Although the title makes it sound like an Enid Blyton book, if you've seen the Channel Four film covering the same story, don't be afraid to watch this as well. The documentary approach, helped along by some stunning landscapes, original footage and modern reconstruction makes this well worth seeing, filling in the gaps which the drama did not cover in full. It would be worth watching even if it wasn't an IMAX presentation.
7 Reviews
A Friend to the Knowing
Ice Pilot12 September 2001
For those who are well versed in Shackleton's journey, this film may not be as powerful as you are hoping. This is a great film for introducing people to the reality of Shackleton's experience, but due to a lack of time (the real story would be a triple feature epic) and the need to cover all the important events, it is not a film that you could write an accurate book report on.
I loved the film; the cinematography is astounding (as expected), the narration by Kevin Spacey is well toned, and the real core of this courageous endeavor was more than just touched upon. It is a good film and definitely worth viewing for anyone interested in Antarctica, history, great expeditions, etc.
For anyone who is looking to understand the truly detailed harships that these men endured and to know the background of the expedition and to feel the foundation that makes this story one of history's greatest - do not get your hopes up. Read the books about Shackleton and learn why Endurance was more than just a prophetic name given to his ship.
However, if you just want to get the general overview of the journey while enjoying an impressive cinematic experience, then this film will surely exceed your expectations. It is a tribute to the story as well as to the IMAX experience.
I loved the film; the cinematography is astounding (as expected), the narration by Kevin Spacey is well toned, and the real core of this courageous endeavor was more than just touched upon. It is a good film and definitely worth viewing for anyone interested in Antarctica, history, great expeditions, etc.
For anyone who is looking to understand the truly detailed harships that these men endured and to know the background of the expedition and to feel the foundation that makes this story one of history's greatest - do not get your hopes up. Read the books about Shackleton and learn why Endurance was more than just a prophetic name given to his ship.
However, if you just want to get the general overview of the journey while enjoying an impressive cinematic experience, then this film will surely exceed your expectations. It is a tribute to the story as well as to the IMAX experience.
Excellent flick
AlexMD8715 July 2002
Excellent story, excellent interpretation of the story and an excellent choice for narrator...who doesn't love Kevin Spacey?!?!?! (We can all excuse him for the horror that was American Beauty) Anyway--bottom line...see this movie it's excellent. ;)
This movie versus "The Endurance" ...
flagday5323 January 2006
Warning: Spoilers
If you liked this one then get "The Endurance". If you're an adult and have your choice between the two, get "The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition ." If you want to watch it with your 4th grader for "inspiration,", then get "Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure" (SAA).
SAA was shorter than The Endurance by about 57 minutes but those minutes left out a more nuanced account and many unanswered questions. The Endurance answered most of the questions. The only thing that The Endurance left out as opposed to SAA was the fact that before Shackleton proceeded from the last supply depot to Antarctica, he was warned by the whaling ship crews that the ice that year was more hazardous than in anyone's memory. They were heading south into an Antarctic summer, but someone forgot to tell the continent. Just like life is for everyone, the course you take is made one decision at a time.
***Imbedded Spoilers Follow*** Also, the story portrayed by SAA was one of heroism and camaraderie which is both superficial, and according to The Endurance, somewhat inaccurate, but inaccurate enough to misunderstand the story's true meaning. The Endurance reveals that there was a fledgling mutiny quashed, and there was typical backbiting and resentment along with some terribly downcast moments. It wasn't just the weather and conditions Shackleton and his crew endured, it was each other and their situation. That Shackleton could sense, MOST of the time, that these moments could lead to their destruction is evidence of his incredible leadership. He also benefited by having a crew which was accustomed to an Edwardian social hierarchy and to taking orders. The human conflict makes The Endurance more interesting than SAA's portrayal of the expedition.
I watched SAA first and I can't say I felt "engaged" in their ordeal. Again, they were portrayed too superficially to really care. Oddly, I think that dramatically, for me, SAA's failure was in part due to the musical score of all things. It felt like the "Heroic" music was blaring from beginning to end without the buildup of a crescendo. The little victories in between should have been accorded some musical respect but the composer "spent" it all well before the payoff.
Finally, The Endurance doesn't ignore that just as this expedition was fitting up, World War I was beginning. This backdrop certainly didn't affect what followed in terms of what happened to Shackleton and his crew, but it effected how this "expedition" was viewed afterwards. Actually, SPOILERS, I would have thought it would have been a great morale booster, like we English can survive anything, we can endure and prevail in this war, but instead Shackleton and his crew apparently were not viewed as heroes but almost as deserters---so many young men had already died in the trenches of France that people said, so what, you suffered and survived, that's more than my Johnny got. Shackleton and his crew needed a better spin doctor than they had.
The Endurance DVD has lot of extras which I want to watch. I would like to read the book on which The Endurance is based. I still have some answered questions.
Bottom line is that if you want to watch a DVD with your youngsters, SAA is better, but if you want to understand the story in an adult way, get The Endurance.
If this was an IMAX movie viewed in an IMAX theatre I might have enjoyed it more. Since I saw it on my TV via DVD it was just full screen. I'm a big "Ken Burns Presents" fan, and in this genre this was somewhat juvenile.
SAA was shorter than The Endurance by about 57 minutes but those minutes left out a more nuanced account and many unanswered questions. The Endurance answered most of the questions. The only thing that The Endurance left out as opposed to SAA was the fact that before Shackleton proceeded from the last supply depot to Antarctica, he was warned by the whaling ship crews that the ice that year was more hazardous than in anyone's memory. They were heading south into an Antarctic summer, but someone forgot to tell the continent. Just like life is for everyone, the course you take is made one decision at a time.
***Imbedded Spoilers Follow*** Also, the story portrayed by SAA was one of heroism and camaraderie which is both superficial, and according to The Endurance, somewhat inaccurate, but inaccurate enough to misunderstand the story's true meaning. The Endurance reveals that there was a fledgling mutiny quashed, and there was typical backbiting and resentment along with some terribly downcast moments. It wasn't just the weather and conditions Shackleton and his crew endured, it was each other and their situation. That Shackleton could sense, MOST of the time, that these moments could lead to their destruction is evidence of his incredible leadership. He also benefited by having a crew which was accustomed to an Edwardian social hierarchy and to taking orders. The human conflict makes The Endurance more interesting than SAA's portrayal of the expedition.
I watched SAA first and I can't say I felt "engaged" in their ordeal. Again, they were portrayed too superficially to really care. Oddly, I think that dramatically, for me, SAA's failure was in part due to the musical score of all things. It felt like the "Heroic" music was blaring from beginning to end without the buildup of a crescendo. The little victories in between should have been accorded some musical respect but the composer "spent" it all well before the payoff.
Finally, The Endurance doesn't ignore that just as this expedition was fitting up, World War I was beginning. This backdrop certainly didn't affect what followed in terms of what happened to Shackleton and his crew, but it effected how this "expedition" was viewed afterwards. Actually, SPOILERS, I would have thought it would have been a great morale booster, like we English can survive anything, we can endure and prevail in this war, but instead Shackleton and his crew apparently were not viewed as heroes but almost as deserters---so many young men had already died in the trenches of France that people said, so what, you suffered and survived, that's more than my Johnny got. Shackleton and his crew needed a better spin doctor than they had.
The Endurance DVD has lot of extras which I want to watch. I would like to read the book on which The Endurance is based. I still have some answered questions.
Bottom line is that if you want to watch a DVD with your youngsters, SAA is better, but if you want to understand the story in an adult way, get The Endurance.
If this was an IMAX movie viewed in an IMAX theatre I might have enjoyed it more. Since I saw it on my TV via DVD it was just full screen. I'm a big "Ken Burns Presents" fan, and in this genre this was somewhat juvenile.
Nothing much to add except that this is TWO movies in one.
wombat_128 May 2002
The two previous comments have pretty well said it all except for one thing. This IMAX movie is really two separate concepts, quite cleverly woven together. One is the Shackleton story, which taken as it is from 1930s technology-of-the-day (still photos and jerky movies, all of course in black and white) gains no advantage from the IMAX presentation. And indeed one of the previous commentators is quite correct: if what you are after is an in-depth explanation of Shackleton's trip, then this is not the place to obtain it, because this is only a very "lightweight" treatment. Although, please trust me and read on, that's not necessarily taking anything away from it.
The second concept is the interleaving throughout the Shackleton story of modern IMAX-quality views of Antarctic et al scenery. This is truly "breathtaking" it the literal sense. The wide-screen format gives this a true "you are there" feeling, like no ordinary TV or other movie documentary has given so far. Never again will I be able to look at an icecube in a martini glass the same way again :-)
The most important thing that the second concept adds to the first is that without actually going there to see for oneself, it gives the viewer a tiny glimpse - and that's all that it ever can be - of what the conditions must be like that Shackleton actually had to endure. Put it all together,and it's a most thought-provoking and stimulating movie. And THAT is where this movie gives that "little something" that a "mere" book will not be able to do.
The second concept is the interleaving throughout the Shackleton story of modern IMAX-quality views of Antarctic et al scenery. This is truly "breathtaking" it the literal sense. The wide-screen format gives this a true "you are there" feeling, like no ordinary TV or other movie documentary has given so far. Never again will I be able to look at an icecube in a martini glass the same way again :-)
The most important thing that the second concept adds to the first is that without actually going there to see for oneself, it gives the viewer a tiny glimpse - and that's all that it ever can be - of what the conditions must be like that Shackleton actually had to endure. Put it all together,and it's a most thought-provoking and stimulating movie. And THAT is where this movie gives that "little something" that a "mere" book will not be able to do.
Nothing captivating to see here
Horst_In_Translation10 February 2016
Warning: Spoilers
"Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure" is a 40-minute documentary on Lord Shackleton's exploration of the Antarctis as the title already says. this film was directed by George Butler 15 years ago and he is mostly known for Schwarzenegger's "Punping Iron" from a lot earlier in his career. One of the writers is a 2-time Emmy nominee and has been in documentary filmmaking for a long time, the other has never been before in a film before or after that film here. The narrator is 2-time Oscar winner Kevin Spacey. I like him as an actor, but as a narrator he didn't do too much for me, maybe because I just don't find the whole story about faster, deeper, further not too interesting and documentaries about extending one's boundaries in terms of the geographically exploring sense aren't my cup of tea. I do not recommend it. Thumbs down.
IMAX Version
atcguy212 September 2003
I seen the documentary of Shackleton's Adventure in an IMAX Theatre in Seattle in 2001. I'm surprised it wasn't listed on this site. It was a very good story of a man and crew, the hardships and freezing weather they went through. It was quite a feat especially back then without all the technology we have now. Very good story.
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