saila-41726
Love this series that is so true to the expedition journals and photographs. Some of the scenes are exactly as the original pictures and films by Hurley. It so often happens that the story is twisted and dramatized a bit too much, but not here. Super!
Great performances and meticulous attention to detail is very much appreciated. The clothing is also true to the originals that the crew wore, and the men are even made to look very alike their characters. Our only critique is that at times the men seem far too clean and well-shaven. Also, they surely were not going about with their coats open and without gloves, were they...? However, at other times they seem very authentic.
I could easily watch a double long version and enjoy that very much. It seems that an epic, gripping journey was cut rather short at many places and the months of struggle on ice, and weeks at sea, were not reflected enough in the short seances. However, it is understandable that that would have been tedious for most spectators. For an Endurance-journey-aficionado no length is too much.
So; Top marks! I want to watch this again and again, a great great series.
intelearts
Shackleton was truly one of the greatest explorers Britain produced. The extraordinary true story of the 1914 expedition is a tale that deserves to be told. And told it is in suitable fashion: with a strong emphasis on authenticity, not just period mannerisms and costuming, but weather and settings. This makes for very good viewing indeed.This is stirring stuff - Branagh's portrayal is a superb study in the British colonial style of leadership and worth watching on that basis alone. He is human, a gentleman, but tough as nails. The rest of the crew are excellent and one really takes this extraordinary tale of survival with them.The disastrous expedition is covered from inception and funding through to the mind- boggling hardships experienced by the crew and their extraordinary tale of survival.I defy anyone to watch this and not be motivated, moved, and inspired. Beautifully made and realised this is simply notch above normal viewing. Highly recommended.
Gordon Heck
I've read a lot of very good comments on this movie, but I have one more to add.A lot of people are complaining about the length of the movie, but I believe that it adds to the quality of the movie. Rather than just a two hour "short flick" about the year-plus long voyage, it drags out for 4 hours, and rather slowly at times. I have to believe that this mirrors the ordeal that these men went through and adds to the viewer's already deep plunge into the frozen ice world.This is by far one of the best TV movies I have ever seen. Kenneth does another fabulous job in a quality role, and to comment on someone else's observation about the film's lack of personalizing Shackleton in the second half, I also believe that to be a good choice and an accurate one. If you're leading an expedition and are dead set on keeping everyone alive, you cannot let your own emotions get involved in your decision-making, else you die with everyone else.I give this movie a 10 because I can find no obvious flaws or anything that takes away from the experience.
foolishewe
This is an true story and Epic Tale. I've been waiting for years for someone to step up and make a good movie about this. Surprisingly this movie was both extremely well done and made for TV. If this story had not been a matter of fact, it would seem unrealistic that anyone could have survived such hardships.Branagh actually looks a bit like Shackleton (at least in the limited footage I saw). I cannot speak for entire historical accuracy, but we see a man of amazing courage and compassion for his crew (an earlier attempt at the Pole was aborted to avoid killing his men). As a researcher, I also found the grant getting exercises and search for support interesting.I also enjoyed very much the portrayal of the crew, the supporting cast performed quite well. The special effects were also good. Many details from Shackleton's book were omitted (because he described things like hunger for starchy food). However, the show was in a two parts, and most of the heroic stuff happens in the second part.So, I gave this a 9 out of 10 (well told classic story) with only minor deductions for some slowness in the first part.
AD
