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Beanbioca As Good As It Gets

Odelecol Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

Allison Davies The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Joe Paris Through this episode of Ken Burns' series The Civil War, I was afforded a glimpse at what seems to be a splendid documentary of the war between the states. Burns first focuses on analyzing the lives and mannerisms of the war's duo of prominent opposing generals, U.S. Grant and Robert E. Lee. He does this to a very pleasant extent of thoroughness, and qualifies both generals as outstanding and respectable men. He then went on to examine the stalemate that these two engaged in while trying to outflank each other for control of the strategically paramount location of the Confederate Capitol, Richmond. While doing this, he spends time to respect the horrendous conditions of battle during the war between the states, specifically at the battle of Chancellorsville. He further analyzes the atrocious effects of the war by discussing the conditions in which the wounded were held, many to their mortal termination. This is a very informative and engaging documentary.

drjgardner It's been 25 years since the first showing of Ken Burns' "The Civil War" I recall at the time thinking that it was truly revolutionary and wonderful and I expected it would set the tone for the next decade in terms of documentaries. Viewed now 25 years later, the series is still mind boggling. The detail is amazing. Pictures, songs, and letters blend into an incredible program that despite the length keeps you transfixed on the screen. When originally broadcast you had to wait for each episode. Now, thanks to modern technology, you can record and view them all at once, or in my case, over 2 days. In many senses this is even more powerful than viewed one episode at a time.Though my admiration for the series has only increased upon viewing it again, I am disappointed that there has been nothing to match it in the years since. Ken Burns has gone on to produce several series, most notably "The Roosevelts" (2014) and "Baseball" (1994), but in my mind there has been nothing equal to "The Civil War". Moreover, other notable documentary makers (e.g., Michael Moore, Werner Herzog, Errol Morris) have not done anything along these same lines.If you haven't seen "The Civil War", you should see it. If you've seen it, see it again. It is not merely a documentary, but it is a lesson in how we became whom we are today.

grantss The greatest documentary series ever made.Incredibly well researched, superbly narrated, insightful interviews. When I first watched the series, I didn't know much about the American Civil War. The series made me want to find out more as it showed the what for it was – the higher ideal. Of course, it also showed the military strategy nd tactics, but it showed a lot more than that. It showed the causes of it, the impacts on everyday people as well as senior politicians and generals. Plus it showed the ramifications of it.Over the years I have watched the series many more times. As my knowledge of the Civil War has grown, you would expect my enjoyment of the series to diminish. Not the case. Greater knowledge makes you appreciate the series even more, as you realise how much there is to know, and how they managed to condense it into such an entertaining series without straying from the truth or dumbing it down.Just having those prominent historians explain certain things is enthralling. Moreover, the impact of the gravitas of David McCullough's narration cannot be understated. Just hearing him say "The line held" is spine-tingling, and very emotional.A brilliant series.

suaheli What a marvellous documentary, which I had the pleasure to watch in German TV afternoon after afternoon due to my vacation leave. Nowadays here at least historical events are presented with historical photos/movie clips which are added to by awfully staged scenes by mediocre actors, mostly even dubbed because these scenes are shot in Rumania or the likes (no offence).This production here is simply breathtaking. No staged scenes just heartbreaking photographs of all these young people, staring confidently, sometimes a little fright is visible, into a camera. Add to this the letters being read - in German in my case, by marvellous contributors - it makes you feel like being there and rooting for Elisha Rhodes and Mary Chesnut and all their contemporaries. I as a German never learned f all about the Civil war but was fortunate to have a Dad who was fascinated by all things American, the liberators for a young soldier who was drafted at 18 to do the Russian campaign. Should there ever be a documentary about these boys, I'd proudly present a little tin cigarette case which dad received from a Russian POW, made from a tin plate, the upper side shows a tank and war planes, the other side shows a little peaceful house with birds. All made by use of a fork and as a gift for bread being smuggled in by dad, Breslau it reads. This drifting towards an other war just goes to tell how many heartbreaking stories have to be told. And the Ken Burns documentary is epic and wonderful by showing the faces of war, the voices of war. Could you imagine photographs of dead soldiers, some unimaginably mutilated in our days? Unimaginable. We today have clean wars, you get the numbers of deads but are spared the pictures. This documentary made me shed so many tears, war is hell (Sherman) and so many stories are still untold. War is hell indeed. And should be shown as such. Where is the documentary about letters, unsufferable pictures and such about nowadays wars? Unbelievable, but the two last centuries dealt with war much more honest than today when we are sold for in these days of internet and all around "information".Watch it.