The War on PBS... - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

RC Vikings · 10-03-2007, 04:50 PM

Did you see the episode last night? I missed the first part but I did catch the part about the Jewish prison camps and the Battle of Okinawa. Hard to believe that people could treat others that way. The pictures were very graphic with piles and piles of corpses. In the Battle of Okinawa the U.S. had over 12,000 soldiers killed in a little over two months time. It's no wonder that generation thinks this generation is soft.

il Padrino Ute · 10-03-2007, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RC Vikings

Did you see the episode last night? I missed the first part but I did catch the part about the Jewish prison camps and the Battle of Okinawa. Hard to believe that people could treat others that way. The pictures were very graphic with piles and piles of corpses. In the Battle of Okinawa the U.S. had over 12,000 soldiers killed in a little over two months time. It's no wonder that generation thinks this generation is soft.

The Greatest Generation is aptly named. Compared to it, the rest of us suck.

Jeff Lebowski · 10-03-2007, 04:59 PM

I have watched episodes 1-3. The others are waiting for me on the DVR. Terrific series.

It was interesting in episode 3 where they discussed the photos of dead US soldiers printed about three years after the war started in Life magazine. Those were the first photos of US dead that the gov. allowed to be published. Not long after, the government distributed a color newsreel showing the carnage from the battle of Tarawa, with lots of footage of dead and mangled soldiers. They switched from "Don't let anyone see the real cost" to "Let's make everyone understand just how serious this is."

YOhio · 10-03-2007, 05:09 PM

The subject line made think there was a group trying to cut PBS funding.

SteelBlue · 10-03-2007, 06:30 PM

Ken Burns is amazing and this may be his best work yet. Either that, or this subject matter has just been the most interesting to me.

cougjunkie · 10-03-2007, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelBlue

Ken Burns is amazing and this may be his best work yet. Either that, or this subject matter has just been the most interesting to me.

Nothing tops his baseball series.

Jeff Lebowski · 10-03-2007, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cougjunkie

Nothing tops his baseball series.

The Civil War series has to be at the top of the list due to the impact it had. It set an entirely new standard for documentaries and everyone has been copying it since that time. The Sullivan Ballou letter to his wife which was read at the end of episode one in that series is the most beautiful and moving moment I can remember in any movie or documentary.

http://www.pbs.org/civilwar/war/ballou_letter.html

Black Diamond Bay · 10-03-2007, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

The Civil War series has to be at the top of the list due to the impact it had. It set an entirely new standard for documentaries and everyone has been copying it since that time. The Sullivan Ballou letter to his wife which was read at the end of episode one in that series is the most beautiful and moving moment I can remember in any movie or documentary.

http://www.pbs.org/civilwar/war/ballou_letter.html

Actually, I recommend reading the complete letter:
http://www.sullivanballou.info/letter_2.html
I kind of thought they took out some of the best parts, but maybe it was more dramatic that way.

SteelBlue · 10-03-2007, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cougjunkie

Nothing tops his baseball series.

The War has, for me. I mean think about it, WWII has been documented ad nauseum yet he has found a way to present the information in an entirely different way. The 4 towns idea was excellent, and the focus on those who have not had attention very often in the past has been nice (AA's, the Japanese battalion, the Crow warrior etc...). I have been riveted.

Jeff Lebowski · 10-03-2007, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Diamond Bay

Actually, I recommend reading the complete letter:
http://www.sullivanballou.info/letter_2.html
I kind of thought they took out some of the best parts, but maybe it was more dramatic that way.

Thanks for that.

I suppose it was an issue of timing and editing.

10-03-2007, 04:50 PM	#1
RC Vikings Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Rexburg, Idaho Posts: 2,236	The War on PBS... Did you see the episode last night? I missed the first part but I did catch the part about the Jewish prison camps and the Battle of Okinawa. Hard to believe that people could treat others that way. The pictures were very graphic with piles and piles of corpses. In the Battle of Okinawa the U.S. had over 12,000 soldiers killed in a little over two months time. It's no wonder that generation thinks this generation is soft.

10-03-2007, 04:59 PM	#3
Jeff Lebowski Charon Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In the heart of darkness (Provo) Posts: 9,564	I have watched episodes 1-3. The others are waiting for me on the DVR. Terrific series. It was interesting in episode 3 where they discussed the photos of dead US soldiers printed about three years after the war started in Life magazine. Those were the first photos of US dead that the gov. allowed to be published. Not long after, the government distributed a color newsreel showing the carnage from the battle of Tarawa, with lots of footage of dead and mangled soldiers. They switched from "Don't let anyone see the real cost" to "Let's make everyone understand just how serious this is." __________________ "... the arc of the universe is long but it bends toward justice." Martin Luther King, Jr.

10-03-2007, 05:09 PM	#4
YOhio AKA SeattleNewt Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 7,055	The subject line made think there was a group trying to cut PBS funding.

10-03-2007, 06:30 PM	#5
SteelBlue Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Norcal Posts: 5,821	Ken Burns is amazing and this may be his best work yet. Either that, or this subject matter has just been the most interesting to me.