Overrated and overhyped

A lot of fun.

A Disappointing Continuation

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

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.

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!

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! :-)

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.