ANZAC Battlefields (2015) User Reviews

Excellent History

[bookmarkau · 9/10 · 23 May 2021]

I bought this in the $5 bin so I wasn't expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised. It's focus is on the Australian and New Zealand troops on the Western Front in WWI. It presents the history at the strategic, operation and personnel level. I understand why the other reviewers didn't like it, but I totally disagree with them. The graphics helped show how the modern terrain they are on was different in WWI. It also demonstrates the movement of troops. I found it informative and anyone who is interested in the Western Front should check this out.

Be prepared to learn

[taide-12444 · 10/10 · 3 June 2022]

This has to be beyond a shadow of a doubt one of the best documentary series I've ever seen on the strategy and tactics of Australian involvement in the First World War on the Western Front.

It is hosted by iconic Australian actor Neil Pigot, perhaps best known in Australia for his role as Inspector Falcon Price in the highly successful television series Blue Heelers, and Dr Peter Pedersen, graduate of the Royal Australian Military College Duntroon, and one of Australia's leading historians of the First World War.

Using a variety of graphics, archive material, oral history and their journeys across the actual battlefields as they stand today, the two presenters immerse the viewer in exactly where, how and why the original ANZACs fought in France and Belgium over 100 years ago.

Having been to a number of these places myself, followed battlefield tour guides, and spent hours pouring over old maps and photos, this series is an enlightening and refreshing insight into the terrain, tactics and terrors faced by men of the First Australian Imperial Force. Highly recommended for series students of history and the discerning casual viewer alike.

Unstructured

[kurtkuene · 3/10 · 5 April 2017]

There are two narrators. One narrator at a time pops out of nowhere like a jack in the box or from behind a tree to finish the others sentence.

The special effects are too much and have little informational value. There are virtual laser beams shooting from the hands of a narrator to illustrate artillery barrages.

There is no clear plot line. The show jumps from scene to scene with often unrelated and sometimes not accurate background information thrown in to farther confuse and dilute what is left of the already thin thread of the plot.

Sorry :-(

Insightful documentary showing the Australian WW1 experience in strategic and tactical details

[ivyana-81491 · 10/10 · 29 January 2023]

A fast-paced documentary that uses current on-screen graphics, vintage film, and experienced commentary to chronicle the conflicts where so many Australians and New Zealanders offered the ultimate sacrifice. Dr. Peter Pederson and presenter Neil Pigot travel back to the battlefields, where realistic on-screen visuals depict the actual circumstances at the time of the combat. This is a a fantastic 6 part Documentary that provides information for those planning to see the several Western Front Battlefields. All of the main battles, as well as many of the minor ones, are mentioned. Battlefields shown include: Episode 1 - Bois Greiner Raids Battle of Fromelles Episode 2 - Battle of Somme, Pozieres , Mouquet Farm, Flers, Gueudecourt , Le Transloy Episode 3 - Hindenberg, 1st & 2nd Bullecourt, Ypres, Messines and Menin Road Episode 4 - Polygon Woods , Broodseinde , Gravenstafel Spur , Bellevue Spur, Passchendaele , Episode 5 - 1918 Spring Offensive , Defence of Ameins Villers Bretonneux Hamel Episode 6 - Battle of Ameins Mont St Quentin & Canal Péronne Montbrehain.

Dull rubbish

[philrdutton · 1/10 · 18 May 2022]

This is the worst documentary series I've ever seen. It consists of two boring guys who are either walking towards the camera spouting rubbish with their awful irritating nasal accents or waving their hands over a CGI map and again spouting rubbish with awful irritating nasal accents. Again I must say I would rather watch advertisements then watch this program whenever it comes on I try to grab the remote and hit the mute button so quickly that I almost sprain my wrist.

Definitely needed

[samualsmithss · 3/10 · 30 April 2021]

We definitely need these stories told and shown because too many people are unaware of these stories including myself. But I don't know what they were thinking when they produced this, the camera work is atrocious and just makes it hard to watch, content is good though.