Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I saw this film when it was broadcast on UK TV around Christmas 2001. It is a wonderfully acted and hugely evocative historic account of an amazing adventure story. Essentially a British period drama with some fine actors who are eminently believable in their roles. The Shakespearean actor Kenneth Branagh stars as Shackleton with Lorcan Cranitch and Mark McGann as his loyal lieutenants Frank Wild and Tom Crean.
The first part of the film may drag a little for those eager to get to the ice and the true adventure, but it sets a historical basis for what is to follow. How Shackleton is up against the odds even before his ship has sailed and the planning for an expedition that may not actually happen is a story in itself about Shackleton's self-belief and his intention not to fail those who have put their faith in him.
Once the story gets to the Antarctic, the frozen south and the pack ice, it inspires feelings of "How did they make that look so real, without actually doing it?". The atmosphere of being lost in the middle of endless pack ice is portrayed very realistically and the human emotions of those caught up in this drama are believable.
For those who do not already know the story, I would recommend reading it first in one of the many books available. For me this is one of, if not the most amazing stories of all time. It is like three incredible adventures back to back.
I won't spoil the full story for the uninitiated, but in the first adventure Shackleton's crew are stranded in the Antarctic pack ice for the winter, not a totally unexpected state of affairs in itself, but certainly not good news. This slowly turns to disaster as the ice crushes the ship leaving the crew stranded on crumbling ice, miles (hundreds of miles) from land with no way of summoning help. They manage to get to dry land eventually on Elephant Island.
Elephant Island is a respite, but no place to hang around. The second adventure then starts when Shackleton and five others have to cross 800 miles of the stormiest ocean in the world at on of the worst times of year in a 20-foot lifeboat.
This accomplished, they find themselves on the wrong side of a mountainous island having to cross peaks, ice fields and glaciers that no one had ever done before hand to reach a whaling station where from where rescue could be called. With no equipment and already exhausted, three of the men strive onwards and make it.
None of the 28 crew of the ship, the Endurance are lost against incredible odds.
A fabulous story, that is gripping for the Antarctic buff, history buff and any one who just enjoys a good tale.
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Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages. Bitter cold. Longmonths of complete darkness. Constant danger. Safe return doubtful. Honour andrecognition in case of success." -Ernest ShackletonThe 27 men who joined hisexpedition found that Ernest Shackleton was true to his word. They had drifted with thepack ice of the Weddell Sea for ten months, their ship-- the Endurance-- had sunk, andthey were castaways in one of the most hostile environments on earth, hundreds of milesfrom land. And so, with his dream of becoming the first man to cross Antarctica longabandoned, Shackleton set his mind to a far greater challenge: bringing his crew safelyhome.Based on the detailed diaries and first-person accounts of expedition members,SHACKLETON tells the true story of their extraordinary ordeal, and the death-defying,800-mile journey in an open boat across the world's worst seas that made their rescuepossible. Written and directed by Charles Sturridge (Longitude, Brideshead Revisited),SHACKLETON stars Kenneth Branagh (Henry V, Hamlet) as the legendary explorer.
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