The War (PBS)

AMosely · 09-24-2007, 11:05 AM

For anyone who has not heard or noticed, this latest 14-hour long documentary from producer Ken Burns on World War II started airing this week on PBS (here in America). I watched the first installment last night and found it to be very worthwhile. The website alone has a lot of good interviews and writings.

http://www.pbs.org/thewar/

Beatnik · 09-24-2007, 12:29 PM

Thanks for reminding me. Totally forgot to program my friendly TV robot to grab these shows for me last night. Damn you, Star Wars Family Guy!

Pickle · 09-24-2007, 07:11 PM

That Star Wars Family Guy was great too!

I am TiVo'ing the War as we speak and will watch it in its entirety. Might even buy it later.

Ken Burns took a lot of heat from the Hispanic community because he didn't focus enough on them. He subsequently added time just for that racial group.

**Rincewind** · 09-25-2007, 12:24 PM

It's a good documentary, but I think there have been so many done on WWII (Victory at Sea, etc.) that's it's hard to add to or differentiate from what's been done. That said, I think Burns has done a good job so far. Plus, it's in HD. I wish they would re-release The Civil War in HD.

**Grunt 70** · 09-25-2007, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rincewind

It's a good documentary, but I think there have been so many done on WWII (Victory at Sea, etc.) that's it's hard to add to or differentiate from what's been done. That said, I think Burns has done a good job so far. Plus, it's in HD. I wish they would re-release The Civil War in HD.

My thoughts exactly Rince...I was ready for a rehash of the same campaigns and stories but have been pleasantly surprised with the first couple of episodes. Ken Burns makes good movies.

Good call Mosely.

mentholated · 09-25-2007, 04:02 PM

I watched the first part. But, anyone know when the rest comes on?

edit: nvm

Switch · 09-26-2007, 04:47 AM

The war? Ha, you are not in the know. Just ask the president of Iran... that war never happened. Its as mythical as global warming.

**VegaBond** · 09-26-2007, 07:41 AM

Yeah does it come on again? I think i was DVR"ing everything else this week with new season of shows

Beatnik · 09-26-2007, 09:18 AM

It should be coming on most nights this week. It's something like 14 hours long, iirc.

**UnDeaD77** · 09-26-2007, 09:28 AM

I want to watch it, just so happens I've got dvr, and PBSHD.

AMosely · 09-26-2007, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rincewind

It's a good documentary, but I think there have been so many done on WWII (Victory at Sea, etc.) that's it's hard to add to or differentiate from what's been done. That said, I think Burns has done a good job so far. Plus, it's in HD. I wish they would re-release The Civil War in HD.

I agree, but Burns somewhat makes a disclaimer about this documentary in that it is focused on the soldiers (and only a few specific ones at that) in order to convey their perspectives and those close to them. In fact the documentary only follows soldiers and families from four US towns. So, it goes without saying that this documentary is quite narrow in focus - not just on the US, but on certain soldiers. To that end, I think it does an amazing job.

It's pretty amazing what modern media can do to preserve history like this, using first hand accounts and both moving and still photographs. Doing documentary work like this in the name of preservation is so beneficial to humankind.

I believe PBS is running a new installment of this documentary every night this week. I personally hate it when they do this. I've been DVR'ing these things and it's so much easier when you have a week to digest a program before getting the next one. With 14 hours of HD material, this is taking up about 3/4 of my available space!

**Rincewind** · 09-26-2007, 03:38 PM

I wonder if something like this could be done for a few AXIS soldiers who fought in the war. I bet there are some personal stories that aren't outright offensive that could be told from the German or Japanese perspective. I don't think anything like that has been done in English yet.

**TheSkudDestroyer** · 09-26-2007, 05:45 PM

I've been watching it each night.

I love it.

Pickle · 09-26-2007, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rincewind

I wonder if something like this could be done for a few AXIS soldiers who fought in the war. I bet there are some personal stories that aren't outright offensive that could be told from the German or Japanese perspective. I don't think anything like that has been done in English yet.

Caveat: I haven't seen it but what about Letter from Iwo Jima?

**Sir-Nerd** · 09-27-2007, 10:15 PM

I loved this documentary.

09-24-2007, 11:05 AM	#1 (permalink)
AMosely Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Maine Age: 33 Posts: 2,634	The War (PBS) For anyone who has not heard or noticed, this latest 14-hour long documentary from producer Ken Burns on World War II started airing this week on PBS (here in America). I watched the first installment last night and found it to be very worthwhile. The website alone has a lot of good interviews and writings. http://www.pbs.org/thewar/

09-24-2007, 12:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
Beatnik Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Austin, TX Age: 33 Posts: 4,322	Re: The War (PBS) Thanks for reminding me. Totally forgot to program my friendly TV robot to grab these shows for me last night. Damn you, Star Wars Family Guy! __________________ -F- Beatnik

09-24-2007, 07:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
Pickle Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Land of Fruit and Nuts! Age: 35 Posts: 1,281	Re: The War (PBS) That Star Wars Family Guy was great too! I am TiVo'ing the War as we speak and will watch it in its entirety. Might even buy it later. Ken Burns took a lot of heat from the Hispanic community because he didn't focus enough on them. He subsequently added time just for that racial group. __________________ "Umm Deputy these aren't my pants" - Common alarm cry of the North American Crackhead [tg-c1][ma-c1][defense]

09-25-2007, 12:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
Rincewind Join Date: May 2005 Location: Casting useless spells in Oklahoma. Age: 27 Posts: 2,814	Re: The War (PBS) It's a good documentary, but I think there have been so many done on WWII (Victory at Sea, etc.) that's it's hard to add to or differentiate from what's been done. That said, I think Burns has done a good job so far. Plus, it's in HD. I wish they would re-release The Civil War in HD. __________________ ~~ Veritas simplex oratio est ~~ No matter how far a wizard goes, he will always come back for his hat. --T. Pratchett <---- You know you're getting old when you rely on your forum meta-data to remind you how old you are. Required Reading for all TG sandboxers

09-25-2007, 04:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
mentholated Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 791	Re: The War (PBS) I watched the first part. But, anyone know when the rest comes on? edit: nvm

09-26-2007, 04:47 AM	#7 (permalink)
Switch Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 1,166	Re: The War (PBS) The war? Ha, you are not in the know. Just ask the president of Iran... that war never happened. Its as mythical as global warming. __________________ \|TG\|Switch Better known as: That noob who crashed the chopper. That noob who ran over the mine. That noob who TK'd me with a sniper rifle. That noob who hit that APC at 300m with light AT! Our APC...

09-26-2007, 07:41 AM	#8 (permalink)
VegaBond Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: That smelly place called NJ Age: 29 Posts: 1,016	Re: The War (PBS) Yeah does it come on again? I think i was DVR"ing everything else this week with new season of shows __________________

09-26-2007, 09:18 AM	#9 (permalink)
Beatnik Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Austin, TX Age: 33 Posts: 4,322	Re: The War (PBS) It should be coming on most nights this week. It's something like 14 hours long, iirc. __________________ -F- Beatnik

09-26-2007, 09:28 AM	#10 (permalink)
UnDeaD77 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Fort Worth,Texas Age: 22 Posts: 5,845	Re: The War (PBS) I want to watch it, just so happens I've got dvr, and PBSHD. __________________

09-26-2007, 03:38 PM	#12 (permalink)
Rincewind Join Date: May 2005 Location: Casting useless spells in Oklahoma. Age: 27 Posts: 2,814	Re: The War (PBS) I wonder if something like this could be done for a few AXIS soldiers who fought in the war. I bet there are some personal stories that aren't outright offensive that could be told from the German or Japanese perspective. I don't think anything like that has been done in English yet. __________________ ~~ Veritas simplex oratio est ~~ No matter how far a wizard goes, he will always come back for his hat. --T. Pratchett <---- You know you're getting old when you rely on your forum meta-data to remind you how old you are. Required Reading for all TG sandboxers

09-26-2007, 05:45 PM	#13 (permalink)
TheSkudDestroyer Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: NY Posts: 3,203	Re: The War (PBS) I've been watching it each night. I love it. __________________ \|TG-6th\|Skud 6.5 weeks Lackland AFB 8 months Keesler AFB, 1W0X1 - Weather The 6th Devils - Now with MORE Air Force! "...I simply stated "Video Games". They thought I was joking..."

09-27-2007, 10:15 PM	#15 (permalink)
Sir-Nerd Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: In the middle of North Ohio Posts: 1,007	Re: The War (PBS) I loved this documentary. __________________ Men are basically smart or dumb and lazy or ambitious. The dumb and ambitious ones are dangerous and I get rid of them. The dumb and lazy ones I give mundane duties. The smart ambitious ones I put on my staff. The smart and lazy ones I make my commanders. When you can't run anymore, you crawl and when you can't do that, you find someone to carry you.

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