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Summary: All my 33 years, I never knew it was there Until Sept 11, 01
Review: As my title states, I have been living in the New York City Area for all of my life. I have mainly been a resident of Queens until recently, I now live in Staten Island which also makes up one of the five Boroughs of New York City. In all of my years living in Queens, I never even Gave Manhattan a second thought, all I knew was that a lot of people worked there and that it was across the East River and I had to take a train to get there. That all changed on the Day of September 11,2001. It was than that I realized that I would never ever see the North and South towers again, and it also made me open my eyes and realize that there was such a magnificent, historical and breathtaking world across that river. I did a lot of research and purchased a lot of books , but NONE have even come close to telling me the history of Manhattan(New York), like these DVDs do. I originally purchased the book and than found out about the DVD box set, and I just had to buy it.I was just so amazed about all the facts that I have learned about New York , such as where all the Names of the Boroughs had come from , that Manhattan was not originally purchased for $24.00. and that the first settelers were from Huguenot, which the name is now of the town in Staten Island where I live.I do try to get to Manhattan as often as I can now,to make up for all the lost time. I can not say enough about this box set that has not already been said.I think the total running time is around 14 hours , and they are just filled with such interesting facts and people that are too many to mention in this small review. I will always treasure them , because they have allowed me to open up and explore a world that I never knew existed across the river. It makes me proud to say that I live in THE GREATEST city in the wrold !!!!! THANKS RIC BURNS
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Summary: A Superb Tribute To The Greatest City On Earth
Review: This is quite possibly the best documentary ever made. Though I have never been to New York City I have always had a great interest in that city and this 7 set PBS DVD is an essential item for anyone who feels that way. From it's earliest settlers up to 1999 the city it documented and celebrated through archival photographs, beautifully shot motion picture footage, interviews with writers and historians and insightful, superb narration from David Ogden Stiers. Ric Burns, who previously directed the equally excellent The Way West, has done a magnificent job. Brian Keane's score is also a highlight. Incredibly interesting and moving, all the more so following the horrific events of September 11th 2001. A wonderful tribute to an amazing city whose spirit cannot be broken.
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Summary: The best NYC documentary ever
Review: This is the best NYC historical review (and the second best Burns' work) ever. Once you start the set it is hard to stop watching. Although the whole series is great, the Robert Moses segment is the best. It is a true summary of American development.
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Summary: This justifies my dvd-player purchase
Review: Does this set succeed in being everything to everyone? No. Does it have something substantial for everyone, giving us a broad and worthwhile view of the history of NYC, yes. I grew up, and have lived nearby and even in NYC (Manhattan, 6 years). I never appreciated it more than after viewing this documentary. Having a much better idea of how the city got to where it is has been all good for me.I only hope, in a few years (when hindsight can be a little clearer) Ric Burns will do one more chapter, on the city since September 11th - as great a challenge as the city has every faced and one, having seen how it has dealt with great adversity in the past, I feel more optimistic about than I might have if I hadn't seen this film. Maybe that's why I like it so much - it's given me a historically-based reason for feeling the city will ultimately find it's way after 9/11.
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Summary: The "other" Burn's best
Review: This collection pulls togther over 400 years of history into one well made and tight documentary. While most of the documentary covers the previous 200 years of NYC, Burns takes the time to go back to the Dutch era and provide some very good history on that often overlooked period. My personal favorite parts are the two DVDs that cover NYC in the early to mid 20th century -- the era of Robert Moses. Burns covers Moses very well, and fairly, if that is possible with a character like Moses. Burns also goes into wonderful detail on the many waves of immigration that made NYC what it is today. The use of old still images and film, along with excellent narration make this the best documentary on NYC.
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Summary: 30 year-old Scotch with a Kool-Aid chaser
Review: The Burns brothers talent in combining still photographs with historical narrative is exceeded only in their ability to drench the viewer with bloated, rambling commentary by self-satisfied 60's leftovers. In a effort to be profound and insightful, the mid-level intellectuals selected to provide filler to stretch the film out to epic length come off as condescending, braying jackasses. The incessant flow crocodile tears for the plight of working class immmigrants and alienated people of African decent calls to mind not polictical activism, but rather the teleprompter generated effusions of a dried-out Hollywood starlet at the Academy Awards. The end result is not one that inspires awe but rather diassapointment in a job done well enough.
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Summary: Best of New York
Review: An exhilirating, comprehensive, definitive Homage to the "Queen of Cities." I have rarely seen, or been so profoundly moved by the story, cinematography, music and narrative of this presentation. It is the History of America's premier City.
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Summary: Fantastic, Couldn't wait until the DVD came out!
Review: I love New York. I love its history, its streets and its people. I've read Mike Wallace's Gotham cover to cover. Yet, this series of interviews, photographs, films and information about my favorite city made it complete. Well done from beginning to end with quotations from famous New Yorkers, a great sound track and thoughtful editing make this entertaining and informative through all 14 glorious hours. DVD format with sharp images and digital sound are the only way to go with such a long series especially knowing it will be watched a dozen times. However, given the events on September 11th the documentary can be a somber experience at times. Yet, knowing that New York and America have suffered similar horrors in the past (especially with New York City burning down at least twice) and have rebuilt and recovered colors that sadness with inspiration that the people of New York City and America will have their spirit soar once more. This documentary is a tribute as well as informative.
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Summary: Extraordinary and compelling documentary!
Review: I have just finished viewing the 6th Disc of the incredible journey of the greatest city in the world, and just had to share my excitement and disbelief at what I have been watching. Ric Burns does an extraordinary job of showing the history of New York from it's discovery by Henry Hudson to modern times. Each episode is addictive and compelling. Once the use of film and motion picture is employed in this collection at the turn of the 20th Century, each episode becomes even more amazing. I was amazed at the footage of the Empire State Building and the Chrylser Building as they were being built. The pictures of the Brooklyn Bridge being built were astounding. The time of La Guardia and seeing him in action, while Robert Moses built bridges and highways all around the city and beyond to Long Island was stunning. The history of Central Park, the Erie Canal, the plan for the streets of the city, the building of the subways and tunnels, the railroads, the coming of the immigrants, and many more were incredible to see. Being a native New Yorker born in the early 70's, I was exhilarated, but saddened at the same time while watching this, that I was not around to experience the great growth of the city. This film does justice though, as it brought me deep inside the history, and allowed me to see so vividly how New York came to be what it is today. I highly recommend all to view this, for not only is it a history of New York, but a history of why American is what it is today. It all started in New York City.
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Summary: I CAN ONLY CRY OUT!!!
Review: "I can only cry out that I have lost my spendered mirage, come back, come back, oh glittering and white" F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote upon his return to the city after Amercia's fall into the great depression and the rise of the Empire State Building, New York's light house. "Building skyscrapers is the nearest peace time equivalent to war" - episode five tells us via a historian with the smile of a mother bear watching her cubs toss with toys. These quotes, these pictures, these stories are all amazing, foreshadowing, uncovering - singing at once without critical blurriness or media misguidance. I f only there were more VCR's and DVD players in the world. :) Viewing this work should be part of every Americans' ongoing curriculum of wonder. Though it seems so long in it's telling, it is yet so short with it's enveloping nature. Americans, it is time to retrench for battle, and for all time - the safety of the skyscrapers of our mind. God bless America and God bless this Globe. Carter Nichols Tenant of (address), within ground zero, now living on my office couch. (...) PS - Never Forget!
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