Product Details

• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: A & E Home Video
• VHS Release Date: February 4, 2000
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000006Q9D
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #394,647 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No Stone Unturned to Tell the Truth About Attila, September 23, 2000

By 

Jesse Sublett - See all my reviews

This review is from: Biography - Attila [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I, Jesse Sublett, am the writer of this documentary, ATTILA THE HUN: SCOURGE OF GOD. I did all of the research, sought out historical consultants, wrote the interview questions, wrote the narrative script, and edited the historical consultants comments which were used in the final cut of the documentary. I am very proud of the finished product and stand on its accuracy, and therefore would like to respond to the bizarre, misinformed and completely erroneous "review" posted here by Charles King, regarding this documentary.

First I'd like to address the totally weird comment that I relied upon the book Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun by Wes Roberts. What a ridiculous statement, besides the fact that if it were true, how would Mr. King know? First of all, I never read that book. I did glance at it so I could refer to the book itself in passing. During the several months I spent researching this subject (not to mention all the time spent by the production staff, fact checkers, historical consultants, and others), I had the good fortune to work with Dr. Stephen Bela Vardy, one of the world's leading experts on Hungarian history and culture, and of the Huns. He was not able to appear on the show, but his reputation and his knowledge of Attila is unassailable (by the way he certainly has been published on the subject), and Dr. Vardy checked and approved every single fact in this documentary.

The treatment of Attila's years spent in Rome is certainly accepted by scholars. Mr. King might want to read the writings of the Greek historian Priscus, who actually met Attila on on at least one occasion. Mr. King might also want to read C.D. Gordon's The Age of Attila, probably one of the best single places to read about Attila and the years he spent in Rome. The tradition of holding a representative of one's enemy hostage for years at a time was common during this time period (which is why Attila was actually in Rome), so one wonders why Mr. King seems so upset by this part of the show, and it is certainly not "pure invention," although with anything from this time period one must consider the sources carefully, check and re-check, and that is what we have done in this case, and our conclusions and our presentation are hardly on the fringe, they are historically accurate and carefully vetted and approved by mainstream academic experts on the highest level. Mr. King is also off the money when he states that it is asserted that Attila's time in Rome was the main reason he went to war against Rome. Attila warred against Rome because he was a warrior, his people needed booty, and because it was there! It is true that when in Rome, he lost whatever respect he might have had for his enemies, because they were decadent and weak. In his criticisms of the documentary's recreations, Mr. King takes on the tone of a crushed schoolboy who has just discovered there is no Santa Claus; it is true, the production could not afford to hire and outfit thousands of re-enactors to stand in for Attila's Huns; the footage of men on horseback is only meant to add a bit of tone and texture to the show. These programs are not made on Steven Spielberg budgets, unfortunately. Archers are in fact in the show, perhaps Mr. King was in the kitchen during that portion of the documentary. I agree that it would have been nice to have a more in-depth demonstration of Hun archery techniques; however, that was not possible due to time constraints. It is very difficult to tell Attila's story in 45 minutes, but I think the choices we made were the right ones. Mr. King says what he "thinks" to be true about our on-camera experts, however, what he "thinks" must be the way he has done the rest of his research, apparently, because our on-screen experts are in fact authorities on the Huns. Perhaps someday Mr. King can make his own documentary and tell the story the way he wants it done. But I doubt he will get credible historians to support his version of the story. And by the way, Mr. King misspelled hilarious.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Lively Account of a Military Powerhouse, February 18, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Biography - Attila [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Though key questions still remain unanswered about this great strategist and politician, "Attila, the Scourge of God" does provide a fresh look at Attila, one of the most dreaded figures in western history. We get some insight into what might have driven him through his breathtaking quests, as well as some clues to his cultural origins. But key questions remain shrouded in doubt. Where was Attila born? How did he come to be an exchange student in Rome? Why did he decide to "take" the Roman Empire? And, the tv version of this video had an intriguing bit at the end: according to the original (?) t.v. version of this A&E video, apparently those who have Hun ancestors bear a tell-tale birth mark on the lower back. Why was this detail, widely accepted as fact of ancestry in European rural areas, left out in the video for sale? It was the mention of that birth mark that for me, effectively tied ancient history to today, because I have seen this blue, diamond shaped mark on a few babies here in America. I never guessed it could be related to anything or any tribe, and in that way "Attila, the Scourge of God" really tickled my imagination.Despite its shortcomings, this is riveting viewing, and suitable for children as young as middle school. (Teachers, it's unlikely they'll be bored!)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars oh stop whinning, October 21, 2003

By 

paul (philly, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Biography - Attila [VHS] (VHS Tape)

i saw this video on A & E the other night and found it interesting. i was looking for some background and history on the "scourge of god" and it delivered - except there weren't a lot of great battle recreations done (but i understand budgets). then i go online to find a book on attila to further my newfound interest in the famous barbarian leader and i come upon this new "attila battle" between the video screen writer and some fella named charles king who is the #1 expert in america on the huns. wow that's impressive. so why can't i find a book by you on attila? hmmmm anyway the video was good and i will look into the books and authors both you boys mention. now why can't we all try to love one another.