I love the way a thread can can go all places.
First off I not only saw the movie. I went with my beekeeper association. Guess what we loved it. Was it accurate? Hell no. Did we expect it to be. No.
It's a friggen cartoon.
If you are counting on historically accuracy from Disney and Dreamworks you are the one in the wrong not the movie makers. They are trying to entertain not teach history.
I lecture now about 3 times a month for all age groups. When I am dealing with younger kids do you thing I have a picture a Barry B Benson in my presentation? You betcha. Why? Because kids relate to the cartoon and associate it with a good memory. When I get in there. I show the kids the picture of Barry. I ask what is wrong with this picture. I now have the kids attention because they all liked the movie and now they get to show how smart they are.
The kids all like to point out that he is wearing shoes, a sweater, and that he talks. Which they all understand real bees don't do. I will explain while bees do talk, they don't speak English. Now I have a group buzzing and doing waggle dances.
I then explain the biggest problem with Barry is he is a boy. When 99% of the bees in a hive are girls. Now I have all the girls cheering. Now I have girls interested in bugs. If the kids are slightly older then discussions on pollination will take place. Discussions on allergies and AHB also depending on the age of the group.
At the end I go back to Barry to remind the class that bees are responsible for honey. But when I ask them if Barry is responsible they all say no.
Do I love the movie for what it did to peak interest in bees. You bet. Did I mind having to make a few corrections. Heck no.
And if they make a sequel I am willing to bet the association would go see that movie.
Sincerely,
Brendhan