L'Atlantide: Fin d'un monde, naissance d'un mythe

The story of Atlantis is well depicted in the documentary 'Atlantis: End of a world, birth of a legend'. While some parts of Plato story are still a great mystery for us archaeologist, this movie has described almost to every detail the real story of the Atlantis.

For some time, archaeologist have been trying to prove that Plat account of Atlantis is real story based on the real events, and trough this movie, eruption of Thera around 1620 B.C fits very well into the final days of Atlantis. As a archaeologist, I to newer believed that Atlantis had ever existed, but recent archaeological excavations conducted on town of Akrotiri, proved otherwise that Plato had indeed described the final days of Minoan civilization. Everything else is just a history.

Everything about this production screams labor-of-love by the producers. This is a low budget, made for BBC TV, quite reasonably accurate depiction of the volcanic destruction of Minos (modern day island of Thera) in circa 1630 BC. The depiction of bull-leaping and reconstruction of Minoan society is the best ever yet filmed and while many aspects of the ancient society is toned down for G-rated television, it is evocative and gorgeous. Watch it if you can. The Blu-Ray version is beautiful.

This is the dramatization of the downfall of Atlantis, told as a half documentary, half dramatized movie. This being a severe natural disaster of an earthquake and volcano eruption followed by pyro clastic scorching winds after an eruption on the Greek island of Thera, by Plato called Atlantis.. Though I'm not too found of the use of color filters, theatrical play behavior and blue screen CGI and pompous music, I found this interesting.

Asa driving force in the story we both have a love story between two youngsters, Pinaruti and Yishharu, having their marriage at the outbreak. Yishharu feels something's wrong in beforehand, whilst most don't react to the signs of nature. Then there's a narrative voice, which many probably will find irritating. However, this helps out giving the historical facts, of which there are many given. So the film is basically a catastrophe movie, made as we used to, with an addition of the narrative voice.

CGI is great to tell a story, however, it's not the best in this film. It's sometimes a bit blurry and an cheap looking. But lots of it it also great, like the pyro clastic storm. Still this doesn't ruin the story telling here. I found the film intriguing, since I wanted to know more about the legend of Atlantis. I think this story fulfilled that mission.

We're by the narrator told things about the Menoan society, which was very advanced for it's time, with indoor toilets, and water flushed underground piping, and strong female rights. This is all ruined by an earthquake, which disturbed the magma and makes it possible for a volcano eruption.

I wonder he they have found out that there was spilt 5 million tons of magma, turning to pumice stone, and all the dangerous ash, filled with silicon, turning to liquid segment in the lungs of the habitants, still not leaving the island of Thera. Large consequences also for the island of Crete due to tsunamis.

This low budget TV movie was much more enjoyable than that dreadful big budget, all-star cast 'Pompeii'. The film has some really nice photography and effects. I found it captivating and fascinating, and loved the score, as well. This is a documentary style drama, and might be an acquired taste. The narrator at times tells the viewer what was to come, so this might be considered spoilers by some viewers, but I found it more interesting that way.

...at this dramatized documentary. Unfortunately the dress code of the period was to extreme for the BBC to depict during prime time television, at this overall great-looking documentary. The "real" clothes the Minoan women actually wore, were connected to the worship of the "Mother Goddess" at that ancient matrilineal society. After dressing the women up with the "BBC version" of the Minoan dress code, the religious details are carefully filtered and chosen for the viewer in order to create a presentable version of that society. Considering that, I find the documentary lacking regarding several religious and cultural details. However, in every other aspect this is a great film watch. It has adventure, drama, great acting, good special effects, and it gives a good generic picture of that ancient Greek civilization. I strongly recommend it.