I hesitate to call this a mockumentary because it's more clever than funny. There are a few low-key gags but they're not really that amusing. Still, it is clever, and Jackson has an admirable commitment to authenticity. The films are aged beautifully and could definitely pass as forgotten relics. I did wonder if there might be a sort of New Zealand inferiority complex at play, with Jackson wanting to invent a cinematic Kiwi legend. It's a fun little movie that looks like it was fun to make.

wow... to think had i not seen this, i would never have heard of the great colin mckenzie!

Great little gem from Jackson, a great homage to cinema and its gift of illusion.

Very clever poke at documentary filmmaking and the extent to which Peter Jackson will go through for a practical joke.

Deadpan absurdity at its best.

It's a bit far-fetched to be believable, but it's not like it tries to be believable in the first place. Actually very enjoyable in many ways. And quite short. Very much worth seeing.

Neat and amusing.

Utterly charming and even gently moving portrait of "pioneer" McKenzie combines just the right degree of verisimilitude with a knowing wink, thanks largely to the persuasive input from its talking heads, including Maltin who perhaps surprisingly provides the best "performance" in the film. An immensely satisfying, beautifully constructed and well-thought out practical joke.

Not humorous enough as a joke film, not convincing enough as a mockumentary.

Very well-made and, due to a relatively short runtime, it never wears thin.

Forgotten Silver is a truly unique experience that, at 55 minutes, never overstays its welcome.

Well made film.

The amount of work and dedication that went into this is incredible. Jackson's love of film is really evident here. Although it's very clever and often amusing, I really still can't believe that I know fellow film students who actually believed this as a real documentary.

It's somewhat amusing, but very one note. Eventually I started thinking to myself "what's the point of all this effort" and I just couldn't find an answer. Maybe I was just in the wrong mood to watch this.

87.500

There are people who believed this to be true? Sheesh.

Fuck you, I thought this was real! Watching it a second time (first time as a fiction film), I was amazed at the flawless executions of the "gags". Even the first time I saw this, I thought they were a little too unbelievable to be true, and they were, but I believed it anyway. Tomfoolery or not, Forgotten Silver's biggest implication is how history can dilute and distort masterminds and milestones, so it was beautiful to see this man/metaphor get the recognition he deserves.

Nice idea to honour 100years of cinema back in 1995 from a kiwi point of view.