MovieChat Forums > The War (2007) Discussion > Terrible - I watched half then quit

Terrible - I watched half then quit

posted 14 years ago by Hang_All_Drunkdrivers
18 replies | jump to latest

Burns is a stupid liberal who thinks it's important to show the "human side' of the war, so along with the very good archive footage we also get millions of interviews with the now 80 year old geezers who fought in the war. These are just ordinary schmucks who have nothing important to say. I'd have much preferred just footage about the war itself. The doc "World at War" made around 1974 does that and is much better

a terrorist is a man who has a bomb but doesn't have an air force

[–] jkono29 14 years ago

Have you ever watched a Ken Burns documentary? They're always about telling the story of events through those who experienced them. He is not a documentarian who simply spouts out facts in chronological order.

I loved "World at War," but not every documentary on a certain subject needs to be the same, and just because a film is non-fiction doesn't mean it can't tell a story.

[–] CCRider01 13 years ago

"we also get millions of interviews with the now 80 year old geezers who fought in the war. These are just ordinary schmucks who have nothing important to say"

Looks like you failed to get the memo. War is fought by "ordinary schmucks", millions of them. The best stories are told from the perspective of a small number of participants (even the ordinary "schmucks"), it makes it more personal or identifiable to the viewer.

Agree about the "The World at War", the best WW2 documentary series ever, perhaps the greatest of any genre. Doesn't have to be either or though, I enjoyed both documentaries, having said, the narration of Laurence Olivier in TWAR is unbeatable, as is the overall quality of the series.

[–] Dropkickmeelmo 12 years ago

"we also get millions of interviews with the now 80 year old geezers who fought in the war. These are just ordinary schmucks who have nothing important to say"

Looks like you failed to get the memo. War is fought by "ordinary schmucks", millions of them. The best stories are told from the perspective of a small number of participants (even the ordinary "schmucks"), it makes it more personal or identifiable to the viewer.

Agree about the "The World at War", the best WW2 documentary series ever, perhaps the greatest of any genre. Doesn't have to be either or though, I enjoyed both documentaries, having said, the narration of Laurence Olivier in TWAR is unbeatable, as is the overall quality of the series.

Not to mention the fact that they were ABLE to interview most of the people who were in the war back in 1972/3/4 when it was produced; as most of them aren't with us today.

[–] dgates64 13 years ago

I see from your post history that you've never contributed a single relevant comment on IMDB.

[–] hipsterdoofus47 10 years ago

..."ordinary shmuck" heard from...IMDb has too many of them...

"The World at War" is the finest documentary of its kind...closely followed by "Victory at Sea"--which has been all but forgotten today because it's in b/w and was made in the early Fifties.

But it has the best narration and best musical score (by Richard Rodgers, no less) of any WWII series ever made.

Close behind are "The War" and "The Color of War"...

I own them all...

[–] james_age 11 years ago

Hang_All_Drunkdrivers. Ignore. I'll never have to read a post of his for the rest of my life. I can smile now.

[–] howiejohn 11 years ago

I'm guessing you have never worn a uniform or put yourself in harms way. Soldiers fight for their buddy on the left and right. Ken Burns captured that, it's a shame you missed it. By the way Call of Duty is not real, it's just a game.

[–] ccorraliza 11 years ago

Numerous senior commanders were alive when World at War was made and so interviewed. Now, only very junior ranks are left to interview. Have to make do with what is there.

Although I admit the shorter History WW2 in HD is superior to this one in terms of relying what the frontline soldiers experienced. The War does focus on the homefront quite a bit as well which is interesting in its own right.

I think a criticism I read years ago is appropriate.... KB used too many still images, ala The Civil War, when there is considerable film footage available for the period in question in The War.

But really it is a good effort. Airing now on my local PBS. I am viewing Episode 2 of this writing. Ep.3 tonight, etc.etc.

[–] dggonzal 11 years ago

I found the stories fascinating at the war at home concept refreshing.
THE WAR is not for every history buff for sure. It is not fast moving or military centered, but its exactly this, that makes it stand out.

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[–] Mort & Spunky the awesome cat 10 years ago

If you don't want the whole story, if you want fox news lite documentaries, don't look to Ken Burns. He's too intelligent for that nonsense.

[–] retro2classy 9 years ago

Yeah, ordinary schmucks, old geezers who have nothing important to say like Medal Of Honor winners Walter Ehlers and Daniel Inouye. Good grief.

[–] jriley555 (8207) 6 years ago

i go along with a complaint, at least, that the home front aspect was over-emphasized. i am more interested in the events in theater. maybe a 10-90 mix would be ok, certainly not the 60-40 this series seemed to lead with, anyway.

i'm a liberal, and a vet, bearing in upon geezerdom. there's loads of us. we sure take a lot of ignorant guff from know-nothings, don't we.

i wish pbs would give someone else besides ken burns a chance :) maybe get some of those front-line people on the long documentary job.

[–] Ed (526) 3 years ago

Go watch Victory at sea. It’s great! The score is very good, the narration is good, all the vintage footage is great. I was lucky enough to get the dvds in the $1 target bargain bin back in the day.

I also liked the Battlefield series from PBS back in the 80’s. Good tactical stuff.

[–] jriley555 (8207) 3 years ago

thanks!