Ken Burns' "Civil War"

[PTK]

I caught a few minutes of this a couple years back, and it seemed interesting enough. Has anyone here seen the entire series? Is it worth owning, or just worth renting?

What really haunted me more than some of the pictures was the music. It's hard to describe the music.

[Manedwolf]

It's decent.

It engendered a name for an effect in video editing, the "Ken Burns effect"...a pan across a still photograph with music and evocative sounds of the event and voices added to it.

[K Frame]

I thought it was excellent.

[PTK]

Well, looks like I might just spend the $100 then - seems like I'd get more than that in enjoyment, and when I'm done the library can have an interesting DVD set. Thanks for the opinions!

[41magsnub]

I'm not sure about owning it for $00.  I watched it a few months ago back to back as I put it in my netflix queue.  i don't know that I would watch it again enough to have it be an "owner" instead of a "renter".

[xavier fremboe]

I caught a few minutes of this a couple years back, and it seemed interesting enough. Has anyone here seen the entire series? Is it worth owning, or just worth renting?

What really haunted me more than some of the pictures was the music. It's hard to describe the music.

Local PBS used to run it in its entirety on the last day of pledge week.  Great way to spend a day.  I believe the theme music was called "Akoshan Farewell".  Shelby Foote is fantastic throughout.  You might try picking it up off ebay or at a used book store.  Don't know that I'd pay full retail for it.

[PTK]

Buying it full price from PBS is a way to support them. I like that. 

Also - I have the song Ashoaken Farewell. WOW. What a piece of music.

[xavier fremboe]

Buying it full price from PBS is a way to support them. I like that. 

Also - I have the song Ashoaken Farewell. WOW. What a piece of music.

You have a bigger heart than I do.  I listen to NPR all the time, but they won't see a dime from me until Dan Schorr retires or dies.

[Azrael256]

Historically, it is not inaccurate, but perhaps 'selective.'  It does contain a few blatant inaccuracies, but many of them were discovered to be so as a result of scrutiny of the film, so it gets a pass on most of it.

As for making it come alive, it is a *must see* for history buffs and for serious historians.

[PTK]

I borrowed the first episode on VHS from a friend. The pile of amputated feet/limbs.... 

[Perd Hapley]

Buying it full price from PBS is a way to support them. I like that.     

Why do you like that?   

[PTK]

I grew up watching PBS. It was literally the ONLY TV programming I was allowed to watch until I turned 13. I, along with my parents, believe that helped a great deal in making me the person I am now. I wish to support them for that simple reason, right or wrong. 

[wmenorr67]

I grew up watching PBS. It was literally the ONLY TV programming I was allowed to watch until I turned 13. I, along with my parents, believe that helped a great deal in making me the person I am now. I wish to support them for that simple reason, right or wrong. 

That explains a lot then.

[PTK]

Yep, I'm a brainwashed Democrat/Green hippie who hates both freedoms and guns. Especially the 100+ guns I own.