Rating: 
Summary: Brilliant!
Review: I was too young in 1977 to remember this movie (I was about 3 at the time!), but when I was 13 and graduating from junior high school, my 8th grade teacher told us that it was an absolute must to watch this movie before we graduated. We didn't understand why we had to, but she insisted as she put aside a whole week for us and during the last two or three hours of each day, we watched it. We never saw anything like it! I now own the DVD and I plan to watch it with my daughter when she gets older as many history books doesn't teach you what this movie taught me. I am hoping for "Roots: The Next Generation" to come out soon on DVD and I am ordering "Queen" on VHS as we speak. A brilliant movie from Alex Haley, one of our unsung geniuses and heroes of the 20th century.
Rating:
Summary: Revisting Roots
Review: When I was a little girl my mother let me watch this series. It took nearly a week to finish it, but by the time I was done I had seen things they don't teach in school. The life of this family through generation to generation is amazing. I wasn't at all suprised when my mother told me it was based on a true story, and on a book written by one of the decendants in the family. Alex Haley spent a good part of his life (As portrayed in "Queen" one of my favorite in the "Roots" series) gathering information about his family and their history. He did an amazing job with it. And I feel that I am a better person just because of this series. It's time we moved on and stopped the hatred. ...
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent DVD but annoying story
Review: I thought they did a great job with this DVD considering the source. The picture quality didn't match a modern movie, but I didn't expect that. I thought it looked great for a 70's TV show. The sound was servicable, which all you can expect from something this old. They also did a good job with the commentary, which covered all six episodes.
The actual story was another matter. There were some great performances (especially by Louis Gossett Jr. as Fiddler), but there were a few I could have done without, like Sandy Duncan and whoever played that poor white guy starting with episode five. They featured too many unbelievable coincidences, which means lazy writing to me. The show also looked claustrophobic after episode one , no doubt because of budget constraints. (That snow in episode two looked like the result of an overflowing washing machine.)It looked like they were in one spot for the remaining five episodes. As far as a story about slavery, it hit the high points but didn't go into much depth. (I guess that shouldn't be a complaint; this wasn't on the History channel.) For its time it might be five stars, but not now.
Rating: 
Summary: The mini-series that changed my life
Review: Watched this when I was 8 years old and it completely changed my life. I would give this DVD 5 stars but I thought they could've done a better job with the extra materials for this.
Rating:
Summary: ROOTS-A LIFE CHANGING HISTORY
Review: This incredible, sweeping, historic story needs no introduction. It is powerful enough to make anyone take stock and examine their own values and realise that all of us have the same hopes, ambitions, loves, tragedies and the right to freedom - regardless of race or colour. The DVD version is superb. A stunning re-mastered digital transfer with a colourful, vibrant high definition picture with a visual quality equal to film. Whilst the sound track is mono, it is crisp and resounding and excellently reproduced. In fact this is one of a very few DVDs to be reinforced by a mono track which adds to the stark brutality of the depiction of yet another chapter of man`s intolerance to his fellow men. Maybe if Roots was part of the educational curriculum it would help eliminate the ignorance that has prevailed for over 200 years. Roots on DVD is an experience you will not forget. Watch it and be enthralled as you travel a whirlwind of emotional true drama through the generations from young Kunta Kinte to Chicken George. Robert Graham (UK)
Rating: 
Summary: An elaborate hoax
Review: Before anyone buys this video, they should be aware that most of this story, which was supposedly based on Mr. Haley's investigation into his ancestry, was proven to be a hoax, while other parts were simply stolen from other sources. Let the buyer beware!
Rating:
Summary: A MUST HAVE For Your Video Library AND Life!!
Review: No matter the color of your skin, you MUST have this box set of the original ROOTS. This is a chance to own a small, but intensely significant piece of history that you can share with your children, parents, friends and anyone else. ROOTS chronicals the 7 generations of author Alex Hailey's family, beginning with Kunta Kente, a free young man of 15 living in The Gambia, Africa with his mother and father. And just one short day after his manhood training, he goes to find a log to make a drum for his little brother and is captured by the slave hunters. He is then taken to America, where he is sold into slavery. Kunta Kente is a strong warrior who NEVER gives up his quest for the freedom he knew in Africa. And though he is beaten to within an inch of his life several times and even has his right foot cut off, he never stops trying. His strength and courage and legacy is passed on to his daughter, Kizzy, who passes it on to her son Chicken George, who passes it on to his son Tom, and finally, Tom's granddaughter passes it on to her son, Alex Haley. This is a TRUE tale of the utmost strength, surrounded by what is the REAL American History. Not soft-soaped too much. Just gritty and raw reality. And since Amazon.com has the lowest price on the box set that you'll find, I heartily suggest this one, along with "Roots: The Next Generation". Be prepared to be uncomfortable. But remember, growth can never occur until you step outside your comfort zone. Buy this set and start growing!
Dr. Braxy :o)
Rating:
Summary: Great teaching tool
Review: Must see for any dvd owner. I haven't watched roots in some time and was still very impressed. When it originally broadcast I was in grade school at the time, so now a days there are a lot of "new" things to absorb. It was also a great tool in explaining this aspect of history to my children. The commentary added by John Amos and other cast and crew was also a plus. Technically speaking:
Phenominal picture quality.
This was the first dvd I purchased, as a matter of fact, I purchased a player specifically to watch this during Black History Month. I first puchased a Zenith( the one with the 5 disc carousel). After a while the dvd would stutter consistently and experince other problems. Being a newbie, I couldn't tell if it was the player or the dvd itself. I then rented a flick, ("something" Valentine, with Samuel Jackson) and experienced a totaly different problem. I then took both dvds to a friends house and they played flawlessly. I eventually exchanged my dvd for a panasonic DVD player and had no problems whatsoever with the Roots dvd. (Panasonic has dual lasers and better error correction) . Needless to say, my point here is that i did not experience the subtitle problem on the Zenith 5 carousel, with the Panasonic RV32 or my freinds Toshiba unit, as did some of the other reviewers. I must admit I did not play it on the Toshiba for more than 15 minutes total time. Perhaps it is an issue specific to their model or take it up with WB directly for technical assistance. If hesitant, I would rent it, see how it plays, then by it for your collection. It is a must have!
Rating: 
Summary: I loved the story, but sorely disappointed in DVD quality
Review: I thought I was losing my mind. I, like so many others, was eagerly anticipating my favorite miniseries release on DVD; however, I am having the same problems (on my second copy) with the unwanted subtitles (I'm using a Toshiba SD-1600 as is another reviewer, and this is the first time this has happened). I'm keeping my copy because I loved the story so much (can't wait for Roots: The Next Generation, but I hope WB does come up with some solution.
Rating:
Summary: Virbrant As Ever 25 Years Later - BUT maddening flaw in DVD
Review: I am delighted that Roots has actually grown in its poignancy for me with life experience. I cared deeply about the characters as a young man 25 years ago, but they are even more empathetic now. I was afraid the show would appear melodramatic in retrospect, but not so. The producers were courageous in their rendering, and not not at all patronizing. The performances all are skillful, and the depth of emotion backing them is palpable, and appropriate for the heft and significance of its subject. Lou Gosset as Fiddler is particularly riveting. When he shows Kunte how to assume a mask for survival, we all weep and mourn for his loss of human dignity, pride. In the "looking back" show aired recently, I was amazed to learn that over 120 Million saw the show in 1977. Soon after the height of the civil rights movement, Roots filled in a lot of blanks for the nation at large, gave a human face to our nation's original sin, and, I'd like to think, helping us to move beyond our darkest days, and perhaps a step closer toward reconciliation and unity. This DVD is for the permanent collection, repeated viewing and sharing with grandchildren. It gets five stars without question. THERE IS, HOWEVER, ONE TECHNICAL DRAWBACK: When I play the DVD, english subtitles appear unpredictably and intermittently on the TV screen. No other DVDs do this on my player. Since I returned the same DVD from another retailer for the same reason, it appears to be a manufacturing flaw. Unfortunately, solving this problem will most likely require more that a simple exchange.
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