![A History of Britain: The Complete Collection [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41YnOVOFfLL._SX300_SY300_QL70_ML2_.jpg)
When this came out, I'd seen nothing in long non-fiction tv as good--not since James Burke's 'day the universe changed'. An interval of more than a decade. Though a history devourer, and especially British history, I'd never heard of Schama, and found the film playing in the early morning on A&E, when that channel used to be good. I was hooked.
Like his later film on art, Schama's works are at first sight a delight just to watch, the filming is that good, atmospheric, often grand, moody; always appropriate-- as is the accompanying music. The music just moves with the film so well-- drawn out medieval bag pipes(?), looong oboe notes of impending doom, then up and down the scale into quite frightening bits-- time to run for the hills! Snippets of songs of many eras, dances, religious music. That beautiful high-note voice in the theme. Perfect. It all adds so much thickness to the film, and entertainment. I know about Black Death, have a dozen books on it. But during the episode on it, I was aghast and on edge, although I knew very well what happened next. But the music and film work were perfect. The dark, damp hills and bare trees; the man dying alone of plague, on dirty straw in a dirty dark hut, covered with buboes, spitting blood, while a welsh actor recited a contemporary poem about the ravages of plague. Sounds melodramatic, but it honestly isn't. We go back to Schama, the anchor, and move along in the tale.
Now, the filming: the film's makers, camera work, are geniuses. There is a lovely sense of place, quite solid, of Britain, beautiful and awful, and I've been there. The actors, or reenactors, are perfect (they don't speak on camera), and an array of British stars with wonderful voices read letters, quotes, documents and supposed speeches. ( You know, like the Paston letters and stuff )
Then, there's the narration, which is quite good. No talking down, just Schama sharing his ideas, views, knowledge. A few off-key phrases, but its very simon-schama-- he's always quite genuine and down-to-earth, and of course, the history is wonderful. And I like the History he chose to tell. At some point, he and his team had to pick and choose from 1000+ years. No long in-depth episode on Henry VIII and his wives ( one of my favorite subjects, and first I was upset ), but enough information about his reign, and the right information about it, to show where we (britain) were heading. I think Schama provides the right information throughout, so that this particular story of Britain, through show and tell, flows along. It feels right. It looks and sounds gorgeous. It taught me stuff. I re-watch it all, or certain parts, often. Because its fun and wonderful. Its flaw is the length: way too short. If only it had been twice as long...
Now, I've friends who just don't like it. They dislike Schama, his personal take, the lack of in-depth constitutional info. They don't like the atmospherics of the painting-like camera scenes, and the soundtrack. I've had people say that stuff takes away from the history and ask what's wrong with Schama, he jerks, lunges, jumps about. The wrong points were high-lighted, stuff left out, etc. You might think the same. Also, although its about 'Britain', people complain that Scotland and Ireland are not given enough play. That is pretty fair, and a few more episodes would have helped.
But me, I got pulled in.
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Product Received As Described
I am very impressed with the merchandise received from this seller. The disc cases and the DVD's, are in excellent condition. I assume the seller left a little not in one of the cases highlighting 'Burning Convictions' which is one of my favorite episodes.I'm very satisfied with my purchase, and highly recommend this seller.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2014
Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2023
I am very impressed with the merchandise received from this seller. The disc cases and the DVD's, are in excellent condition. I assume the seller left a little not in one of the cases highlighting 'Burning Convictions' which is one of my favorite episodes.
I'm very satisfied with my purchase, and highly recommend this seller.
I'm very satisfied with my purchase, and highly recommend this seller.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2002
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Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2003
Top reviews from other countries
Maybuds
Nothing like starting in the middle
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 12, 2015
,,
Informative, interesting, well worth watching.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 17, 2014