Customer Reviews
Watch Over and Over Again! 
2008-01-09
The only thing I'll add to the other 4- and 5-star reviews is that I wish it was longer! I could watch several hours more of this film footage. Very well done.
World War I in colour 
2007-07-25
Excellent video, Kenneth Branagh did a outstanding job of documenting facts and presenting them in segments that pulled together. For anyone that enjoyed this i would recommned Fall of Eagles which also deals with the relationship between Austria, Prussia and Russia. I would recommend this video to any history buff
The Impacting Color, Red 2007-07-20
I'm not going to write about the scope of this DVDs military/historical merit because I'm not a historian and don't want to offend the sensibilities of those who are. I would instead like it known beforehand that I have read a lot on the subject, have watched a lot on the subject, and have delved into some of the more bizarre intrigues of warfare. My great-grandfather, a doughboy himself, sparked my interest when I was a child and, with that still impressing an ever-impressionable mind, I purchased this set to perhaps see a little more clearly into that mirror in time.
While it isn't the image that makes the tale but the way it is actually told, there are a few images in the series that really did make an immediate impact. The first were the naval sinkings; when I watched those in black and white I had always seen the ship roll over and start to sink and had thought of how horrible that must be. When it went to color I didn't see it as a ship anymore, however, but more as a floating fortress with thousands of little people trying to dive into the water while hoping to escape. That really brought home how horrible this was, with the color etching little moments into a larger affair that really made an impact.
And what an impact it made.
Some of the other things that were brought out quite stunningly were the multi-cultural aspects of war, with the British colonies showcasing an astounding array of people I had never envisioned, and the sheer variation in uniforms that moved from nation to nation. As you watch the Germans march you could see how they stood apart from their Austro-Hungarian allies, for example, and when you stared down a line of trenches you saw some of the people that seemed to blend in with the surroundings. That meant exploring the mud and the foundation and seeing a little more of the condition, knowing all-the-while that those people "going over the top" were really more like myself than I had ever explored.
That was really terrifying to think about, and especially so in some of the major conflicts where tens of thousands lost their lives in less than a day of fight.
Then there were the machines of war, the tanks and the air battles especially, and how they looked. I never imaged the German aircraft being so colorful, truth be told, even though I had seen them in books and had seen recreations. It just didn't connect - but seeing it there made it seem all-the-more overwhelming.
On the merits of that and that alone, I would say this is an excellent buy. If you go by price alone, World War 1 is actually the true forgotten war, with entire volumes on the conflict costing meager sums when compared to its more contemporary counterparts. It is short, true, and the longer sets do lay down a better foundation. Still, the set is quite amazing in scope and detail.
Really helps connect with history 2007-05-12
Stunning to see this ancient history become real. Quite an accomplishment. Several reviewers have complained of the re-use of some footage, but it isn't that big a deal. Highly recommend.
World War 1 in color 2007-01-09
Great product for teaching this generation about World War 1
A Good WWI Documentary 2007-01-03
World War 1 in Color is the definitive history of the First World War seen now for the first time ever in color and narrated by the highly acclaimed actor Kenneth Branagh. World War 1 in Color uses rare archive footage from worldwide sources including Russia, Germany, France, Italy, the USA and Britain’s own Imperial War Museum. This six part landmark series brings to the viewer the gritty reality of life in the trenches during the First World War.
Visually interesting, aurally irritating 
2006-10-13
The presentation of computer enhanced b&w images that in some cases were sort of new added limited value to my extensive video library, legacy of my father. However, the aural commentary of Brannagh was repetitive and boring, each episode basically repeated the same 6+ octagenarian survivors exact same comments and reflections.
Superb series...wonderfully comprehensive! 2006-05-27
This is perhaps one of the most enjoyable documentaries I have seen in recent years. Do not be put off by the colorization process used to tint the existing archival footage; indeed, it actually improves upon the viewing experience and compliments Sir Kenneth Brannah's lucid and absorbing narration. Everything is included here and covered with enough detail to satisfy and entertain either the armchair historian or the seasoned PhD. It is good to see that more high quality documentaries are being made about WWI--in many respects a war that was truly the world's first "modern war" that changed the map of Europe forever.
The definitive WWI DVD 2006-03-22
If you're skeptical of colorization, fear not, these guys did an outstanding job that makes everything very watchable, if not definitive. Some of the downsides are that they tend to recycle their material as the series progresses, and that they show next to no footage of the physically and mentally scarred veterans. Apart from that, this--of all the WWI programs I've watched--is easily the definitive WWI DVD.
Colorized B&W -- Interesting 
2006-03-13
A much better dvd series on WWI would be The First World War: The Complete Series (2004). World War I in Color is not a complete set, but less comprehensive and informative. The colorization is an attractive feature to augment the more complete version.
