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Summary: Nobody gets the job done like Ken Burns
Review: I am extraordinarily pleased to know that this documentary coming to DVD. "The Civil War" was the groundbreaking film that charged Ken Burns onto the level of elite filmmaker. If you have seen this, you know what I am talking about. If you have not, you should consider acquiring it, especially if you have seen "Baseball" or "Jazz," and therefore would know what an incredible experience it is to watch a Ken Burns Classic.
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Summary: For someone who is waiting for DVD format.
Review: The DVD format of the Civil War by Ken Burns will be available in fall of 2002 according to PBS announcement. You'll get the best Civil War documentary ever in both best visual and audio quality.
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Summary: A MASTERpiece
Review: One question: WHY ISN'T THIS ON DVD?That said, this is the best documentary ever produced on the subject. Ken Burns' wonderfully researched, narrated, and soundtrack-ed masterpiece is a fascinating and moving work. I viewed it in the fall of 2000 over the course of a Civil War college class, and was captivated. Some of it is a bit boring...uhh, yeah, that's the best criticism I can come up with. I remember during the excellent Gettysburg portion of it, I was actually in tears! There is so much here beyond anything you've read in the history books, little tidbits and did-ya-know facts that add to the experience. The only other item out there on the market than can compare with this video collection is the book "Battle Cry of Freedom." If I were you, I'd do like I'm doing and hold out for DVD...but even then, I don't know if I can.
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Summary: A landmark documentary that bring the Civil War home
Review: Once a year I rewatch Ken Burn's celebrated documentary on "The Civil War," listening to David McCullough's narration haunting narration as hundreds of still photographs from the period are brought alive by combining them with contemporary interviews with historians like Shelby Foote, mutli-layered sound effects, the voices of actors such as Morgan Freeman and Sam Waterson, and the simple but evocative music. We become hooked on this compelling narrative at the end of the first episode, with its unforgettable section on "Honorable Manhood," which includes the letter written by Major Sullivan Ballou of the 2nd Rhode Island to his wife Sarah back home in Smithfield, a week before the first battle of Manassas. The letter is as emotionally powerful as it is poetic, and once you hear it you will not be surprised that it was included on the CD. I was also struck by the revelation at the end of the documentary of how the glass plates of photographs taken during the war were sold to greenhouses, where the sun slowly burned away the grim images of death. In between Burns covers the Civil War in detail, focusing not only on Presidents Lincoln and Davis as well as all the Generals from Grant and Lee to Butler and Forrest, but common soldiers like Elisha Hunt Rhodes and Sam Watkins. By personal favorite discovery form this film is Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. There is just so much to take away from this documentary. Even if you are not a Civil War buff, watching "The Civil War" is a remarkable experience.
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Summary: Buy this immediately and take your phone off the hook
Review: I missed this when it was broadcast and just watched it recently. I am a Civil War buff and was afraid that this would be to fluffy compared with a solid history book and too anti-South as it is a PBS product. Wrong on all counts. It is a brilliant piece of work, moving, accurate, even-handed and comprehensive. You will understand battles and strategies better than static maps in books can show. I was moved to tears at times, especially by seeing the group shots of soldiers together before battle and some of the rare movie footage of old Civil War veterans in the 20th Century, including a very dignified gentleman with a white beard washing himself at a pump at a reunion, and you suddenly realize he only has one arm (watch for it). You will be moved too even if you think you've seen it all. Minor gripe: All land battles, too little non-military stuff (Confederate navy, diplomatic efforts in Europe, etc.) but these are flyspecks on an absolutely brilliant series. You will never regret buying it but you will regret delaying if you put that pleasure off.
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Summary: A wonderful documentary (& a bit of a rebuttal)
Review: I first saw this documentary when it was first released, & have enjoyed watching it numerous times. It is the finest documentary on the War Between the States that has ever been done. For anyone interested in the Civil War, if you haven't seen this - do so! It is balanced, well-thought-out, & a fine piece of filmmaking. I do take exception to an earlier review (by Chris Johnson) - in all fairness to Ken Burns, et al, the title of this documentary isn't "All of the causes, arguments, discussions, dilemmas, compromises, etc. which led UP to the Civil War"; it's "The Civil War". I don't think Burns gives short shrift to the causes of the conflict, but the intent of this documentary was to focus primarily ON the Civil War - the battles, the personalities, etc. Again, for those unfamiliar with this documentary - give it a long look! You won't be disappointed!
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Summary: Excellent Film, Everyone Should Watch This Film!
Review: Beautifully produced film about "The War Between the States" or "The Civil War", with details and information most would have never known about prior to viewing. Mr. Burns or those who distribute the boxed set should strongly consider producing and releasing a DVD version of the entire series, my VHS tapes are starting to loose their quality from several viewings.
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Summary: Stunning - as entertaining as it is informative
Review: If you are like me, you tried taping these wonderful episodes when they were aired on PBS years ago and kept botching up the job (I kept forgetting to turn on the tapes on time after the pledge drive interruptions). So, despite enjoying the episodes, you have done without the complete set for years. Well, do yourself a favor and treat yourself to a handomsely packaged, complete copy of this classic documentary about perhaps the seminal event in our nation's history. Most of you who are reading this have seen at least a portion of this film and are familiar with Burns' documentary style. He uses top actors to record written or spoken words of his participants (for example, Sam Waterston does a great job with Lincoln), and he interposes those voices over photographs of the speaker, battlefield maps and photographs (modern and classic), while playing period music or battle sounds in the background. The music is perfect for the occasion, and lingers in your head for days after watching any of the tapes. There are no reenactments like in other documentaries of war, but oddly the battles and participants seem to come to life more authentically using Burns' technique. Then, periodically, he inserts video commentary by leading historians to provide some background information, or to put the action in context. Shelby Foote is primarily used, and his sage commentary led me to read his masterpiece three part Narrative History of the Civil War, but others are interviewed as well including Stephen Oates, biographer of Lincoln (With Malice Toward None), etc. All in all, the series is a stunning achievement, which captivated the attention of the public toward the war between the states while revolutionizing the method of making documentaries of pre-film historical events. There are occasional misses, like the repeated close-up interviewing of a 100+ year old African American woman in the Gettysburg tape whose commentary is hardly legible. However, I respectfully disagree with those reviewers who chide Burns for not spending enough time on the events and political struggles leading up to the conflict - these are powerful and important issues to be sure, but they are outside the scope, budget, and timeframe of this project. Some of the same reviewers have said Burns also ignored some of the "less important" conflicts, like the war in the west. Well, what (other than the 100 yr old woman interviews) would you cut out? Or should the film be 20 hours long instead of 11? It's like making a film on reconstruction, and suggesting that it didn't have enough material on the end of the war. This is an 11 hour film on the war, and I think it succeeds on every level. It's worth twice the price.
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Summary: The Civil War on DVD
Review: Fantastic Documentary. I've watched many times via the VHS, but the quality of the tapes are diminishing. Is there any chance this will be released on DVD, like Mr. Burns' doc. "JAZZ"? That would be wonderful! Thanks.
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Summary: Magnificent!!
Review: You've probably heard by now how great this miniseries is. This is still Ken's finest work.
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