The Civil War - A Film by Ken Burns

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful.
Review: It is beauiful, that is all that needs to be said. If you believe that you are an educated person or are aspiring to be one you must see this monumental documentary. Careful, you may weep.

Rating:
Summary: The greatest documentary I've ever seen.
Review: My favorite documentary, Ken Burn's "The Civil War" is a stirring, poignant, beautifully filmed, comprehensive history of the US civil war. When this film is over, I'm actually sad I can see no more - my measure of a truly great film. -Susan Jones Barron

Rating:
Summary: Eye-opening truth of the senseless tragedy of the civil war
Review: Ken Burns has compiled an incredible selection of photos, letters, and historical narratives of the Civil War. The films offer an open-minded view of the war, from the very beginning, through all the major battles, all the way to the tragic end of the war. Spellbound, watchers will wait on the edge of their seats to reach the end of each tape and move on to the next.

Rating:
Summary: The Civil War - A Film by Ken Burns
Review: This one is superb........well worth the money..it can be purchased for much less at eBay though. Shelby Foote's comments thoughout the film are outstanding. He is truly a southerner and you will enjoy his thoughts relative to the film. I highly recommend the film and will be glad to answer any questions anyone might have regarding the film. You can email me at [e-mail] with your questions!

Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece Beyond Comparison
Review: I have seen a number of people raving about Ken Burns' "The Civil War" who referred to this massive film simply as "a documentary." For anyone who has seen it "The Civil War" is not just a documentary, it is THE documentary. To proclaim this magnificent set the greatest documentary of all time does not does "The Civil War" justice.

A powerhouse of emotion, intelligence and ultimately a fascinating story brilliantly told, Ken Burns reinvented the documentary with a style of such grace and humanity that he lifted the entire medium to the level of high art.

But "The Civil War" is so much more than just a documentary. The film tells a story of the people and places shattered by a war that would so fracture an entire nation that it pitted brother against brother. We see those fighting for honor, fighting for their way of life and some (eventually) even fighting for their very freedom and how this conflict intended to hold a nation together nearly destroyed it. "The Civil War" is such a masterful piece of storytelling it is enough to make one wish all naratives -- non-fiction or fiction -- were this strong.

The fact such a masterpiece came from television, the motion picture's much kicked around cousin, is besides the point. T.V. show or not, "The Civil War" is the greatest movie of all time, period.

Rating:
Summary: A landmark documentary that bring the Civil War home
Review: Once a year I rewatch Ken Burn's celebrated documentary on "The Civil War," listening to David McCullough's narration haunting narration as hundreds of still photographs from the period are brought alive by combining them with contemporary interviews with historians like Shelby Foote, mutli-layered sound effects, the voices of actors such as Morgan Freeman and Sam Waterson, and the simple but evocative music. We become hooked on this compelling narrative at the end of the first episode, with its unforgettable section on "Honorable Manhood," which includes the letter written by Major Sullivan Ballou of the 2nd Rhode Island to his wife Sarah back home in Smithfield, a week before the first battle of Manassas. The letter is as emotionally powerful as it is poetic, and once you hear it you will not be surprised that it was included on the CD. I was also struck by the revelation at the end of the documentary of how the glass plates of photographs taken during the war were sold to greenhouses, where the sun slowly burned away the grim images of death. In between Burns covers the Civil War in detail, focusing not only on Presidents Lincoln and Davis as well as all the Generals from Grant and Lee to Butler and Forrest, but common soldiers like Elisha Hunt Rhodes and Sam Watkins. By personal favorite discovery form this film is Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. There is just so much to take away from this documentary. Even if you are not a Civil War buff, watching "The Civil War" is a remarkable experience.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Documentary Ever Made
Review: I don't quite know what Gary in Chicago has been smoking. This film is simply the best Documentary ever made. Period. I'd rather not gush as so many of the reviews have done. Suffice it to say that if you own any documentray, this is the one to own. One caveat, however.... Invest in the DVD remstered edition instead of the VHS. The picture and sound are vastly improved.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: If you are one of the people who hasn't yet seen this documentary, you MUST see it. It is a MUST for every civil war buff. It is the best way to learn about the war, and as a young teenager it helped spur my interest in the war. I am 26 now, and couldn't wait to purchase it. I love all Ken Burns documentaries, but this is my favorite.

My favorite part of the whole documentary is the letters from people such as Mary Chestnut, who actually lived through the war.

I am glad that the installment has finally come out on DVD. My mom had the VHS set, and mine takes up a lot less space on my shelf. It's also easier to access if you want to re-watch a certain battle you have interest in. Typically, after I visit Gettysburg ( as I do annually), I like to watch the time leading up to the battle on the DVD before my trip, and then the actual tape on the battle afterwards. It just intensifies the meaning of the whole experience.

Rating:
Summary: A Thorough History Lesson
Review: It wasn't until 14 years later that I was interested in Ken Burns' epic documentary. The vintage photos, old films, letters, documents and places are just amazing to view. The historians are truly unforgetable as they tell their stories about how life was during that time. But it's the battles and the men that fought them that are the real stars of this movie. There are so many tidbits that I never knew about. This documentary will inspire many who want to know one of the most important events in American history.

Rating:
Summary: Emotional History
Review: The quality of the production and the style of presentation are first rate. The historical portrayal of events are less than satisfactory. Too much emotionalism is inserted into the presentation. The dates and places are correct, however, there is a great loss here as the actual history of the conflict is not accurately potrayed. The Confederacy is portrayed as a ravenous gentleman clinging to his traditions and wealth, while the U.S. are pure-hearted crusaders with a limited attention span. The high points of the film include the many diary entries and letters of the times. The conflict of the war is presented as an equal to "human rights" issues. I would imagine if Ken Burns presented a "documentary" on Operation Iraqi Freedom the terrorists would be "resistance fighters".