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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
OWN A FASCINATING CHUNK OF HISTORY, June 12, 2005
This documentary is so much more than a bunch of nerds talking about the pre-Internet days of Bulletin Board Systems (BBSes). In this three-DVD set, Jason Scott has truly captured the Zeitgeist of the personal computer revolution of the late 1970s and early 80s.
In terms of both value for your dollar and the scope of the project, the BBS Documentary is on par with the epic productions of Ken Burns. There are eight episodes (named above so I won't reiterate them) and countless hours of bonus material about all aspects of the BBS and personal computer phenomenon including an overview of the history of computer-to-computer communication; the conflict between hobbyists and "professionals"; Fidonet, a pre-Internet email system that leveraged "networks" of BBSes; the computer art scene (previously unknown by laypeople until now); hacking, phreaking, and software cracking; and a sense of the fascinating people who drove this movement.
In the films, Jason reveals the characters of hundreds of movers and shakers from the period, including heavy-hitters like TCP Creator Vinton Cerf and Fidonet Creator Tom Jennings. Regardless of the interviewee's prominence, however, Jason presents each one with respect, dignity, and a strong sense of story.
Besides being a computer and BBS enthusiast, Jason has a degree in film, and every episode shows the polish of a true filmmaker. Unlike many documentaries that ramble or seem to be little more than soapboxes for their creators, the BBS Documentary is a cohesive set of episodes, each one with its own story arc and deep sense of content.
Jason uses historical documents, archive footage, and a grab-bag of directorial tricks (backgrounds, lighting, split-screen, and smart, copious editing) to tell his story. The result?...A set of eight riveting films.
When you consider the depth and breadth of this project, it's amazing how few problems there are with the Documentary and how insignificant these issues are in relation to the film as a whole. For example, in a couple instances, the background music is overbearing, making it difficult to focus on what the interviewee is saying. Also, once in a while Jason brings the narrative to an abrupt halt with on-screen information captions. While these nuggets prove essential in most cases, there are a few times when the text is either too large or the message is patronizing--even for the layperson. Overall, though, Jason displays great faith in the viewer's intelligence and patience, so these issues are minor at best and go a long way toward showing that the films were made by an actual human being. Because they're not perfect, you get a sense of the profound amount of work that went into them and therefore have even more respect for their creator.
In all, you don't need to be an expert in computer history or technology to enjoy the BBS Documentary. More than the knowledge you'll pick up about this period, you'll come away from these films with a tremendous feeling of humanity. Jason displays great love, knowledge, and respect for the subject of every film in the series, and he reveals his interviewees to be much more than a bunch of smart nerds. Time and again they will surprise you with their wit, sensitivity, and depth on a host of topics as they relate to BBSes and computing, including economics, history, and philosophy.
For any intelligent person with the slightest interest in computers or this period in history, the BBS Documentary is a must-own DVD collection. You'll love this series, if for no other reason than it will afford you the opportunity to spend several hours listening to dozens of very smart, knowledgeable, and creative people talk with passion on a subject that is now part of history.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
If you are going to get one DVD this year, buy this one, June 23, 2005
What is the point of buying a DVD like Spiderman 2? It will always be available on rental, or UMD, or Bluray or Pay-per-view or Video-on-demand, or whatever other format comes along. You'll always be able to watch it.
But BBS is one of those DVDs you ought to buy, because it may be your only chance to watch this gem of a documentary. It's a tour-de-force of 250 hours of original material edited down to 8 variable length "episodes" on 3 DVDs. It's very well edited - given its length, it amazingly does not descend to rambling, or aimless reminiscing. Even the special feature "out-takes" are informative or funny or poignant. More than that, it is a labour of love by one man with the passion to capture an obscure but pivotal moment in history and the men and women that made it and witnessed it.
Some reviewers clealy appreciate the material because of a sense of nostalgia, and who can blame them. But even if you are too young or too new to computers to have ever dialled into a BBS, this DVD is still for you - perhaps even more so. It's a view of an era of computing where everything was hard, and expensive, and new; where computers were miraculous tools, not pedestrian domestic appliances.
[...] Support documentaries on the history of techology and the film-makers that make them: Buy this DVD.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A brilliant work by a man who was there., May 14, 2005
This documentary is a walk down memory lane for anyone who grew up to the light of a cathode ray tube and the music of a modem trying to connect. The director takes you through a tour of the often misunderstood, frequently underground, always interesting BBS scene, introducing you to people who were movers and shakers, people who were quietly building foundations, and people who were just there all the time. If you or someone you knew spent countless hours playing Trade Wars, The Pit, or Solar Realms Elite - or if you just still remember your full Fidonet address - pick up a copy of this documentary and think back to a younger age.
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