Shackleton

We are going to spend Thanksgiving with my mother, and I always bring along a DVD movie or two, which none of us have previously seen. She knows my past, so war movies are right out. Period dramas, though, are her cup of tea.I had an extensive movie collection in 2013, almost all on VHS tapes. When the VCR karked it that year, I started replacing VHS tapes with DVDs. Almost all of those have been ordered from Amazon. I don't even bother with the bargain DVD bin at Wal Mart anymore. I wish I could find "Ironclads", about the Civil War battle between USS Monitor and CSS Virginia on DVD.How do I love DVD movies? Oh let me count the ways! They don't wear out. They are less bulky than VHS tapes. Picture and sound quality are far better. With Amazon as a vendor, I don't have to dig through bargain bins or drive all over town.This one was perfect, although the trip across the mountains on South Georgia cut a bit short. The dogs really were shot and eaten, and the big wave was real, rather than just Hollywood. Shakleton reported that. I read the book in federal prison, locked up for three years, and kept it. It probably saved my sanity, and I still have it.My mother liked this movie. It could have been longer, full of more misery and despair, but that wan't the point. I'll bet there were no penguins, shorebirds or anything else left on that shore of Elephant Island by the time those men were rescued in 1916. People can eat nearly anything. A leopard seal is a rough customer, but nothing wants to try three men.

It's hard to imagine a better depiction of Ernest Shackleton's remarkable adventures. It is simply unforgettable.If only some streaming service would make it available, I would watch it repeatedly and recommend it to all my friends!!

There are books and films that you don't want to end simply because they draw you in to such a degree as to completely engross you. This is one such film. A splendid reenactment of perhaps the greatest feat of survival in the history of exploration if not in the history of mankind! To accomplish such a feat with the primative clothing and equipment of the era makes it even more spectacular. Shackelton's journey from Elephant Island to South Georgia and then the crossing of South Georgis has been accomplished by modern adventureres but they had for the most part modern equipment exceopt for the clothing and food as well as a support ship and they were hard-pressed to get through unscathed. Kenneth Branagh once more proves why he is one of his gereration's most accomplished actors. One thinks they are actually watching Sir Ernest in the James Caird and crossing South Georgia. This film is a must-see for anyone who is interested in the glory era of Polar Exploration. These men were made of stout stuff. Unlike the incompetant Robert Falco Scott, whose arrogance, stupidity and ignorance condemned his expidition and a great many of his fellow explorers to a horrible death on the ice of Antarctica, Sir ernest Shackleton, one he realized that the original goal of the expidition was no longer possible, accomplished through strength of character and selflessness, saved the lives of every single member of his party.

Although the first half of this dramatization is rather dry, in every sense, the second half is riveting. It gives the viewer a good idea of what Shackleton, Hurley, and the crew endured.

I was worried this would be another "docudrama" with the same old B&W stills being repeated over and over with the voice of a boring narrator. NOT SO!!! This is a GREAT movie that is spot-on in even its minute details (if you've read about Shackleton, you'll know and appreciate what I mean!) This makes Shackleton REAL and fully dimensional, including his (few) character flaws. The acting, sets, and special effects are tremendous. My only disappointment was, as another reviewer mentioned, that it ends kind of quickly and too neatly. The three men's trek across South Georgia is a bit too abbreviated, and their entrance into the whaling station is not nearly as dramatic as it should be. That said, I have already watched this movie twice and intend to watch it many more times to enjoy its superb detail and commitment to portraying a truly factual account of this historic adventure.

I feel A&E brought to film much of the drama, adventure and stark beauty of Ernest Shackleton's ill-fated journey to the South Pole. Kenneth Branaugh gave a completely flawless and inspired portrayal of Shackleton's inner turmoil, his leadership, and love for his crew, who he never left behind.

Kenneth Branagh stars in a wonderful role as the main character and needs the support of his men, as well as the entire British Colonies, to pull off starring as Ernest Shackleton, a hard, tough man that stands the test of time as a great biographical movie. Buy it, you'll like it!

shackleton's voyage should be read and watched by everyone. such an inspiring true story. Since I've read the book, I can clearly say that the movie is not as good as the book, ofcourse. But I wanted my husband to get the idea of Shacketon without reading the book. I was filling the blank for him throughout the movie.nice and long movie. the first part may be little boring to some people but still it is a character build-up part. the real excitement is in the second part. good acting and actors throughout the movie. main actor is superb. I am glad I've bought the movie. It should stay in my library.I really wish movie makers and directors work on another Shackleton project with today's technology, sound and visual effects, new cast members,etc. There are many stories within this voyage adventure and it can be as good as 1997 Titanic movie.

Great Stuff ! I think the photography and the acting superb-Kenneth Branagh at his best.

I never knew anything about Earnest Shackleton and bought the double DVD on spec. It carries two excellent documentaries - one about the man, one about the making of the film. As a piece of television it is superb. As a documentary it is as others have noted, slightly unbalanced. The first part dispelled my ignorant assumption that the explorers were all rich blokes looking for thrills. As he overcomes the problems of funding, Shackleton's drive to push the boundaries of human exploration is made clear. It also demonstrates that celebrity culture was a factor even in Edwardian polar exploration. Unfortunately this section is too long in relation to the rest of the film. We don't really need so much time spent on Shackleton's dodgy brother or the extra marital affair, especially as the accompanying documentry implies that Shackleton strayed only in his later years. The Antarctic appears to have been his mistress at the time of this expedition.The glimpse of Buenos Aires high society of the time is fascinating as it shows just how much influence Britain had in Argentina at the time, which of course had repercussions throughout the century. Once underway, the expedition is brilliantly recreated. A brilliant touch at the end of part one is that the credits roll over the underwater view of the icebound ship. As the image fades to black the sounds of shifting ice are replaced by the sound of splintering timbers.However, this would have been more effective if it had coincided in the drama with the point where the ship does actually begin to break up, and would have allowed more time in part two to show the most important part of the story. There isn't much sense of a great deal of time passing, and it's easy to not realise that the men were away for two years. The time honoured technique of on screen dates would have helped. A couple of the scenes of life back home are irrelevant, but the financial plight of the families of the men is neatly illustrated as is the distinterested and ineffective attitude of the authorities as they organise committees rather than help either the families or the stranded men. Overall the story is gripping, well told and stunningly filmed.Essential viewing is the first documentary as it shows what an amazing job the production team did with the casting and with the reconstruction of the Endurance and the expedition. Although it does show that Lady Shackleton is poorly represented in the drama as a stock wife-frustrated-with-her-husband's-career character. It also shows how rushed the latter part of the drama is, and highlights that no mention is made of the fate of the other half of the expedition who appear to have suffered greatly from not being under Shackleton's direct command. The second documentray then shows how lucky the production team were to make the film at all, and probably explains the rushed nature of the latter third of the story. Overall this is an excellent set, and I am confident in giving it five stars as the drama's deficiencies are redressed in the documentaries. And after viewing the whole set, the abiding impression is of a remarkable man who was the archetype of a great leader, unforgiveably neglected by modern history.

RECEIVED WITH MANY THANKS. GREAT QUALITY,WELL WORTH THE PRICE.

great film

I am naturally drawn to the dramatisation of historical leaders. Enjoyed it thoroughly. I recommend everyone to follow it up with Scott's story - 'The Last Place on Earth'.