WWII in HD [Blu-ray]
 
See larger image and other views
 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
or
Amazon Prime Free Trial required. Sign up when you check out. Learn More
More Buying Choices
Amazon.com Add to Cart
$14.05  & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
or
Get up to a $6.50 Amazon gift card

WWII in HD [Blu-ray] (2010)

Rob Lowe , Justin Bartha , Frederic Lumiere , Matthew Ginsburg  |  NR |  Blu-ray
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (153 customer reviews)

List Price: $39.95
Price: $13.77 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $26.18 (66%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In Stock.
Sold by UniversalExports and Fulfilled by Amazon. Gift-wrap available.
Want it delivered Wednesday, May 30? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details

Other Formats & Versions

Amazon Price New from Used from
Blu-ray 2-Disc Version $13.77  
DVD Vault Disney Collection $15.93  
PRODUCT ALERT:
Make sure that your blu-ray player's firmware is up to date prior to playing this product. Visit www.amazon.com/firmware for more information on how to update your blu-ray player's firmware.

Frequently Bought Together

WWII in HD [Blu-ray] + Vietnam in HD, Blu-ray Edition + WWII in HD: The Air War
Price For All Three: $41.54

Show availability and shipping details

Buy the selected items together
  • In Stock.
    Sold by UniversalExports and ships from Amazon Fulfillment.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • Vietnam in HD, Blu-ray Edition $16.49

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • WWII in HD: The Air War $11.28

    In Stock.
    Sold by Ocean Breeze Media and ships from Amazon Fulfillment.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details


What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?


Product Details

  • Actors: Rob Lowe, Justin Bartha, Josh Lucas, Gary Sinise, Rob Corddry
  • Directors: Frederic Lumiere, Matthew Ginsburg
  • Format: Color, Widescreen, DTS Surround Sound
  • Language: English (DTS 5.1)
  • Region: Region A/1 (Read more about DVD/Blu-ray formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
  • Number of discs: 2
  • Rated: NR (Not Rated)
  • Studio: A&E HOME VIDEO
  • DVD Release Date: January 26, 2010
  • Run Time: 470 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (153 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B002RUNMMY
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,777 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
  • Learn more about "WWII in HD [Blu-ray]" on IMDb

Special Features

Character profiles

Behind-the-Scenes Featurettes: Finding the Footage; Preserving the Footage

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

At first glance, the very concept of WWII in HD seems like an oxymoron. After all, isn't the footage from back then nothing more than grainy black-and-white newsreel? And really, how much definition can be added to film that was shot more than 60 years ago? The answers: no, and quite a lot, actually. The quality of much of what is seen in the course of these 10 episodes (each around 45 minutes long) is surprisingly good. Add to that the fact that most of it is in color (not colorized, but originally recorded in that medium, some at the behest of the United States government), and the result is nothing short of astonishing. It's not easy viewing; there are sequences that are shockingly graphic (vivid examples include the carnage on view after major battles and the shots of Japanese civilians on the Pacific island of Saipan hurling themselves off cliffs to avoid capture by American troops). But all of it has been put to good use in what is undoubtedly one of the most compelling accounts of World War II ever produced.

Other documentaries have chronicled the same events seen here, from the earliest days of the war (when Hitler was overrunning Europe and the ill-prepared Americans were still years away from becoming involved), through Pearl Harbor, the major confrontations with the Japanese in the Pacific theater (like Guadalcanal, Tarawa, the Battle of the Philippine Sea, and the incomparably bloody Iwo Jima) and with the Germans in Europe and North Africa (the invasion of Tunisia, D-day, the Battle of the Bulge), and straight on to victory in Europe and finally the Japanese surrender after Hiroshima and Nagasaki. But what separates WWII in HD is the filmmakers' decision to view these events through the experiences of a dozen individuals who were actually there, including a couple of war correspondents (one of whom, Richard Tregaskis, was the author of the seminal Guadalcanal Diary); an Austrian immigrant who escaped the Nazis and almost immediately enlisted in the U.S. Army; a nurse with General George Patton's Third Army; an African-American pilot who was one of the famed Tuskegee Airmen; a Japanese-American medic who fought heroically while his family was held in an internment camp; and others from the rank and file. All of them are voiced by such actors as Rob Lowe, Amy Smart, Steve Zahn, Josh Lucas, and LL Cool J; and with Gary Sinise providing voice-over narration, the whole piece comes off as a dramatic film as much as a straight documentary (an effect also enhanced by some brilliantly creative juxtapositions of words, images, and music). Not all of these men and women made it through the war (those still alive also appear in on-camera interviews), but none could ever forget the horrors they witnessed, and while those of us who did not serve will never really comprehend the sacrifices they made, this remarkable program may be as close as we can get. --Sam Graham

Stills from WWII in HD (Click for larger image)








Product Description

A groundbreaking chronicle of the Second World War culled from over 3,000 hours of high-definition, full-color film footage, this miniseries attracted over 21 million viewers during its five-night, 10-hour run.With the glorious high definition visuals, full color film footage (no colorization techniques have been used) and immersive 5.1 surround sound make WWII In HD stands out from the many dozens of documentaries that came before. The miniseries also offers a remarkably personal account of the war, as the episodes are told from the point of view of 12 soldiers whose never-before-seen diary entries (diaries were illegal for US soldiers to carry, but these men did so anyway) form the basis of the involving narrative. LL Cool J, Rob Lowe, Ron Livingston, Steve Zahn and many others give voice to these 12 soldiers, while acclaimed actor Gary Sinise wraps the whole production together with an engaging narration.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
98 of 101 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have watched this series on the History channel and it is unbelievable. Although very graphic at times, the color footage is extrordinary and the comments by the veterans add a new dimension and at times will break your heart. Of all the WWII series I have seen this probably the best overall. The History channel has done a great job. I just wish the DVD was available right now. If you are at all interested in this part of US history or had a relative or friend who served in this war, you will want to get this series.
Was this review helpful to you?
103 of 109 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
This came in a very close second in my favorite mini-series ever. Right behind Band of Brothers. Even though this series was different from B.o.B (being that the whole series was actual footage from WWII and not acting), it was still an amazing show to watch. Real footage from the war and interviews from actual soldiers that were in the war was perfect. Some of the video was graphic, but that made it real and worth watching. I rarely get teary eyed, but some of those interviews and some of the concentration camp footage, got to me. After seeing the first part, it makes you want to see more. And the other 9 parts of the series certainly delivered. I would highly recommend this to any World War buffs or to anyone who wants to see how much our veterans went through.
Was this review helpful to you?
45 of 49 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
This entire series is masterfully done! Instead of a bunch of facts and figures delivered by the usual talking heads often seen in documentaries, this series focuses on 12 individuals that were on the front lines during the war. The battles of WWII are told in their own words, through their letters, reports, and interviews, making the entire documentary intensely personal. The narration provided by Gary Sinise seamlessly intertwines the personal accounts with the facts of the battles and strategies used, giving the viewer all of the background information they need to understand what's going on without being the least bit intrusive. The added backdrop of the never-before-seen color WWII footage of the events really makes it seem as if the viewer is right in the middle of the action; watching and experiencing everything for themselves. History teachers and textbook authors take note: this is how history should be taught!
Was this review helpful to you?
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Some great shots but a same old story-telling..
By reading other reviews, my expectations were high, but after watching the images frequently interrupted by a series of lengthy personal story telling, I found myself somewhat... Read more
Published 5 days ago by Chuck S. Mayumi
Hard to Watch, But Important to Remember
I knew when I ordered this DVD that it would be very hard to watch, and I was right. It is very real and very graphic. Definately not for children. Read more
Published 19 days ago by JJohns
henrysmom
My husband loves this DVD. He enjoys war documentaries and places this one near the top of his list.
Published 2 months ago by henrysmom
WWII in HD review and critique
I really respect Gary Sinise and his work but this series is so jumbled and confusing as to not be in his realm of quality work. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Don Mac Lagan
The Real Look
Having been obsesed with WWII,maybe because I had Two newspaper delivery routes, I was aware of the battle areas of both theaters.This DVD goes beyond ones imagination of war. Read more
Published 2 months ago by suprob
Really enjoyed this series
I saw some previews of this series on Youtube and decided to buy it. I'm very glad I did. While perhaps not as comprehensive as I might have liked, it provided a somewhat more... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Randy Craig
us in WW II
This is a production only from the us point of view and images, not a general coverage of the war,from all points of view and filming,though the images and films on the first dvd... Read more
Published 3 months ago by J. Gonzalez
WWII as you never saw it
We have all seen great WWII documentaries before, but never like this, in full color. When I see old WWII newsreels, the black and white pictures make it seem so distant,... Read more
Published 4 months ago by T. Foulke
History has done it again!
I love the history channel and my father and I are very interested in WWII. WWII in HD is fantastic. I got it for my father for Christmas and my mother got him Vietnam in HD. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Tara
World War II seen with new clarity and sharpness from very personal...
Plenty of other reviews have covered the details of production and narration - the linking of the full arc of the war's history with these individual soldier, sailor, and nurse... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Matthew Shobe
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews


Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 
(7)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

Customer Discussions

This product's forum
See all 10 discussions...  
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
   



Look for Similar Items by Category


Look for Similar Items by Subject

Search Movies & TV by subject:









i.e., each product must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...
UniversalExports Privacy Statement UniversalExports Shipping Information UniversalExports Returns & Exchanges