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And now, at last, The Civil War has made it on to
DVD and it is the perfect show to have on disc. The DVDs allow
you to navigate through the massive series and easily find
something you wanted to look at again.
Burns used over 16,000 still photos in the epic production
and came up with an innovative way of filming the images and
thereby adding a stylish form of movement while getting incredible
detail out of the old plates.
The music of the Civil War period is usually lively and brings
an interesting counterpoint of life to the darker images and
details of the bloody battles that killed more Americans than
any wars since. The title music, the haunting Ashokan Farewell
will get in your blood and you may find yourself unconciously
whistling it.
David McCullough, the narrator, has an absolutely magical
voice - as has a very impressive lineup of character voices
who read from personal diaries and letters of eyewitnesses
to the battlefield carnage, political goings on and life on
the homefront. They include Morgan Freeman, Jason Robards,
Sam Waterson, Derek Jacobi and Jeremy Irons.
Blended in to that mix are explanatory to-camera pieces by
eminent historian Barbara Fields and celebrated historical
writer Shelby Foote, who is the epitomy of a Southern gentleman.
The transfer on to DVD is very good, although not pristine,
but who the heck cares? This is riveting stuff.
Above all, however, The Civil War stands as a monumental
achievement of managing to encapsulate the bitter struggle
between the North and the South in an enthralling way. 40
million Americans watched it first time around and if you
want to see something truly wonderful then you'll do so too.
Episode Four: Simply Murder
1863 was the crucial year in the war and the North began
it with a disaster at Fredericksburg, a sound beating at Chancellorsville.
Anti-war sentiment in the North was brewing while, in the
South, wartime deprivations were hitting civilians hard.
Episode Five: The Universe of Battle
This episode covers the turning point in the Civil War where
150,000 men battled it out in the three-day clash at Gettysburg.
The tide begins to move against the South and Lincoln makes
his stunning Gettysburg Address. The battles of Vicksburg,
Chickamauga and Chattanooga feature prominently.
Episode Six: Valley of the Shadow of Death
The two leading generals of the Civil War, General Robert
E. Lee and General Ulysses S. Grant, are compared in detail
and this examination leads into their struggle for Virginia
in 1864. Within a month both men lose more soldiers than in
all the previous battles. Facing re-election, Lincoln looks
like losing both the race for the presidency - and the war.
Conclusion: 95%
Continued:
DVD details at a glance >
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