Sunday, February 18, 2007

The Endurance

The full title for the documentary is: "The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition"

All movie Guide Synopsis: In 1914, explorer Ernest Shackleton set out to become the first man to cross the frozen wastes of the Antarctic continent on foot; however, a combination of treacherous conditions, unexpected changes in weather, and simple bad luck left Shackleton and his crew of 28 men stranded in one of the world's most unforgiving environments for nearly two years. Miraculously, Shackleton and his men not only survived, but brought back remarkable footage of their ordeal, thanks to cameraman Frank Hurley, who traveled with Shackleton to record the adventure on film. The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition, adapted from the book by Caroline Alexander, combines Hurley's material with newly shot footage tracing the path of Shackleton's journey, presenting a remarkable true-life tale of courage and human survival against grim odds. Liam Neeson narrates. Mark Deming

If you are not familiar with Ernest Shackleton, please follow this link. Shackleton, in my opinion, was a great man because he recognized that he was in danger of becoming an anachronism. I firmly believe that Shackleton knew that within a few years there would no longer be a place for men like him in history. Technology was making leaps and bounds, the unknown was being peeled open and Europe was on the verge of war. The world was about to be forever changed and Shackleton knew it. So, Shackleton decides to make his mark on history by becoming the first person to cross the Antarctic on foot and, in a stoke of genius, decides to document the journey with pictures and movies made by Frank Hurley. The amazing thing is that, while the expedition failed, Shackleton succeeded in way that he could never have imagined.

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