Nice Idea but flawed
By a customer
from Mold
, 08 Jul 2010
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS
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The idea is a good one. Replicate a street from the 1940's and then blow it up to show what happened to similar houses during the Blitz. Time lapse photography and high speed cameras allow scientists to examine the effect of shockwaves and shrapnel.
Tony Robinson lends authority to this venture (Time Team) and he narrates the story of how the Blitz strategy of the Germans in WWII came about and its effect on the London population. The eyewitness accounts are particularly moving.
Where this worthy exercise falls down is in the actual execution of the explosions. The first, when a replica 250lb bomb, with fins etc is detonated on site is shocking. The destructive power and shrapnel damage is captured completely. Unfortunately the 500lb bomb isn't contained within a steel casing but is in a cardboard box, due to 'Health and Safety concerns' about potential shrapnel damage 2kms away and how loud it would be. Yes, the shockwave is devastating but it isn't a proper reconstruction without it being a bomb is it !
At this point my attention wandered as I started to get amused by the fact that a man in a 'high viz' jacket had to get out of the van before Tony Robinson, to make sure that all the explosive had gone. He walked 12ft from the van, looked down and then gave the all clear. High drama indeed :)
The biggest 'bomb' was saved for last, the replica of the V2 rocket and containing over 1000lb of high explosive. This wasn't actually exploded in the street as again, health and safety concerns prevailed. This time they dug it into a bank some 50m's away from 'Blitz Street'. The outcome.... ?
... a massive hole and a lot of mud splattered buildings !
There is some merit to this 'Discovery Channel' type film as the background is both interesting and educational. Its just a shame the explosions were such an anti-climax.
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