4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
JFK Library highlights rather than 'documentary', June 28, 2009
This review is from: The Kennedys: America's Emerald Kings (DVD)
Since this two-hour documentary was released by Warner Brothers, I expected a pretty sleek production, filled with historic footage, professional narration, and assorted talking-head historians and insiders. I was very surprised to instead watch a rushed, choppy, amateur production that looks like it was produced on someone's home computer. Unlike traditional historical documentaries, this one offers no on-camera interviews at all, and even the narration is fairly sparse. Instead, a generous amount of photographs, video, and film footage is strung together--almost entirely from the archives of the JFK Library. Therein lies this presentation's greatest strength and greatest weakness. Outside of a research visit to the JFK Library, you will probably never see a more comprehensive collection of archival footage of the Kennedys. Rather than mere soundbytes, lengthy speech excerpts are included, entire newsreels, and a surprising amount of color film. Sadly, however, it is rather poorly edited and produced. This will likely only appeal to serious JFK fans and collectors, while more casual viewers would prefer more polished productions from PBS and A&E Biography.
Note: This documentary is available separately or, as a much better value, as a "bonus" on the 2008 Ultimate Collector's Edition release of Oliver Stone's JFK.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Poorly done., January 21, 2011
This review is from: The Kennedys: America's Emerald Kings (DVD)
I agree that this production is not professionally done. The worst is the narration that is so poorly done I found myself turning down the volume until there was footage of speeches. There are some good photos and great clips but it is wasted by the unprofessional manner in which the material is presented.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
JFK Emerald Music, February 10, 2012
This review is from: The Kennedys: America's Emerald Kings (DVD)
I loved this film of the Kennedy's & JFK. I particularly loved the classic guitar music during JFK's funeral. Does anyone know who the musician is and what is this song? I'm mesmerized, it is so beautiful. I know Tommy Makem and the Maken Brothers were credited for the music. Fascinating footage of a talented family. I have seen most of the dvd's of the Kennedy's and I was surprised that this one had a different twist. It is not the most informative but better than the reviews previously given here.
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