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Holistic Guidance - The War - A Film By Ken Burns and Lynn Novick
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List Price: $129.99
Our Price: $79.99
Your Save: $ 50.00 ( 38% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: PBS
Directed By: Ken Burns, Lynn Novick
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Brand: PARAMOUNT PICTURES
EAN: 0841887052122
Format: Anamorphic
Label: PBS
Manufacturer: PBS
Number Of Items: 6
Publisher: PBS
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2007-10-02
Running Time: 900
Studio: PBS
Theatrical Release Date: 2007-10-02
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Editorial Reviews:
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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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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: The Greatest Documentary For The Greatest Generation
Comment: Too many times, historical documentaries of World War II (or any war for that matter) focus way too much on the technical aspects of the event, such as where battles took place, what the military strategies were, and how many were killed. Instead of taking this tact, master historian/filmmaker Ken Burns chooses to focus on the stories of a few individuals (and their families/friends) who participated in the war.
Now, don't get me wrong...Burns also does enough historical recapping to satisfy a viewer who has no idea what happened (trust me, these people do exist!). However, Burns masterfully blends that information with the touching stories of individuals who did the "dirty work" of the war.
As a result, this documentary works on both the micro and macro levels of filmmaking. On one hand, it chronicles the United States' participation in the war...it is especially interesting to see the blatant racism against blacks and Japanese citizens, as well as the helpful attitude U.S. citizens had towards the war effort (very much unlike contemporary wars). On the other hand, it probes the brittle human psyche that is created in the aftermath of war, as humans who are raised to never take a life must adopt an entirely new frame of mind while in combat.
Overall, this film was the best World War II documentary I have ever seen. By combining the "big picture" of the war effort (complete with simple graphics and illustrations) with the heartwarming (or heartbreaking) individual stories of its participants (I was close to tears on more than a few occasions), Ken Burns created a realistic tapestry of the effects the war had on every citizen. It is so genuine that I almost felt guilty sending it to my grandfather, a WW2 veteran, as I was afraid it would drudge up too many painful memories for him.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Most Excellent in receiving the product in a timely fashion!
Comment: Thank You for sending the copy of "THE WAR" a PBS special. It was informative and well done. 5 stars
Customer Rating:
Summary: Ken Burns hits a home run
Comment: "The War," like Burns' other projects, places his subject squarely within the context of the times, creating an accessible, thought provoking and stimulating view of the defining five years of the American Century. This set of films provides an unequaled summary of the events of the war years with special emphasis on their impact on the home front. I use many clips from the series in my college modern American history class, not only to provide background on the war but to set the stage for events after the war and up to the present day. This series reaches students in ways no other can. I never have enough time to show all the clips I could, and the students always leave class wanting more. This is a keeper.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: The War
Comment: After seeing how well Ken Burns handled the documentaries on Jazz and the Civil War, I was pleased to view The War and see how it continues his fine treatment of what are historical subjects. The archive materials are very clear, the narrative informative, sympathetic, yet not too obtrusive. It gives a very clear account of what it was like to have been a soldier and a soldier's family throughout 1941-1945.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Review for The War
Comment: We really wanted to get the DVD set. We saw it on PBS and were captivated by it. I was a little disappointed at the cost of the DVD set, when it was a PBS special. It was much more affordable on Amazon, but was double at Barnes and Noble. I would also like to get the coffee table book that accompanies it, but will maybe get that a later time.
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