For Peter Jackson’s latest film, he decided to take all that technological know-how that he’s proven over his filmography and apply it to a documentary. Leaving the world of Middle Earth behind, Jackson is now tackling World War I, aka the Great War, in a new doc “They Shall Not Grow Old.” And even though he’s directing a film using footage from the early 20th century, Jackson is using that as a chance to provide a never-before-seen glimpse into the conflict.
“They Shall Not Grow Old” is a truly unique look at a subject that has been covered dozens of times in the past. As the new trailer points out, the footage we’ve all seen from the Great War has all been silent and in black and white. Jackson attempts to fix that problem by color-correcting the footage, using effects work when necessary, new sounds, and 3D to create visuals that have never been seen before. And frankly, it looks beautiful.
We were lucky enough to see the film at the London Film Festival, where our reviewer Oliver Lyttelton said, “And then when the film reaches the battlefields of Europe, it explodes into colour and full screen, and it’s a truly startling moment, giving a glimpse into the conflict that truly hasn’t been seen on screen before — even recent recreations in films like ‘War Horse’ and ‘Journey’s End’ can’t quite compete.”
“They Shall Not Grow Old” will only have two dates in the US, on December 17 and December 27, as part of Fathom Events. However, if you want to see this film, as it’s meant to be seen, you really should attend a screening.
Here’s the synopsis for the film:
The acclaimed documentary is an extraordinary look at the soldiers and events of the Great War, using film footage captured at the time, now presented as the world has never seen. By utilizing state-of-the-art restoration, colorization and 3D technologies, and pulling from 600 hours of BBC archival interviews, Jackson puts forth an intensely gripping, immersive and authentic experience through the eyes and voices of the British soldiers who lived it.