There is no doubt that Kuran, et al, did a great job of getting this footage together. William Shatner on narration and the Moscow Symphony Orchestra for the score are perhaps the part of the most overdramatic combination in the history of documentaries, but these are more forgivable (they are almost a parody of themselves) than this overly sanitized version of American nuclear testing which overlooks practically all of the pertinent policy and moral issues.
As a film about some of the straight technical aspects of nuclear testing, though, it does a good job of explaining the purpose of each of the American tests it covers (it only covers the period between 1945-1964, though). The worst part was the final sequence of the testing of the Chinese atomic bomb. This is a HEAVILY edited sequence (the original can be found in the Chinese propaganda film, "Mao's Little Red Video" -- obviously not objective in any sense in its original, but amazingly made even less so by Kuran) splicing MULTIPLE nuclear tests into one sequence with the obvious intent on capitalizing on the effect of "Mongol hoards" in gas masks. He also redoes the audio, removing the narration explaining the technical purposes of their tests and why their soldiers were doing the maneuvers that they were. It is highly suspicious that a director would take the time to outline the technical aspects of American tests as a de-politicizing tactic, and then do exactly the opposite for the Chinese tests.
As a documentary about nuclear testing, it fails. Nuclear testing was NOT just about big explosions and the technical ramifications of them -- it contains issues of politics, the environment, diplomacy, morality, ethics, history, social policy, so forth and so forth and so forth. None of which were adequately covered in this film, which concerns itself almost completely with technical aspects -- and so attempts to devoid itself of any of the necessary responsibility of properly addressing the issues of nuclear testing.
Visually, it is stunning. It is a valid testament to Kuran's technical abilities. In terms of content, it fails in a variety of ways, ranging from omission to deceptive editing.
Teenage boys who delight in big bangs will no doubt love this. For those looking for a more informative and sophisticated documentary about atomic testing, try "The Atomic Cafe" instead. If you are looking for large explosions with only the most technical of context, then you might enjoy this film. For some, I fear, this is the most favored way to deal with nuclear testing -- one deliberately devoid of complexity and controversy.
As a film about some of the straight technical aspects of nuclear testing, though, it does a good job of explaining the purpose of each of the American tests it covers (it only covers the period between 1945-1964, though). The worst part was the final sequence of the testing of the Chinese atomic bomb. This is a HEAVILY edited sequence (the original can be found in the Chinese propaganda film, "Mao's Little Red Video" -- obviously not objective in any sense in its original, but amazingly made even less so by Kuran) splicing MULTIPLE nuclear tests into one sequence with the obvious intent on capitalizing on the effect of "Mongol hoards" in gas masks. He also redoes the audio, removing the narration explaining the technical purposes of their tests and why their soldiers were doing the maneuvers that they were. It is highly suspicious that a director would take the time to outline the technical aspects of American tests as a de-politicizing tactic, and then do exactly the opposite for the Chinese tests.
As a documentary about nuclear testing, it fails. Nuclear testing was NOT just about big explosions and the technical ramifications of them -- it contains issues of politics, the environment, diplomacy, morality, ethics, history, social policy, so forth and so forth and so forth. None of which were adequately covered in this film, which concerns itself almost completely with technical aspects -- and so attempts to devoid itself of any of the necessary responsibility of properly addressing the issues of nuclear testing.
Visually, it is stunning. It is a valid testament to Kuran's technical abilities. In terms of content, it fails in a variety of ways, ranging from omission to deceptive editing.
Teenage boys who delight in big bangs will no doubt love this. For those looking for a more informative and sophisticated documentary about atomic testing, try "The Atomic Cafe" instead. If you are looking for large explosions with only the most technical of context, then you might enjoy this film. For some, I fear, this is the most favored way to deal with nuclear testing -- one deliberately devoid of complexity and controversy.