Rating: 
Summary: Excellent movie!
Review: I recently saw this movie for the first time and I was really
impressed. This movie was made in 1915 but the battle scenes are
as good as any ever put in motion pictures. This one is a true
masterpiece. Don't miss it!
Rating:
Summary: greatest movie of its time and still worth watching
Review: this movie was way ahead of its time as far as cinematography went griffith pioneered things like fading out to black and other techniques taken for granted today and it also gives another perspective of the southerner's plight after the end of the war and the problems they had to deal with things that are not taught in history books today i highly suggest this to anyone with an open mind!
Rating:
Summary: An European Opinion
Review: Okay, as an European citizen I may not be in the position to make any comments about political rights or wrongs in America.
But I recommend this movie to all people, who don't only ask WHAT, but do ask HOW and WHY, too.
Simplified: In Europe we are used to look at both sides of a horse, before we buy it... (history taught us so.)The movie gives an insight of what events lead to the foundation of the KKK. I am not to decide if these shown events ARE history (I'm European and - you may have guessed it - in school we didn't learn anything about South Carolina's history), but they are the historical events, as a Southerner may have seen them in the first years of the last century when the movie was made. (History for sure isn't always an exact science - it depends on the side, from which you are looking). So, when I bought this dvd, I didn't search for historical facts - I wanted to understand. And the dvd satisfied this need fully... And now I understand the discussions around this movie, too - it's because it must be a dilemma for today's Americans:
-If the shown events were true, it would be (- if that is possible in these days) a shock for the selfunderstanding of today's modern America.
-If the shown events were not true, then it wasn't the German nazis or the Russian communists of the 1930s, who invented the "Propagandafilm" to manipulate their own people. And then someone may ask the question 'which pictures we have seen up until today are true, which are not?' So all in all: This movie may not be a historical documentation - but a historical document it is for sure!
At least it is for people, who are trying to understand different points of view, too. To prevent the return of bloody events, history mustn't only teach us what happend - history must teach us why it happened!!! "Birth Of A Nation" gives this insight, I think. Not only with it's content, but with it's sheer existence. And with showing us, how different historical facts can be seen with different eyes... And before I forget it: The war scenes are very good and the scenes with the hundreds of riding clansmen, with their white robes flying in the wind, are simply beautiful.
Hey, from the technical and cineastic point of view - for sure!!!
Rating: 
Summary: An epic silent masterpiece in a terrific DVD release!
Review: D.W. Griffith's 1915 epic silent masterpiece "The Birth Of A Nation" gets an excellent DVD treatment by Madacy Entertainment (yes,that's right Madacy!).We all know that Madacy has produced worst quality DVD'S (ex:METROPOLIS)through the years,but "The Birth Of A Nation" is an excellent example of how a great film should be restored by such a low-budget manufacturer like Madacy has done! I originally used to own this film on VHS (also by Madacy),but now that I have this version on DVD,it's even better than the original VHS quality print! Although the film is presented entirely in black & white,it runs close to three hours (175 mins) since a few bits of scenes were cut and in its original projection speed.The musical score is also excellent which includes excerpts from classical music to even folk songs which helps the film give a period feel to it.Extras are pretty much so-so such as the trivia quiz,and also includes an interesting poster gallery which includes three different posters promoting the film during its original release and also two publicity stills.I only give this DVD four stars,not because of the film itself and also quality,but the extras could've been more entertaining like a making of the film and also production info on how this controversial and groundbreaking film was made.But nonetheless,it's a outstanding DVD and that the picture quality is sharp and crystal clear which makes it more interesting to watch! If you don't have the money to buy the Image DVD version of BOAN,I would strongly recommend this version by Madacy.You will not be dissapointed!A real must-have DVD.
Rating: 
Summary: Twas the Best of Movies, Twas the Worst of Movies...
Review: This is a hard movie to rate. In its time, it was a masterpiece. By the standards of today, though, it is the most horrid thing ever to come out of Hollywood, racist to the core. It did not even have black actors portraying the black characters, such was the racism of the early 1900s. If you look at it through the eyes of a moviegoer who lived in the early 1900s, you would rate it ***** and then some. If you apply today's standards to it, though, it must be given the lowest rating possible.
Rating: 
Summary: As Bad As I Had Heard
Review: When this was listed as one of the top 100 movies of all time by the AFI, there was a lot of hussle and bustle about the racism from the movie. Well I was curious, so I rented it and checked it out for myself. It was all true, and much more. Not only is the film blatantly racist, but its just not good as a movie. Some scenes, and especially characters, feel like they are just thrown in there, and the Civil War battle scenes were not as good as some AFI enthusiasts made them out to be. I just didn't see any thing overly spectacular about this movie, even for the period it was released. Maybe to enjoy this I have to be a hick with the Confederate flag flying outside my trailer, I don't know... If you want a DW Griffith film with some class, try "Intolerance." THAT should have gotten the top 100 films ever made. It certainly had some more dramatic, outstanding scenes in it.
Rating:
Summary: An Incredible Masterpiece of the American History
Review: I am totally impressed by this movie, as I am a huge fan of D.W. Griffith's work. He was a consummate professional and perfectionist in getting the detail in the films he made. This is among his best and also most controversial. The film, based on the Civil war and the assisanation and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan is powerful. I find it wonderful to see that D.W. recreated faithfully the details surrounding this "dark age" of American history. Lillian Gish, as always, is as brilliant as her director and her character is magnificent. Henry Walthall is just as brilliant as the brother who goes to war and also revenges against the black man who caused his baby sister (Mae Marsh) death, Miriam Cooper is a wonderful figure, and of course the actors themselves are brilliant. America is ashamed to see this movie as it reminds them of its past, but indeed it is a powerful film and any portrayal of the film, though directed by a man who was a bit bigoted (not his fault I must say though), since has failed to match it in artistry. I recommend this film for historians and for fans alike. It is truly a masterpiece!! Bravo D.W.!
Rating:
Summary: both great and evil
Review: This movie, which fully unleashed the power of cinema for the first time, ripped a scar on the soul of America. It ignited a decade of intolerance and death for hundreds of people by glorifying the hatreds of a group of people who performed their crimes under a cover of the Flag and bedsheets. Absolutely nothing else compares to Birth of a Nation. No movie is more powerful or more historical. It caused more harm than any entertainment production ever made.
Rating:
Summary: The Movie Is Great, But What Is the Soundtrack Like?
Review: I'm not going to buy this DVD, but not because the movie is bad (it isn't) or because it's racist (although it is). No, it's the soundtrack that concerns me. Back in the 80s, this movie was shown on PBS with a truly magnificent soundtrack. So good was the soundtrack, that the movie would have been worth watching no matter how bad the picture was. Since then, I've seen several different versions of this movie, but in every case the soundtrack was so insipid, and the contrast with the remembered PBS soundtrack so jarring, that I couldn't sit through more than fifteen minutes of it. A good soundtrack is crucial to the enjoyment of a movie, and this is especially true for silent films, which have neither dialogue, nor sound effects, nor integrated music of their own. When a silent movie on video is sold to the general public, I think it is imperative that the soundtrack be clearly identified. It would be best if 30-second sound samples were provided, like those provided for music CDs. Otherwise, people like me, who are looking for a version with a particular soundtrack, will simply refuse to buy.
Rating:
Summary: A Piece of History
Review: What can one say about one of the single most important events in cinematic history? There is not a film today that doesn't owe something to "The Birth of a Nation", the grandfather of all films. Director D.W. Griffith almost single handedly transformed film from mere sideshow curiosity to a legitimate art form in a single fell swoop. Unfortunately however, it is hard to praise "The Birth of a Nation" without likewise condemning it. It is one of the most racist movies ever made. There are still those today who want it banned. However, in my opinion, banning this film was a question for Americans in 1915, not 2003. It has already made its mark in the world and today it is more or less a historical artifact. Rather, I think that we should be encouraged to watch it, to critique it, to praise its technical innovations and artistic breakthroughs, and to condemn its unapologetic racism and misguided moral stances. In its triumphs and its downfalls, "The Birth of a Nation" has much to teach us. As for the film itself, it's best to research ahead of time why it is such a technological and artistic breakthrough. There are several sites on the web that discuss all of the innovations employed in the movie by director D.W. Griffith (and his unheralded cameraman, Billy Bitzer.) Historical significance aside, is "The Birth of a Nation" an enjoyable film? In my opinion: yes, with the right frame of mind. It's a silent film, so you have to infer a lot of things from the subtitles and the acting. It's a bit like watching a foreign film in that respect, though the acting tends to be melodramatic in exchange for dialogue. The story, about two families from the North and the South, is well told and always engaging. The first part of the movie deals with the pre-Civil War era up through Lincoln's postwar assassination. The second, more controversial half deals with the Reconstruction of the South. Throughout we are given historically accurate vignettes, such as Lee's surrender to Grant at Appomatox. My favorite was the magnificently edited scene at Ford's Theater. On the other hand, I found it hard to follow many of the Civil War battles, which were often filmed from afar or at night. Especially annoying is the red tint that was used for scenes where something is burning. These are cinematic innovations, but they are still taxing on the eyes. The acting is very charming. Lillian Gish, who is widely heralded as the greatest actress of the silent era, is wonderful, as are Henry B. Walthall as the "Little Colonel" and Mae Marsh as the "Little Sister." Some of the greatest scenes in the film are Walthall's mournful expressions, especially when he returns to his home after the war. But the way African Americans are portrayed in the film is shocking and appalling. Without exception they are played as grotesque caricatures and stereotypes rather than human beings. The major African American characters are played by whites in blackface, which comes off as extremely disconcerting. Especially creepy is a so-called "mulatto" servant named Lydia who is perpetually aroused throughout the film. Also, I have nothing against a film portraying the Ku Klux Klan in a historical epic about the Reconstruction, but the idea that a group of murdering racists were the heroes and saviors of the South is difficult to digest, to say the least. In conclusion, I highly recommend viewing (or purchasing) "The Birth of a Nation", but be sure to do so with a critical mind and a good understanding of where the film's merits and weaknesses lie.
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