The Great War: The Complete History of World War I
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List Price: $29.98
Our Price: $14.82
Your Save: $ 15.16 ( 51% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Koch Vision
Starring: Great War
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Koch International
EAN: 0741952635390
Format: Box set
Label: Koch Vision
Number Of Items: 3
Publisher: Koch Vision
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2006-04-04
Running Time: 377
Studio: Koch Vision
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Flawed in many ways
Comment: It should be obvious that a visual representation of events that occurred nearly a century ago might fall short by today's high-def standards. It is true that the footage used was recycled throughout the series to the point of irritation to the viewer. I agree that the narration was poorly written and clumsily delivered, leaving awkward pregnant pauses, behind which is an inferior musical score. The graphical representations are incomplete as the maps show little specific data (e.g., names of locations). There are no commentaries by experts in the field.
But, one must concede that such a project would involve years of research, preparation and most significantly, adequate financing. The assumption here is that the producers lacked the budget necessary to make this monumental subject come to life in the dazzling style that we completists are accustomed to. For this result, the set would need to be at least double in length, in order to give due attention to the specifics of the war (i.e., more extensive biographical details of major figures; greater emphasis on the socio-political climate and background; an explanation of the conflict in more remote parts of the world, etc.). I enjoyed the contemporary footage but would have enjoyed more diversity, without being subjected to having to watch scenes lifted from All Quiet on the Western Front (1930). I give the series 3/5 for the attempt made.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Major Waste of Time
Comment: I had high hopes ordering The Great War, too bad it's a Great Waste of Time enduring it. Really, all it is is Patrick Boniface sounding like a bad Capt. Kirk reading from what seems like a wikipedia article on WW1. Major ommisions, Eastern Front, Africa, Middle East. COULD NOT STAND STOCK FOOTAGE RERUN RERUN AD NASEUM which had not relationship to narration. Tiny figures running across battlefield in re-enactment and pilots in model ww1 fighters just flying around grew most tiresome. A group of High School kids could do a better job doing a Ken Burns-ish documentary.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Waste of Time and Money
Comment: As a history teacher, I've collected several historical DVDs to use in the classroom as instructional aids. Out of around 50 different series, this is by far the worst. The narrative is choppy with no thread of thought. Film clips are used repeatedly throughout the series. Don't buy this one. Keep looking.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Disappointing Treatment of the Great War
Comment: The Great War, The Complete History of World War I, a three-DVD set by Koch Entertainment, is a poor production on the Great War compared to The First World War - The Complete Series (a Major Channel Four series). The main upside is some interesting footage mainly about the Western front. The main downsides of this series lie in the disorganized narration, a lack of context, minimalist maps, and a deeply annoying and repetitive (machine) gun noise effect. To summarize, this series will be at best of interest to viewers who have an advanced knowledge of the main events of WWI to help them better appreciate what Koch Entertainment was trying to accomplish in putting this DVD set together.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Better than what they are saying
Comment: I agree with the other reviewers that this is not the best DVD documentary on the Great War (or the First World War.) But I do think that this Documentary has its strengths. For one, it gives a lot more war footage than the other two popular documentaries, and it is faster paced. It covers (or at least mentions) most of the battles of the Great War. It covers and mentions more battles than the other two longer documentaries. For major events, like the Archduke Ferdinand's assassination or the revolution in Russia, it spends less time on these subjects, but it covers all the basics on them. The third DVD, in my opinion, is the best of the three DVDs. Its documentaries on the air, sea, and land technologies of the war were well done, and the best part (in my opinion) of this purchase.
Yes, the narator is a bit dry, and he moves quickly, but if you want an overview of the Great War, this does cover all the basics. There are maps, just as many as the other two documentaries, thus I don't understand some of the other reviews saying there are not maps. The music and sound effects are not at the same level as the other two popular Great War documentaries, but the information given is equal to them. There are not interviews with survivors or combatants of the war. It is only the narrator that does the talking. However, if you don't want 10-11 hours of documentary, but a 6 hour version that is quicker paced, and covers the war chronologically, than this is a good purchase. The weakness of the documentary is that it doesn't tell much of the wars in Africa, in the East Africa German colony and the British South American colony. Nor does it cover the Japanese and German naval battles in the Pacific. But it does cover topics like the Battle of Jutland, and some of the air warfare, and at least mentions the Red Baron (Germany's best fighter, and the war's best pilot). It covers the Eastern Front quite a bit, but more attention is given to the Western front. It also seems to be SLIGHTLY more focused on the British view of the war. It certainly doesn't focus on American involvement, but it covers the American involvement. It covers the Zimmerman Telegram, the sinking of the Lusitania, etc. but it doesn't give too much attention to America that came into the war very late. It is a bit dry at times, but most history buffs I know want good information, and this presents good information, fast paced, but not as "exciting" in presentation as the other two documentaries.
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Editorial Reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Flawed in many ways
Comment: It should be obvious that a visual representation of events that occurred nearly a century ago might fall short by today's high-def standards. It is true that the footage used was recycled throughout the series to the point of irritation to the viewer. I agree that the narration was poorly written and clumsily delivered, leaving awkward pregnant pauses, behind which is an inferior musical score. The graphical representations are incomplete as the maps show little specific data (e.g., names of locations). There are no commentaries by experts in the field.
But, one must concede that such a project would involve years of research, preparation and most significantly, adequate financing. The assumption here is that the producers lacked the budget necessary to make this monumental subject come to life in the dazzling style that we completists are accustomed to. For this result, the set would need to be at least double in length, in order to give due attention to the specifics of the war (i.e., more extensive biographical details of major figures; greater emphasis on the socio-political climate and background; an explanation of the conflict in more remote parts of the world, etc.). I enjoyed the contemporary footage but would have enjoyed more diversity, without being subjected to having to watch scenes lifted from All Quiet on the Western Front (1930). I give the series 3/5 for the attempt made.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Major Waste of Time
Comment: I had high hopes ordering The Great War, too bad it's a Great Waste of Time enduring it. Really, all it is is Patrick Boniface sounding like a bad Capt. Kirk reading from what seems like a wikipedia article on WW1. Major ommisions, Eastern Front, Africa, Middle East. COULD NOT STAND STOCK FOOTAGE RERUN RERUN AD NASEUM which had not relationship to narration. Tiny figures running across battlefield in re-enactment and pilots in model ww1 fighters just flying around grew most tiresome. A group of High School kids could do a better job doing a Ken Burns-ish documentary.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Waste of Time and Money
Comment: As a history teacher, I've collected several historical DVDs to use in the classroom as instructional aids. Out of around 50 different series, this is by far the worst. The narrative is choppy with no thread of thought. Film clips are used repeatedly throughout the series. Don't buy this one. Keep looking.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Disappointing Treatment of the Great War
Comment: The Great War, The Complete History of World War I, a three-DVD set by Koch Entertainment, is a poor production on the Great War compared to The First World War - The Complete Series (a Major Channel Four series). The main upside is some interesting footage mainly about the Western front. The main downsides of this series lie in the disorganized narration, a lack of context, minimalist maps, and a deeply annoying and repetitive (machine) gun noise effect. To summarize, this series will be at best of interest to viewers who have an advanced knowledge of the main events of WWI to help them better appreciate what Koch Entertainment was trying to accomplish in putting this DVD set together.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Better than what they are saying
Comment: I agree with the other reviewers that this is not the best DVD documentary on the Great War (or the First World War.) But I do think that this Documentary has its strengths. For one, it gives a lot more war footage than the other two popular documentaries, and it is faster paced. It covers (or at least mentions) most of the battles of the Great War. It covers and mentions more battles than the other two longer documentaries. For major events, like the Archduke Ferdinand's assassination or the revolution in Russia, it spends less time on these subjects, but it covers all the basics on them. The third DVD, in my opinion, is the best of the three DVDs. Its documentaries on the air, sea, and land technologies of the war were well done, and the best part (in my opinion) of this purchase.
Yes, the narator is a bit dry, and he moves quickly, but if you want an overview of the Great War, this does cover all the basics. There are maps, just as many as the other two documentaries, thus I don't understand some of the other reviews saying there are not maps. The music and sound effects are not at the same level as the other two popular Great War documentaries, but the information given is equal to them. There are not interviews with survivors or combatants of the war. It is only the narrator that does the talking. However, if you don't want 10-11 hours of documentary, but a 6 hour version that is quicker paced, and covers the war chronologically, than this is a good purchase. The weakness of the documentary is that it doesn't tell much of the wars in Africa, in the East Africa German colony and the British South American colony. Nor does it cover the Japanese and German naval battles in the Pacific. But it does cover topics like the Battle of Jutland, and some of the air warfare, and at least mentions the Red Baron (Germany's best fighter, and the war's best pilot). It covers the Eastern Front quite a bit, but more attention is given to the Western front. It also seems to be SLIGHTLY more focused on the British view of the war. It certainly doesn't focus on American involvement, but it covers the American involvement. It covers the Zimmerman Telegram, the sinking of the Lusitania, etc. but it doesn't give too much attention to America that came into the war very late. It is a bit dry at times, but most history buffs I know want good information, and this presents good information, fast paced, but not as "exciting" in presentation as the other two documentaries.
Strong feelings of nationalism throughout Europe prior to the war created an atmosphere where war was imminent. The spark that finally ignited the flame was the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria on June 28, 1914. Within two months France, Russia, Germany and Great Britain were entrenched in what would become five years of conflict, resulting in massive carnage and the deaths of millions. This illuminating 4 DVD set examines the conflict year by year, highlighting significant turning points in the war until its end in 1918.
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