An amazing task of film restoration!
That is probably the best way to describe master filmmaker Peter Jackson’s (“Lord Of The Rings”) innovative new documentary “THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD.”
For this immersive project director/producer Jackson and his production team combed through hundreds of hours of previously unseen World War 1 film footage from the British Imperial War Museum‘s archives and then set out to painstakingly restore it.
Old footage had to be digitally cleaned of dirt and scratches and film speeds needed to be adjusted from old 12, 14 or 16 frames per second to today’s world standard of 24 frames.
And if that wasn’t enough, he decided to colorize the war footage.
But how to present it?
Instead of utilizing a narrator as would be the norm, Jackson made use of old soldier recordings telling of their war experiences in their own words—then selected war footage to match those experiences.
And some of those scenes are hard to watch, believe me.
But that’s not all……
Jackson took it one step further. He employed professional lip reading experts to decipher what the soldiers seen in the old, silent film clips were actually saying.
Then using voice actors to duplicate those words and sentences they lip-synced the actual language to the mouths of the fighting men.
Confused? Well don’t be. It works.
It’s an all-immersive and emotional film experience with gut-wrenching and gripping visuals from the trenches and battlefields of World War 1.
Jackson dedicates the film to his own paternal grandfather, Sgt. William Jackson who was British and fought in the great war.
Observation: It’s fascinating to see these soldiers often being absolutely mesmerized by the movie cameras and simply staring into the lens. After all it was circa 1914.
“THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD” first opened across the country as a one-night only so-called ‘Fathom Events.’
When ticket sales went through the roof a second one-nighter was scheduled in theaters across the country. And it too performed above expectations.
So beginning THIS weekend Warner Brothers is releasing the documentary in regular runs and making it available in both 2D and 3D versions.
Our screening was shown in 3D and was most impressive considering its use of film footage dating back to the early 1900’s.
The movie is probably not for everyone. But if you had a great grandfather or other relatives associated with WW1—or just want to experience the real Great War through fascinating new optics—-THIS documentary is for you!
Peter Jackson’s “THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD” opens this weekend in limited release.
My grade: A
Jack my son is 12 and loves history. Do you think he is too young for the content of this film? Thanks!
Hey DPW,
I don’t know how mature your son is but a little discussion prior to him seeing the film may make it a memorable lesson for him.
My grandfather was machine gunned in the guts and mustard gassed at Belleau Woods. This looks great, but, it also looks so, so depressing.
I don’t know…
Well it sure is an eye-opener….
Jack – A first rate review of a powerful,masterly crafted film. As wonderfully moving as the movie is, in some ways the most fascinating part of the whole experience is the thirty minute epilogue where director Peter Jackson explains how and why he made the film. I can’t urge everyone enough to see it. While the footage is graphic perhaps for a twelve year old,I think on balance it’s better the youngster get a taste of the real horror of war than grow up with a sanitized view of violence that you get on video games like Fortnight.
Of all the movies that show multiple shots of people pooping off the end of a board this one’s the best….WAY better than A Star is Born.
At least they made this from old footage. If they filmed it today 1/2 of the British, French and German troops would have to be played by Black and Asian actors for the sake of diversity!
Now, Harry…
It’s worth seeing, Chuck, I assure you.
It’s not trying to shock. It captures the tedium of war. And how many 16 year old kids signed up and just did what they were told. Lots of mud, men issued one uniform and two pair of socks that they wore for years.
I came out kind of stunned rather than upset. War is so stupid.
And if you see it on Superbowl Sunday, you’ll be reminded i
It was a real fight, not rigged by the NFL…
I paid $11.50 plus tax, $12.17 to see it two weeks ago at Cinemark Merriam. Mostly the AARP crowd, but a few teens, which didn’t make sense to me. Glad they’re rereleasing, and hopefully a better price.
Hmmmmm, welcome home
Thanks for the heads up Tracy. I am so sickened by these interminable wars, now in the sand, then in the mud, all, for what? A fantasy and a trick of fame.