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View Full Version : Ken Burns' The War on PBS ... You like?

Tref
09-24-2007, 10:04 PM
Or, you no like?

First episode in and I am hooked. I can not take my eyes off the screen and have even re-wound some parts to hear certain stories or facts again.

I enjoyed some of Burns' film, Baseball, though he lost me entirely during Jazz. As much as jazz music is dear to my heart, I could not take the endless blather from all the so-called experts. It was making me sick. I bought the box set, but only for all the invaluable clips.

But The War is good. Ilikeit.
Alex
09-24-2007, 10:27 PM
I caught about an hour of it over the weekend and it was having the same soporific effect of his other efforts so I stopped.

But I think I internalized the generally dim view of Burns among professional historians when I was getting my BA so I fear I don't give him a fair shake.
NickO'Time
09-25-2007, 01:45 AM
Most of the documentaries are great. He keeps saying he doesn't want to do another War documentary, but he still continues to surprise and he hinted on the Today show on NBC that he was going to look into one about Vietnam.

Hopefully, I get the chance to see the rest of this one running currently.
Moonliner
09-25-2007, 06:28 AM
I set it up on the DVR. I watched about half of the first episode yesterday. So far it is interesting enough to keep me watching but my socks are still on my feet.

I do like the way he is capturing the isolationism prevalent in the USA right up until the morning of Dec 7th. I know FDR had been doing all he could to help the Allies prior to Pearl Harbor. I wonder if Pearl Harbor was in some small measure a relief for FDR in that after it he could bring the full weight of the United States to bear on the war in Europe.
Alex
09-25-2007, 06:36 AM
He probably could only hope. If Hitler hadn't declared war on us in support of Japan he'd probably have found it very difficult (politically) to continue providing extensive material support to Europe while fighting a war with Japan.

Actually keeping that promise with Japan, at least while he was still fighting an eastern front with Russia is probably the stupidest mistake Hitler made.
Moonliner
09-25-2007, 06:50 AM
He probably could only hope. If Hitler hadn't declared war on us in support of Japan he'd probably have found it very difficult (politically) to continue providing extensive material support to Europe while fighting a war with Japan.

Actually keeping that promise with Japan, at least while he was still fighting an eastern front with Russia is probably the stupidest mistake Hitler made.


I'd have to go with "The Eastern Front" itself being his stupidest mistake. Had Hitler been able to share his sandbox with Stalin things would have worked out very differently but of course that's the problem with megalomaniacs they just can't stand to have another kid in the sandbox no matter how big it is.
Stan4dSteph
09-25-2007, 07:22 AM
It's a great series. I'm really enjoying the personal histories that are being shared, including the woman who was in an internment camp in the Philippines. It's a fascinating parallel to the stories from the Japanese-Americans who were interned in the United States.

I keep thinking I might catch a glimpse of my grandfather in some of the footage. He was a gunner with the 446th bomb group (http://www.446bg.com/). They flew in B-24s. He fought over North Africa as well as France and Germany.
Snowflake
09-25-2007, 07:54 AM
I missed episode 1, and caught most of last night's episode. I found it interesting and engrossing. I will be watching more.

My dad served in the Pacific on an aircraft carrier and had a 20 year Navy career. I wish he'd lived long enough to tell me some stories.

I've been meaning to watch the Civil War for years......
DreadPirateRoberts
09-25-2007, 07:59 AM
I've been meaning to watch the Civil War for years......

I've got that on DVD, it's good.
innerSpaceman
09-25-2007, 08:20 AM
I'm gonna wait for the DVDs. I've got zero time in my life right now to watch anything. I'd really be interested in this, but now's not the time.

How long till the series is out on disc, d'ya think?
DreadPirateRoberts
09-25-2007, 08:28 AM
I'm gonna wait for the DVDs. I've got zero time in my life right now to watch anything. I'd really be interested in this, but now's not the time.

How long till the series is out on disc, d'ya think?

I'm with you on the time crunch. It's coming out soon, 10/2 (http://amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000R7NBMK/ruggedelegance31112-20/ref=nosim?gclid=CIzAyPP13o4CFRuNYAodjFrBSA).
Strangler Lewis
09-25-2007, 09:11 AM
I've only looked in on it a bit, but so far it seems like a lot of time spent making the point that, unlike some wars we could name, this war touched everybody.

As far as the war stories go, between Band of Brothers, Studs Terkel and the like, I've definitely got a "seen it" feeling. In terms of jaw dropping footage, my favorites have been the home front mobilization with all the skinny men desperate for work.
Alex
09-25-2007, 10:22 AM
I'd have to go with "The Eastern Front" itself being his stupidest mistake. Had Hitler been able to share his sandbox with Stalin things would have worked out very differently but of course that's the problem with megalomaniacs they just can't stand to have another kid in the sandbox no matter how big it is.

I'd agree it was close, but if America hadn't entered the war officially I think he would have survived it. Not necessarily with the defeat of Russia and Britian but at least with a stalemate that eventually ended with four powers in Europe. And Pearl Harbor provided the opportunity to be sure we wouldn't enter the war (it should have been pretty obvious that Japan would not seriously distract Russia) so I think declaring war on the United States was stupider than the invasion of Russia, though not by much.
Alex
09-25-2007, 10:22 AM
Oops. Should that be in spoiler tags for those still watching who don't know how it ends?
wendybeth
09-25-2007, 10:46 AM
Nope- the thread was officially dead when Moon invoked Godwin's Law.;)
Moonliner
09-25-2007, 10:55 AM
Nope- the thread was officially dead when Moon invoked Godwin's Law.;)

Well excuse me but this is a thread about WORLD WAR II you jack booted thug!
wendybeth
09-25-2007, 01:12 PM
Still, the 'H' word was invoked........ ;)


And I'm a Reebok-shoed thug, tyvm. Just what are 'jack boots', anyway? The precursor to Doc Martens?
Moonliner
09-25-2007, 01:29 PM
Still, the 'H' word was invoked........ ;)


And I'm a Reebok-shoed thug, tyvm. Just what are 'jack boots', anyway? The precursor to Doc Martens?

Oh and just for the record the 'H' word was first invoked on this thread in Post #5 (which does not belong to me).

I'm innocent I tell ya innocent.


Ps: Jack Boots. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_boots)
€uroMeinke
09-25-2007, 02:07 PM
I haven't seen the series, but NPR's morning edition has been doing some pieces in connection with it that have put me in tears two mornings in a row as I drive to work. I can't imagine what the corresponding images might do to me.
wendybeth
09-25-2007, 07:26 PM
Oh and just for the record the 'H' word was first invoked on this thread in Post #5 (which does not belong to me).

I'm innocent I tell ya innocent.


Ps: Jack Boots. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_boots)


You are absolutely right. Alex, as the author of post #5, is the guilty party. You were merely an accomplice.
Stan4dSteph
09-26-2007, 07:04 AM
I haven't seen the series, but NPR's morning edition has been doing some pieces in connection with it that have put me in tears two mornings in a row as I drive to work. I can't imagine what the corresponding images might do to me.Yes. There is a warning at the beginning of each episode, and they have shown some graphic, disturbing images.