Peter Jackson incredible WW1 film restoration

[Tiger2]

Hi folks,

This was on the TV here in the UK recently; Peter Jackson of LOTR fame has got his digital crew to
restore old footage from the First World War to colour and with sound. It is both amazing and slightly haunting
to watch (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mtz3KHWn1W8). A glimpse into the past and clearly a past we shouldn't forget.

OK, we make models of monsters and sci fi I here you say, what's this got to do with this forum? Well, if they can take this old, silent, scratched and barely legible footage and make it look like it was filmed yesterday, just imagine what they could do with the silent classics of the Phantom of the Opera, Hunchback, Nosferatu and The Cabinet of Dr Calligari?!! Just a thought...

I guess part of the charm of the silent black and white era is that they were just that, but seeing the quality that's possible with this retouching technology it makes me wonder!

Cheers,
Paul

[derekc62]

Thanks for sharing.
Fabulous restoration work.

[Heavy Metal Spike]

I saw the trailer a few days back (on the main BBC news website) - https://www.bbc.com/news/av/entertainme ... s-director

I agree with you Paul - this looks like amazing (and important) work by Mr. Jackson.


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[patmoorea]

Impressive ! Looks like WW2 films, even better.

[Tiger2]

I saw the trailer a few days back (on the main BBC news website) - https://www.bbc.com/news/av/entertainme ... s-director

I agree with you Paul - this looks like amazing (and important) work by Mr. Jackson.


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Thanks Ian, it's due to be screened this week so I will try and get along to see it. A truly horrific conflict, as is any war, but an amazing use of technology to ensure we don't forget. Apparently copies of it will be sent to schools for free for their history lessons

[Buc Wheat]

wow! damn impressive!

[temperflash]

Magnificent. The improvement is astounding. The men are now seen as real human beings.
The old films gave a certain psychological distance, like a marble statue. Originally Marble Statues of ancient times were painted in life like colors and had much less of an effect on the viewer than the same statue in naked stone. With the motion picture films the effect is just the opposite, by looking more real the effect is greatly increased, especially knowing so many will fight and die . They live and too soon they no longer live.

[Otto69]

How did they create a smooth video like that from a jerky old film?

[Heavy Metal Spike]

How did they create a smooth video like that from a jerky old film?

Not sure bud - but if I remember right from some of the articles I read - they used software that morphed frames into one-another. So it's not like they are filling the gaps from nothing - but are creating the missing pieces from the surrounding material.

A bit like those old Godley/Creme, Michael Jackson & David Coverdale music videos.

I wait to be corrected by someone who did more research though . . .


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[Ant]

Mark Kermode talks to Peter Jackson about how it was achieved https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdY-1u-rk_M

[spock]

[Heavy Metal Spike]

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Review . . .

[list][list] https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-45910189 [/list][/list]

• "The result is extraordinary.
  
  Every action you see has an accompanying sound, from a bottle being juggled to a tin being opened.
  He hired lip readers to interpret what the soldiers were saying and brought actors in to voice their words.
  The upshot of which is you watch the film and accept the illusion without hesitation.
  
  The same applies to the colourisation, which has been done with a remarkable attention to detail.
  Again, you don't question what you're seeing, even though you know perfectly well it is the result of some of the most powerful 21st Century computer graphic kit in the world."

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[Heavy Metal Spike]

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Warner Bros. has acquired "the rights".

Not sure yet where/how people will be able to watch this.

The documentary premiered at the BFI London Film Festival earlier this month, which is where the studio made the deal.


[list][list] https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/ ... arner-bros [/list][/list]


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[kevtk135]

WOW. Never heard of this til today.
Would love to see it when it gets here.

[Ant]

Heads up Brits! This will be on BBC 2 at 9:30pm on Sunday the 11th!

[Heavy Metal Spike]

Heads up Brits! This will be on BBC 2 at 9:30pm on Sunday the 11th!

Thanks mate - IT WILL BE MINE ! (one way or another)


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[Heavy Metal Spike]

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Meet some of the real soldiers behind "They Shall Not Grow Old".

• • https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-46157 ... t-grow-old

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[Ant]

Watched this sunday/monday - incredible film. Deeply moving. Graphic without being at all sensational and extremely haunting. A must see!