Egypt - Beyond The Pyramids (2001)

Enduring Spell of Ancient Egypt

Egypt: Beyond the Pyramids, a two-DVD set, will enthrall both connoisseurs and neophytes. Superb photography, expert comments of Egyptologists, computer animation, and, last but not least, British actor Peter Woodward make this series stand out among the productions dedicated to Ancient Egypt. Woodward makes Ancient Egypt accessible to a wide audience by keeping his coverage both erudite and entertaining.

In Volume I, Woodward first guides his audience through sites such as Karnak's Great Temple, Queen Hatshepsut's Deir el-Bahri, and the Temple of Abydos. Woodward complements his comments with the insights of Egyptologists to bring back to life these sites in all their splendor. Woodward then explores KV5, the largest tomb in the Valley of the Kings, under the guidance of Kent Weeks. KV5 still has some secrets to reveal to Weeks and his team because of the enormous task that the clearing of the mausoleum represents.

In Volume II, Woodward first digs into the daily life of Ancient Egyptians. Woodward walks on site in the company of Egyptologists who provide viewers with a glimpse in the daily activities of ordinary Egyptians during the Antiquity. To the credit of the authors of this production, the life of ancient Egyptian women gets unusually extensive coverage. Woodward then delves into the spiritual beliefs of Ancient Egypt, which continue to fascinate. The quest for immortality is inseparable from human nature.

To summarize, Egypt: Beyond the Pyramids ranks among the best productions ever made for a broad audience. This production is an invitation extended to spectators to go (back) to Egypt and to view these splendors and their creators for themselves.
March 26, 2007

An excellent documentary

This four-part documentary serves either as a great introduction to Egyptology, or as an interesting look at some recent developments in the field. Though the series is numbered somewhat oddly (the third and fourth installments serve more as an introduction into Egyptian belief and culture, while the first two are more in-depth), it covers adequately a broad range of topics, and handles its subject manner well. Far from being just another picumentary of the Pyramids and Sphinx (hence the title), this film provides a beautiful and satisfying look at the wonders of Egypt while providing detailed related information.

All in all, this is an excellent film. The section on KV5 was especially fascinating. In fact, the only thing I have to complain about was having to watch Peter Woodward put on Egyptian makeup in one of the episodes. This shouldn't be enough to drive you away, however; this is a great and informative film. September 2, 2003

Woodward really gets into it!!

This series is great fun to watch and quite informative. The cinimatography is superb and of course, Peter Woodward... He really makes it work. He is definitely into Egypt and his enthusiasm really makes the series come alive. The music overlays in this series is also very good and well produced.

From the Valley of the Kings, to Giza and everything in between, "Egypt - Beyond the Pyramids" seems to take great pride in bringing us viewers into the ancient world of Egypt without ever leaving our living rooms... of course it will inspire you to leave your living room too!

I went to Egypt in 2000, and seeing Peter Woodward narrating in the busy streets of Cairo was just as I remembered... about the only thing missing is the strong smells of herbs, spices, kebab, humid Nile air, nargila smoke, smog, and donkey doo-doo in the Cairene streets!! Oddly pleasant believe it or not! You really do get to see a lot of Egypt in these DVDs! Go get it then go to it! March 3, 2003

A Wonderful Adventure

Egypt - Beyond the Pyramids is an exciting adventure that explores Egypt's past. As host, Peter Woodward joins in the expeditions by interviewing archaeologists, excavating graves, squeezing into narrow crevices, and even dressing up as an Egyptian. His commentary is engaging and insightful. Instead of the usual scenes of crumbling ruins, computer animation gives a more lively and detailed view of the way the Egyptians lived---both rich and poor alike. January 27, 2002

Excellent documentary

When I first saw this DVD in Best Buy, I had to pick it up. And I was not disappointed at all. This CD explores aspects of Egyptian life that are rarely covered by popular media (AKA pyramids). You learn more about the culture and the daily life of Egyptians from here than from other sources. The presentation is definitely a production with an actor as the narrator, but he does a great job. The visuals are excellent and if you're interested in Egyptian history you will not be disappointed with this DVD. Included is a "making of" section that's pretty interesting -- including some outtakes. December 18, 2001

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