Few war films and documentaries have ever made such an emotional impact as Peter Jackson’s They Shall Not Grow Old. The 2018 film, which holds an impressive 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, has been praised as a technical and emotional triumph with some viewers calling it a “masterpiece” that “should be compulsory in schools.” Directed by the filmmaker behind The Lord of the Rings, the project was a deeply personal one for Jackson, who dedicated it to his grandfather, a World War I veteran.
Using never-before-seen footage from the Imperial War Museums’ archives, Jackson and his team spent years restoring, colourising, and transforming century-old film reels into a vivid portrayal of life on the Western Front. The footage is paired with the real voices of British soldiers, recorded decades ago in interviews conducted by the BBC and the IWM.
From the camaraderie of the trenches to the harrowing realities of battle and loss, the film is poignant and deeply moving, critics say.
Peter Bradshaw gave the film five stars and wrote: “Jackson has restored, colourised and added voices to footage of the western front, bringing the soldiers unforgettably back to life.”
One viewer said on IMDb that the film is “a masterpiece of technical innovation,” while another called the film a “documentary masterpiece.”
Someone called Lewis said the film “should be compulsory in schools.”
They added: “This movie made me think about my life in an entirely different context. It made me realise how incredibly fortunate I am to be able to switch the heating on when it gets a bit cold, or climb into bed after a long day at work.”
Another viewer gave it a 10 out of 10 and said it is “the most important documentary you’ll ever see.”
Someone else wrote: “This should be compulsory viewing. Everyone over the age of 13 should be made to watch this. This is simple exceptional work at every level from Peter Jackson and his team.
“It showed the pure fragility of life, and how the soldiers dealt with it, mainly with humour and machine gun boiled tea. It’s haunting yet funny, disturbing yet uplifting. It’s war. And this is the closest I ever want to come to it.”
One person also wrote on Rotten Tomatoes: “An outstanding historical document that should be mandatory viewing for everyone.”
