Ultimate Civil War Series - 150th Anniversary Edition

As someone who spent his first 9 years in Massachusetts and the next 9 in Virginia digging up minie-balls and in Maryland in the '60s, I have always been fascinated by The Civil War. When other kids were reading about dinosaurs or sports figures, I was reading about Antietam, Gettysburg, and Vicksburg; about Lee and Jackson, Grant and Sherman.I have watched the Ken Burns The Civil War many times and it is superb. But the Burns series is mostly still pictures and the individual consequences, personal letters, and driving social forces. I lamented a lack of battlefield details and live action.The Ultimate Civil War provides that. While beginning with the underlying causes of the war (Episode 1, Sins Of The Fathers) which I consider the best summary of the causes of the war I have seen, the subsequent episodes move promptly into the battles.The battle maps, while briefly shown (well there IS the pause button of course) are detailed, clear and excellent. The maps of the battle of Gettysburg particularly showed the complex and sometimes chaotic nature of the attacks and counterattacks. I particularly liked the way that arrows of attacks were straight when successful but curved back when failed. I compliment the map-drawer.There are still photos and live re-enactments, and they are woven together well.You should not confuse the Ken Burns series with this one; they are different in focus, style and presentation much as West Side Story is different from Romeo and Juliet, but are both are telling the same same story. You should have both. Still, if I only one, I would prefer The Ultimate Civil War.

I too do not just read a lot- but read more than most anyone I know and yet there were many things I could verify in this I had no idea of. Yes, it is synopsis as all must be, but it covers well the primary events leading to, dramatic during and nearing conclusion. To those who say, oh, not accurate enough they are looking for entire, well read 4 years on it and you MIGHT come close. Well done, great bargain never anticipated so much for such a small price and FAR more accurate than many who focus on personal relationships rather than cause and effect. I would well say teachers should use this but then many don't want to present what has not been known, they might have to explain and then they would have to read. Most prefer to accept what they are told and not to learn to think, read from other sources, find out for sure. This sure prompted me to do far more reading and I'm glad, it told it, I verified, I am impressed.

This series skims,highlights,and focus' on event leading,throughtout,and after the Civil War. The skimming in the first chapter("Sins of the Fathers") is basically from the Foundng Fathers,leaving debatable issues such as slavery,open.it highlights the rise of the abolitionist movement,key figures in and around the 1830.The effects of the movement on states seeking admittion.Reaching South Carolina's(&others) Succession,Lincoln's election,and the first shots fired.the final chapter New Birth of Freedom.Gives us a look at the end of the war and the final battle fought,by Sherman's western army,against a force of 90,000 southern troops .Two days after Lincoln's death.And the capture of Pres.Jeff Davis and his 3000 men,Almost a month later.from there,a brief summary of the reconstruction,and the treatmet the South received from a avenging North:Along with the Civil Rights movement.The five chapters in between give seemlingly unbias,and equaltreatment too both North and South.Eastern and Western theatres,durning the war. Troops movements,shown on maps.Political pressures from both sides durning the campains,Letters,reports journals read.And of course re-enactments.The Valor,Glory and defeat,of the commanders and troops involved in the various actions also mentioned. For the low price an the amount of information this vidio is well worth it. This past Nov.I visted my brother in GA.We spent,3days visting spots that were in the path of Sherman's march too Atlanta.So when that part of the series was reached- I was a bit surprised at how well it matched what I read and herd(on tours).This was anoher plus in my book.These people did do there job putting this vidio together.The minus which makes me round this down too a 4 from a 4.5(choice not offerd).Vidio quility is a little weak in some spots,like the films been shown to many times,or not cleaned properly(Maybe Blu-version is better):The music at times over powers the narrator in spots.Finally on the first chapter ,i had too skip the end of the segmet on John Brown due too audio,&picture problem(about 2minutes).The last disc a letter that is suppose too read about the feelings toward Lincolns death,from a Ny woman-is not here ,but replaced by unbalanced music,and the narrator babbling something not too clearly.Then skips too a southern woman,who seems to of felt his assination was a terrible loss for the South as well as the North.Apparently Pres.Davis had simular feelings.Aside from minor audio,and vidio problems-this, set is worthy addition too your vidio libary.And just perhapes it will lead you to come too or find your own conclusions-to the bloodiest time of American history....

After having seen this wonderful production by Ken Burns several times over the years, my conclusion remains the same. It is genuinely OUTSTANDING!The well-chosen letters read by voices familiar to many, the gripping musical selections (mostly period pieces though Ashokan is modern), and especially the wonderfully engaging and honest comments of Shelby Foote, make this a production which should be viewed by all Americans, and indeed by non-Americans as well.Having lived much of my life in the South (though a New Yorker at birth), I am keenly aware of the differences in viewpoint as to the political aspects of the terrible War Between the States. These will continue to be debated ad infinitum. But I think the film has been quite fair in pointing out the deficiencies as well as the strengths of the major characters.I would affirm once again that every school student should see this production. It is extremely moving.

This was a good overview. It was pretty fast paced, taking up "only" 7 hours (others are much longer). It seemed to cover the major points of the Civil War without getting too detailed. I now have a much better understanding of the conflict. And, I will look forward to being more informed when I drive nearby to a Civil War site in the eastern U.S. My only complaint about the DVD is that there tended to be too much in the way of technical explanations of what was happening in specific battles, that is strategy, tactics and specific results. This might be useful to a real war buff, but not to me.

No puedo ver el dvd, mi reproductor no lo reconoce ya que es de una zona que no se puede ver en europa.Solo en ordenador.

WHAT a bargain this is,maybe not as good as Burns Civil War,but not far behind it,this is a MUST-BUY for anybody interested in The American Civil War,I took a chance on this because of the great price,just over a fiver including p&p,and I,m delighted I did,very informative,and good picture quality,it,s a blu-ray,not as great picture quality as The Searchers/Zulu,what is???but very good nevertheless,BUY IT!!!!!Davy Cairns,Scotland.

His history is always interesting how we all the realistic this is I'm not sure

Enough said by other reviewers about the good quality of this series.I would like to add however that this region A bluray version plays perfectly on my Sony region B player.It must be region free. Surprise surprise !!