Rating: 
Summary: PBS Video has a quality control problem
Review: I bought this video as a gift, and so far Amazon had sent me two defective copies. Neither copy will play all the way through on any DVD player we have tried. The problem on both is shortly before "The Portage" begins. I have never had a problem with any other DVD, so I was extremely surprised that PBS Video has failed twice. I would love to be able to give this gift permanently, as the narrative is interesting, and the scenery is beautiful, and I would otherwise give 5 stars. Amazon's customer service also deserves some of the star deductions. I've never had to test the return policies of any other DVD distributors.
Rating: 
Summary: Masterpiece!
Review: I can truthfully say this is the best film I have ever seen. The cinematography is so beautifully done, and all the narrators are superb. The story of Lewis and Clark is portrayed so well on the screen I would swear Ken Burns was a member of the Corp of Discovery himself. And, to top it all off the music is so brilliantly meshed with the picture and narration, the film seems to have a flow to it, giving the viewer the feeling that their paddling on down the Mighty Missouri themselves.I reccommend buying the soundtrack as well, and it will soon become one of your favorite cd's.
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Summary: One of the Finest Documentaries Ever
Review: I first saw this film on PBS quite by accident. I was channel surfing, and in a very restless mood. When I came upon it, what initially transfixed me was the spectacular photography. The sweeping vistas of the American West captured in this film are almost breathtaking. Then the narrative itself reeled me slowly into shore and I could not stop watching it. I have seen hundreds of documentaries over the years but few have made me almost forget that what I was watching and hearing was fact, not fiction. Ken Burns, the director, producer, and jack-of-trades behind this production has put forth a yeoman's effort nearly rivaling in vision what the explorers themselves were guided by. The film editing is superb--giving the story a variety of narrative voices needed to sustain it over such a lengthy project. I was especially impressed by the way the commentary of historians who have written on this monumental undertaking were added to the voices of the journals themselves. Even if you are not a history buff, you will enjoy and appreciate this film. It is instructive on many levels, both practical and spiritual. As others have said, its retelling is poignant, sensitive, and engaging, particularly in relating the fates of these men and women. This is one of those films you buy as a family investment, to share with the younger generation when they are ready to receive it.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant
Review: I had always thought that "Baseball" and "The Civil War" were very good films. However, as good as they are, they do not compare to "Lewis and Clark." The job which Burns did in blending images of the time period, the west, and the telling of a true American story through the words of historians such as Dayton Duncan and Stephen Ambrose, as well as the narration of a script which included journal entries of several members of the Corps, was marvelous. Before seeing this documentary, I had never appreciated the difficulties, hardships, and dangers which Captains Lewis and Clark and the rest of the Corps of Discovery had to meet and overcome, nor did I ever appreciate the fact that these men were, in every sense of the word, heroes. I would recommend this tape for anyone who has an even slight interest in American History. This documentary draws your emotions into it, and is perhaps as close as an average person can ever come to feeling the emotions of triumph, tragedy, excitment, fear, apprehension, and patriotism which the member of the members of the corps felt. A trueley wonderful film and well worth the cost.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant
Review: I had always thought that "Baseball" and "The Civil War" were very good films. However, as good as they are, they do not compare to "Lewis and Clark." The job which Burns did in blending images of the time period, the west, and the telling of a true American story through the words of historians such as Dayton Duncan and Stephen Ambrose, as well as the narration of a script which included journal entries of several members of the Corps, was marvelous. Before seeing this documentary, I had never appreciated the difficulties, hardships, and dangers which Captains Lewis and Clark and the rest of the Corps of Discovery had to meet and overcome, nor did I ever appreciate the fact that these men were, in every sense of the word, heroes. I would recommend this tape for anyone who has an even slight interest in American History. This documentary draws your emotions into it, and is perhaps as close as an average person can ever come to feeling the emotions of triumph, tragedy, excitment, fear, apprehension, and patriotism which the member of the members of the corps felt. A trueley wonderful film and well worth the cost.
Rating: 
Summary: Static and slow
Review: I read the Ambrose book and an abridged version of the journals before seeing this video. I was somewhat disappointed. Ironically, books bring the subject more to life, because it turns out there is just not that much visual material available. There would seem to be only one portrait each of Lewis and Clark at the age's they were during the expedition, since they are endlessly scanned and panned and zoomed in on. The landscape they travelled has of course been destroyed by development, so the nature photography is claustrophobic: You get the feeling that the director is not panning over the landscape because just off to the right is a hotel and to the left is the visitor center. The interviewees (including Ambrose) obviously idolize the pair and their team members, and the end result is a hagiography. From reading books (even Ambrose's) you get a much more balanced view. For example, the video implies a deep communication between the expedition and various indian tribes that in most instances simply did not occur, since there was no common language except in a few cases.
Rating:
Summary: Views like a first-rate adventure film!
Review: I'd come to 'Lewis and Clark' already having seen Burns' documentary on Jefferson, so my expectations were soaring. Pleased to say, they were never deflated. This film is excellent.
The first thing any viewer of L&C notices is the suspense and forward motion. This is adventure at it's highest; so much so that I needed to remind myself that no one should find a PBS documentary this exciting!! The film actually follows, from location to location, the movement of Lewis and Clark's expidition. Hal Holbrook's narration is interspersed with bits from the men's journals read by very capable actors. In short, it truly played like a superb adventure film. In as much detail as possible, we get to see it all. The journey, the relationships, the anxieties and the triumphs; From the bonds and battles with various indian tribes, to Meriwether Lewis' depressions and ultimate suicide. The only possible negative comment, that the film was a whopping 4 hours, in the end turns out to be an asset. If the film had been shorter, details would have had to be sacrificed which in the end gave the film such a powerful excitement. Even for the historical documentary skeptic, one viewing of L&C will change your mind. Skip Indana Jones and check this one out!!
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Summary: Burns' best
Review: In my opinion, this is Burns' best all around production among ALL of his projects to date.
Rating:
Summary: Went to a screening with Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan
Review: Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan were in Charlottesville, VA last night for the kickoff of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial celebration here and I had the honor of being there as they discussed this film, its making, the story, and then showed clips of the film. I have enjoyed the work of these men for years and own the Civil War series and have to say that meeting them made it all the more interesting. They are clearly dear friends, gifted speakers, and true artists and so refreshingly humble as to almost be shocking. They answered any and all questions with clear thought, humility and humor and seemed to be enjoying the experience as much as the audience. This DVD is truly a wonderful piece of work both for it's cinematography and for it's historical account of the events. I highly recommend this and all the works by these passionate men who clearly love their work. We are lucky to have them, and I'm lucky to have been able to hear them speak.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful combination of primary sources & commentary. WOW
Review: Ken Burns at his best. A blend of comentary by some of todays expert historians, primary sources read by famous actors, and on location footage of the path that Lewis and Clark followed. Point of interest is the interaction between the Native-Amerinca tribes and the Corp of Discovery.
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