‘It shows how hideously awful the Great War was’: Peter Jackson’s ‘mesmerising, spine-tingling’ remastered WWI footage leaves the nation in awe of the director’s work – and the heroics of the men he featured

  • Stunning film was created with black and white war footage that was retouched 
  • Peter Jackson has earned widespread acclaim for the film and how it shows war 
  • Some have even called for the director to be honoured for the harrowing film

By Danyal Hussain For Mailonline

Published: 18:27 EST, 11 November 2018 | Updated: 20:10 EST, 11 November 2018

Viewers have hailed Peter Jackson's 'mesmerising' new film that uses remastered WWI footage to paint the brutal reality of the Great War.

The film, They Shall Not Grow Old, was created out of the Imperial War Museum's bank of silent black-and-white footage shot during the war.

It has been digitally colourised, retouched and stabilised before being dubbed with a soundtrack of laughter and banter, explosions and screams.

Over the top of the images runs a commentary that is made up of comments from more than 120 war veterans that were recorded in the 60s and 70s.

And the film has proven to be a hit with audiences who hailed the director for showing a whole new generation of Brits the true horrors of the First World War. 

Peter Jackson's harrowing new film has been praised by viewers for its harrowing portrayal of the Great War

Winning nearly universal acclaim on social media, the film shows how soldiers, some just gawky teenagers, struggled on the front lines and in the trenches. 

One incredible clip shows a group of soldiers marching through the mud in black and white footage before the image changes suddenly.

It turns into colour film, complete with sound, with the stunning transition drawing plaudits on social media.    

Some have even called on Jackson to be honoured with a knighthood for the film. 

The director spent hours turning black and white war footage into coloured footage that looks as if it was shot now

One said: 'This Peter Jackson [film] is extraordinary. The utter senselessness of WW1 - the dreadful waste of life. I don't know whether to feel more sorry for those who died or those who survived and had to live with memory of it.' 

Another said: 'Peter Jackson's Great War doc is both breathtaking and utterly harrowing. I've never seen these events portrayed in this way. Just outstanding.' 

A third said: 'No wonder men who made it home, including my grandad, never spoke of their experience. 

'Humbling, horrific and inspirational all at the same time. Thank you to Peter Jackson for bringing this to our screens in this way.' 

An incredible clip from the film showed the moment that the director transitioned the film from black and white to coloured

An incredible clip from the film showed the moment that the director transitioned the film from black and white to coloured

The film uses black and white footage of the war kept by the Imperial War Museum and colourises it

The film uses black and white footage of the war kept by the Imperial War Museum and colourises it

The director previously revealed just how difficult the film was to create. 

He admitting to ‘throwing a lot of firepower at the project’, marshalling the equivalent of 7,000 computers and 15,000 people to make the black-and-white footage look as if it was shot in modern times. 

His effort and committment to the film clearly went down well, with users hailing his work. 

One user wrote:  Peter Jackson's "They Shall Not Grow Old" making me weep. The sheer humanity of it all'.

Another said: 'Amazing to watch. Sometimes sickening, sometimes eye-opening. Peter Jackson's They Shall Not Grow Old on BBC Two is extraordinary.'  

Public calls for Peter Jackson to be knighted after stunning WWI film – despite the fact he already has been 

Director Peter Jackson used black and white footage from the First World War to create an incredible new film, made to commemorate the end of the war. 

He colourised the footage for his film They Shall Not Grow Old and he has earned almost universal acclaim.

Some viewers on social media even called for the New Zealander to be knighted for his efforts. 

Stunned viewers have called on Peter Jackson to be knighted for his new film They Shall Not Grow Old

Stunned viewers have called on Peter Jackson to be knighted for his new film They Shall Not Grow Old

One user wrote: 'They Shall Not Grow Old is an extremely moving, powerful documentary/film. This should be played to every generation, so they can see the horrors and the spirit of The Great War, all for our freedom.

'Give Peter Jackson a bloody knighthood!!'

Another wrote: 'This was the best documentary I have ever seen on WW1. Hope Peter Jackson gets a Knighthood.'

However, the director has already previously been knighted in his native New Zealand.  

He was made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in his home country by the government in 2010. 

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Peter Jackson’s ‘mesmerising, spine-tingling’ remastered WWI footage leaves the nation in awe

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