So-so documentary on ill-fated South Pole journey.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Dec 8, 2002

The interesting and almost unbelievable subject matter legitimizes the legend of Ernest Shackleton, even if it is a little slow in the process.

Full Review | Original Score: 70/100 | Sep 18, 2002

| Original Score: A | Sep 18, 2002

A documentary that instructs as it entertains.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Aug 9, 2002

A compelling story of survival and determination.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jun 6, 2002

The key to making this work is to keep the suspense building, which Butler does admirably.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Feb 26, 2002

... a good choice for a family movie outing.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Feb 9, 2002

Fascinatingly evokes not just the gruelling, first-person details of this particular polar expedition, but the waning moments of the entire spirit of romantic, white-European Boy's Own adventurism.

| Feb 1, 2002

The tale is so damn compelling, you could do a documentary hosted by Ben Stein in boring teacher mode and the audience would still be gnawing on their fingernails.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jan 6, 2002

Hands-down, the most stirring and pertinent documentary of 2001.

| Jan 4, 2002

The great strength of this documentary is that when it's all over, you half feel you've been to the South Pole, too.

Full Review | Jan 4, 2002

Footage from a remarkable silent documentary has been combined with new photography, music and a narration to produce an even more remarkable sound documentary.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Jan 4, 2002

Most of all, it is a salute to Shackleton himself, whose calm and grace under extreme pressure helped guarantee that not a single crew member would be lost.

Full Review | Jan 3, 2002

Much of the power of "The Endurance" derives from the artistic images captured during the voyage by pioneer Australian documentary photographer Frank Hurley (1885-1962).

| Original Score: 3/4 | Dec 31, 2001

A first-rate documentary about an exploit that almost defies belief.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Dec 28, 2001

Better than the book it's based on.

Full Review | Dec 28, 2001

The sense of scale inherent in both Hurley's ancient film clips and Butler's more recent shots is greatly enhanced on the big screen.

| Dec 28, 2001

The footage -- all hand-cranked by Hurley -- of the Endurance buckling under the pressure of the shifting ice is an image one will not soon forget.

Full Review | Dec 23, 2001

"The Endurance" doesn't simply care about the facts, it has genuine regard for the people who were involved.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Dec 23, 2001

The narration by Liam Neeson is flavorful and ingratiating without ever intruding on the story, and is augmented with quotations by a dozen actors reading from the crew members' diaries and letters.

| Original Score: 10/10 | Dec 21, 2001