"They Shall Not Grow Old" - you have all made excellent points, thanks! This one holds particular interest for me. I just hope the "humanizing" aspect is done well and they don't schlock it up. When you think of those fellows whom served in trench warfare with the muck and filth and mustard gas, etc., it boggles the mind. The things they can do nowadays with restoration of old films is amazing and exciting. I'm cautiously optimistic.
THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD---Peter Jackson documentary on World War I uses colorized, 3D archival film footage from the Imperial War Museum and original audio from the BBC. Jackson said, "I wanted to reach through the fog of time and pull these men into the modern world, so they can regain their humanity once more rather than be seen only as Charlie Chaplin-type figures in the vintage archive film. By using our computing power to erase the technical limitations of 100-year cinema, we can see and hear the Great War as they experienced it."
When a modern filmmaker thinks he can "improve" history.
I don't think it's "improving" history....I think it's about introducing history in a relevant way to a new audience. The CGI audience. I actually think it's an interesting idea. I think there is some...disconnect...when watching old, grainy black and white footage. I agree with Peter's comment about regaining humanity.
I don't know whats more real or engrossing than actual archive footage. Sounds like he wants to turn it into "video game" graphics, which if anything will do the exact opposite, disconnect the audience from reality.
My grandfather suffered a mustard gas attack in the trenches. Hospitalised for 6 weeks. Affected his breathing for years afterwards.
Wow! That's amazing; the same happened to my grandfather in WWI as well. Sadly, he compounded the injuries to his lungs with smoking 3 packs of unfiltered cigarettes a day for 50 years. He never spoke to me of his experiences in WWI. That's why I hold out some hope for this film - that it will help shine a spotlight on those who served in the war.
World War II in Colour and Hitler in Colour did exactly the same thing to their subjects, and they were fine documentaries. I think it over-reactionary cynicism to view Mr. Jackson's efforts as anything but respectful. Especially given Jackson's and the British society-thingy folk's (! can't recall the name) short dissertation on intent.
WWI *has* been a paler distant thing next to the dynamism of the ultimate war, World War II.
