Customer Reviews

Hockey - A People's History Box Set

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Wow. Just. Wow. Is the only word to describe this powerhouse CBC documentary. I am so glad I found this series when I did! If you are a hockey fan and have any historical interest in the sport and/or the country of Canada itself whatSOever, then this boxed set is for you. I can't say enough positive things about it other than the series makes me wish I had grown up in Canada. Simply outstanding.

The only negative is the publishers chose to produce the DVDs in widescreen format so if you haven't spent $$$$$$$$ on a widescreen TV, then all the images will appear vertically stretched and otherwise distorted. Bad move, CBC. Widescreen televisions are not universal just yet and probably won't be unless and until CRT screens are banned. And even then it's a big question mark. Publishing any content exclusively in a single format, especially one that is not proprietary, is always short sighted and just plain dumb.

THIS SERIES IS 110% WORTH THE MONEY!!! I RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE WHO LOVES HOCKEY!!! IT WILL MAKE YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH THE GAME ALL OVER AGAIN!!!

Hockey A People's History is the best ever I loved it to death and watched the 6 disc series in 2 days I loved it so much I was really sad when I finished the 10 episode series. CBC did a great job of creating this series they made the set and the clothes the skates the sticks the ice the crowed and the stadiums look like the time era they were in I simply loved it and each episode followed someone like one episode they talked about the Patrick brothers and how they made the era of hockey its very cool they went from the 1800 to the 2000 they didn't miss one thing in between very good facts I did my radio Final last year and made a documentary on the history of hockey and got all the info from this it is simply amazing!!!!!!

Your critic's background: Born and spent his early childhood in Canada, he learned to skate at age of three. Some of his earliest memories are of watching NHL games on TV, and playing with a breakfast cereal toy consisting of a plastic figure with hockey stick, shooting a little plastic puck. An avid hockey fan, this critic has played hockey off and on to the present day. Currently a naturalized U.S. citizen, he offers the following critique.

If the title was "Hockey - A Canadian People's History," this documentary would have been a perfect five stars. However, the creators/producers chose the more expansive wording, and that's where this otherwise wonderful treatise of the "fastest human-propelled sport" falls short.

As someone who has lived most of his life in the U.S., I couldn't help but notice how nearly completely ignored were the European and American influences on hockey--both good and bad. For example, the Europeans in general are only mentioned when the documentary follows the history of the NHL into the 1980's, when European players began making inroads into the league. The most European coverage dealt with the Soviets (Russians to the young folk who only know the Cold War from history books), and even then only as a set-up for a look at the 1972 Summit Series.

I understand how frustrating it is to live overshadowed by a big, brawny neighbor like the U.S. But, face it, America has influenced the game. The first professional hockey league was (it figures!) founded in the U.S., and this fact is barely acknowledged. (One wonders why the first pro league was American. I found the answer quite interesting, but I don't recall seeing it in the documentary, only in the companion book to the 10-part series.) The 1980 Olympics and the gold-medal win by the Yanks, led to a huge surge in hockey's popularity in the U.S., and arguably was one factor in the NHL's desire to expand into American markets. Yet there was no mention of what my American friends call the "Miracle on Ice"! (In the companion book, it is implied in one sentence in a paragraph lamenting Canada's Olympic gold medal drought.)

For my friends still living in the true north, the missing piece is barely noticeable. But for this transplanted Canuck, it's a glaring omission for a series that's supposed to be a "people's history."

Aside from this niggling detail, this is still good sports history. Go watch it.

Do you truly love hockey? Do you have a TV and DVD player? If so, don't waste anymore time reading; go buy this box set and enjoy!

If you are a hockey fan, you will like this series -- If you are a Canadian hockey fan, you will love this series. Unlike a Ken Burns documentary, not all sides of the issues are covered here. There is little acknowledgement given to the contributions of other countries to the sport (or to WWI or WWII for that matter). Paul Gross does an admirable job of narration, but you can't help but notice the emphasis of his patriotic pride in Canada, which I suppose is understandable, however, it comes off as almost a propaganda film at times. I don't think the intention of the CBC was to deceive anyone - I just wish it had been more balanced, or as the other reviewer stated, it should be called, "Hockey: A Canadian People's History."

I first saw this program on Canadian television. It was great that when I searched for more info on how to buy a copy, it linked me directly to Amazon.com! This is an outstanding video history of the game of hockey, from its beginnings up to 2007.

Recently purchased HOCKEY A PEOPLE,S HISTORY it brought back many great memories of my youth playing hockey and watching and talking hockey with my father on saturday nights HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA he being a MONTREAL CANADIANS fan.We live in northern NEW HAMPSHIRE in between BOSTON and MONTREAL a great rivalry between these two cities.I find one fault of this series there is not enough exposure on the great BOBBY ORR his impact on the game was as great as the RICHARDS HOWE,S GRETZKY,S ect although sadly his career was cut short due to injury.For anyone out there who loves this sport get this box set it is a great value for the price.

Bought this for my husband who lives for hockey. He's over the moon for this series. Amazingly enough, I enjoy it as well. Not a plodding documentary style, the stories detailing the history of hockey here are interesting and very watchable. Highly recommended!