I have just returned from seeing it.
Unless you are completely dead to history and to the point that of all the wars of the last five hundred years, the First World War and its aftermath did more to shape the world we are in than any other, this is a must-see.
A Short Explanation
19 minutes ago
3 comments:
This was the first I had heard of this movie and I went this evening myself based upon your blog. A very interesting experience to be sure. Did you also stay after the credits to see the making of the film by Peter Jackson? That was technically interesting about the manner in which the movie was assembled and constructed.
Dale
When I saw it they had another 45 min extra feature where Peter Jackson talked about the making of the film. I hope you saw it.
I was a little surprised about how the soldiers that narrated the movie were so matter of fact and nearly dismissive about the horrors of that war. Many stated that they were proud to have gone, viewed it as merely their job and would do it again.
I suspect that it had something to do with the fact those interviews were done in the 60's when the social pressures still influenced their public statements.
The crimes of the generals that sent thousands upon thousands of these young men out of the trenches and into certain death over and over and over again were also not addressed. These soldiers were viewed as having a duty to die. The absolute fear can be seen in the eyes of those who were filmed mere minutes before their deaths.
The impact of that war can not be overstated. It was a complete destruction of the old order that is still working itself out to this day.
I didn't mention the "making of" documentary because Peter Jackson did at the start of the movie. He has to be a serious collector to own artillery pieces from the Great War.
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