Summary
A bold and innovative new look at the British side of World War 1.
My Thoughts
Peter Jackson has always been one for ambition and experimenting with new and different styles of cinema, some of which don't turn out so great, such as his foray into high frame rates with his Hobbit trilogy, which left everyone with a sour taste in their mouth. Of course his ambitions usually land right on the bullseye, like turning the most beloved fantasy trilogy of all time into three near perfect films. Love him or hate him, everyone can agree that Peter Jackson is always expanding his aesthetic. This year he and the team over at Wingnut studios have given us “They Shall Not Grow Old”, a film that is something truly special, and most of all incredibly important, all while pushing technology in film in ways no one has seen before, by fully restoring and colorizing with sound old World War 1 footage, which was over 100 years old. The end result is a breathtaking, heart breaking documentary that must be seen to be believed.
“They Shall Not Grow Old” is a history lesson like you've never had, the whole movie is old footage from the British side of The Great War (dedicated to Jackson's grandfather who served), while recordings of veterans are played over top, we never see their faces outside the archived footage which works for it's benefit, after about twenty minutes the image expands from 4:3 black and white to full screen, fully restored footage as if it were filmed not even a decade ago, it’s nothing short of incredible and mesmerizing, it’s almost hard to stay focused on the stories being told, it’s awe-inspiring and innovative . The soldiers come to life with voices in the forefront and background, while the hum and drum of machinery is blasting behind beyond, rigid mortars are shot with impressive range and sound, and the trenches, as brutal and grotesque as they were are brought fully to life thanks to the impressive work of everyone who had a part in making this film.
World War 1 sadly isn't taught to the extent of other more recent wars and that's a great shame, this is something that needs to be learned, not just at schools but outside of academia, and the way Peter Jackson has brought it to life again will only have you craving more of this eras dense history. It never shys away from the violence and depravity this war represents, there are fully restored pictures of dead bodies, explosions, and trench foot, at times it may not be for the faint of heart, but the graphic moments are quick and done tastefully, all while telling the brutal tale of The Great War and the events that led to it, and the events afterwards.
There's not a whole lot more that I want to say about this film, it's one that's better seen than it is explained, and at only 99 minutes it won't take up the day. I could sit here and write in great analytical detail the structure of the documentary and how technically advanced it is, but just believe me when I say that you absolutely must see this movie. I cannot possibly do this movie justice with my words, so less is more in this case. It is not only a rewarding experience but an important one, if you get the chance do not hesitate to pick this one up.
I give They Shall Not Grow Old 5 stars out of 5.
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