera shots. While this is not a revolutionary concept (Bill Lishman performed a similar task leading a flock of geese from Ontario to Virginia a few years earlier; his exploits were the loose basis for the film Fly Away Home), it is I believe the first time it has been used at this magnitude. Research is also being done to determine if this technique can be used efficiently in guiding new migration routes to help protect endangered migratory species such as the whooping crane and trumpeter swan. While it is less than ideal and certainly not natural, the process may be necessary to ensure that these animals can survive extinction. And taken in the context of this film, I believe this procedure is permissible given the principle of the film (whether intended or not). What Winged Migration instills most in the viewer, after its visual beauty is digested, is to promote awareness about not only the magnificence of these creatures, but their plight and the increasing difficulties that accompany seasonal migration.

For more information on specifics of the film, there is a good review at documentaryfilms.net

(On a side note, a few reviewers have questioned what happened to the birds after filming. In an interview with Perrin, he stated many of the birds stayed with their imprinted parents in Normandy, while others were taken to nature preserves of which the filmmakers developed a relationship with during filming.)

There is no doubt that this film will not appeal to everyone. It is over an hour of footage with little or no dialogue, and I think the pace of the film may be a problem for some. But Winged Migration is undoubtedly visually stunning; of that you can be assured. I would encourage anyone, even those who would normally be turned off by its subject matter or its message, to see the film regardless, for it is a visual delight and is well worth the time.


JAW-DROPPING, BIRD'S-EYE VIEW!   June 19, 2004
I've seen many a great nature film, but this one goes straight into the next dimension! Only a few minutes into the film and I knew I was hooked! I was astonished at the way that Mr. Perrin was able to capture these birds, all backdropped by some of the most magnificent vistas seen! The film's realism was such that I was constantly trying to figure-out how Perrin did it! Was a small camera strapped to one bird from each flock, just before their migration? I felt somewhat stupified by the wonder of it, perhaps in the way that a chicken would look at a card trick. Imagine flying alongside these creatures as they go from place to place, getting "A REAL BIRDS-EYE VIEW"! I've never seen anything like it!

As great as it was, I didn't care much for the intro speak at the beginning of the film. Why it is that the "Lords of Most Nature Films" seem hell-bent on stating that the beginnings of life started some 400-million years ago is beyond me. At most, it's theoretical conjecture stated as fact.


spellbound   June 15, 2004
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

My husband gave me the DVD for my birthday June 7th, I've since watched the film 3 times. I rarely will watch a movie twice. This one has me spellbound!


Beautifully filmed, but is it really a documentary?   June 3, 2004
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

First of all, let me say that I very much enjoyed Winged Migration, and that it has captivated the many people I've shown it to. Why have I shown it to so many people? Because our 2-year-old son loves it, and people happen to be around when we watch it. We've watched it at home with friends and family. We've watched it while visiting my parents on their TV. We've watched it on my laptop in airports. He loves watching anything about animals, fish and birds, but he especially loves Winged Migration. I suspect it's something about the lack of narration, the way the birds move with the music, and some of the incredible closeups.

That brings me to my only criticism of this film, if you could call it that. We purchased this movie under the assumption that it was a nature documentary. Though it is spectacular and very enjoyable, I find it somewhat misleading to call it a documentary. Other than the odd snipet of information about the individual species and how far they fly, it really isn't much more than a beautifully filmed music video. OK, they fly far. Got it. Our household watches a lot of David Attenborough nature documentaries on DVD, and we love them both for the visuals and their educational value. That said, it's hard to categorize Winged Migration as the same type of film. It's much about art than it is about learning.


And then we had their livers with a wonderful Bordeaux   June 1, 2004
 0 out of 4 found this review helpful

Nice film until you realize that the film-makers bred no small number of birds to be actors. I wonder what behind-the-scenes cinema verite we didn't see in "The Making Of"? To be frank, it did look like the film crew had a very deep affection for the animals--but on the other hand, they then allowed their "babies" to be shot? I don't get it. And what happend to all these "imprinted" birds when the filmmaking was done?

Maybe I'll just go back to watching Sir David Attenborough's "The Life Of Birds" series on PBS.
Great cinematography. No guilt.