BBS: The Documentary (2005– ) User Reviews

History on a shoestring

[Dylan72 · 9/10 · 18 June 2005]

If you're tired of seeing Discovery Channel documentaries that consist mainly of stock footage layered over inane narration, then perhaps this is a film (or series of 8 films to be precise) that will appeal to you.

If you were ever a BBS user back in the 1980s and early 1990s then this series will be even more appealing.

The director/writer/editor has thrown everything into developing this documentary without any big studio (or big money) involvement and to me it is one of the most interesting and well done docos of the past few years.

Forget for a minute that the director keeps cropping up in windowpane reflections, and forget that there is far too much text on screen to read. (These are the two reasons I gave it 9 instead of 10.) The timing and editing is great, and these people have very interesting stories to tell. The most touching one for me was the final one, the story of the "wars" between SEA and PKARC. It made me see Phil Katz in an entirely different light (and made me feel foolish for jumping ship to the ZIP format like every other sheep.)

Pre-Internet nostalgic ride!

[selvamanik · 9/10 · 18 June 2008]

This is a very comprehensive, and almost complete history said by the guys who did it in the BBS Era.

If you have been in at least one BBS and know what that culture is, please purchase this documentary and save it in you personal locker to cherish forever.

This documentary is simply awesome in understanding the importance and sweetness of good old Pre-Internet personal communications of humans.

For other Nineties+ kids you should still see this to learn how simple, personal, and non-chaotic, Adventures and fun BBS communities where before the Internet.

A Must have for BBS era nerds.

ATH +++

In-depth history of bulletin board system

[famefutfaker · 8/10 · 14 April 2017]

BBS is a 3-disc, 8-episode documentary about the subculture born from the creation of the bulletin board system (BBS) filmed by computer historian Jason Scott Sadofsky of textfiles.com. There has (and I dare say: will) never be a more detailed and well-executed documentary about Bulletin Board Systems again. Nuff said. Watch it.

Great journey through the forgotten BBS community

[faustus-3 · 10/10 · 31 May 2005]

This movie takes you on a great journey through the forgotten world of the BBS scene. It's eight episodes each bring you through a different aspect of the BBS story. From the early days of the first BBS to the end days when most BBSs went offline. Interesting stories from users and system operators of BBSs long offline. The stories of the early hacker/phreaker/anarchist/cracker scene are among the most colorful tales to come out of this computer culture. Details of how people got together and started massive networks of BBSs is covered. Including how these systems are still in use today in developing countries, as well as a means to circumvent government lock downs on information exchange. These stories are stories that needed to be told and recorded. The people and places involved are quickly becoming forgotten. Without a documentary like this the history would likely be lost forever.

If you believe The Internet is the beginning and end of data communication - you're wrong.

[dexin · 10/10 · 8 June 2005]

BUSY...

Redialing...

Connected:

I chanced upon this documentary very early in 2005, and thankfully Jason was taking pre-orders. I had barely read a few words of the description before I knew "I want this!! I have to have this!" - I was not really an old-school BBS user, my entrance was around the mid-90's and more of a witness to this communication phenomenon. For the first few months I admit I was something of a leecher but eventually came around to the rules of the game.

Phone line cut off and revived twice, massive debt to British Telecom paid off , I continued to log into to numerous boards, even calling international to try and find some specific doors for my own BBS. Eventually I fell into decent work, which not only paid me a healthy wage but killed some of the time I usually used to be online - an addiction finally under some control.

This box-set represents some of the finest points of the BBS scene - the interviews flow so smoothly as if everyone was bred to be in front of a camera, you feel like you're being talked too, not talked at. Ten minutes into first DVD you simply believe this is some high-level company production, the sheer technical achievement is astonishing - from the layout, to the transition effects, subtitles, addition of music, blending it all together - incredible, it's hard to believe that one man pieced all this information together. Granted, everyone involved deserves credit - and rightly so takes bold-text status on screen. You will appreciate every one of them...for their existence in your life.

If anyone has chanced upon this IMDb entry and believes a BBS is nothing more than a forum on a web-host, I urge you to study more of this subject, you will be pleasantly surprised.

An informative and compelling tribute

[BingoFuel · 10/10 · 1 September 2013]

Anyone who dialed in to bulletin board systems in the last 30+ years is going to enjoy this documentary. The sysops, the co-sysops, the pirates, the message board contributors, the door gamers -- the users.

"BBS" presents impeccable, honest coverage of an era -- one that ended abruptly and in the recent past. It takes a very technical subject and highlights the people behind the phone lines and computers - and the result is very satisfying.

I would point anyone who was curious about any aspect of the BBS world to this film. As someone who did call quite a few boards from 1981-1996, I can say that there were parts of this documentary that really hit close to home.

I need to mention a few other aspects -- the music/soundtrack really ties in with the content well, the overall production quality is good, and, most importantly, everyone is easily seen and understood.

Easily one of my favorite documentaries, and I'm confident I'd feel that way even if I wasn't involved in the BBS scene.