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Studio:History Channel

Director:Frederic Lumiere

Amazon.co.uk Review

At first glance, the very concept of WWII in HD seems like an oxymoron. After all, isn't the footage from back then nothing more than grainy black-and-white newsreel? And really, how much definition can be added to film that was shot more than 60 years ago? The answers: no, and quite a lot, actually. The quality of much of what is seen in the course of these 10 episodes (each around 45 minutes long) is surprisingly good. Add to that the fact that most of it is in colour (not colourised, but originally recorded in that medium, some at the behest of the United States government), and the result is nothing short of astonishing. It's not easy viewing; there are sequences that are shockingly graphic (vivid examples include the carnage on view after major battles and the shots of Japanese civilians on the Pacific island of Saipan hurling themselves off cliffs to avoid capture by American troops). But all of it has been put to good use in what is undoubtedly one of the most compelling accounts of World War II ever produced.

Other documentaries have chronicled the same events seen here, from the earliest days of the war (when Hitler was overrunning Europe and the ill-prepared Americans were still years away from becoming involved), through Pearl Harbour, the major confrontations with the Japanese in the Pacific theatre (like Guadalcanal, Tarawa, the Battle of the Philippine Sea, and the incomparably bloody Iwo Jima) and with the Germans in Europe and North Africa (the invasion of Tunisia, D-day, the Battle of the Bulge), and straight on to victory in Europe and finally the Japanese surrender after Hiroshima and Nagasaki. But what separates WWII in HD is the filmmakers' decision to view these events through the experiences of a dozen individuals who were actually there, including a couple of war correspondents (one of whom, Richard Tregaskis, was the author of the seminal Guadalcanal Diary); an Austrian immigrant who escaped the Nazis and almost immediately enlisted in the U.S. Army; a nurse with General George Patton's Third Army; an African-American pilot who was one of the famed Tuskegee Airmen; a Japanese-American medic who fought heroically while his family was held in an internment camp; and others from the rank and file. All of them are voiced by such actors as Rob Lowe, Amy Smart, Steve Zahn, Josh Lucas, and LL Cool J; and with Gary Sinise providing voice-over narration, the whole piece comes off as a dramatic film as much as a straight documentary (an effect also enhanced by some brilliantly creative juxtapositions of words, images, and music). Not all of these men and women made it through the war (those still alive also appear in on-camera interviews), but none could ever forget the horrors they witnessed, and while those of us who did not serve will never really comprehend the sacrifices they made, this remarkable programme may be as close as we can get. --Sam Graham

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Reviews

- Extraordinary Footage

Having recently - and belatedly - watched Band of Brothers I was keen to purchase this blu-ray. The footage and reconstruction of history around it is extraordinary. The narration and account of the soldiers is meticulously done. This is an essential set of discs for any viewer interested in this period of history. It is remarkable how much excellent footage the producers have compiled together. Highly recommended.

- Superb footage

Being a huge fan of anything WW2 I really enjoyed this well made documentary. The programme features some superbly restored footage along with real life accounts from veterans who were actually there. Picture quality is as good as can be expected from material that is over 60 years old, but it is some of the best I've seen in a WW2 doc. The disc plays fine on my PS3, the error may only occur on a small number of BD players which a firmware update might fix.

- Lost film of word war 2 as good as today

The documentry is an must for all history of 2nd world war.As well reanacters. You see such great details in the pictures and backgrounds of the films. The people giving there acount of the war and voice overs are second to none. Bye it great bit of history in an box.

- WW2 Comes Back to Life

Having watched days, or so it seems, of footage of the 2nd World War over the years, this HD series comes as a revelation. Superbly put together, with wonderful voice overs and simply stunning visuals - the restoration is meticulous - I cannot recommend this highly enough to anybody with an interest in the period. Wonderful!

- Excellent

Outstanding Doco with some footage you'd swear was filmed last week, it's that clear and crisp. If you liked Band of Brothers or The Pacific then this is right up your alley.