Michel de Nostredame was a French Apothecary who in his fifties suddenly became interested in the occult, changed his name to Nostradamus and began writing what some people call prophecies. There are many mysteries and questions that surround this man. Some call him a prophet, some call him a charlatan. This DVD collection brings together a couple History Channel documentaries about the man and his ideas.
The first documentary is called Lost Book Of Nostradamus. Apparently a book of watercolor paintings was recently found and a bunch of people think it was done by Nostradamus and that these paintings might be his last “haunting” and “grim” predictions.
There are several problems of this idea. First, they aren’t 100% certain whether or not Nostradamus actually painted these pictures. Some say he did not have that talent and there is no way he could have done it. Second, it’s hard enough to interpret his whimsical words into what some view as “fact,” but to look at a painting and determine what it might be predicting just seems silly. And the so-called experts that point out what these paintings have predicted or will predict just made me laugh out loud.
The second documentary Nostradamus 2012 also looks at this so-called “lost book” of his but with a specific focus on the upcoming 2012 which is only briefly touched on in the previous documentary. It makes me think that these episodes were released together only to capitalize on the growing popularity of the mythology surrounding the year in question, what with the movie 2012 coming out soon and all.
The one interesting part of the second documentary is the inclusion of the Mayan calendar and comparing the ancient Mayan ideas of 2012 with Nostradamus’s.
Both of these documentaries are presented in the same manner: interviews with experts and historians cut together with dramatic reenactments, which always just seem silly and pointless. They are told in very melodramatic ways to try and make the material seem all the more dangerous and foreboding. Again, for me this just brought on more laughs. I will give them some credit for allowing the apposing opinion a few minutes to have it’s voice heard.
If you’re an avid Nostradamus follower you might enjoy these documentaries, if you’re curious about the man this might give you a little insight, but most people will find the collection boring. You might even get a kink in your neck due to the amount of times you’ll be shacking you head at what the “experts” have to say.
The episodes are presented in 1.85:1 widescreen, but are not presented in anamorphic widescreen. Sound is in 2.0 Dolby Digital stereo sound.
Nostradamus: 500 Years Later: (90 min.) This History Channel documentary made a couple years ago is actually the most interesting thing in this collection. This is actually a look at the man’s life and isn’t created as something to try and scare you. It just spells out the known facts about his life and is enjoyable for one viewing.
Lost Book – Additional Footage: (10 min.) Glorified deleted scenes that were left on the cutting room floor for a reason. No need to waste time with them here.
2012 – Additional Footage: (15 min.) Same as above.
The biggest problem I have with Nostradamus is that all his prophecies seem to get attached to moments in history after the events have happened. That seems to defeat the purpose of “telling the future.” Plus his writings are so vague anyone can read into them what they want and attached them to whatever atrocity they see fit. As to the DVDs, these are typical History Channel documentaries, nothing to special or interesting here, certainly not worth buying.
The History Channel presents The Nostradamus Files. Lost Book directed by Kreg Lauterbach. Written by Sarah Hollister. 94 minutes. Not Rated. 2012 directed by Andy Pickard. Written by Sarah Hollister. 94 minutes. Not Rated.Released on DVD: October 27, 2009. Available at Amazon.com.
