When We Go to War

I love this series; I think it's authentically done, down to characters, costumes and locations. Characters grow and you feel involved. Call me an old-fashioned person, but this is tugging at my heartstrings. A significant number of "kids" brainwashed into defending the Commonwealth on foreign soil. I would love to go Turkey to see battlegrounds to give a silent prayer. War is hell but many profit by it; it's the ordinary "Joes" who pay the price. To paraphrase, what's it good for? (war)

We got through 3 episodes and into the fourth when the seemingly now-typical aberrant behavior of two boys came on full display. This in-your-face nonsense apparently appeals to film makers but only causes normal viewers to turn it off quickly and delete from the wish list(amazon). I wonder, does New Zealand have a REAL film industry anymore?

I don't have a TV anymore, but stumbled upon the back to back premiere of the first two episodes, when I went around to a friends house for a birthday party. He said there was a programme showing later that night about WW1, so all the boys there sat down to enjoy when it screened (no John Wayne for us this night).

Now context is very important here. The series is about New Zealand's entry into WWI. The episodes screened in the middle of a long weekend here, sandwiched on a Sunday (26 April) between the actual date (25 April) of our national war memorial day (ANZAC Day) and the (for the first time) statutory observed national holiday (27 April). And, this was the 100th anniversary of the Battle Of Gallipoli. Pretty high national feeling all over the country that weekend for those that had given their lives for us all. So the expectation was the show had potential (and from what I was told, it was three years in the making).

Now, I'm not an easily offended guy, but I was cringing twice in the first 10 minutes, and desperately feeling sorry for the average viewer. Within the 5 minutes we had a male tutor in medical school having sexual intercourse with his female student. Five minutes later, another guy is having his way with a prostitute in a brothel. Pretty insensitive start if you ask me, even if was (and I don't know if it was) based on fact. And it never got any better from there.

To rub salt into the wounds, NZ$6.1 million of the nations tax dollars went to funding it. Needless to say, I never watched any episodes after the first two. I've been generous and given a score of 2, even though the first episode was a 1 (as I can't score it a negative).

Anything good? Well, it had the stunning Shavaughn Ruakere in it, but even she was not enough to get me back for more.

I found this by chance but I really enjoined it, in particular how each character showed a different side of the stigmas & hurdles they faced back then. Also how each generation experience the war difficulty. Being from the UK I was ignorant of how New Zealand contributed to the war. I was gutted to see there are no more seasons planned for this. A recommended watch.

A good series, well acted with great cinematography and music. Just can't think what possessed the Classifications Board to allow it to be rated 'PG'!!! "Mild sexual references' is a most definitely a euphemism. There are graphic autopsy scenes and the level of violence in the battle scenes is well above the limits for a PG classification. In addition, the adult themes and the graphic views of the many injuries sustained in the fighting should be at least M rated. I would have given at least a 7/10 but could not condone this series being passed off as PG. It is not suitable for younger people and could be very traumatic for this age group!

The well-known actors as well as those less familiar are excellent. There has been great attention to the detail with regard to the costumes, scenery and props, all being in keeping with the era and geographical locations. The plot is well-paced and the script is intelligent and even educational, especially with regards to the different languages incorporated. I hope your adult audiences enjoy it greatly.