Customer Reviews

Battle of Hood and Bismarck

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've waited for this documentary to come out on DVD since it premiered on my local PBS affiliate in 2001 or 2002. The Amazon page for it indicates that it is a DVD. Well, I found out the hard way that it's actually a DVD-R disc, not a DVD. Older DVD players (mine is from March 1998) will not play it (console and screen display show "insert disc"). So I recommend to customers to not purchase it unless your equipment supports that format. Odd thing; before buying this from Amazon, I quickly surveyed the "Shop PBS" links and could only find the VHS version of this documentary. That didn't make me feel secure buying this product.

Having said all of the above, if your home entertainment equipment does support the DVD-R format, I do highly recommend it. The visual quality was between 4 to 5. It's not widescreen as it was broadcasted on the PBS HD Channel (if supported by your local PBS affiliate) but considering the historical significance of what happened to the HMS Hood and to the Schlachtschiff Bismarck in May 1941, I cannot recommend it enough. It is a visually gripping documentary of those sad events that led to the great loss of life and two magnificent warships.

I normally return any DVD-R or "burned", as opposed to "pressed," products. I didn't return this one. I was fortunate to interest friends to watch it on their newer DVD player.

I really enjoyed this film. It contained many photos of the two ships that I had never seen. This film is definitely for a person already well versed in WW II history but, I think that most people would find it interesting at some level of understanding. It might spur interest in WW II that wasn't there before.