America: The Story of US

[Triple-S]

I came in watching this series with high expectations, from the series previews it seemed very good to have a series covering the time from when Jamestown was a colony to the present day. I imagined it was going to be rather typical of something that would air on the history channel, a narrator describing the events, some actors portraying various scenes, various photos of the actual event and then some clips from interviews from professors, historians and those actually around to witness the events.

What I got was several celebrities voicing their opinion on what occurred during events like the civil war, a very erroneous filled coverage of some of the events (from something as minor as incorrectly potraying Paul Revere's Midnight ride as having him say "The British are coming", when in fact this was never said, he said "The Regulars are coming", to something as major as forgetting to mention that the reason why the Native Americans surrounded Jamestown was because the colonists, who were clueless sons of nobility had no idea to grow and hunt for food, resorted to stealing from said Native Americans), and one full of guilt trips for the modern American, such as focusing on the amount of people killed making the hoover dam, rather than say the significance of why it was indeed built.

A sugguestion to anyone on the forums who may consider watching this series at all during this weekend and expecting anything more than pure entertainment, I reccommend not viewing it and picking up one of the many Ken Burns series, or view "The world at war" series that airs on the Millitary Channel, both actually are fairly accurate and well done, unlike this show.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

and one full of guilt trips for the modern American, such as focusing on the amount of people killed making the hoover dam, rather than say the significance of why it was indeed built.

So talking about people who DIED making the dam isn't important, their sacrafice should just be a footnote?? And they did focus on on why it was built and how important it was for the Southwest and America. Listen, I know your annoyed that Michael Douglas was interviewed for the show instead of Glenn Beck, but the show was well done, not perfect, but still solid. Liev Schreiber is a really good narrator.

Not as good as WWII In HD (much better than The Pacific), which no one talks about because it's not done by Hanks and Spielberg or pimped by HBO's marketing department.

[Triple-S]

and one full of guilt trips for the modern American, such as focusing on the amount of people killed making the hoover dam, rather than say the significance of why it was indeed built.

So talking about people who DIED making the dam isn't important, their sacrafice should just be a footnote?? And they did focus on on why it was built and how important it was for the Southwest and America. Listen, I know your annoyed that Michael Douglas was interviewed for the show instead of Glenn Beck, but the show was well done, not perfect, but still solid. Liev Schreiber is a really good narrator.

Not as good as WWII In HD (much better than The Pacific), which no one talks about because it's not done by Hanks and Spielberg or pimped by HBO's marketing department.

I don't want Glenn Beck in the series, I want the best, most knowledgeable person possible in their field to give their thoughts, not a celebrity or some pundit. I want a professor or historian. Last I checked, Glenn Beck doesn't meet that criteria CDT ;).

And I'm not saying, that it shouldn't be mentioned, quite the opposite, I imagine few people realize the amount of people that died in fact, building that thing, but the way it was portrayed it was almost done in a sense to make it feel like it wasn't worth having done such a thing.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

The casual person won't watch it if they're interviewing Ken Burns, because Ken Burns puts people to sleep. I listen to him instead of taking Tylenol PM. Do I really give a shit what Michael Strahan thinks? No, but some people might.

It wasn't done to make people think it wasn't worth doing. It was done so that people understand that even our greatest achievments come with a price. People did not build our nation with sunshine and lolipop kisses, it was built by sweat, blood, and determination. No matter if it was the guys falling to their death making New York a global icon, the Chinese blown up to build our railroads, or the farmer shot down fighting the British at Lexington.

[aoxo1]

Geeze SSS, if you think noting that people died working on the Hoover Dam is guilt tripping, you better never pick up any Howard Zinn or Noam Chomsky (note: I am not endorsing either doofus, left wing equivalent of Ayn Rand: turns high schoolers and/or undergraduates into unbearable pricks who hopefully outgrow it).

Sorry jfiling, it's true. Though not for everyone, usually just an issue for the first year or two.

[British_Pharaoh]

The World At War considering it was made in I think the late 60's still stands up as one of the best documentary series' on WW2

Anything with Laurence Olivier is a masterpiece

[mattvan1]

Anything with Laurence Olivier is a masterpiece

Except the film "Marathon Man".

[Love child of shawn kemp]

I have been watching this for the most part because my son was interested in it. One thing that cracks me up is how the documentary can seamlessly morph into a commercial for Bank of America who must be a presenting sponsor. You end up watching a minute commercial thinking it was a part of the show.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

I have been watching this for the most part because my son was interested in it. One thing that cracks me up is how the documentary can seamlessly morph into a commercial for Bank of America who must be a presenting sponsor. You end up watching a minute commercial thinking it was a part of the show.

YES! That shit pisses me the fuck off. "BoA, where bailouts happen because we suck at what we do".

[jb]

This series is history for those with ADD. It's a you tube survey course.

[noles1]

Most of the thoughts on the program are on point, CDT and JB in particular.

The Bank of America shit is pure crap and borders on fluffing before a porno.

Overall though I have enjoyed the program for some interesting perspective on things that aren't as well focused on. Certainly could do without the celebrities but did find some of them to be good, Streep being one. Agree on the thought with Ken Burns too. I think they should have mixed it up a bit more and absolutely no reason that Strahan needed to be on there. No issue with that at all.

Still have to catch the finale from last night.

The Hoover Dam stuff I thought was very well done and hit on some of the reasons/repercussions to the West very well. Don't see that complaint in that area.

[waborat]

Anything with Laurence Olivier is a masterpiece

Except the film "Marathon Man".

And let's not forget this classic

[mattvan1]

And let's not forget this classic

Proud to say I have never watched The Jazz Singer. But then again, who wasn't a big Neil Diamond fan back in the day?

[Commodore Perry]

I came in watching this series with high expectations, from the series previews it seemed very good to have a series covering the time from when Jamestown was a colony to the present day. I imagined it was going to be rather typical of something that would air on the history channel, a narrator describing the events, some actors portraying various scenes, various photos of the actual event and then some clips from interviews from professors, historians and those actually around to witness the events.

What I got was several celebrities voicing their opinion on what occurred during events like the civil war, a very erroneous filled coverage of some of the events (from something as minor as incorrectly potraying Paul Revere's Midnight ride as having him say "The British are coming", when in fact this was never said, he said "The Regulars are coming", to something as major as forgetting to mention that the reason why the Native Americans surrounded Jamestown was because the colonists, who were clueless sons of nobility had no idea to grow and hunt for food, resorted to stealing from said Native Americans), and one full of guilt trips for the modern American, such as focusing on the amount of people killed making the hoover dam, rather than say the significance of why it was indeed built.

A sugguestion to anyone on the forums who may consider watching this series at all during this weekend and expecting anything more than pure entertainment, I reccommend not viewing it and picking up one of the many Ken Burns series, or view "The world at war" series that airs on the Millitary Channel, both actually are fairly accurate and well done, unlike this show.

Completely agree. Started watching this, and saw some empty headed celeb start talking about an event as if he were an expert. Clicked it right off. You have to be careful where you get your info and knoweledge. Garbage in, garbage out.