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The War - A Film By Ken Burns and Lynn Novick |  | Directors: Ken Burns, Lynn Novick
Studio: PBS
Category: DVD
List Price: $129.99
Buy Used: $24.17
as of 7/30/2010 19:48 MDT details
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Seller: webstore11
Rating:  338 reviews
Sales Rank: 1681
Format: Anamorphic, Widescreen, Subtitled, NTSC
Languages: English (Unknown), English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Discs: 6
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Running Time: 900 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.8 x 1.3
MPN: PARD705212D
UPC: 841887052122
EAN: 0841887052122
ASIN: B000R7NBMK
Theatrical Release Date: October 2, 2007
Release Date: October 2, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Movie DVD
Amazon.com
Creating epic documentaries about war is nothing new for Ken Burns, nor is the subject of the Second World War, which never ceases to be a popular subject of films and TV shows. Yet with The War, Burns has definitely succeeded in breaking new ground, exploring in depth the effect of the war on common Americans, and not just the soldiers of The Greatest Generation that fought it. As the narration says at the beginning, "The war affected people in every house, on every street in every town in America." This is nothing less than an attempt to show how the war altered the lives of an entire nation through the portrayal of four individuals from four communities--Waterbury, Connecticut; Mobile, Alambama; Luverne, Minnesota; and Sacramento, California--that could represent any town in the country that went through the war. The result is another stunning achievement for Burns and co-director Lynn Novick. Together the filmmaking team succeeds in bringing the war home through the testimonies, letters, and footage of the people from these towns. The storytelling is compelling--Burns and Novick manage to find the most vivid, intimate, and personal dimensions of a global catastrophe--and brought to life with exceptional voice work from marquee stars like Tom Hanks, Alan Arkin, and Samuel L. Jackson. Much of the footage is brilliantly restored; even the most die-hard History Channel buff will see clips here that they've never viewed before. Many old grainy family films look almost as clean and bright as if they were just shot using a modern camera with black-and-white film (keeping in mind that most of the footage was shot without sound, the audio effects work on The War is particularly impressive and should bring attention to the underappreciated work of the foley artist). It took Burns and Novick six years to make this seven-part, 15-hour film--not surprising, really, considering the miles of footage they must have accumulated in the course of their research--and the time and effort shows in the results. The DVD also includes a making-of featurette, deleted scenes, extensive commentaries, and more, in addition to a companion book, The War: An Intimate History. --Daniel Vancini
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 338
 History gets personal. July 27, 2010
Anonymous
As the years pass, a documentary such as this will become ever more priceless, as fewer of the Greatest Generation will be around to remind us of how terrible war can be, and always has been. Never before have I seen as deeply into the heart and soul of war as I have in watching this series. Many may put "The War" down as lacking in historical completeness, but that's not the focus anyway. Others may say that it puts too much emphasis on racism, but I think that was to show how people were willing to sacrifice themselves for our nation, in spite of how they were treated by it. Without talking directly to one who has been there, you cannot get a clearer view of the human side of "The War" than this.
If, however, your questions are more historical in nature, I highly recommend the global perspective on the trials and atrocities of WWII found in the BBC series, "The World at War".
Both are excellent documentaries I suggest at least giving a try.
Wonderful Gift for my husband July 20, 2010
Sheila Kobs (WRIGHT CITY, MO, US)
I purchased this set for my husband for his birthday and he loved it. He is a War History buff and he said there were things in this film he had never heard before. I was very happy to see him so happy with it.
DDD July 20, 2010
Diana M. Fowler (San Diego, CA)
Great Film -- I bought this for my husband for Father's Day. He's a history buff, but said he learned a lot from this documentary. Everything Ken Burns puts together is high quality.
Great Series July 14, 2010
jteam
This is an excelent series that takes a different approach to portraying the war from the peoples perspective and how their lives were affected. Some of the best photos and footage I have ever seen in a war documentary. Highly recommend.
Amazing, Emotional, and the 1st Time WW2 Seemed Real June 12, 2010
Alexandra126 (The South)
As a 20 something WW2 always seemed like a faraway black and white occurrence - something you study in history books. Movies like Saving Private Ryan & Shindler's List helped somewhat in bringing reality closer to a younger generation but in the end you still knew it was Hollywood (though at its very best).
It wasn't until I watched Ken Burn's The War that WWII seemed real and tangible. Some critics state Ken Burns made a mistake by hardly mentioning FDR, Churchill, and other famous figures of era. I think this is Ken Burn's best characteristic. I can see documentaries of the politicians of the Era anytime of the day on cable - there is a plethora of those around. Here Ken Burns bring in veterans and family members discussing their own personal stories bringing alive history in a personal way.
There is some mention of a liberal anti-war slant to the movie. Yes, it is there but it is very subtle and honestly I doubt anyone is going change their viewpoint of war after watching this. None of the people interviewed were anti-war, actually some interviewers said they were zealously for fighting the war w/one dvd in the series entitled A Necessary War.
I was literally brought to tears from the stories told by pilots Quentin Aanenson and Earl Burke, who somehow beat the odds on the bomber planes, a most dangerous job were most only lasted an average of 14 flights & an average of 600 men were lost on each mission (think Memphis Belle but with the real life people retelling). The infantrymen interviewed also told of their Omaha Beach landing.
The footage is breathtaking because it is not all grainy black and white but colored home videos and news footage underlining the point these are people just like us. Tom Hanks, Bobby Cannavale, and Adam Arkin are among the narrators who are perfectly cast.
The War is an emotional rollercoaster where you feel pride at the United States and their industrial workers, anger at the incompetent policy, horror of the staggering deaths, and awe of men who rushed onto the beaches of France knowing full well they would probably die. The War is living, breathing history which finally illustrates why they were the Greatest Generation.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 338
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