The History Channel Ultimate Collections: World War II

World War II encompassed some of America's greatest triumphs and most bitter defeats. World War II: Ultimate Collections is a comprehensive and intimate survey of this epic war.THE HISTORY CHANNEL® has collected nearly 30 of its greatest World War II documentaries each packed with original archival footage interviews with military experts and historians and gripping reenactments on 10 DVDs.System Requirements:Run Time: 892 minsFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DOCUMENTARIES/MISC. Rating: NR UPC: 733961762808 Manufacturer No: AAE-76280 Product Description

WWII DVD set

I purchased this set for one of my grandchildren and liked it so much that I bought another one for another grandchild. February 20, 2008

Hoping for Something Better

I agree with the majority, that this set is very incomplete. While content presented on WW II is good, I have other issues.

The running time is approximately 810 minutes (not 892 minutes) on 10 DVDs in the standard cases, which requires at least 6 inches of shelf space. Only 4 DVDs were required, but 10 DVDs were used.

I mainly purchased this set for the 10 Military (Great) Blunders episodes. I was hugely disappointed that all episodes ran between 20:55 and 21:07 minutes. I have some of these episodes on VHS and they ran 22 minutes and I was hoping that original running times of perhaps 23 minutes, would be in this set. The problem is the History Channel (and the rest of the TV universe) keeps cutting runing times for more commercials. So, the original episodes no longer exists and you get heavily edited programs. Maybe, if the History Channel had shipped the original, uncut episodes, 892 minutes may have been correct.

Bottomline, while there are much better choices for WW II content, there is some unique information, so that you don't feel too ripped off. But, Cable Networks (e.g. History Channel) are the worst of the worst, with commercials galore and distracting on-screen logos. That's why we buy these DVDs, right?

May 30, 2007

Dreadful

I was pleased to see a new "supersized" history of WWII box set come to DVD, and being a superfan of this subject bought it. I wasn't expecting a lot of new footage but I thought perhaps a new perspective would be refreshing.

I'm afraid disappointed is an understatement in describing how I felt while watching it... "War Chronicles" (Mort Zimmerman) was never my favorite of the WWII documentaries, and this box set is built entirely on these old reels.

Patrick O'Neal's voice drones on like the engines of a tired old bomber on a long run to the heart of Germany. You hear little else but his narration over the canned sound effects through the entire series.

I was particularly amazed at the lack of footage devoted to England and the Battle of Britain. Literally a couple of minutes!

A far better choice would be the "BBC History of World War II", The "Definitive History of WWII" (Brentwood), "Visions of War" (Southern Star/IMAVision), or "The World at War" box sets.

If you still wish to have this box set, there will be plenty of very slightly used copies available very cheap, very soon!

April 8, 2007

Incomplete documentary of the War

Lacks adequate description of the Eastern Front. Biographies are superfluous and should have been eliminated for " the last days of WWII" History Channel documentary April 1, 2007

THE HISTORY CHANNEL ULTINMATE COLLECTION: WORLD WAR II

Great service. Even with a late order date, it arrived in time for Christmas- thanks January 18, 2007

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