A Concise History of Arms and Armor
Modern Marvels: Battle Gear is a concise and informative survey of arms and armor over the centuries. The opening segments of the documentary show the various types of battle gear used by modern soldiers. Then, we go back in time and learn about shields, bows and arrows, the Egyptians and chariots, Greek hoplites, Roman centurions, knights and armor in the Middle Ages, the development of firearms, machine guns, helmets, World Wars I and II, weapons and body armor used in Vietnam, Kevlar, the Persian Gulf War, MREs, and the soldier of the future. The segment on the soldier of the future posits that future uniforms will be climate controlled and will have the ability to adjust camouflage with surrounding areas; munitions will also have the ability to distinguish between friend and foe. This is a well done documentary but fails to mention the significance of cone shaped bullets and rifled guns during the American Civil War. It also does not discuss gas masks as used during World War I. Still, this is an entertaining yet informative video ideal for anyone interested in a succinct fifty minute overview of the history of arms and armor.
