Rating: 
Summary: the riddle, mystery, and enigma
Review: This documentary is fascinating in its sweep of the complex history of Russia, though the production is not top notch, and relies heavily on poorly filmed re-enactments, mostly of just hands, feet, and horses hooves, and repeated shots of lightning streaking across the sky, or blood dripping on the floor, to emphasize the drama of a scene. It is peppered with interviews with professors and historians, who provide intriguing insights into the methods and habits of the Tsars.The first tape starts out by giving the lay of the immense land, and the rivers that were the roadways in the early days of this "nation of many nations", the Mongol invasions, Prince Vladimir, who was the first powerful leader and brought the people together using religion as the unifying force, and then moves on to the lives of the Tsars.
Visually, the final tape is the best, because it includes extraordinary, rare, early 20th century photos and films, of events like the war with Japan, and personages like Lenin. Perhaps the most incredible, poignant footage is of "Bloody Sunday", that shows the peaceful marchers being shot down. Those familiar with David Lean's version of "Doctor Zhivago", will recognize this tragic episode of history that was such a memorable scene in the film. It has an excellent, atmospheric score by Gary Pozner, which has occasional echoes of Moussorgsky and Tchaikovsky, and greatly enhances and adds emotional impact to this documentary. Written and produced by Don Campbell, and narrated by Edward Herrmann, this is an easy way to digest a lot of history, and for those interested in Russia, I also recommend James Billington's superb "The Face of Russia".
Winston Churchill said "Russia is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma", and watching this documentary helps to shed some light on the puzzle that is the great and beautiful land of Russia.
Rating: 
Summary: Russia Land of the Tsars
Review: This is one of the best things out of the history channel in my opinion. Russia Land of the Tsars tells the epic story of Russia for its early days when it was controled by the Vikings and the Mongols. To when it became one of the great empires of world history. The DVD specializes in telling the stories of some of the great leaders of Russia including Peter the Great, Ivan the Terrible and many others. The filming is very good with excellent settings and costume and the entire DVD is interesting.
Rating:
Summary: Watching "Land of the Tsars."
Review: This video is absolutely fasinating. Being a history buff, I found it to be very informative. Was most interested in the later 'wars' after the 1850's, because my husband's grandmother, while trying to escaped during fighting, during a year we are not as yet certain of, along with her sister. They were running for their dear lives when her sister fell in a ravine and told her (our grandmother) to go on. She never saw her sister again. Grandmother later married and migrated to America in the late 1800's, with two children, later bearing my husband's mother after coming to the United States.
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Summary: Finally!! A Perfect Russian History Production!!
Review: Throughot my life as a Russian history buff, I was surprised at how no one managed to make a decent documentary about Russian History. Countless documentaries (like Nicholas and Alexandra, Nova, The Revenge of the Romanovs) but they all left a hole in the story, until now...
I was browsing when I decided to visit the History Channel website. And Russia: Land of the Tsars was being advertised in the spotlight with contests etc and trailers. I was anxious to watch it (although I was expecting a disappointment like other documentaries). So I reserved the TV and watched it. It was stunning because it was a mix of movie quality acting, interviews with experts and informative narration.
The problem with many documentaries was they would ignore minor tsars/ tsarinas and my personal favorite (apart from Nicholas II) Tsarina Elizaveta Petrovna. But not this one they comprehensively explained personalities and showed an array of portraits of the sovereigns and re-enacments of important events. When the first part finished (at the end of Pyotr the Great's death) I couldn't wait till the next day for the continuation, it was so enchanting I did not want to leave the Land of the Tsars, but I waited till the next day when I watched the continuation (even more dazzling). Ekaterina the Great's affairs, Pyotr III's murder, The Napoleonic Wars, they were all re-enacted, I was stunned. I recommend this to anyone who is interested in Russia and expects up to date information and rich production.
Rating: 
Summary: Buy a book
Review: To put it simply, this show .... . I could barely stand to watch it on TV (maybe it was the speakers, maybe it was the middle school level information), and wouldn't spend a dime to own it. Save your money, and buy a book.
Rating:
Summary: History Channel could have and should have done better.
Review: Very disappointing documentary!!! Found many many inaccuracies though out. Very one sided in it's view of a very complicated history. I purchased from the History Channel for early delivery before it aired, assuming because it was the History Channel it would be a magnificient piece. Visually pleasing but the producers needed to get Real historians and Real researchers. Save your money!!!
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