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Reviews
Civil War 360 (2013)
Does Anybody Research?
Not bad, if you have no knowledge of the U. S. Civil War, it's a start but riddled with incorrect, hidden, or orchestrated information to promote propaganda. As an academic, from England, it feels more like watching Who Do You Think You Are than a realistic documentary concerning the U. S. Civil War. Because the episodes are more personalised they mention happenings during the war that normally wouldn't reach the average documentary. However, information is hidden or removed, it doesn't tell the full truth. For example, in episode 3 John the slave is sold for $500, so how much is that worth today, the show doesn't state. It's actually worth between $15,000-$20,000 today. And no that wasn't necessarily for a "skilled" slave that the show declares.
Unfortunately history is written by the victors, why the Civil War began is partially incorrect, yes slavery had a big reason for it but the economic treatment of the American South in general by the U. S. Government was far worse than the North.
The details of the war, in general, are minimal in the first 2 episodes. They attempt to provide information to its guest that brings tranquility rather than validate what actually happened, whether good or bad, not really a valid historical report.
For those interested in this subject I recommend watching Ken Burn's Civil War. Arguably the best documentary concerning the subject of the U. S. Civil War.
Uncharted (2022)
Not bad but could be better
As a huge fan of the franchise I was seriously scratching my head when hearing who was playing Nathan and Sully. In some way I still am. In a very softly softly approach they haven't done bad but it's all to clean. Got to give an extra star just because the real Nathan Drake, Nolan North, was in it on the beach.
The Century of Warfare (1993)
Worth watching but not the best.
As an academic of politics and war studies, specifically an MA in the Second World War, this is a very good documentary series. Personally, I find The World At War the best war documentary series followed by the documentary's Civil War and Vietnam War. However, this is a reasonable documentary series concerning warfare in the 20th Century. It does unfortunately give incorrect information, of which I will only give one example. Towards the end of the first episode it mentions biological warfare, declaring that it has never been used in warfare. This is unbelievably incorrect especially when taking into consideration that the Japanese war over China in the 1930's, which included the rape of Nanking, used biological warfare from the Japanese Unit 731 constantly. Biological warfare has also been used many times since by many nations but this documentary wishes to name it chemical, eg mustard gas, and not biological. Either very naive or for the benefit of politics. Even so, The Warfare of the Century is a reasonably good documentary series especially for those not so knowledgeable on the subject. Just don't take everything it says as gospel.
JFK: The Smoking Gun (2013)
Why Hickey didn't shoot JFK
I have a photograph taken at the time JFK was shot in the throat. The photo shows Hickey without a rifle in his hand, meaning he had no more than 2 seconds to reach for the gun, take off the safety, aim the gun, and hit a moving target with precision. In short, Hickey couldn't have shot the president accidentally or otherwise. However, the theory that shots came from Hickey's direction are reasonable if you look behind him. An open window, hidden behind a fire escape that no longer exists, on the 2nd floor of the DalTex building was directly behind and above Hickey's head. One of the several spots the assassination team probably used.
The Civil War (1990)
Should be used in Universities!
As a British graduate of Politics and War Studies this documentary series was amazingly valuable to me and my dissertation. Once again Ken Burns provides with a clear, step by step history of the happenings throughout the American Civil War. Unfortunately it doesn't cover everything, not enough on the sea battles or the political battles in the Senate, though to include everything would take four years. Having Shelby Foote, questionably the most knowledgeable person on the subject, providing Intel on the war puts the icing on the cake. All those interested on this subject, no matter what level, should watch this.