GeorgeH Loc: Jonesboro, GA

Flora and I saw this documentary film on Monday. For those not familiar with it, see this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/They_Shall_Not_Grow_Old It is truly a remarkable achievement! The young British soldiers could well have been the guy in the next desk to you in high school...or you yourself. And so many of them died during the four year war. Some 40 million lives, both civilian and military, were lost in WW I, among them over 700,000 British.

The film features voices of the soldiers, some few still living, others spoken by those from the areas of the British Isles from which the dead soldiers came.

Technically the film is amazing. As we all know movie cameras of the time were hand cranked, resulting in wildly varying frame rates. Peter Jackson and crew have been able to "normalize" frame rates, even when they vary virtually from frame to frame. This normalization, along with the digital restoration, makes the moving sequences very lifelike. Modern digital manipulation aids in rescuing under- and over-exposed images, revealing unseen detail. There are very few "action" sequences, since most movies were filmed with tripod mounted cameras, hardly conducive to filming trench warfare or infantry assaults. Such action images shown were taken from magazines of the time.

The film is colorized, but IMHO very successfully, without the glaring effects of some other efforts. Mr Jackson has a large collections of uniforms, so fabric, button, and decoration color could be reproduced.

Much of this effort is discussed in a short subject following the feature. The film is in 3-D; fortunately the effects are subdued. All in all this is a magnificent film, and a poignant reminder of the waste of war. Don't miss it when it comes to your area.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

I loved this film, it is a monumental achievement. I was shocked that it wasn't even nominated for the Best Documentary Oscar. I wonder if it is because it was a limited release through Fathom Events.

GeorgeH Loc: Jonesboro, GA

Something to do with the timing of its release. If I read correctly it will be re-released in the US somewhere around February 1. Stay tuned!
I also noted that Peter Jackson received no "pay" for the film, and that he donated all the restored footage to the British War Museum. I hope that, in addition to digital files, archivally processed silver analogue film was made available, since digital files can "go away," but properly processed and stored film lives on.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

It was shown in theaters last year. I thought that was the requirement for Oscar eligibility.

ottopj Loc: Annapolis, MD USA

I saw it this past Monday and it is all the things said about it here and more! A fabulous piece of work.

Here is a link to the re-release on Feb. 1.
https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/1030673-peter-jacksons-wwi-documentary-they-shall-not-grow-old-expanding

Adicus Loc: New Zealand

Very emotional film. It brings home the waste of war. All those boys ,some as young as 15 ,just wasted. My Grandfather and his brother were both killed in the first world war when in their early 20's .

Bob Smith Loc: Banjarmasin

Everyone should visit the first world war battlefields. When you visit you realise the enormity of it and the sacrifice made by incredibly brave men of all nations.

Adicus Loc: New Zealand

If you are ever in New Zealand a visit to Te Papa Museum in Wellington is a must. Peter Jackson put together an amazing display of more than life size figures along with extracts form various diary entries of serving men who were at Gallipoli . An atrocious waste of life in a conflict that could never be won and run by generals safely aboard ships or on safe islands . Absolutely terrible , they didn't even get landed where they should have been and were placed in an impossible position. It breaks you heart to read all that happened to those brave souls and many a hard man comes out with tears in their eyes.

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

Saw this gem last weekend. Very limited showings here and there, but worth the search and worth the drive, in my opinion. This must be up for an academy award in the documentary category. I would see it again in an instant.

Bob Smith Loc: Banjarmasin

josquin1 Loc: Massachusetts

Met an elderly English woman in Harvard Sq and she noticed that I was reading a history of Somme by Lyn Macdonald. She came over and we started a conversation in which she told me that her uncle had been killed at the battle of Somme. She said a whole generation of men was wiped out there; quite sobering.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

As I said earlier, it didn't get the Best Documentary Oscar nomination, and I can't imagine why, unless there is some issue with eligibility.

EllieLady Loc: So. CA, USA

Thx GeoH !!! On my To Do list !!!

Quinn 4

The song the "Green Fields of France" said it all.