APEX EXPRESS

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!
Rating: 2 / 5

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.
Rating: 5 / 5

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.
Rating: 3 / 5