Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Battlefield Britain presents 8 famous British battles in an exciting and engaging way. Each episode jumps quickly among several presentation styles:
1) Narration - father and son Peter and Dan Snow narrate while walking or flying over the battle field. Their writing is interesting and they speak in an engaging manner.
2) Computer battle simulation - Much like the "Decisive Battle" series which used the "Rome: Total War" computer game engine to simulate many fighters, "Battlefield Britain" uses computer simulation to recreate the battle formations, movements, and tactical decisions. The simulations are great at giving a general's eye view of the battle and the carnage.
3) Historical reenactment - Live reenactors provide the up close shots with good views of weapons, equipment, and the "you are there" perspectives.
4) Technical reenactment - Many scenes show the firing of real bows, guns, or cannons or sailing of real ships in an effort to show tactics or advantages of one side or the other.
5) Dramatic reenactment - Actors in period costumes and makeup say why their side won or lost.
6) Technical illustration - using computer maps or computer renderings of the leaders, the show provides these models for further historical explanations.
Of all these techniques, I enjoy the writing and speaking of Peter and Dan Snow the best. They make good professors and are passionate about their subject matter (although not quite as interesting and artistic as Simon Schama in "A History of Britain". Simon Schama has a theatric way of rendering history.) The computer battles are interesting to watch, and they really lay out the battles quite well. Peter's "magic map board" is a great technique for overlaying computer map scenes while he points and talks to various sections of the battle. Most of the other presentation styles serve as good interesting backdrops to these history lectures. Finally, the battle selection is great. I'm sure most people know Boudicca, Hastings, or the Spanish Armada, but the Llywelyn the Great and the Boyne are less well known battles, but every bit as interesting.
On the other hand, some of the computer generated sequences are used over-repetatively. And the dramatic reenactors seem to be saying the same things while adding little to the story: "Well we really crushed those losers," or "We were slaughtered. They just kept coming." The computer generated heads of the generals looks somewhat hokey - I'm sure they will look quite dated in 10 years.
So, despite some shortcomings, overall a very good program that bears repeated viewing.
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Britain is a country that has been forged by centuries of warfare. Each episode charts one key battle which could have gone either way, and did much to shape the nation that Britain is today. Dynamic father-and-son team Peter and Dan Snow, together with historical renactors, give the soldiers perspective on what it must have been like to ride, march, fly and sail into battle. Episodes include: Boudicca's Revolt, The Battle of Hastings, Battle for Wales, Spanish Armada, Battle of Naseby, Battle of the Boyne, Battle of Culloden, and the Battle of Britain. DVD Features:Biographies:Presenter biosDocumentary:Previously unreleased BBC documentary: War Walks: Bosworth Other:Historical timeline
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