Netflix - Age of Tanks

Discussion in 'Books, Films, TV, Radio' started by von Poop, Nov 14, 2018.

  1. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    "Age of Tanks" on Netflix
    www.netflix.com/title/80208213?source=android

    Only noticed this as the Panzermuseum mentioned what may be the same series under a different title.

    Not watched any yet, but a quick flick reveals David Willey of Bovington as a talking head along with shots of Elles-y, Swinton types., So hopefully a cut above the usual gotterdamerung TANKS documentary.
    We'll see.
     
  2. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    We can only hope!

    Shows up in Canadian Netflix as well :)
     
  3. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Watching it now. It's like one of those DVDs created by a museum.
    Slightly shaky production, but sort of 'worthy'. Occasional hint of IRON MONSTERS, but overall a better tone than that.
    Nothing earth-shaking, but so far, I quite like it.
    Some really nice WW1 footage.
     
  4. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    OK, an episode in.
    I think this might be the best tank documentary I've seen.
    Brilliant footage of French machines (think it's a French series), very nice quotes & personal accounts. Really rather thorough step-by-step history.

    Again, I don't think there'll be much especially new to the tank-obsessed, but, well, it definitely isn't crap.
    (Things not being completely crap is my primary criteria for TV of late, and something of a rarity. Am genuinely surprised when a documentary isn't breathless UNTOLD STORY bollocks.)
     
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  5. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Unravels a tiny tad when the Second war begins. Some dodgy footage editing, SS referred to as 'the elite of the elite' etc., but still overall far from crap.
     
  6. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    Age of Tanks (TV Mini-Series 2017–2018) - IMDb

    Curiously, currently, has it as a German, French and Russian (Co-production) - but I think Imdb is a bit like a wiki - so with some user edited content - it may not always be 100% accurate or up-to-date / will be further edited / amended etc. with relevant info. Or perhaps some of the researchers or research was by a Russian / Russian team etc.

    The official site: Age of Tanks - History - Factual - Lagardère Studios Distribution

    Has its origins as: France / Germany with versions in English / French
    (So no specific edition for Germany - as yet? Though, they might get either English or French versions with subtitles presumably) -

    Though what I saw offered on the site: https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/80208213

    Was...

    Subtitles: English, Polish, Arabic, French, Traditional Chinese

    The site:Age of Tanks – OeA Films

    Also has the episode titles and descriptions:

    The History of tanks in four episodes:

    Episode 1: Iron, Iron Everywhere
    We discover the origins of tanks at the beginning of the 20th century and see as the first ones are built and used during World War I.

    Episode 2: Blitzkrieg
    After World War I, Germany and the Soviet Union band together to develop new tanks, only to face each other in an even bigger war: World War II.

    Episode 3: A World in Chains
    During the Cold War, tanks become the ultimate symbol and tool of oppression.

    Episode 4: Twilight of the Tanks
    With the collapse of the Eastern Bloc, tanks seem to have lost their purpose, until in 2014, a new tank arms race begins.

    Netflix trailer:



    The history of military tanks unfolds in a documentary series that traces their role in history and geopolitics from World War I to the 21st century.
     
  7. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    I have wondered about this - in regard to what the word "elite" is meant to mean in German - and whether too it has a different or subtlety different meaning a simple direct German to English translation is unlikely to imply.

    e.g. elite translation German | English-German dictionary | Reverso

    Largely seems to focus on pejorative meanings of the use of the word elite, when used in German, and I see from this (below), for example also: German Translation of “elite” | Collins English-German Dictionary

    elite
    [eɪˈliːt]

    noun (often pejorative)
    Elite f
    adjective
    Elite-
    elite group Elitegruppe f ⧫ Elite f

    Whereas in English, it can be used pejoratively, but in terms of an armed force I would not have thought so as a general rule. So I would not translate from German to English that the SS were an "elite".

    elite | Definition of elite in English by Oxford Dictionaries

    elite
    /eɪˈliːt,ɪˈliːt/
    noun

    1. a select group that is superior in terms of ability or qualities to the rest of a group or society, "the elite of Britain's armed forces"

    1. synonyms: best, pick, cream, flower, nonpareil, elect
    use of the word elite in German - Google Search

    I'm not sure therefore what the best translation of the German word "elite" (when in reference to an armed force) might actually be, or whether describing the SS in German as an "elite" is actually intentionally pejorative so it is actually not meaning to imply that for the SS (German) "elite" was a good thing?

    e.g. in English we might say for instance: disapprovingly "a powerful and corrupt elite" without any hint of an "elite" in this instance in being anything other than pejorative.

    That said though, I am sure nevertheless that some may think of the SS as an "elite" when they read it written in English, I just wonder at the mo. if that's what a typical German language speaker thinks where they see the SS referenced as the "elite of the elite" etc.
     
  8. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    I'm watching the first episode and really enjoying it so far. I didn't know about some of these early thinkers about tanks.
     
  9. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    It's iffy in places, as such things are, but it hasn't lost my interest & has triggered a wish to read more on some stuff, so overall that's a hit.
    Mr Willey's got that easy knowledge thing going on, reminiscent of his colleague Mr Fletcher.

    On the final episode.
    I knew Grozny was pretty bad for the Russkis. Didn't realise quite how bad.
     
  10. Aixman

    Aixman War Establishment addict Patron

    Ramiles

    The German noun "Elite" is not pejorative itself (of course you can put it in a pejorative sense as you can do with many things). It simply means the very best (here "best trained" or "best performing", but also richest, most healty, ...) usually very small part of a certain group.

    The German adjective "elitär" tends far more being used in a pejorative context (arrogant).

    Aixman
     
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