Amazon's Blu-ray Deal of the Week affects PBS' The War. Through August 25th, Amazon is offering the set for $54.99 (a 58% discount from its MSRP of $129.99).
Directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick (Prohibition), this seven-part documentary examines the United States' involvement in World War II. Burns and Novick split their focus between two fronts: the grueling, often brutal combat experience of American G.I.'s serving in Europe and in the Pacific, and those civilians stateside doing their best to support the war effort.
The six-disc Blu-ray package offers The War in its broadcast aspect ratio of 1.78:1 with 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio tracks and assorted bonus supplements, including behind-the-scenes documentaries, further conversations with Burns and Novick's interview subjects, deleted scenes, and audio commentaries on selected War episodes.
This deal expires at 12 AM PST/3 AM EST next Sunday, August 26th.
I'm a little skeptic about this one. Don't get me wrong though, I do love war history and own WWII in HD, The Pacific, Band of Brothers and some major motion pictures such as Pearl Harbor, Tora! Tora! Tora!, etc. I guess I just haven't heard of this one before and would like to know more reviews about it.
It's been a few years since I watched it, but as I recall it was how WWII impacted a few cities (Mobile was one) on the home front. It's up close and personal rather than high level history, battles, politics, strategy, etc. It's good and I recommend it, even if Ken's typical white guilt comes creeping in from time to time. The War is a Ken Burns documentary so you can expect the usual primary source material--old people interviewed and letters being read by actors while the camera pans over black and white photos. Unfortunately, being a Ken Burns documentary, it also has a fair dose of white guilt, but overall it's a good documentary if you're interested in the personal experience of war.
