Amazon.com essential video

If anything defined the 20th century as the age of anxiety, it's the cold war with its ultimate no-win nuclear endgame. While conflicts in Korea and Vietnam dragged on, providing the traditional images of modern warfare, some of the conflict's most dangerous battles were invisible--tactical, intellectual, and fought primarily in the minds and war rooms of U.S. and Soviet leaders: Kennedy, Krushchev, Castro, Kissinger, Gorbachev, and Reagan. This 8-volume, 24-episode series, narrated by Kenneth Branagh, is a comprehensive history that examines the key events of the arc of the Soviet Union, from its birth to its fall, and provides a thorough analysis of what was going on behind closed doors. Informed by the stories of 500 eyewitnesses--from citizens and soldiers to historians and statesmen--and strengthened by painstaking reconstruction of archival historical film footage, CNN's Cold War is a heroic undertaking and a sweeping chronicle of the world's most fragile decades. --Susan Benson ... Read more

Reviews (10)

CNN's The Cold War is simply brilliant
Never before have I seen such a comprehensive, absorbing and fascinating look into this era of history. From the early days after World War II, to the final collapse of the Soviet Union, The Cold War details not just the political aspects of the "communist threat", but the social and economic aspects, too. Whether you are a history buff looking for new sources, or just some one who wants to learn about this exciting time, you will completely enjoy The Cold War.

It Is More Than a History of the Cold War.
It is a history of an important period of human experience. The series is well made. Many important events are shown from different view points. If we can all learn from this important period of time, we may be able to minimize loss of lives due to military conflicts and political confrontations.

It is absolutely riveting, reassuring and terrifying.
Although I saw it happen on television and observed many of the changes while in the Soviet Union, the fall of the communist block still astonishes me. Without question, it is the greatest single change in human history that occurred without vast bloodshed. As late as the mid 1980's no one could have conceived of a scenario where the iron curtain would be penetrated with almost no loss of life.
That amazement was revisited as I watched this series of tapes and relived events such as the Hungarian uprising in 1956, the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, the Warsaw pact invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, the crushing of the Polish Solidarity movement in the early 1980's and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1980. The constant tension and mutual fear of annihilation just seemed to be a permanent fact of existence. That is all gone and although it is of necessity rather brief, these tapes tell the essence of how it happened.
Simply put, you cannot begin to argue that you understand the twentieth century without knowing the details of the cold war between the two giant ideological rivals. No one in the United States or Russia should be allowed to graduate from high school without first watching this tape. It is absolutely riveting, reassuring and terrifying at the same time.

Enriching and updating!
I did not hesitate when purchasing this title and everyone around me did enjoy watching all the 8 tapes continuously. I really would recommend to get this title while it is still available! The recent history of the world has been decided by the two super powers and the decisive role was played by the USA and if anyone still doubts it, he/she should watch this fabulously made movie. ....

Best of Cold War description I ever saw so far
I have experienced 15 years of life in east side of the Iron Curtain. Just want to say I really love this picture as I have found it objective enough, disclosing many interesting and important points in West-East diplomacy which were really hard to understand for me so far. Wish all the people watch it as we all could learn more of many mistakes have been done. None is holly - the comunists are unhuman by principal but the americans did many stupid thinks also. This movie shows you a lot of hidden, shadow politics of the era of Cold War. Enjoy it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This two-tape boxed set, subtitled Our Time in Hell, provides an excellent chronology of the conflict in Korea. Produced by Discovery Channel, it makes good use of interviews with Korean War veterans from both sides of the fighting, as well as extensive use of archival footage. Rare film shot early in the conflict, in 1950, by a crew from NBC News, provides vivid testimony about the ferocity of the fighting. The video offers a very solid history of the conflict (the late historian Clay Blair, an expert on the Korean War, served as a historical consultant for the video production) and is particularly strong at providing a lucid account of how the tide of battle repeatedly surged back and forth between the Communist and United Nations forces during the first year of the war. The roles of two central figures in the war, General Douglas MacArthur, a legend of World War II, and President Harry S. Truman, are examined in some depth, and the global importance of the conflict is also explained capably, but for the most part the film focuses on the fighting men themselves. Watching the extensive combat footage, one can't help but appreciate the suffering borne by troops who had to endure savage fighting in horrifically cold weather. The Korean War: Our Time In Hell is a first-rate production, serious history given a gripping presentation. --Robert J. McNamara ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A fantastic DVD
This DVD set is great. It has excellent footage of the attack on Pearl Harbor and there is interviews with people who survived the attack and there is even interviews with some Japenese fighter pilots who bombed the ships. It starts at 1939 when the USA decide not to enter The Second World War and goes through the attack on Pearl Harbor and ends at today showing the USS Arizona Memorial. The Set also has a bounus disc with a lot of Pearl Harbor facts as well. This is an amazing DVD and anyone who is interested in USA history should buy it.

WE ALL NEED TO KNOW OUR HISTORY.
No one seems to appreiate the fact that freedom is not free and everyone takes everything for granted in this country. There are people i've talked to from Europe who know more about our history than most Americans know. This doccumentary is about defeat, anger, determinatin, racism, hatred,triumph, and forgiveness. It really shows the story of pearl harbor(Not that I didn't already know I watch the history channel all the time) and shows all the sacrfices that were made by the American soldiers when Japan destroyed pearl harbor. We could learn allot from some of the Pearl Harbor survivors and the Japanese pilot's that no matter what you can forgive. The Japanese tried to kill them and they(well not all of them) were willing to forgive.

War in the pacific
A good documentary, but with all of the Pearl Harbor documentary material out there, why did the creators choose to include a documentary DVD on Chester Nimitz? This set should have been called "War In The Pacific" or something. But, the history is accurate and the footage is good. I would recommend this. It would have been great if they had one DVD about the attack, one dvd about Kimmell, and one DVD about Yamamoto. That would have made this collection stand out from the others! History Channel, ARE YOU READING THIS?

A little misleading
The first disc in this offering rates five stars for being an absolutely fantastic documentary. However, the second disc is about Admiral Nimitz and not about Pearl Harbor itself. Also, the bonus program offered is not "Blunders Of Pearl Harbor" but something about leaders of the Pacific theater, again, not about Pearl Harbor itself. I wanted a thorough documentary on Pearl Harbor, which I got on disc one. The second disc seems thrown in haphazardly. The item description, however, didn't mention the Nimitz material on the second disc and got the bonus program wrong entirely. I would've liked a more thorough, not to mention accurate, description before making my purchase.

Familiar Stuff To A History Channel Viewer
But without a doubt, worth the money. Pearl Harbor will be big this summer with the release of Ben Afleck's big screen beefcake-fest of the same name, so it might inspire your kids to watch just some of the story behind the Hollywood treatment. Showing that wars don't just happen, it explains the steady build up of a world heading non-stop to global conflict. Seeing pictures of some of the survivors as young men and hearing their stories as told today, both Japanese and American, adds a very touching human element to a story that we all know the ending. Also, spending time on what happened on December 8 and shortly after helps fill in the picture of an isolationist nation thrust in a rage into a war. Disk Two offers a wonderful look at the man that was responsible for hold Japan at bay while America rebuilt in the Pacific, Chester Nimitz. Another bonus program,"America's Five Star Heros" is familiar, but no less enlightening. All in all, a great choice for the history buff. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Good
History Channel always produces great shows.. this one is excellent. However, I don't see why anyone would spend money to purchase this on DVD when it reruns so often on TV that you could easily record it.

Good way to learn WWII history
I learned a lot about World War II history by watching this series. The 2 DVD set consists of several programs that were created by the History Channel, and so each segment does have a definite "made for TV" feel to it. But each segment is also a nice easy-to-watch bitesize piece of history. I had hoped Netflix had this for rent, but since they didn't I ended up buying it. Unfortunately, it's the kind of thing I'll probably only watch once. But it's definitely entertaining and educational.

The story changes by coincidence.
A fantastic video which shows you what strange coincidence contributes to change to history of the world. Generals to privates - people at the right place at the right moment who fortunately made the correct interpretations of what they thought they new at historical moments. Everybody should watch these videos which shows us what could have happened if these persons have made other descicions.

asger juul, ... Read more

Amazon.com

What higher praise could one lavish on a 300-minute documentary series aboutan all-too-familiar subject other than that the production makes old news seemquite new again? Rarely has an ambitious documentary project gone to suchlengths to reintroduce a notorious chapter in world history as did TheNazis: Warning from History, a BBC series originally brought to American audiences by theHistory Channel. It may sound unlikely, but chances are viewerswill feel they are hearing the story of Adolf Hitler and the rise of theNazi party for the first time. There's a reason for that: a considerableamount of information and film footage incorporated into the program isrelatively new and unknown to the general public, much of itdiscovered in the former East Germany and other one-time Soviet bloc nations.These include striking color images of jack-booted Nazi troopers parading in Berlin, Hitler arriving at a conference, and street scenes that give thisproduction an almost shocking immediacy. There are also uncovereddocuments relating to Hitler's entrance into extremist political life, hismanipulation of German justice, and the strange story of why Germany ended up in a war with Great Britain (a nation Hitler actually admired). Aidedimmensely by British historian Ian Kershaw, an expert on the Nazi era, theseries explains a lot of things, from Hitler's popularity with big business and rural voters (who knew almost nothing about him) to the convolutedreasons Germany's invasion of Russia helped turn a policy of expelling Jews into a decision to murder them in death camps. The Nazis makes the entireperiod from the end of World War I to Hitler's suicide a living nightmareagain, one from which every nation on Earth can yet distill the lessons ofscapegoating neighbors and embracing the promises of madmen. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (9)

"The Nazis-needed warning for history classes
I recommend this series to any World History instructors seeking film that will make students think about the "whys" on a level other than a Nazi cartoon-image. Care must be taken in utilizing this resource, as with any source. The "nude Nazi pageant" in "Chaos and Consent" (vol 2) should certainly be omitted, but the interviews, especially those found in vol 3 "Road to Treblinka" can easily start very involved discussions as to involvement of the ordinary citizens, anti-Semitism as a cultural constant, and the "guilt" questions. Generally, I only show 20 minutes of most film, and always with a guide and questions to avoid "heads down / snooze" time. Trust me, especially on "Road to Treblinka", you won't have anyone sleeping, and followed up with other readings and assessed with an essay, you'll be glad you invested in this series. Again, some of it may be "old hat", but the imagery of 60-80 year olds seeing and hearing their own words and actions replayed for them is something no standard document can give your class.

Excellent series
Ignore the one star reviewer. It's obvious why he doesn't like the content. The truth always hurts doesn't it? I have seen this documentary around ten times now. One of the very best series documenting this period ever made. The only thing against it is the fact it could have gone onto two tapes as it is in England.

Educational
This box set is extremely more valuable to learning about the Nazis than the box set exclusively on Hitler. The Hitler Box Set has too much redundancy and is not near as comprehensive. If you want to know how and why the Nazis came to power, watch A Warning From History!!! Seig Heil

Propaganda from the Holocaust Industry
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This is the worst claptrap, and the most outrageously overpriced ... that I have ever come across at Amazon.

The six video tapes contain only old, well used, too often seen, repetitious footage available in most other Holocaust films, at much lower prices.

There is nothing new here, and like other offerings from the ... BBC and Holocaust Industry, there is little proof to support many of the statements made. The evidence offered is too narrow in scope and addresses isolated incidents.

In each of the six tapes in the series, the subject always returns to the Detention Camps and persecution of Jews, ...

This series says little about the Nazis, their military, or their control and remaking of the German state except as related to the Camps. The title "Holocaust- Warning From History" would be more accurate. ...

Essential viewing
Along with the 1970s series "The World at War", this is the best Nazi/WW2 TV series ever. It is a great triumph for the collaboration between noted historian Ian Kershaw (prof. at Sheffield University, England, and author of several books on Hitler and the Nazis) and Lawrence Rees (best known as the editor of the classy BBC history series "Timewatch".)

The level of research that must have gone into it is incredible, the telling of the history and the potent mix of words, images and music make for 300 incredibly gripping minutes. I've watched it all 3 times and will doubtless watch it again. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

"They Were Young and Brave"
"Vietnam:They Were Young and Brave," is one of the best documentaries I've watched on the Vietnam war. A first hand account of one of the fiercest battles in Vietnam. The truly brave men of the 1/7 and 2/7 Cavalry(Airmobile)division, have become my heroes. I hope desperately to own a copy of this compelling account of the Ia Drang campaign, when it becomes available. It's the American soldier at his best and bravest and war at its worst. ... Read more

Description

For the first time, you'll see the true picture of war, full of terror, chaos, blood and courage, all in full, shocking color.Created from declassified footage sources from around the world, and from personal films and photographs of the veterans, many of these raw images have never been seen by the general public. They have been kept secret by military officials.After seeing Korean War In Color, you'll never forget "the forgotten war" again. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Drawing upon newly-releases, formerly classified footage
From 1950 to 1953, American soldiers fought bloody battles on the Korean peninsula when communist North Korean forces sought to overthrow the Korean government. The initial South Korean, American, and United Nations military forces met with great success against the North Korean troops until community China entered into the conflict. The result was a series of battles that almost dislodged the anti-communist military alliance from the Peninsula until General MacArthur was able to rally the troops and push the Chinese and North Koreans back to the 38th parallel when a truce was finally negotiated which effectively divided the country into the Communist North and the Non-Communist South. Drawing upon newly-releases, formerly classified footage, and from collections of photos provided by Korean War veterans who were surrounded by the stench of death on the front lines, the true horror and torment of this "forgotten war" showcases the American military struggle is effectively presented in this unique two volume, 90 minute video set. Korean War In Color is a strongly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library collections. ... Read more

Description

The battles have been documented, the generals lionized.We have seenthe turning points and the sacrifices.Now let CIVIL WAR JOURNAL take you deeper,into the personal stories of the War Between the States.Through diaries, photographs,and factual re-enactments, you'll feel the private and intimate side of the bloody conflictin this epic set hosted by Danny Glover.Includes these Civil War storiesStonewallJacksonDestiny at Fort SumterThe Monitor vs. The CSS VirginiaThe Gray Ghost: JohnSingleton MosbyThe 54th MassachusettsMcClellan's WayAlexander Gardner: WarPhotographerJohn Brown's WarThe Battle of 1st Bull RunPickett's ChargeDays ofDarkness: The Gettysburg CiviliansBanners of GloryWest Point Classmates Civil WarEnemies ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great Content, grab this one, but....
This series has great content covering a wide range of different subjects, battles, and individuals not always included in CW documentaries. I recommend it for all civil war buffs.

Even though I have watched all the shows I pull these off the shelf and watch them when I can't find anything else on TV.

At 45 minutes or so each show, you get a very detailed exploration into the episode's subject matter instead of the general overview you might find in other documentaries. Other reviewers have touched on this already so I won't go into this any further.

My only gripe and the reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is the quality of the tapes. I can't understand why a set costing what this one does would be taped at (EP) mode. What a disappointment, content this good deserved better, and so do we when paying this much for a set like this. Be aware of this when purchasing.

Despite the quality issue, it is worth having because of the great narration, stories, photos, re-enacments etc. - a very well put together series. Enjoy.

Always informative and a must have!
Civil War Journal is probably one of the better documentary series on the Civil War produced in the 90's. History is backed by Civil War Historian commentary and these videos are packed full of information regarding battles,lifestyle and famous individuals. Also reenactments are added to add more action to the narration which gives these videos quite a lot for the money. It is a must have for anyone's Civil War library!

A fascinating in-depth look at the War Between the States.
Civil War Journal is an exquisitely appropriate title for this anecdotal examination of the bloodiest conflict in American History. The series is just that; a journal, using the individual memoirs of participants as the foundation for examining various aspects of the war. Some episodes deal with personalities, some with battles, others with peripheral subject matter.

The series does not cover the entire history of the Civil War and makes no effort to do so. In fact, both boxed sets are required to come even close to a complete historical perspective. What would seem a serious weakness proves to be the set's greatest strength.

Since each episode is meant to stand on its own merits (and most succeed handsomely), the subject matter can be approached with a degree of detail and thoroughness that would be impossible if the point were to present a history of the Civil War. Diaries, journals, memoirs and reenactments are carefully interwoven to give the viewer a sense of both intimacy and immediacy. The subject matter comes alive, something that the viewer can connect with both intellectually and emotionally, rather than another dry retelling of historical data.

Because of this unusual and highly effective approach, each episode does stands well on its own. There is no loss of continuity if individual videos are viewed out of sequence, nor is there any need to hurriedly watch one tape after another so as to retain the context.

Reenactors are used liberally throughout the series. The production values are magnificent, and Danny Glover's reserved, understated narration is the crowning touch.

Civil War Journal belongs in the library of any student of American History or any Civil War enthusiast. A truly superb production. ... Read more

Description

Exciting new additions to the world's greatest military history series in a special collector's boxed set of three video cassettes which include Agincourt, The Wars of The Roses, and The Crusades. Features large scale medieval battle reconstructions, hundreds of contemporary images and paintings, informative graphics and maps, and weapons, strategies and tactics. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Exhaustive look at MacArthur
Was General MacArthur an "egomaniac," as others reviewers have noted? Of course he was, but few Americans in history had better cause to have such an high opinion of themselves. Not only was MacArthur astonishingly brilliant (he graduated first in his West Point class), he was handsome, erudite, reached the apex of his profession with his fifth star, and he a military genius. It would be difficult to be humble having such an array of stunning attributes. Few have possessed such an astonishingly rich résumé.

This biography was produced 20 years ago and narrated by John Huston, who is craggy, crabby and unintentionally humorous in his comments. We see footage of various places MacArthur knew, from the military forts of his childhood, West Point, Manila, all the way to his last days at his improbable residence, the Waldorf Astoria. There are a multitude of interviews with people in MacArthur's orbit, from his military aide in the Philippines do his aide in Korea. The historians they include are all interesting, and Manchester is especially intriguing.

There is an abundance of material on MacArthur's private life, including his bizarre first marriage to a flapper and his stable second marriage to his devoted Jean. MacArthur's Eurasian mistress is not forgotten either, and the documentary quotes from his sappy, Victorian love letters to her. Very interesting stuff! Finally, they include the fact that his only son, Arthur MacArthur, changed his name and now lives anonymously in NYC as a saxophone player. This is a highly entertaining documentary, though dated. Recommended.

Macarthur: a soldier's soldier........
General Macarthur is an interesting American hero. He fought courageously and commanded with diligence. I applaud this great man for all his battles. He helped the Philippines establish or reestablish freedom, democracy, and sovereignty.
He is owed more credit than was originally given. Some authors disagree and have shown him in a different light. Macarthur was for all practical purposes in understanding what being a soldier was like in WW11, a hero.
He fought and help fight for what in the end made the most sense: freedom and democracy.
I would recommend these tapes to history and non-history buffs alike. More importantly, I would recommend this tape for all Americans interested in understanding why Americans feel so strong about freedom. ... Read more

Description

The battles have been documented, the generals lionized.We have seenthe turning points and the sacrifices.Now let CIVIL WAR JOURNAL II, thecontinuation of the bestselling series take you deeper, into the personal stories of the WarBetween the States.Through diaries, photographs, and factual re-enactments, you'll feelthe private and intimate side of the bloody conflict in this epic set hosted by DannyGlover.Includes these all-new Civil War stories: Robert E. Lee, Sherman and the Marchto the Sea, General Joshua L. Chamberlain, Lincoln and Gettysburg,The Battle ofFredericksburg, Battlefield Medicine, Frederick Douglass, Reporting the War, The Battleof Chattanooga, Women at War, Nathan Bedford Forrest, The Battle of Franklin &Nashville, and Zouaves! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great Content - I recomend, but....
This series has great content covering a wide range of different subjects, battles and individuals not always included in CW documentaries. I recommend it for the video library of all Civil War buffs.

Even though I have watched all the shows I pull these off the shelf and watch them when I can't find anything else on TV.

At 45 minutes or so each show, you get a very detailed exploration into the episode's subject matter instead of the general overview you might find in other documentaries.

My only gripe and the reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is the quality of the tapes. I can't understand why a set costing what this one does would be taped at (EP) mode. What a disappointment, content this good deserved better, and so do we when paying this much for a set like this.

Despite the quality issue, it is worth having because of the great narration, stories, photos, re-enacments etc. Enjoy.

The Gray to go with the Blue. . . . .
The second Civil War Journal boxset picks up where the first ended, continuing with the same gripping narratives, excellent production values and attention to detail that lift this entire series head and shoulders above most documentaries.

Series two concentrates a bit more on personalities than battles, although not exclusively. Featured in these 13 episodes are Robert E. Lee, William Tecumseh Sherman, Joshua L. Chamberlain, Frederick Douglas and Nathan Bedford Forest, alongwith the Battles of Fredericksburg and Chattanooga. Once again, Danny Glover's understated narration adds the final polish to the production.

The most telling aspect of Box Set 2 is that there is no drop-off in quality from its predecessor. Any American History or Civil War enthusiast will be delighted with this collection.

Very highly recommended. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

BAD
A bad documentary, no logic, no deep insights, just a surface look on this dramatic history.....

a very good depiction of the Korean war a first person view
a very good depiction of the Korean war a first person vie ... Read more

Reviews (1)

"We know something is going on in Iraq"
It was the night of January 16, 1991. ABC Anchorman Peter Jennings reported to a nation-wide television audience that "Operation Desert Storm" had begun. The Coalition of Allied Forces led by the United States had launched the first strike against Iraq. ABC News maintained round-the-clock coverage for the duration of the Persian Gulf Conflict. For the first time in history, a war would be broadcast "live" to a television audience. We all remember the reports during the Vietnam War on the evening news but this time we watched continuous coverage 24 hours per day. ABC correspondents reported from all of the prime venues involved in the conflict, including Baghdad. The most vivid images and events have been collected in this video set. ABC uses them now to tell the entire story of the Persian Gulf War. All of the events from the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait to the Allied liberation of Kuwait City are included. Two bonus videos contain interviews with Saddam Hussein and General Norman Schwarzkopf. The viewer will find this presentation both memorable and educational. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Another fine mess by Madacy
Typical Madacy mish-mash, made up of old documentaries thrown together to make a multi-DVD set, complete with a colorful, attrative box to appeal to the average consumer who wouldn't know otherwise. If you occassionally like watching old documentaries/propaganda films, fine....but the outside of the contents (the box) need to state honestly what's inside, and not hype it up to appear like it's a big-budget production (like a History Channel or National Geographic product - now THOSE are worth buying). Madacy has a problem with that, because they know most people won't buy it....or at least pay the asking price. This stuff needs to be on the bargain rack ($10 max).

Thorough but unsatisfying
Tons of footage from the attack and propaganda from the period but ultimately unfulfilling. Felt like a very long slide strip from elementary school.

An important addition to your WWII library.
With the 60'Th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor in sight, It was inevitable that a special DVD edition regarding that event would be published. This "commemorative edition" DVD is an adequate addition to any WWII personal library. The 5 DVD's included on this set, feature 12 documentaries with a total running time of 7 hours. It seems the producers insisted on this set being unforgetable, for after 7 hours of footage one will find it hard to shake visions of Zero's flying outside his/hers living room window. The mass of the film can be exhausting at times, as you happen to watch the same scenes over and over again in different documentaries. However, this is only a minor fault, for you will find here several documentaries that are exceptionally good films: The 1961 "KAMIKAZE" - Is a retrospective on the pacific war. The 1945 "KNOW YOUR ENEMY", directed by FRANK CAPRA - Is a masterpiece of a propaganda film. "IWO JIMA", "OKINAWA" - are first rate war films. It is obvious that this compilation of 12 documentaries could not have been edited into a consistent, chronologically ordered set of films, keeping in mind that these films are of different kinds and sources. However, one gets a complete picture of the Pacific scene before during and after world war II. As for the quality of the DVD itself, I did not find any added value in the special features: the trivia quiz, slideshow, biography and newspaper excerpts. No sound remastering work was done in the making of the set, thus for 7 hours we get an authentic 1940's sound quality. Although some might claim it to be a virtue, I found it disturbing, especially as no English caption is available. Overall, though not a brilliant, History Channel like DVD set, It is a must be for all those WWII buffs like myself. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good Civil War Refresher Course
The History Channel's "Civil War Journal - The Conflict Begins" is a collection of four episodes detailing some of the significant events prior to and during the early days of the American civil war.

Each episode is 43 minutes in length and is a self-contained documentary focusing on one particular subject, person, or group. Each episode provides a very nice summary of the event and/or people involved and the corresponding effect on the overall war. Although the episodes are arranged in chronological order, they can stand independently and can be watched in any order without affecting your understanding of the material.

Danny Glover lends his voice as the narrator of all four episodes and keeps the story flowing. (He really can't pronounce the word "Massachusetts," though, which is a little grating on the nerves during what was otherwise my favorite episode - the one titled "The 54th Massachusetts.") Comments are liberally provided from various historians, particularly the well-known William C. Davis, author of the recently released "An Honorable Defeat: The Last Days of the Confederate Government."

Having recently become interested in civil war history, I bought this DVD set hoping it would be a useful and quick refresher course that would provide a general background into the major events of the war. Definitely not disappointed, I constantly found myself realizing that not only was the series a good refresher, it actually was quite entertaining. The episodes are very well written, unfold with quite a bit of drama, and contain a surprising number of interesting little-known facts (at least they were new to me).

I'm looking forward to further releases of the "Civil War Journal" series and will certainly add them to my library. ... Read more

Description

The Civil War ravaged America and transformed the nation, righting a great injustice but opening wounds that have never completely healed. The saga of the War Between the States is captured in Civil War Journal, which goes beyond the battles to tell the personal stories that shaped the epic conflict. This illuminating set examines the commanders whose decisions changed history, and includes familiar tales told in a refreshing way and overlooked stories of friendships torn apart in the heat of battle. Episodes: West Point Classmates/Civil War Enemies, Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Sherman and the March to the Sea ... Read more

Reviews (1)

nelsondave@attbi.com
The Civil War Journal is a very informative and entertaining look at the Civil War with original pictures and personal narratives ala Ken Burns. Civil War Journal draws on more sources though and delves deeper into specific areas where Ken Burns didn't have the time. The use of interviews with historians and authors lets the experts relate some human interest to the history.
Danny Glover is a good choice as the host. he presents well and The History Channel throws in some reenacting to bring a little color to the program. I would like to see The History Channel release the rest of the series on DVD. ... Read more