National Geographic's Egypt - Quest for Eternity

Starring:National Geographic
Studio: Nat'l Geographic Vid
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
The sheer scope and size of Egyptian antiquities are breathtaking enough; their beauty is often just as startling. The National Geographic video classic Egypt: Quest for Eternity guides viewers through the greatest and most striking of the long-standing treasures, including favorites like the Sphinx and the Great Pyramids of Giza as well as lesser-known sites and artifacts. The temples of Luxor and Karnak appear as majestic today as they did thousands of years ago, and the Nile valley, though somewhat tamed, still provokes a sense of awe. Though produced in the early 1980s, the information is still on target. It's hard not to be dazzled by the achievements of the Egyptians, and National Geographic's sharp videography and careful research showcase these stars of the ancient world. --Rob Lightner
Description
Take a spectacular journey to walk among the ancient ruins of one of history's great civilizations. Through the centuries, the ancient Egyptians created and constructed the most glorious monuments the world has ever seen. Explore the great temples of Luxor and Karnak. Cross the Nile to the Land of the Dead and enter the elaborately decorated tombs where the kings and queens are buried. Join Egyptologists as they unravel and interpret the riddles of Egypt's intriguing past.

National Geographic - Into the Great Pyramid/Egypt - Quest for Eternity (2-pack)
Average customer rating:

National Georaphic DVD's Great Pyramid and Egypt

National Geographic - Into the Great Pyramid/Egypt - Quest for Eternity (2-pack)
Starring: Burgess Meredith
Director: William Kronick , Jack Kaufman , Bert Haanstra , Terry Sanders , and Nicholas Clapp
Manufacturer: Nat'l Geographic Vid
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00008J2F1
Release Date: 2003-03-04

Customer Reviews:

National Georaphic DVD's Great Pyramid and Egypt.......2007-04-02

Really nice to review and see the history whenever you want to now

National Geographic's Egypt - Quest for Eternity

Average customer rating:

Great Historic National Geographic for Collectors
A dated documentary that leaves out most of the good stuff
Great Documentary Butchered in DVD Release! (Get the VHS!)
Dull
THIS MOVIE IS BORING

National Geographic's Egypt - Quest for Eternity
Starring: National Geographic
Manufacturer: Nat'l Geographic Vid
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

( N ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

DVDs as Low as $9.49 | The Big DVD Sale | Stores | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

National Geographic's Egypt - Secrets of the Pharaohs
National Geographic Video - Egypt Eternal - The Quest for Lost Tombs
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Mysteries of Egypt (Large Format)
National Geographic - Egypt Eternal - The Quest for Lost Tombs/Egypt - Secrets of the Pharaohs (2-pack)

ASIN: B00006AUK3
Release Date: 2002-09-03

Amazon.com

The sheer scope and size of Egyptian antiquities are breathtaking enough; their beauty is often just as startling. The National Geographic video classic Egypt: Quest for Eternity guides viewers through the greatest and most striking of the long-standing treasures, including favorites like the Sphinx and the Great Pyramids of Giza as well as lesser-known sites and artifacts. The temples of Luxor and Karnak appear as majestic today as they did thousands of years ago, and the Nile valley, though somewhat tamed, still provokes a sense of awe. Though produced in the early 1980s, the information is still on target. It's hard not to be dazzled by the achievements of the Egyptians, and National Geographic's sharp videography and careful research showcase these stars of the ancient world. --Rob Lightner

Description

Take a spectacular journey to walk among the ancient ruins of one of history's great civilizations. Through the centuries, the ancient Egyptians created and constructed the most glorious monuments the world has ever seen. Explore the great temples of Luxor and Karnak. Cross the Nile to the Land of the Dead and enter the elaborately decorated tombs where the kings and queens are buried. Join Egyptologists as they unravel and interpret the riddles of Egypt's intriguing past.

Customer Reviews:

Great Historic National Geographic for Collectors.......2005-08-16

I remembered seeing this National Geographic special- "Egypt: Quest For Eternity" on PBS back in the early eighties and recently spotted a slightly used VHS copy which I picked up(hopeing it still played okay-it did, whew!). Although an older production from the early 1980's, it was very well produced & one of National Geographic's best video productions- with great nariation and a beautiful soundtrack. Includes some heart touching moments on the life of an elderly Egyptcologist who passed away a few days after filming. FYI-WORD OF WARNING: if you're searching for the DVD, the DVD is an "edited", cut-up version missing several parts entirly, as a previous reviewer has already mentioned. The VHS includes the ENTIRE program as originaly aired on PBS. If you plan to view or buy this classic, you really deserve to see the entire film. Really stupid the way a lot of classics are being "butchered" for DVD release! Hope this helps.

A dated documentary that leaves out most of the good stuff.......2004-07-30

Let me start by saying what Egypt: Quest For Eternity is not: it is not a video about the Pyramids (or, for that matter, pyramids of any sort) or the Sphinx - the three pyramids at Giza and the Sphinx appear in one quick shot, and that is it. I find it really peculiar that the most famous and fabulous of the ancient monuments were not mentioned, especially given the fact that the video begins its exploration at the earliest sites of Egyptian civilization and works it way up to modern Egypt. On the other hand, I find it ironically fitting that the Pyramids are not mentioned in a presentation about ancient Egypt's quest for eternity, as I agree with the vocal minority of those who say the Pyramids were not tombs of any sort.

So what is covered here? Not a whole lot, given the rich history of Egypt extending back some six thousand years (longer, I would argue). We see some excavation at perhaps the earliest site of human settlement beside the Nile, work our way through several incredible temples such as those at Luxor and Karnak, get a brief look inside the structures at the Valleys of the Kings and Queens, revel in the sight of a number of structures dedicated to Seti I and Ramses II, get a cursory look at the Temple of Isis (which was converted into a Christian church many centuries ago), and then get some perspective shots of modern Egypt. Along the way, we are treated to a number of beautiful wall decorations and hieroglyphics telling the stories of the pharaohs and their gods.

The real theme of this video is protect and preserve, as much of it dwells on the exquisite artwork incorporated into ancient monuments and modern man's efforts to preserve that historical record before it is lost. The video also describes the dismantling, moving, and reassembly of two magnificent temples threatened by the building of the Aswan Dam. When you come right down to it, the only quest for eternity featured here is that of Ramses II who enjoys most of the time in the spotlight.

This is all well and good, but the contents of the video don't correspond with my own conception of the ancient Egyptian quest for eternity. Sure, the afterlife of the pharaohs is discussed to a limited degree, but I wanted to hear about mummification and the building of the truly incomparable monuments at Giza. I can see how some viewers would be bored by the presentation here, as "the good stuff" is basically neglected, and the film really looks its age (it dates back to 1982). If you are fascinated by everything Egyptian, there is certainly much to appreciate here - I for one learned a number of things from it - but if your interest is only in the Pyramids and the Sphinx, this National Geographic Production is apt to leave you disappointed.

Great Documentary Butchered in DVD Release! (Get the VHS!).......2003-09-08

In their long history of classic documentaries, one of my favorite National Geographic's was the 1982 "Egypt: Quest For Eternity" narrated by the late Richard Basehart. Frequently I have used the VHS edition in my class on Western Civilization as a good way of illustrating some of the points about Egyptian civilization to my students. When I learned that this program had been given a DVD release, which is rare for these classic National Geographic programs, I immediately bought it.

What a waste of money! For reasons totally impossible to fathom, National Geographic and Warner Video have packaged a butchered version of this documentary that runs only 43 minutes (not 60 minutes as the packaging falsely claims; that is the length of the original version), has totally snipped the opening prologue and the wonderful title credits with the best version of Elmer Bernstein's theme music, and hacked out whole sections at random. Only when fast forwarding to the end did I realize what had happened. This DVD version is a 1994 re-edited version done for the National Geographic Channel and other cable channels today where a shorter running time is dictated by the presence of commercials that was not the case on PBS, where this first aired.

Okay, so today this has to air on cable in a butchered format, but what is the excuse for giving the home video viewer this butchered version instead of the original full-length version that has been available on VHS for 15 years? None whatsoever! Shame on National Geographic and Warner Video for this disgraceful packaging of a classic documentary (this is akin to packaging edited versions of classic TV programs on DVD instead of the original uncut versions) and avoid the DVD at all costs! (But by all means get the VHS version which is a four star presentation!)

Dull.......2002-09-11

This video is old and shows it. It has many facts, but presents them in a way that loses my attention. For pure information, it is good.

THIS MOVIE IS BORING.......2001-10-01

this movie, yes it shows all the facts, yes it shows the pictures, yes to all of what you could want except one thing...it makes it seem soooooo boring....i'm supposed to write a paper on it and i have all the info but i fell asleep watching the movie!

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