Rating: 
Summary: The epic saga continues
Review: WAR AND REMEMBRANCE picks up right where THE WINDS OF WAR left off. Story-wise, part one of WAR AND REMEMBRANCE is every bit as good as THE WINDS OF WAR, too.
However, there are a number of major cast changes here which are a bit disconcerting. The switch from Ali MacGraw to Jane Seymour is the one I found the most troubling; Jane Seymour may be a better actress overall, but her Natalie lacks the confidence and self-reliance of Ali MacGraw's Natalie. The change from Gunter Meisner to Steven Berkoff as Hitler is also a bit of an adjustment, as is seeing Sharon Stone as Janice.
On the other hand, there are some improvements. Hart Bochner is a better Byron than Jan-Michael Vincent, and Sir John Gielgud is truly amazing as Aaron Jastrow. It does take some time to get used to seeing different actors in all these roles, especially if watched back-to-back with THE WINDS OF WAR.
Robert Mitchum, Polly Bergen, David Dukes and Victoria Tennant are all perfect in their roles, as they were the first time around. Like THE WINDS OF WAR, WAR AND REMEMBRANCE is just a pleasure to experience, with an epic scope juxtaposed with the intimate details of the lives of the Henry and Jastrow families.
Dan Curtis does not shy away from the realities of war and the Holocaust here, and some scenes are visually and emotionally intense. This only adds to the realism, though, and serves to make the story that much more compelling.
And, of course, Part 1 of WAR AND REMEMBRANCE is only part of the story -- the middle of the trilogy, so to speak. Part 2 has to be seen in order to complete the story, which makes me wonder why both parts weren't simply packaged together for DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Mesmerizing but watch for the errors
Review: War and Remembrance" picks up where the infinitely superior "Winds of War" leaves off. This continuation has a multitude of problems and is not nearly as cohesive or riveting as its predecessor, but it's still worth watching and re-watching. Be prepared for a long sojourn in front of your TV however, it's 23 total hours of viewing time. Some of the problems of its precursor have thankfully vanished, most notably, Ali McGraw and Jan-Michael Vincent have been replaced by superior actors (not a difficult chore, I assure you). Jane Seymour is hardly Ethel Barrymore, but she is leagues above the wretched Ali McGraw in the pivotal role of Natalie Jastrow. But the character of Natalie grates on the nerves. She makes one appalling choice after the other, until it's difficult to root for her. In addition, Seymour plays Natalie as a curiously flat character, and missing is the essential fire and determination of Wouk's Natalie. Hart Bochner is a marginal improvement over Vincent as the whiny Bryan, but his screen chemistry with Seymour is zilch. His scenes with Mitchum also betray his liabilities as an actor. Whereas Jan-Michael Vincent's Bryan was sympathetic and appealing, Bochner plays the part as a mean-spirited, spoiled and pompous prig: watch especially his scene with Mitchum when he whines about the picture of Pam Tudsbury on the table. And what of the magnificent Robert Mitchum, the glue that holds the series together? He is much too old for the part of Pug Henry here and his limitations show. Whereas he was a trifle elderly for the Pug part in volume one, this was filmed six years later and Mitchum is downright doddering. Is he still sexy? You bet. Is it still believable that Pamela Tudsbury (played a bit insipidly by Victoria Tennant) would travel across the world to lie chastely in his arms for 10 minutes? Well... it's a stretch, but I wouldn't say no to Mitchum, would you? The historical characters are, again, wretched. The Hitler they cast is absurd and one wonders how such a raving cretin as this could have held the German nation spellbound for twelve dark years. In fact, the Hitler scenes are riddled with absurd errors and if anyone believes that actual Hitler behaved like this ignorant maniac, please consult a non-fictional history. It's amusing that Pug Henry again meets all of the integral characters of WWII in one fell swoop: Hitler is on his dance card, as well as Churchill, Stalin, Mussolini and anyone else he chooses to see. It's silly, contrived and forced, but it still manages to rivet the viewer. If you're expecting true-to-life World War II drama, forget it. But if you love Robert Mitchum, a good story of epic proportions, then this will suffice. I watch it every few years and love it despite its myriad problems.
Rating:
Summary: Very good, but boy, very long.
Review: War and Remembrance, the sequel to The Winds of War, starts off where the first ended. It's December 15, 1941 and the U.S. has just been attack by the Japanese Navy. Just like Winds, the historical content is extremely (and sometimes distubingly) accurate. The acting is great, and the battle scenes are as impressive as any ever filmed. If there is any downside to this series it's that Robert Mitchum is just too old here for the part of Pug Henry. In Winds he seemed to fit perfectly, however by the time Dan Curtis got to filming W&R Mitchum had begun to truly look his age. It's a small distraction, but it's there none-the-less. Upgrades in the casting from Winds include Jane Seymore taking over as Natalie Jastrow from Ali McGraw, Hart Bochner as Byron Henry (originally played by Jan-Michael Vincent) and Sir John Gielgud as Aaron Jastrow taking over from John Houseman. Downgrades include pretty much the whole German contingent (with the exception of Jeremy Kemp). In Winds Hitler and Goring were dark, sinister, and downright scary. Here they are portrayed as pompous and overbearing, but also stumbling through the war almost by accident. Probably not the most accurate of portrayals. I would recommend this to just about anybody who is interested in WW II and is looking for a great story. Just be forewarned: This mini-series has some of the most disturbing scenes EVER filmed for TV. The mass murder of the Jewish people here is as graphic and violent as you can possibly imagine. Add to that the journey that Aaron, Natalie, and her son are forced to endure so that the author, Herman Wouk, can show us the horrors of the holocaust, just absolutely rips your heart. This mini-series is NOT for the faint of heart.
Rating: 
Summary: Unforgettable
Review: Without doubt the most stunning work of filmmaking I have ever seen, "War and Remembrance" is a massive experience to watch that will haunt you always. This last great miniseries dramatizes the ENTIRE Second World War, and does so at times with a raw honesty unseen before or since on network TV. Shot on location around the world, the soap opera stories are always intriguing as we follow the various members of the Henrys, an American Naval family as they encounter every major event of the war. The heart, though, is the central plot of Jane Seymour, in a heartbreaking career-best performance as an American Jew trapped in Europe, and John Gielgud, mesmerizing as her uncle. As they are slowly, inexorably pulled into the Holocaust we follow them, step by agonizing step, to the final horrors of Auschwitz, filmed entirely on location. The movie is aided by a brilliant, unforgettable score by Bob Cobert, especially the main theme which seems to encapsulate every single emotion of the thirty hours into its two minutes. It may be a bit of a commitment to watch this, but it is worth it. "War and Remembrance" is as close to time travel as is possible, and makes that dark period of history come powerfully alive.
Rating:
Summary: A great way to retrace history! Amazing Cast!!!
Review: Wow! What a beautifull story! This movie shows all aspects of this 2nd World War. It follows every steps, events, intensities and disasters. We understand how war can effect afamily in everey sense of the way. I encourage anyone who is fascinated by history to spend the weekend with friends, and watch the whole thing with Winds of War.
You will call your grandparents or pray for them after watching this!
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