Customer Reviews

Civil War Journal: Set 1 (6 VHS Set)

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

 

 

Civil War Journal is an exquisitely appropriate title for this anecdotal examination of the bloodiest conflict in American History. The series is just that; a journal, using the individual memoirs of participants as the foundation for examining various aspects of the war. Some episodes deal with personalities, some with battles, others with peripheral subject matter.

The series does not cover the entire history of the Civil War and makes no effort to do so. In fact, both boxed sets are required to come even close to a complete historical perspective. What would seem a serious weakness proves to be the set's greatest strength.

Since each episode is meant to stand on its own merits (and most succeed handsomely), the subject matter can be approached with a degree of detail and thoroughness that would be impossible if the point were to present a history of the Civil War. Diaries, journals, memoirs and reenactments are carefully interwoven to give the viewer a sense of both intimacy and immediacy. The subject matter comes alive, something that the viewer can connect with both intellectually and emotionally, rather than another dry retelling of historical data.

Because of this unusual and highly effective approach, each episode does stands well on its own. There is no loss of continuity if individual videos are viewed out of sequence, nor is there any need to hurriedly watch one tape after another so as to retain the context.

Reenactors are used liberally throughout the series. The production values are magnificent, and Danny Glover's reserved, understated narration is the crowning touch.

Civil War Journal belongs in the library of any student of American History or any Civil War enthusiast. A truly superb production.

This series has great content covering a wide range of different subjects, battles, and individuals not always included in CW documentaries. I recommend it for all civil war buffs.

Even though I have watched all the shows I pull these off the shelf and watch them when I can't find anything else on TV.

At 45 minutes or so each show, you get a very detailed exploration into the episode's subject matter instead of the general overview you might find in other documentaries. Other reviewers have touched on this already so I won't go into this any further.

My only gripe and the reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is the quality of the tapes. I can't understand why a set costing what this one does would be taped at (EP) mode. What a disappointment, content this good deserved better, and so do we when paying this much for a set like this. Be aware of this when purchasing.

Despite the quality issue, it is worth having because of the great narration, stories, photos, re-enacments etc. - a very well put together series. Enjoy.

Civil War Journal is probably one of the better documentary series on the Civil War produced in the 90's. History is backed by Civil War Historian commentary and these videos are packed full of information regarding battles,lifestyle and famous individuals. Also reenactments are added to add more action to the narration which gives these videos quite a lot for the money. It is a must have for anyone's Civil War library!

This is a fantastic series that ran for 52 episodes of which I recorded every one of. I cannot understand why the complete series has not been released in a DVD set. "Civil War Journal" ranks right up there with the Ken Burns Civil War series. Rather than being a chronological review of the war, each episode of "Civil War Journal" focuses on one particular event, personality, or topic. Hopefully the History Channel will some day release this series in its entirety.

I have been studying the American Civil War for the last 5 years, reading the literary canon on the topic and watching any documentary, docu-drama, and major fiction titles available, and I can honestly say that Civil War Journal is far and away the best comprehensive documentary on the subject. It exceeds even Ken Burns' work in that it is far more detailed while managing to remain accessible to the common person.

If it is lacking in any respect, it is that it does not approach the type of detailed that a historian might required - but then again, that is not its purpose, I don't think. It is designed to be half multi-media classroom material, and half documentary-entertainment for the interested. I would be surprised if anyone who is interested in the subjects of the various episodes but not already an expert would be either not satisfied with what is presented or would not find himself with a good, solid foundation for beginning more serious research.

It's one of those works that takes the lay person about as far as he would like to go in to studying the Civil War, just short of reaching the type of detail and in-depth questions that an academic might require or ask.

It's overall an excellent work that goes beyond mere summary while still managing not to drown the viewer in uninteresting details. It does this by telling each episode as a kind of story while incorporating many relevant historical facts and interesting trivia, mixing vintage photography with re-enactments and voice-overs by voice-actors representing the characters of the time, all garnished with the perspective and analysis of top Civil War academics, such as James McPherson and Brian Pohanka, to help provide context which allows modern viewers to understand the perspectives and outlooks of the Civil War's contemporaries. Equally important are the subjects of each episode, which are chosen to address not only the important major chapters of the Civil War (e.g., Gettysburg), but also to spotlight the war's pivotal figures without an emphasis on any one type, such as politicians or soldiers, but rather all of the people who made those times what they were, from the common soldiers to photographers to politicians to soldiers to spies to social figures to artists, and so on.

For my part, I would be pleased if this series was used as manadatory classroom viewing to help young Americans understand the bloodiest conflict in American history, and to help them understand how the war made America what she is today.

Overall, an excellent choice for either Civil War history neophytes and the non-academic Civil War buff alike. If anyone has even a passing interest in the Civil War in general, or even just history, American history, military history, or just likes well put-together historical documentaries, then this is a series for them. Even if a viewer's interest is just in a particular subject, such as a particular battle, for example, then the relevant episodes are put together in such a was as to be able to stand on their own and be viewed independently, without losing much from not having seen the rest of the series.