User reviews

Branagh is very believable as Shackleton. He has the grace, the poise, the leadership and the sheer presence to carry off such a role. He is one of not many actors who would be believable in the role.

This tale of one of the great heroic rescues of all time has it all, and is excellently shot -- although a cynic might say that it would be hard to find a cinematographer who could not do wonders with the Antarctic landscapes!

Definitely worth seeing, and one of the better historical tales to have been told in recent times.

The true story of Shackleton's 1914 Endurance expedition to the South Pole, and his heroic fight to lead his twenty-eight man crew to safety after his ship was crushed in the pack ice . On the brink of death , key expedition members carry out extreme courage as their only weapon.

Nice and breathtaking miniseries formed by two long episodes , shot in enough budget . It contains great production design, spectacular scenes and notorious as well as charming British actors. However , the film relies heavily on the complex relationships between Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton/Kenneth Branagh , his wife/Phoebe Nicholls and lover/ Embeth Davidtz . The movie gives engaging messages about fraternity, comradeship, compassion, forgiveness, love, courage and struggle for life . Including a lot of flashbacks and helping of the footage and still photos shot on the expedition. Shackelton is pretty well portrayed as the magnificent leader that he was, but is not presented as an infallible genius. He was a man who demonstrated extraordinary qualities in difficult circumstances, and he was a man who understood the burden of his leadership and the importance for getting his men home safely . Kenneth Branagh as Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton gives a very good acting . He is well accompanied by a fine plethora of Englsih players such as Corin Redgrave , Nicholas Rowe , Shaun Dooley , Kevin McNally , John Grillo , Mark Williams , Joseph Long , Mark Tandy , Robert Hardy , among others .This mini-series was written and directed by Charles Sturridge . He directed FairyTale: A True Story (1997) , A handful of dust , The scapegoat , Brideshead revisited (1981) ,Runners . And has directed various episodes , miniseries and Telefilms as Gulliver's Travels , Longitude ,The spoils of war , World in Action ,The Road to Coronation Street , Churchill's Secret , Cormoran strike , Crown Court , The Storyteller , Marcella , Sandition , Da Vinci's Demons , and several others

The miniseries finely based on historical facts , adding more remarks , these are the following ones : Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton (15 February 1874 - 5 January 1922) was a British polar explorer who led three British expeditions to the Antarctic. He was one of the principal figures of the period known as the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. Born in Kilkea, County Kildare, Ireland, Shackleton and his Anglo-Irish family moved to Sydenham in suburban south London when he was ten. His first experience of the polar regions was as third officer on Captain Robert Falcon Scott's Discovery expedition of 1901-1904, from which he was sent home early on health grounds, after he and his companions Scott and Edward Adrian Wilson set a new southern record by marching to latitude 82°S. During the Nimrod expedition of 1907-1909, he and three companions established a new record Farthest South latitude at 88°S, only 97 geographical miles from the South Pole, the largest advance to the pole in exploration history. Also, members of his team climbed Mount Erebus, the most active Antarctic volcano. For these achievements, Shackleton was knighted by King Edward VII on his return home. After the race to the South Pole ended in December 1911, with Roald Amundsen's conquest, Shackleton turned his attention to the crossing of Antarctica from sea to sea, via the pole. To this end, he made preparations for what became the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, 1914-1917. Disaster struck this expedition when its ship, Endurance, became trapped in pack ice and was slowly crushed before the shore parties could be landed. The crew escaped by camping on the sea ice until it disintegrated, then by launching the lifeboats to reach Elephant Island and ultimately South Georgia Island, a stormy ocean voyage of 720 nautical miles and Shackleton's most famous exploit. In 1921, he returned to the Antarctic with the Shackleton-Rowett Expedition, but died of a heart attack while his ship was moored in South Georgia. At his wife's request, he was buried there. Away from his expeditions, Shackleton's life was generally restless and unfulfilled. In his search for rapid pathways to wealth and security, he launched business ventures which failed to prosper, and he died heavily in debt. Upon his death, he was lauded in the press but was thereafter largely forgotten, while the heroic reputation of his rival Scott was sustained for many decades. Later in the 20th century, Shackleton was "rediscovered¨, and rapidly became a role model for leadership as one who, in extreme circumstances, kept his team together in a survival story described by cultural historian Stephanie Barczewski as "incredible".

Screened in two parts, each of two hours this made-for-television film is a must see for anyone wanting to know more about the voyage of the Endurance in 1914 and Sir Ernest Shackleton's attempt to be the first to journey directly across the Antarctic continent.

This drama was very polished in all respects, right down to the authenticity of the camera angle that the expedition's photographer Frank Hurley used when we was on the trip. Branagh is probably the best choice to play Shackleton and he supported by an able cast, who it has to be said, do not get to share very much of his limelight. But then this is a very remarkable story about a very remarkable leader of men and the sheer power of the courage displayed, together with the stunning visuals makes up for the lengthy first half, based mostly in Britain.

This is a powerful drama with a fine supporting cast. Overlong in places but for their patience, the viewer is rewarded with detailed authenticity and first class entertainment.

NOTE: Contains brief plot summary!

If this was a fictional story you watched in the cinema, you would leave thinking how unrealistic it was. You would know, after all, that keeping twenty-eight men alive in the wastelands of Antarctica, stranded and starving, is an impossible task, particularly set at the beginning of the twentieth century with the limited technology available. However, this is fact. This story did happen. And this is one of the most accurate films depicting the story of the "Endurance" expedition that you could hope for.

The story of Shackleton has passed on into legend. His attempt to cross the Antarctic continent on foot ended in disaster; his ship, the Endurance, crushed by the ice fields, leaving its crew on the ice sheet. Determined to survive, and displaying all the valour and courage he had demonstrated in his previous expedition (the "Nimrod", in which he turned back less than 100 miles from the pole in order to save the lives of his men), he began an incredible journey to the uninhabited Elephant Island, before having to contemplate a trip to South Georgia: a trip of 800 miles in a lifeboat...

This wonderful two-part adventure is accurate to almost every detail. A lot of research went into this film, consulting books, articles, experts, and even the diaries of the men themselves. And it doesn't make the mistake of solely confining itself to the story of Shackleton's heroism; indeed, the first two hours concentrates largely on the effort Sir Ernest put into forming the expedition, and the many obstacles that stood in his path - financially and emotionally.

Directed by award-winning Charles Sturridge, the casting is superb, particularly in the case of the protagonist, who - it must be said - looks a little like Shackleton himself. Well done, Celestia Fox! From Kenneth Branagh, a resourceful and irresistible Ernest Shackleton, down to to ex-Coronation Street's Ian Mercer as the simple Holdness, every character is brought into the 21st century with as much life as they had on the frozen shores of Elephant Island, thanks partly to a bombastic score of Adrian Johnston's invention.

There are only a couple of criticisms that one could make; for example, there continue to be references back to England, but there is no reunion at the end of the film between Shackleton and Emily, which could have been a way of saying "I'm back". I feel, however, that this continues to give "Shackleton" more character, as Sir Ernest only felt comfortable when exploring; never when at home with his family.

Another slight flaw is that there is next to no mention of the fate of the Aurora expedition, the crew assigned the task of aiding Shackleton to the other side of the continent (had the expedition gone to plan, of course!) However, this does not really relate to Shackleton himself, and indeed Sir Ernest seemed to forget about them until his men were brought over from Elephant Island.

Really, there is nothing major wrong with this film. It fully deserves 10 out of 10, and despite the DVD having no extras whatsoever, it is still worth the £15 for the pure entertainment you are given for the most enjoyable four hours of the small screen.

I've read a lot of very good comments on this movie, but I have one more to add.

A lot of people are complaining about the length of the movie, but I believe that it adds to the quality of the movie. Rather than just a two hour "short flick" about the year-plus long voyage, it drags out for 4 hours, and rather slowly at times. I have to believe that this mirrors the ordeal that these men went through and adds to the viewer's already deep plunge into the frozen ice world.

This is by far one of the best TV movies I have ever seen. Kenneth does another fabulous job in a quality role, and to comment on someone else's observation about the film's lack of personalizing Shackleton in the second half, I also believe that to be a good choice and an accurate one. If you're leading an expedition and are dead set on keeping everyone alive, you cannot let your own emotions get involved in your decision-making, else you die with everyone else.

I give this movie a 10 because I can find no obvious flaws or anything that takes away from the experience.

I've not visited Antarctica, but I'm told by those who have that its austere beauty grows on you; far from being a frozen hell, it is a land where one can get closer to oneself and the meaning of things. This film uses Greenland for location shooting and is a dramatised version of Shackleton's 1914-16 expedition which started out as an attempt to cross the continent from the Weddel Sea to the Ross Sea, but, after the expedition vessel `Endurance' was first trapped and then crushed in the Weddel Sea ice pack, Shackleton and his party of 28 men, their dogs and one cat, were caught in a grim struggle for survival.

The first 100 minutes is concerned with the origins of the expedition, and Shackleton's efforts to raise support and prepare for it. The son of an Irish country doctor, he served in the Merchant Navy, but by 1914 he was a very experienced polar explorer, having been on two major earlier expeditions; he was in fact the Englishman who had been closest to the South Pole and survived. Although the first half drags at times, Kenneth Branagh's full-on performance as Shackleton gives us a clear picture of the sort of man he is, ambitious, hard-driving, single-minded, yet one who genuinely cares for the men under his command. He is even aware of the effect his exploration obsession is having on his family life (not to mention his relationship with his mistress), but he plows on regardless.

In the second half we are stuck on the polar pack ice, and the story turns into a conventional ripping yarn, but it is told with economy and a certain amount of humour. It is clear that, apart from luck, Shackleton and his men (the animals, alas, did not make it) owed their survival to Shackleton's good judgment and the fact that he was able to get all of them to rise to the occasion. He might have been slightly mad to get into such a fix to begin with, but he had no wish to suffer the fate of his colleague Captain Scott.

Branagh dominates the film of course, but his crew, mostly made up of little-known actors, come through as characters in their own right. Several stand out; Ken Drury as McNiesh, the feisty ship's carpenter, Kevin McNally as Worsley the lugubrious skipper, Celyn Jones as the Welsh stowaway Blackborow, and Nicholas Rowe as Colonel, the expedition odd-man-out. It is melancholy to recall, that several of the crew survived the Antarctic only to die in the trenches in France. Matt Day as the Australian photographer Frank Hurley, who produced some unforgettable images of the trip, also puts in a strong performance. The characters at home seem bloodless by comparison, with the exception of Phoebe Nicholl's determined Lady Shackleton. One wonders how Lord Curzon, that very superior person, who presided over the very tight-fisted Royal Geographical Society (nicely played by Corin Redgrave) would have got by on the expedition.

In 1922 Shackleton went back once more to the Antarctic but died of a heart attack at the whaling station on South Georgia before he was able to set off for the ice. He was only 48. Clearly, the attraction was more than fame and fortune – he was in love with the place. Since then the whalers have gone and Antarctic is now the preserve of scientists and a small but growing number of tourists. Latter-day Shackletons have no great geographical questions to solve but still persist on doing things like trying to ski across the continent. I think I'll settle for the tourist ship myself, but it's vaguely comforting to know there are still such people around.

I have only just finished watching this compelling two parter. I have previously been a fan of the Scott of the Antarctic story and the John Mills film of the same; I was apprehensive of the outcome of this made for TV version.

However, the result was superb. The acting , cast and script matched the quatilty of the original tale. An epic true human story of Endurance, deserved to be well presented and it was. You can only be left in awe of the men who took part in the original incident. Treat yourself to this if you have not already seen it, but wear some warm clothing, you feel the chill of the realism - I loved it. 10/10

I have read Shackleton's account of his 1914 expedition to Antarctica (and also the published diaries of Robert Falcon Scott's doomed mission in 1912) and so have both a great interest and admiration for these brave explorers, looking to chart the last unknown territories on this planet, unknown because they are so remote and dangerous. I was therefore most interested to finally watch this two-part dramatisation of the remarkable events of Shackleton's failed attempt to cross Antarctica the hard way, as his ship, the Endurance, becomes ice-bound and eventually ice-crushed, leaving him and his crew to attempt a tortuous journey back to civilisation and safety or share the fate of Scott and his team two years before.

For me, though, the first of the two parts, which concentrated on introducing the viewer to the crew, shading in the background to Shackleton's private life as well as his determination to get funding (and sees him making the rounds of visiting in person wealthy potential donors) was far too slow and delayed the action. Did I need to know that there was another woman in his life as is implied here? Did she really make a telephone call to Shackleton's long-suffering wife to ask her if she knew he was still alive after being missing for so long? What did it matter if Shackleton had a dodgy brother, imprisoned for fraud? It just seemed to me that director Charles Sturridge wanted to indulge himself in some period melodrama at the expense of the meat of the story which was of course the incredible journey the explorer and his crew made, his promise to get them all back alive after they lost their ship and especially his incredibly brave decision to strike out with only four companions in a tiny boat to attempt to get to the whaling station at South Georgia to procure a rescue ship for his men. Thus, exciting as they are, these latter events seemed almost rushed, days and days of endeavour reduced to mere minutes. I really do think the first half could have lost an hour to the second half. I also don't remember reading of any dissent in the ranks of his crew as is portrayed here and again suspected another abuse of dramatic licence as Shackleton locks horns with a hard-nosed Scot, the ship's carpenter (a lippy chippie if you like).

It has to be said though that the actors perform admirably, especially in the arduous scenes on the ship and especially on the ice. Kenneth Branagh is excellent in the title part but there are many good performances around him. There's a suitably sweeping orchestral soundtrack reminiscent of Vaughn-Williams' celebrated score for "Scott Of The Antarctic" many years before.

In the end though my impatience for the director to get me to the heart of the story belied my enjoyment of a nevertheless still worthy and compelling account of a truly fantastic journey.

Take Ridley Scott's "White Squall," Peter Weir's "Master and Commander," throw in a splash of "Titanic," and put Kenneth Branagh front and center in what is clearly the performance of an already illustrious career, and you have "Shackleton," one of the best and most invigorating true-life adventure stories ever made. It'll knock your socks off and then some. The performances are stellar all around, the cinematography gripping and evocative, the screenplay crackling with gutsy emotion, wry humor, and a fierce yet exquisite honesty that is rarely found in genre films. Do yourself a favor and see this amazing film.

Sir Ernest Shackleton (Kenneth Branagh) is a celebrated explorer. He's planning for an expedition to journey across Antarctica. He recruits a crew, new equipment, and gathers funds for the trip. He has an affair with Rosalind Chetwynd. In 1914, war breaks out but he is still given the go-ahead for his expedition. His ship Endurance becomes trapped in the ice and crushed. He leads his crew to Elephant Island and eventually makes a desperate dash to the whaling stations on South Georgia Island.

One would expect an intense man-against-nature thriller. This is a two part mini-series and the man-against-nature comes in the second part. The first part deals with his London life and his struggles to set up the expedition. It's very informative and more compelling than expected. The nature epic is compelling but something is missing. I couldn't figure it out until I realized their breathe aren't showing. It's obviously not cold enough during the shoot. It may be historically accurate with the summer temperatures but it doesn't elevate the danger level. In general, this is informative but it lacks the intensity.

Shackleton was truly one of the greatest explorers Britain produced. The extraordinary true story of the 1914 expedition is a tale that deserves to be told. And told it is in suitable fashion: with a strong emphasis on authenticity, not just period mannerisms and costuming, but weather and settings. This makes for very good viewing indeed.

This is stirring stuff - Branagh's portrayal is a superb study in the British colonial style of leadership and worth watching on that basis alone. He is human, a gentleman, but tough as nails. The rest of the crew are excellent and one really takes this extraordinary tale of survival with them.

The disastrous expedition is covered from inception and funding through to the mind- boggling hardships experienced by the crew and their extraordinary tale of survival.

I defy anyone to watch this and not be motivated, moved, and inspired. Beautifully made and realised this is simply notch above normal viewing. Highly recommended.

If you do not know the story of Shackleton this is an excellent introduction. If you know the story of Shackleton you will be impressed by the historical accuracy of this movie. My only problem is that the real life events were 20 times as dramatic as protrayed in this movie. Too many parts were rushed - as a mini-series on tv, they should have added an additional two hours to properly cover this adventure.

Let me list a few items: 1) When did the third boat show up at Elephant Island? Didn't they just skip over this part? 2) The deprivation of the men on the journey to South Georgia (starvation, water gone bad, etc.) and just how they were able to finally land 3) the trip over the island seemed glossed over - in the movie it appearead as a short walk. And many other items that are missing or just too brief.

But having said that, I did love this movie. It showed Shackleton as the man he was - a get rich schemer who only shined when things got tough.

So watch this movie, and may it inspire you to read the true story of the Endurance in South.

This is a worthy drama, relating in reasonably accurate terms, the story of Sir Ernest Shackleton's expedition to the Antarctic in 1914/16. Ironically, though this expedition failed, it probably gained more fame for its leader than if it had succeeded. Amundsen had already reached the South Pole in 1912; and Scott had tragically perished with his colleagues in the same year; so Shackleton's aim was not just to reach the Pole, but to cross the continent. But his ship, the Endurance, got stuck in the pack-ice and eventually went down. Shackleton's fame rests on his untiring efforts to lead his team of about 30 men to safety, which after two years he finally did - not a man was lost.

Kenneth Branagh, who physically resembles Shackleton, plays the man in full British hero mode, though at the same time he displays his human side, and the obsessive streak which drove him first to organise the expedition in the face of much opposition; and then to make a priority of saving himself and his men, when the Antarctic crossing became impossible. It was as though Shackleton could feel the ghost of Scott urging him on.

Much of the first of the film's two parts is taken up with Shackleton's private life; not only do we meet his wife Emily (Phoebe Nicholls) and children, but his mistress Rosalind Chetwynd (Embeth Davidtz), and his brother Frank (Mark Tandy) who embarrassingly was serving a gaol term for an unconnected fraud while Shackleton was trying to raise money for his venture. But most of all in the first episode, we learn how difficult it was for Shackleton to convince private sponsors and organisations like the Royal Geographical Society to support him.

The expedition itself is covered in the second part, when we see how after the Endurance became stuck, the team had to camp on the ice for months before rowing 800 miles in small boats, to Elephant Island. From there, Shackleton with a few others sailed, again in a small boat, to South Georgia. Even then, he had to scale and descend a difficult mountain to reach help. We then cut to the rescue of the men on Elephant Island, and we are informed only via voice-over that this eventual rescue was achieved only at the fourth attempt. It would have been more satisfying to see some of this final portion of the tale related in visuals, with some of the preliminary scenes in the first episode being cut - but production and budgetary considerations probably played a part in this.

All the acting is of a high order; but particular mention should be made of Matt Day in the key role of Frank Hurly, the Australian photographer (who shot both stills and moving film); and Ken Drury as McNish, the carpenter, the one man to argue with Shackleton about his plans and actions. Much of the action was shot in the snow and ice of Greenland and Iceland, but in the event not as much as was originally planned, and on occasion the transition from location to studio shots is apparent.(See the TV documentary - Shackleton: Breaking the Ice - about the making of the film.) Nevertheless, the film as a whole is convincing, exciting and at times moving.

Love this series that is so true to the expedition journals and photographs. Some of the scenes are exactly as the original pictures and films by Hurley. It so often happens that the story is twisted and dramatized a bit too much, but not here. Super! Great performances and meticulous attention to detail is very much appreciated. The clothing is also true to the originals that the crew wore, and the men are even made to look very alike their characters. Our only critique is that at times the men seem far too clean and well-shaven. Also, they surely were not going about with their coats open and without gloves, were they...? However, at other times they seem very authentic. I could easily watch a double long version and enjoy that very much. It seems that an epic, gripping journey was cut rather short at many places and the months of struggle on ice, and weeks at sea, were not reflected enough in the short seances. However, it is understandable that that would have been tedious for most spectators. For an Endurance-journey-aficionado no length is too much. So; Top marks! I want to watch this again and again, a great great series.

This is an true story and Epic Tale. I've been waiting for years for someone to step up and make a good movie about this. Surprisingly this movie was both extremely well done and made for TV. If this story had not been a matter of fact, it would seem unrealistic that anyone could have survived such hardships.

Branagh actually looks a bit like Shackleton (at least in the limited footage I saw). I cannot speak for entire historical accuracy, but we see a man of amazing courage and compassion for his crew (an earlier attempt at the Pole was aborted to avoid killing his men). As a researcher, I also found the grant getting exercises and search for support interesting.

I also enjoyed very much the portrayal of the crew, the supporting cast performed quite well. The special effects were also good. Many details from Shackleton's book were omitted (because he described things like hunger for starchy food). However, the show was in a two parts, and most of the heroic stuff happens in the second part.

So, I gave this a 9 out of 10 (well told classic story) with only minor deductions for some slowness in the first part.

A painstakingly accurate but nevertheless dramatically excellent reconstruction of the 1914-16 Trans-Antarctica Expedition led by Ernest Shackleton. The photography is stunning and the performances first-rate - especially Ken Branagh in the title role. Yes - those funny Brits 100 years ago talked and behaved like that. And they survived one of the most gruelling experiences Antarctica has to offer. If you want to know what it must have been like, this is the one for you. And if you want a nail-biting account of an adventure against all odds, this is also the place to come. Throw in some humour, a few of Charles Sturridge's anti-establishment digs and you have an experience worth the 4 hours it takes to watch

I must say that I really enjoyed the mini-series Shackleton, which is a survival drama based on the doomed expedition of Antarctica led by Ernest Shackleton. As a television mini-series from 2002, the budget is limited and that gives a limited range. However, what you do see and hear, you feel the scope of the barren frozen land. There is nothing truly new here that hasn't been done before, but director Charles Sturridge made this series about as good as it possibly can be. Leading the charge is Kenneth Branagh who delivers a performance of nuance and grace. He is a leader who is humane yet does everything necessary for survival. Not many people could follow in Branagh's shoes. The supporting cast led by actors such as Kevin McNally and Embeth Davidtz do a good job in their respective roles. One thing that is truly extraordinary is the breathtaking cinematography shot from Henry Braham. Granted, I am sure anyone can make good use of the wild Antarctic landscape. Be that as it may, the images are beautiful and well-photographed.

This is a story of courage and survival as Ernest Shackleton (Kenneth Branagh) leads an expedition of 28 men to the South Pole. During the expedition, his ship is stuck in pack ice unable to go anywhere. Now he must overcome big odds to lead his men and himself to survival. The mini-series is told in two episodes. The first episode is mainly focused on land while episode number two focuses on the actual mission and its aftermath.

Overall, Shackleton is a very good mini-series. Nothing that hasn't been done before, but you won't be disappointed. Branagh carries his team...and the series into something worth seeing. That said, I would not be surprised if you can barely remember the series months after you seen this. It is fun, but mainly forgettable. It is good to see Branagh in action trying to do what it takes to survive. A human story about survival is a good way to sum this series up.

My Grade: B.

There doesn't seem to have been any efforts spent in making this movie in the least bit realistic. Where are the breath clouds coming from their mouths in that atmosphere we are supposed to believe is the coldest on earth? They prance around in the cold just as chipper as squirrels wearing clothing that would be inadequate during a NY city winter. Also, their faces show no ruddy redness from being on the verge of frostbite supposedly constantly. The movie drags on with grim determination, like it's namesake. Having read Pierre Breton's book on the Arctic explorations to find a northwest passage, I was hoping for a movie that would take a more balanced look back at such monumental follies such as the Shackleton expedition, which could be so much more compelling when cast in a less pedestrian, predictable light.

This was a great film, showing all of Shackleton's bravery and courage even in the face of death itself. Kenneth Branagh was acting brilliantly (as usual), and the scene in the snowstorm (ok- one of the MANY scenes in the snowstorm!) left me with tears in my eyes. A great film about a great man! :-)

I know when I first watched this I was blown away with it. An accurate depiction of true events which, if fiction, would be regarded as implausible.

On second viewing I thought about the actual madness of the journey itself.

Along with the onset of war it seems that all you had to be was British, have a stiff upper lip and all would be well.

On this expedition Shackleton achieved nothing that he set out to do. He fell at the first hurdle and it is extremely doubtful that he would have survived a polar crossing. Like Scott, they hadn't thought it through.

What he did achieve was remarkable but was obviously so fixated on himself and whatever it was that drove him on that he went back to Antarctica some years later and paid the ultimate price.

I saw "Shackleton" on A&E around 2002-03 and taped it because I thought it was so good, watched it again on Thanksgiving 2005, then it disappeared somewhere. I tried finding the DVD online, never could find one until FINALLY, about 2 weeks ago, I saw that Amazon had it for like $10. I immediately ordered the DVD and am waiting for a rainy, lazy weekend to watch it. It may be a while before I can view this fantastic adventure story again but at least I have the DVD in my possession--finally.

I love Kenneth Branaugh, the man can't give a bad performance, and his portrayal of explorer Ernest Shackleton is among his best. The movie goes into great detail about how Shackleton managed to talk the British government into funding an expedition to Antarctica. He had already been down there before, but now he wanted to cross the continent pole to pole. He managed to get the money despite the fact that Britain needed it for the Great War, which had just started that year (1914).

So Shackleton, on a ship named Endurance and a crew of men and dogs, set out for the South Pole. What starts out as a grand adventure turns into a struggle for survival in the middle of the frozen nowhere w/hardly any communication to the outside world. You just shake your head and wonder "Why did these guys even decide to do this and how are they going to get out it?" You have to watch this great movie to find out!

I watched this hearing about Shackleton's incredible leadership skills. I don't think that was the main purpose of this version, though plenty of his exemplary leadership still shines through. Surprisingly my younger kids were enthralled throughout the entire show. Educational and entertaining!

I've had the honor to sail past many of Shackleton's ill fated places in Antartica, visit and hug his grave on South Georgia, the replica of the lifeboat on South Georgia, his ship in Dundee, the monument on Elephant Island (at a distance due to weather), made to the edge of the Weddell Sea and now also own a bottle of the reconstructed Shackleton whisky so maybe a bit prejudiced if it comes to all things Shackleton. Nevertheless, I do think this is really a good movie and highly underrated. The way it's put together and played makes you feel the enthusiasm of putting the whole adventure together and the cold of the Antarctic. I've been in the Antarctic and, it can be bloody cold there indeed, and that was only summer time ! I strongly suggest you watch this movie. It's an interesting story that is being told, it's a true story that is being told, it's an amazing story that is being told. It's not about being a hero, it's about survival in harsh conditions, keeping spirits up, keeping a group together and motivated. Well written, well played, well depicted, marvelous.