Roots

Rating:
Summary: 200yrs,12yrs,2yrs,8nites= Greatest TV Mini-Series now on DVD
Review: 200 years to unfold, 12 years of research to discover, 2 years to create, 8 nights to make television history.

Alex Haley's "ROOTS" a Pultizer Prize Winning Book adapated Srceen Play dominated TV and America in 1977. Winner of 9 Emmy Awards, the George Foster Peabody Award, the Television Critics Circle Awards and the Golden Globe Award. This was a mini-series which Ameica watched and it change us forever.

Alex Haley spent 12 years retracing and recreating his family tree. "ROOTS" was the result of this research and it tells an incredible story of one mans family and American slavery.

This story is a must viewing!! A very enlightening story of slavery and America.

Warner Brothers did a great job transferring this classic series to DVD. This Standard Format 3 DVD set (double sided) gives us the complete 'ROOTS" experience (over 570 minutes)to view over and over. The extras include; Complete Commentary by Producer David L. Wolper and numerous series stars, Behind the Scenes documentary, Video High lights, The ROOTS Family Tree and a documentary Remembering ROOTS (with most of the stars in the series in reflection).

Summary; His name was Kunta Kinte. Kidnapped from Africa and enslaved in America in 1767. The journey began to keep his heritage and reclaim freedom. This process covered generations and through word of mouth survive until it reached a young boy growing up in Tennessee. His name was Alex Haley and he proclaimed Kunta Kinte's name to the world.

Don't miss this outstanding must see family experience. Enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: Historic broadcast
Review: I just re-watched this historic production after 26 years, and was again amazed at the enduring power and quality of the story. I can remember not only watching in 1977 with my family, but then seeing it again days later in 8th grade social studies class. It was a major cultural event. It's a nostalgic kick to see so many of the familiar TV stars of the 70's (white and black) assembled for this important work, from Ralph Waite, Lorne Greene, and Robert ("Mike Brady") Reed to John Amos, Leslie Uggams, Ben Vereen, and George Stanford Brown - even a young Todd Bridges!

Aside from personal nostalgia, what impresses me upon a more mature viewing is the unflinching attention to all the sordid details of slavery, things I didn't really understand at the time: the horror of the Middle Passage, that cold pragmatic debate of "tight pack" versus "loose pack", the complicity of some Africans in the slave trade, the near-ubiquitous violation of black women by their owners (Hailey's first white ancestor appears as early as the 2nd generation), references to Abolitionists, the Nat Turner rebellion, the origins of the Klan as defeated southern whites sought to circumvent the new equality - it's all here. This is nothing less than a primer on the tragedy that was American slavery. It still educates as it entertains, just as it was intended to do.

Rating:
Summary: A Brilliant Tale
Review: I was just a little kid when Roots originally aired, but I still remember how enthralled I was . . . Watching it again after all these years has brought back all of my initial awe of how one story can be so brilliantly mastered . . . Praise for Alex Haley, Stan Margulies and everyone else who had a hand in Roots, because it is simply amazing.

This DVD itself is good. Instead of having several discs, there are only 3, with special features that include a 'Remembering Roots' featurette, subtitles and a Roots family tree, along with an enhanced CD, all at a reasonable price. A must-have for any fan of Alex Haley's series.

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Summary: Your roots and mine
Review: I think every family should have this in his or her household. If you don't then I think u should go get it.

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Summary: The spirit and the Spirituals
Review: Two days ago, I finished watching "Roots" ( the re-edited DVD version) , a series I scarcely remembered from my adolescent years. I remembered I had liked it. That was just about it.
Well.....now I'm 40, a musician (choral conductor and educator) and a profound lover of Spirituals and Gospel music. So....let me tell you that "Roots" moved the very bottom of my heart. I cried every episode, deeply touched by the sadness of the story but also by the invincible courage that has led African Americans through a hard history in the U.S. From my knowledge of Spirituals I've always admired this courage, this strength of the spirit reflected throughout all the melodic and rhythmic richness, ( "Hush...hush... Somebody's calling my name") the spiritual and physical beauty of a race, the deep and sincere approach to Christianity!
I think and I do hope that, someday, those "in power" all around the world will open their eyes and finally come to understand that racism, and all forms of discrimination, belong to the darkest and the most ignorant side of the human heart!
Just one last question: Is it possible to buy the printed Screenplay?
Santiago Zuleta. (Bogotá, Colombia)

Rating:
Summary: excellent
Review: wonderful miniseries about an african american family the story starts in 1760 and ends in about 1865. If you like this video I would recommend roots the next generation which starts in 1882 and ends in 1966.

Rating:
Summary: Awe inspiring...
Review: Alex Haley was a genious and this set is worth every penny and then some. Just one complaint... When do we get Roots: The Next Generations, Roots: The Gift, and Queen on DVD. My shelves are waiting for the rest!!

This is the best DVD investment I have made so far!!!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Nice try but Don't Be Fooled
Review: After reading the book Roots I was in great anticipation of seeing the movie which was to be shown on the Hallmark channel for its annivesary. I was expecting a great movie because the book was excellent. I was very disappointed I didn't even watch the entire movie. A large portion of the story which dealt with Kunta's childhood and the development of his mentality was left out and foolishness was added in its place. I must admit I must admit that even though the movie was inaccurate and probably changed to incorporate different views or as not to make things seem so bad, it did bring awareness to slavery a much shunned subject in our society.

Read the book instead its way better.

Rating:
Summary: Technical glitches
Review: Several of the other reviewers have reported technical problems, and I've encountered one too. What's strange is that they're all different glitches. In my case, the disc would crash when I started the movie on the second side of the third disc, although the menus and extra worked fine. I took the disc back to the store. It played okay on their machine, but they exchanged it anyway, but the new disc also wouldn't play on mine.

The series itself is good though slightly--just slightly--overrated. All the characters have very American habbits and sensibiltiles. Also, several of the actors are so ingrained in our minds as other characters that it's hard to buy into them here: Mr. Brady and Lou Grant for example, not to mention O.J. Simpson.

Overall it is good--don't get me wrong--and everyone should see it at least once in their life.

Rating:
Summary: Roots- Television's Best/DVD Could Be Better
Review: This series changed my life, and everyone's life who watched it. Unfortunately, there is an audio glitch on the second disc (episode 3). When the actual episode begins, the music sounds as if someone accidentally turned it all the way down, then back up again. This is a shame as it has nothing to do with the remastering of the film, but rather a technical goof when transferring. If Warner would fix this glitch, the disc would rate 5 stars.