The Worst Film Ever

Beautiful, moving film.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

Of the many film documentaries of the First World War, this is by far the best. I have seen nearly all available film material about the war and shows the quality of production that can be achieved when dedicated professionals are attached to a project. I teach a college-level course on WWI and use excerpts from this series to help the students get a better feeling for the century-old conflict that shaped our modern world. All had positive comments about the film. This series includes film I have not seen previously and the use of colorization along with modern frame-timing make it much more agreeable to twenty-first-century eyes.

Stunning imagery highlights this very good documentary and as an introduction to World War I it is strongly recommended. The history of the era is presented accurately and the narration is well written. The major flaw in the presentation is the odd choice of narrator. A stronger voice would have served the subject better and been far more effective. One recalls Robert Ryan's splendid and memorable narration in the CBS series on the First World War, produced in the 1960's, as well as its magnificent musical score. That production, while not colorized, is highly recommended indeed. Here, the viewer is distracted by a emotionless, drab speaker who sounds like a school boy. He simply lacks the gravitas, the authority required. Quite disappointing and even distracting at times. However, as stated previously, for those who are not familiar with the time period and the horror of this terrible conflict, this series serves the purpose well.

Unfortunately what could have been an informative series on an important war turns out to be a biased anti-war piece of pacifist propaganda. Whatever other misquotes, misrepresentations and just plain lies are told by the author I leave to WWI historians to uncover and reveal. But one clear distortion of literature can easily be verified by anyone who chooses to look it up. In the one hour part of the series labeled "Rage" at the very end, as the credits are rolling, the famous poem In Flanders Fields by Major John McCrae is quoted. But in keeping with his melancholy rant on the war the series author chose to quote only the first two stanzas which completely distorts the meaning of the poem. Viewed that way the poem sounds like a bitter lament over the war. In fact when stanza 3 is included one sees that the poet's intent was the exact opposite. It was, and is, a spirited call to arms! I quote the poem in its entirety below so the reader can make up his own mind.IN FLANDERS FIELDSSTANZA 1.In Flanders fields the poppies blowBetween the crosses, row on row,That mark our place; and in the skyThe larks, still bravely singing, flyScarce heard amid the guns below.STANZA 2.We are the Dead. Short days agoWe lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,Loved and were loved, and now we lieIn Flanders fields.STANZA 3.Take up our quarrel with the foe:To you from failing hands we throwThe torch; be yours to hold it high.If ye break faith with us who dieWe shall not sleep, though poppies growIn Flanders fields.Worse than plagiarism is the deliberate distortion of a dead poet's work to further a cause antithetical to his heartfelt belief and intent. We owe him better than that.No matter what his personal political beliefs about war the author of the TV series should at least be honest when quoting famous literature. And AHC-TV should do a better job of editing and fact checking.

The documentary is great, has amazing pictures, the sound is very nice. The order of the footages is intrinsically linked to the history, narration is impeccable, showing both sides and their expectations, with rare footage. With scenes of real situations, you shall feel rather than occurred, he feels how a war is inhumane. possessing scenes impactful. Politics is naked and demonstrates the willingness of power between the parties, with reports of soldiers' letters and excerpts from historians. Worth every minute watching.