I saw this documentary last night in The Cameo Cinema in Edinburgh. The premiere was in London, however there was simultaneous showing of the film and the Q and A session with Peter Jackson and Mark Kermode, Film Critic in a large number of cinemas in the U.K.
I have previously not been a fan of colourisation of black and white film but the level of technical skill shown is of a much higher calibre than anything I've seen before. To see the soldiers move in a realistic manner and not in the over fast Charlie Chaplin style seen due to the technical limitations of past times is fantastic.
As Jackson states the film concentrates on the Western Front. One can see how young many of the soldiers were,(under age, they were supposed to be 19 years old). The filthy conditions in which the lived, and died, in the frontline.
From a personal perspective I felt an extra element when there were scenes showing British howitzers being fired. My paternal grandfather, after whom I am named, was in 211 Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. To see, and hear guns fire, from what to an eye more used to modern positioning/protection, very exposed/basic positions was strange indeed. (The noise of battle was superimposed with the help of the New Zealand Army.) My grandfather was wounded/gassed in September 1918 and died of his wounds plus the so called Spanish flu on the 8th of Nov. 1918.
Definitely recommend you see this film and do stay for the Q and A session, if shown.
In addition to the documentary, Peter Jackson's team have adjusted approximately 100 hours of old black and white WW1 film held by The Imperial War Museum in London so that it can be seen at the "correct speed". This should allow future programme makers to use the materials in future documentaries about WW1.
Blackbob aka Douglas
