mattsimdb I really do enjoy adventures and real stories of survival, and this wasn't a bad movie, but let's bring this one back to reality. Most of the reviews here are obviously on the Shackleton band wagon. I think for obvious reasons because no one else but the enthusiasts have even heard of the movie or the book.Let's start with the movie. It was a bit slow even for a documentary. However, my biggest complaint is the fact that I didn't even know there were deaths on the supply side of his expedition until I read it here on IMDb, and I watched the movie twice, because my wife had fallen asleep during it the first time. Isn't it relevant to the movie? I think the story on the other side the expedition is interesting as well. Why wasn't it told? Perhaps a little bit of Shackleton hype maybe? However, I must say the movie had absolutely stunning photography and does a good job of helping us to live the tail.Now let's go after Shackleton. His expedition failed so miserably that I can't imagine how he is deemed a great leader. Yes, everyone survived his part of the expedition but only after complete failure of their objective. What were his back up plans for getting stuck in the ice? He had none. The real genius of the expedition seems to have been the "mutenous" carpenter. Maybe if Shackleton had listened to him and built a boat out of the remains of the Endurance they would have been home sooner and in better shape. This same carpenter saved them again by upgrading their life boat so that it could survive the South Atlantic from Elephant Island to South Georgia Island. Yet, even after the expedition was over he continued to punish the Carpenter for his disloyalty. Shackleton seems to be a stereotypical know it all that does not know how to listen.Let's also pick on the mission. It was an egotistical crusade for nothing. What a waste of time and money. The South Pole had already been discovered. Even if he succeeded he basically accomplished nothing for the world, only for his own ego.Great leader? I think not.

doug-284 This movie shows that it's all about quality of leadership.Shackleton put an ad in the paper for the journey:"Men wanted for Hazardous Journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success." Would you sign up for an inland trek over the South Pole? I know that I would not, yet over a thousand men answered the ad. The men that Shackelton led were skilled men but not all that out of the ordinary. They had the same weaknesses as any other team. Keeping them from self destructing and working towards the common mission was an amazing accomplishment. And, the thing that made all the difference was the quality of the leadership of Ernest Shackleton.This movie is wonderful for leadership training. Everyone who is going through troubles and is in a position of leadership can easily spot parallels to their own situation in the movie. Shackleton's virtues of concern for his men and desire to keep up their morale shine through in this movie. On one occasion he even makes a decision which doesn't make sense but serves to keep up the hopes of the men.I would show this movie to a group of businessmen in a competitive market, to an executive board faced with tough decisions or to a church leadership team in need of encouragement and strengthening. It shows what is common in all human lives (adversity) and what is uncommon (an extraordinary faith and perseverance).

WalkingTaco I had no idea what this was going to be about, and right from the time the ship gets stuck in the ice shelf I knew it wasn't going to end up how I expected. The narration by Liam Neeson is very well done, as is the use of actual photos and footage. Great documentary.

jonr-3 I'd seen the version on "Nova" a couple of years ago but viewing these images in the theater on the big screen was a much more powerful experience. There was irony aplenty in store when the name "Endurance" was chosen for the expedition ship. The ill-fated expedition turned into such a test of human endurance as to defy belief: had this been fiction, it would seem too incredible. But it actually happened. And much of the film uses original movie footage, as well as the surviving still photos, to document this terrifying and inspiring story.I came out of the theater convinced that there needs to be a term in our language that goes beyond "heroism." Shackleton and his men would all, in my opinion, qualify for its application.