Customer Reviews

Roots: The Gift [VHS]

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

"Roots - The Complete Collection" (10 disc DVD set) contains the mini-series "Roots" from 1977 ("30th Anniversary Edition" version on three 2-sided discs), the mini-series "Roots: The Next Generations" from 1979 (on four discs, three of which are 2-sided), the television movie "Roots: The Gift" (on a single-sided disc), and "Roots: The Legacy", a collection of old and new archival material/documentaries spread across two single-sided discs. The content is excellent, and there are plenty of other reviews on this site which go into depth regarding the material.

However, my one star rating for this "item" is based primarily on two things. First, this item constitutes a shameful forced double-dip manipulation on the part of the DVD producer with respect to customers who previously purchased either the "Roots" 25th Anniversary DVD set released January 2002, or the "Roots" 30th Anniversary DVD set released May 2007 (five months before this "Complete Collection"), and who now must in effect repurchase "Roots" for roughly $40 in order to purchase "Roots: The Gift" on DVD, which is in release only as part of this set, which doesn't include any DVD extras, and which easily could have been released as a stand-alone item for $10-$15. Second, the packaging is horrendous. Instead of packaging this set in a manner which would make shelf storage convenient and which would protect the discs from damage (think of the typical DVD "collection" box set - e.g. "The Matrix Collection", or any TV series season set), the collection comes in a huge "cigar box"-style case, with the DVDs wedged into tight "slots" in one of three long, flat cardboard folders in the box, much as if the DVDs were coins in a coin collection folder. Getting the DVDs in and out of these slots without scuffing them is difficult at best. Further, the set I received had four discs dislodged prior to opening, and these dislodged discs were scratched on both sides as badly as old rental store discs, while almost all of the other discs which were not dislodged from their slots had lesser degrees of scratch damage on one or both sides. Disc 1, Side 2 froze at the 41:30 mark, likely due to scratch damage.

The bottom line is, unless you absolutely must own "Roots: The Gift", this collection should be avoided like the plague. It is largely a waste of money and space. Purchase "Roots" and "Roots: The Next Generations" separately instead. Most of the archival material from "Roots: The Legacy" is included on the 30th Anniversary Edition of "Roots".

Edit: One thing I forgot to add way back when I originally reviewed this set is that "Roots: The Gift" for this set has been cropped to fill a 16:9 (1.78:1) television screen. Since "Roots: The Gift" originally aired on TV in 1988, this was years before anything on U.S. television aired in anything other than the standard 4:3 (1.33:1) screen aspect ratio. Widescreen televisions are perfectly capable of showing those old TV shows and old movies in the 4:3 format. "Roots" (1977) and "Roots: The Next Generations" (1979) are both on DVD in their original 4:3 screen aspect ratios. Maybe the DVD producers wanted to make "Roots: The Gift" look more like "a movie". If so, this was misguided. "Roots: The Gift" was made for television and shot for television. For the most part, I didn't notice any glaring framing issues on the DVD with the cropping from the top and bottom of the original image. However, that's usually not the case with this practice. And the viewer is not seeing the complete image as it was originally intended to be seen. It's also completely unnecessary.

Like the other reviews, I found the packaging on this set to be horrible. I bought mine at [...], and the first one I bought had 3 cds that were very badly scratched. The second one seems to have a few scratches that don't look *too* bad - I'm hoping they're playable.

Double sided dvds - great way to cheap out on manufacturing guys! Next time though, don't put them in cardboard sleeves, that when closed, cause the (double sided, remember) dvds to rub up against one another. Even if the disks manage to stay in place (HA!) they'll rub against each other and scratch that way.

Looking closely at the disks themselves, they don't look very well made to begin with. The "silver" at the edges of the disks is very ragged, and the edges of the disks themselves aren't smooth.

I've polished them up, and got them in protective sleeves now - here's hoping they actually play!

This is a great story. I have watched it many times. It is great. I was glad to get all of these disks at one time. I was elated to get Roots and Roots 2 at the same time. We can't forget about what happened during those perilous times in our history. (And no, I am not related to the author nor have any connection with him. But if he ever wanted to give me his autograph, I would never turn it down.).

Like other reviews, my score is not because of the story. I am not giving it a very high review because of the packaging. I couldn't believe when I opened the box, there were 7 DVDs just rubbing against each other and the DVDs almost looked used because of it. I could deal with about anything but that. The only, so called, protection to the discs, is the cardboard sleeves that don't hold the discs during transport.

The other problem I had is that I couldn't get the captions to stay off on the original series. That was quite annoying.

I saw Roots when I was a young girl. My mother made us watch the mini-series on television. Ever since she's always said she wanted to own a copy for herself and I bought it for her for Christmas. The price was pretty good since you're getting the mini-series, the show, and extra DVD commentary and stuff. My only problem is that I'm not a big fan of double sided DVDs and the actual Roots mini-series are all on double sided discs.

It's the complete DVD collection of ROOTS.
It's an excellent story overall although the last 3-4 episodes of next generation are of less story and acting quality.

But that's not the problem here, it's the seller: Do not buy at least DVDs from GOLD TRADER USA.

I contacted them twice, they never anser and most than half of the DVDs are scratched to a point that they are not even viewable ! and yes I bought the collection box NEW !!!

Again do yourself the favor: DO NOT BUY from GOLD TRADER USA.

your friend.

I wasn't aware that they did a Roots Christmas story until I read the description in the cable guide.

I am willing to over look the slavery issue in this movie and the fake southern accents too. That is not what attracted me to this movie. Self-sacrifice and the true meaning of Christmas did.

There are several gifts that I saw in this movie. The next generation of children that realize slavery is wrong. The older brother explaining how he feels about slavery to the younger sister and she said to Fiddler that Toby doesn't have to be her camel in the Christmas Pagent. The mother's gift to wait until after the holidays to tell the father about her son being an abolitionist.

The sacrifice Avery Brooks' character makes when, as a freed slave, he puts his life on the line to help lead others to freedom through the underground railroad. He actually gets caught and has to wear a collar of bells. They end up hanging him because he is an abolitionist and educated to boot. I like it when he shouts out the word freedom.

Fiddler puts his own hide on the line trying to keep Kunta Kinte out of trouble when he covers for Toby when he isn't on the plantation and when he tries to stop the slave catchers from brutalizing Avery Brooks' character.

The promise of a free black child and the ultimate sacrifice both Fiddler and Toby make by deciding not to get on the boat. Actually Fiddler confesses to the abolitionist that he knows nothing about being free. Kunta Kinte remembers his life in Africa before the slave traders caught him. Fiddler also realizes that he may not survive another winter on the plantation, but Toby will not leave without him.

This was an excellent movie. I plan to watch it again when it comes on cable.

I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH LOOSE AND DAMAGED DISCS. THE ROOTS SAGA IS A WONDERFUL STORY, BUT TIME WARNER'S LOUSY CHOICE OF PACKAGING RUINED WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A GREAT SET!

I have the orginal series on VHS, and refuse to buy this DVD set, because it's not complete. I have heard, and read that there are parts missing (Especially from the Roots Collection) Don't waste your time. If you know someone with the VHS, just copy it to your own DVD set.
P.S.- Roots:The Next Generation was a bore! I was really offended by how they tried to force this tripe down your throat.

The truth can be hurtful and not all people are bad .Alex Haley had done the world a great deed in his research which was shared among mankind in various medium.
This DVD set is a must see item for everyone.The world will be a better place if we learn from the mistakes made in the past and build on it to make a better future. Yes Family is important it is our Root.

Based on a true story written by Alex Haley, Roots: the gift is a good incorporation of the previous six part series. The film is centred around the 'underground railroad' slave uprisings to the North during the late seventeenth century. It is a touching and thought provoking tale of white dominance, where the ultimate gift is freedom.