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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 Seven: Most Hallowed Ground
This focuses on Lincoln's fight for political survival -
and that of the Union - but his commanders give him battle
victories at Atlanta and in the Shenandoah Valley. The lifelines
once again swing the tide of the war in favour of the North
and General Lee's house is commandeered by his enemies for
use as Arlington National Cemetery.
Episode Eight: War is All Hell
Depending upon the side you supported in the Civil War you'll
have mixed feelings about General Sherman's "March to
the Sea". The no-holds-barred campaign saw incalculable
destruction throughout the South and finished the Confederacy
as a serious threat to the North. With his armies exhausted
and vastly outnumbered Lee surrenders at Appomattox Courthouse.
Episode Nine: The Better Angels of Our Nature
Although defeated, some in the South dream of ultimate victory
and plot to assassinate Lincoln. Only five days after the
end of the war, John Wilkes Booth shoots and mortally wounds
the president. This final episode wraps up the series and
looks at the effects the war had on America. It also tells
you what happened to all the characters you have listened
to while watching and rounds the whole thing off beautifully.
Conclusion: 95%
Continued:
DVD details at a glance >
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