Rating: 
Summary: Star-crossed disappointment. Not recommended
Review: Ken Burns' familiar formula: the use of historic music, insights from historians, interesting narrative, and old pictures. All combine to set the stage for deception. Unquestionably the Burns team possesses powerful documentary resources. So, the obvious quesition is, what went wrong? Noticeably, instead of using necessary research and exposing the truth the Burns team magnified and reproduced the well-known incorrect version of Twain's history that was originally concocted in the press; A version previously embellished and allowed to flourish by Twain's daughter Clara and first biographer, Abert Bigelow Paine. Twain's true history is documented, it survives despite the "fraud" of his first biographer Paine, and it will continue to survive. Star-crossed disappointment is in reserve for writers, scholars, and others who advanced their ideology for this project---not to mention that gullible viewers might be deceived. Viewers become eyewitnesses to a devastating collapse: The entire second half engenders a dismal depressing existence. Causing this strange suggestion, fully half of Mark Twain's life was spent in a dark and intolerable misery? Lacking fidelity with its subject the second half becomes offensive when it incorrectly conveys unverifiable hearsay that unjustly stigmatizes Twain. It is as if a character assassination is attempted, and the reverse of the desired effect results, assassinating the character of those involved in making this documentary. Photographs in this Burns documentary are not truthful represenations of people, scenes, or specific events the documentary attempts to describe. At least one musical piece is not an entirely accurate representation. The entire second half is severely exaggerated, rude, and offensively maudlin. This documentary contains more nonsense than truth for these reasons; The entire second half is false because it conveys an unverifiable story; Add the false half to the photographic and musical misrepresentations in the first half, and the sum exposes a documentary that is more than 51 percent mistaken. Being more than 51 percent mistaken this documentary amounts to a sham. Because the project needed to be researched, Ken Burns' Mark Twain documentary arrived noticeably deceptive instead of informative. This documentary is a wild self-assertive version of a hoax that amplifies the fraudulent description of Mark Twain's original biographer. While amplifying the hoax this documentary never exhibits the wherewithal to explain the hoax it amplifies. Essential information is missing from this documentary for persons to benefit from it in any way; Education is not served by copying a story falsified in the press. This documentary has a mighty humbug: unless viewers are Mark Twain scholars who are familiar with Sam Clemens' history and many ruses, viewers will be deceived by the hogwash Ken Burns' documentary delivers.I would suggest the book "MEET MARK TWAIN" for the Ken Burns team, and all others who would like to view a respectable body of beliefs on the subject. I would also ask this question: If Ken Burns knew the true story, he would surely tell it, wouldn't he?
Rating: 
Summary: A great documentary that lives up to Burns's standards
Review: Mark Twain is arguably the most influential American writer ever. He certainly is among the best-known authors who catered to the layman as well as to the scholar. But there is so much more to Twain's life than just the now-household names of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. Twain was a complex man, and this documentary examines his very interesting life.Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain, lived a very eventful life. Aside from his fiction, which is very, very well done, Twain was also a very able travel writer. He wrote many of his books about his hometown or about his beloved river, the Mississippi, but he also wrote about far away and exotic places. This film examines all of Twain's work, and, more importatly, the life he lived while he was producing it. I absolutely loved Burns's documentary on the Civil War, but I thought the one of Jefferson was only average. This one, though, fully lived up to my expectations and more. The many photographs of Twain, the witty quotes of his beautiful writing style, and the vivid descriptions of his life and passion make this a documentary you won't want to miss.
Rating:
Summary: A FANTASTIC TRUE LIFE ON FILM
Review: Mark Twain the man is a giant that looms on the American literary and cultural landscape like a single-faced Mt. Rushmore. Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner cited "Huckleberry Finn" as the father of the American novel. I recall Hemingway calling it the greatest of American novels. In fact, Twain once said of himself, "I am not an American, I am the American." Born Samuel Langhorn Clemens, he arrived with Haley's Comet and predicted he would depart on its return. He did. In between he became the most famous of all living persons and entertained all classes of the English speaking world with his effortless wit and wisdom -- often attacking hypocrisy and greed and racism along the way. He took his pen name, Mark Twain, from the phrase Mississippi river boatmen used to signify a depth off 12 feet -- the point at which dangerous water became safe or vice versa. Ken Burns' magnificent 220 minute documentary looks at Twain's personal life from hardscrabble backwoods boyhood to international acclaim. Loaded with period photos and a wonderfully authentic soundtrack, Twain's words come alive and are further colored with informed commentary from Twain scholars. There's ample bonus material including a making of and behind the scenes features, interviews and outtakes. This is truly a life on film and it is superb in all aspects. This is one not to miss and there's a haunting separately available soundtrack that is rich with authentic period music that will life your soul and haunt you.
Rating:
Summary: A FANTASTIC TRUE LIFE ON FILM
Review: Mark Twain the man is a giant that looms on the American literary and cultural landscape like a single-faced Mt. Rushmore. Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner cited "Huckleberry Finn" as the father of the American novel. I recall Hemingway calling it the greatest of American novels. In fact, Twain once said of himself, "I am not an American, I am the American." Born Samuel Langhorn Clemens, he arrived with Haley's Comet and predicted he would depart on its return. He did. In between he became the most famous of all living persons and entertained all classes of the English speaking world with his effortless wit and wisdom -- often attacking hypocrisy and greed and racism along the way. He took his pen name, Mark Twain, from the phrase Mississippi river boatmen used to signify a depth off 12 feet -- the point at which dangerous water became safe or vice versa. Ken Burns' magnificent 220 minute documentary looks at Twain's personal life from hardscrabble backwoods boyhood to international acclaim. Loaded with period photos and a wonderfully authentic soundtrack, Twain's words come alive and are further colored with informed commentary from Twain scholars. There's ample bonus material including a making of and behind the scenes features, interviews and outtakes. This is truly a life on film and it is superb in all aspects. This is one not to miss and there's a haunting separately available soundtrack that is rich with authentic period music that will life your soul and haunt you.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining and Informative documentary!
Review: Mark Twain was the quintessential American writer and Ken Burns' documentary about Twain is simply marvelous! Starting with the author's Missouri childhood to his last days in New York City, from his stint as a steamboat captain along the Mississippi to his travels around the globe, from his success as a writer to his personal tragedies, this DVD is a must-see for any person out there who enjoys reading Mark Twain literature. I found the humorous musings of Twain that are dotted all through this DVD, a nice touch!
Rating: 
Summary: Is It Just Me?
Review: One cannot argue with the choice of Mark Twain for an in-depth biography. As stated in many of the other reviews, Twain was an Amercian original and deserving of praise. Also, one cannot argue that, considering his past successes, Ken Burns could make a biography of anyone he would like to, but I'm starting to get tired with his formulaic approach. By now, almost anybody with a good research department can do a "Burns" style documentary. Certainly he is bringing good information to people, but I see no growth in him as a filmmaker. Maybe I'm being too picky. Twain is a remarkable character whose life encompassed more twists and turns than the Mississippi River. He is deserving of more than the same old same old same old . . .
Rating:
Summary: Great piece of work on "The American"
Review: One of the best documentaries ever made on Mark Twain with large number of actual pictures, video clippings and comments by various authors. The DVD is perfect in the sense everything is covered, his life history, his works, his thoughts, his opinions. I was knowing him only through his quotes and works but it was a nice experience to know Samuel Clement's life. How he sailed, how he survived, how he took the name - Mark Twain - how he felt for his first writing, for his first speech, first travel, his marriage, his ever renewed big dream house, his children, his views about the world, his witticism, his suffering to his death. Wondefully captured. Some of the notable quotes I found are: "I am not an American, I am The American", "I like Michael Angelo, but I cannot have him for break fast, lunch, dinner, supper and in between meals was a witty and worthy view about Rome" and the best is the poster lines "Doors open at 7½. The trouble will begin at 8." for his first speech. I would highly recommend for people who want to know about this American Icon. Good work, Ken Burns.
Rating:
Summary: Unqualified Praise for Mark Twain.
Review: This has to be one of the best documentaries on a literary figure that has ever been made. In the hands of Ken Burns, the richness and subtlety, the humour and tragedy, the successes and dismal failures and a true sustained analysis of the life of Samuel Clemens all combines to give us a personal and intellectual understanding of this towering literary icon of the 19th century. Twain was many things - a riverboat pilot, printer, journalist, miner, speculator, failed business man, and satirist, but most of all a novelist, a grand storyteller that spoke to royalty, presidents as well as the common people. Ernest Hemingway once said that American literature began with the publication of Huckleberry Finn. Twain chose to write this book in the language of the vernacular, while other writers maintained an allegiance to English prose, Huck Finn's voice rose above conformity, informing the American public that the black American was not just a commodity, an object of scorn and prejudice, but a human being. This book not only changed our views on literature but our humanity as well. This film does not skim over the surface of Twain's life and work, but digs deeper into his motivations and inspirations in the context of his environment. ~Mark Twain~ took almost three years to produce, which includes hundreds of photographs, actual film footage of the man at home, informed interviews with Twain scholars and writers that give us keen insights into his life and work. What this film shows is that not only is his literature extraordinary, but his life as well. And this life is told mainly through the words of the man himself. Twain lived a dual persona, the man and the celebrity. As another writer has said, this dual persona came to symbolize the emerging American conflict between down-to-earth-morality and freewheeling ambition. Twain lived an extravagant life though hated everything that this represented. He was the author of the Gilded Age, a scathing satire on the post civil war period in which the country prospered and money was worshiped above all things, yet his wealth and lifestyle emulated that very thing he was satirizing. He claimed that he wasn't American, but 'the' American. He was a man of genius and contradictions but above all, human, a man who showed us through his work, with a sly wink, that we're all human and essentially in the same boat. This film is undoubtedly one of the best portraits of Mark Twain ever to be done. After watching the film in its entirety, I was hard pressed to find any genuine criticisms, other than minor quibbles and therefore not worth mentioning. If this sounds like unqualified praise for ~Mark Twain~, it is.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant ,Funny ,Moving First-Rate
Review: This is truly a delight. Sam Clemens was a man that demanded respect as complex as he was witty.At a time when most of us
could use a little personal moment of triumph, spending some time with Mark Twain is great therapy.
Rating:
Summary: *The* Documentary about *The* American
Review: This review is not entirely objective -- I absolutely love Ken Burns documentaries ... and as an English and American literature major, I love Mark Twain. But having said that, this movie did not disappoint me! It's 220 minutes of the Ken Burns style I love focused on a figure from American literature and history that I love as well. Side A of the DVD alone met my expectations. Burns shows Samuel Clemens' own Tom Sawyerish upbringing on the Mississippi River, his experiences on the riverboats, and adventures out west. The climax of Side A is a well-done literary analysis of Huckleberry Finn that includes the context of Clemens' own life and the history of the time. Side B is pure tradgedy. Failed inventions, financial troubles, death of his children, death of his wife, etc... The movie makes some nice insights into the dichotomy of the decline of Clemens and the simultaneous rise of Twain as an American legend. The Ken Burns formula is up to standards set by his previous works such as the Civil War. Interesting narrative, lively and historic music, insights from historians, black-and-white photographs, and modern-day movie clips all woeven together into a very interesting and educational format. Recommended.
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