The 60s on DVD and Change We Can Still Believe In by Reg Seeton
Before we hop into the time machine, let me start by saying that the newly released 14-Disc History Presents set The 60s is a roadmap of change that we can still believe in today. When I look back at the 1960s, one of the most significant and profound decades in American history, the radical era of change makes me think of today and how much things have changed. Having fully explored the new historically rich 14-Disc History/A&E DVD release called The 60s, a trip back in time has been extremely revealing when looking at the events of today. I mean, with so many issues in today's society affecting people and the nation at large in similar fashion as the 60s, why aren't we seeing people step up to the socio-political protest plate like our parents or grandparents did in the 60s?
Sure, we've seen protests over the past eight years in the name of such issues as anti-war, immigration, and government ineptitude, but many have simply been symbolic with little staying power. Although people have certainly expressed their opinions over the Iraq war and recently voted for a change in political direction, in the past eight years the U.S. has endured a number of unbelievable, ridiculous, and tragic circumstances that have each begged for visible individual leaders to stand up for what's right over wrong. The new 14-Disc History set of The 60s is a fascinating trip back in time that comprehensively breaks down one of the most tumultuous eras of change, with clues to how me may be able to handle similar issues today while raising a lot more relevant questions as to why we haven't learned from those who marched before us.
Beyond its amazing historical, educational, and entertainment value, what is glaringly obvious from watching the History set of The 60s is that people today are far too complacent about serious issues that affect their lives. Above all in its detailed coverage of the life of Martin Luther King Jr., the explosive 1968, "The Vietnam War" and "The Race to the Moon" both in two-volume sets, the civil rights movement, the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Kennedy brothers, the many political protests, hippies, the "Summer of Love," Bob Dylan, and more, The 60s DVD set serves as a productive wake up call for a society in need of public leaders to protect their interests.
With the recent election of Barack Obama into the White House as President of the United States, the 1st of 14 discs of The 60s set is truly remarkable since it centers on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King and his crusade for civil rights equality. Although Dr. King hasn't been with us for forty years, his posthumous commitment to lead African Americans to the "promised land" paid off in so many ways since his tragic assassination. Although African Americans still fight many civil rights battles today, the fact that Barack Obama was elected President is a direct result of Dr. King's efforts. Veteran NBC newsman Tom Brokaw explores the life of Martin Luther King in "King" and how the battle for civil rights was one of the most significant events of the 1960s amid a minefield of social protests. It's a documentary that steps back in time with Dr. King while walking back to today without the civil rights leader to reveal his impact on society and politics.
However, The 60s set sheds light on how affecting change can go too far and work against the various ultimate goals. In a cautionary segment of the decade with former NBC anchor Tom Brokaw who heads up a feature length documentary on "1968" in which the clash between police and protestors at the Democratic rally in Chicago turned the traditionally blue states of the south into red Republican states almost overnight. It was a change that shockingly lasted over forty years. The Brokaw trip back to 1968 is especially gripping since the famous reporter chronicles his own life within the year at the same. Most notable about the doc are the modern interviews with a variety of 60s icons that retrace their memories by trips to the actual locations of pivotal events, which include civil rights activist Andrew Young, several protestors of the time, and musical legends such as Arlo Guthrie and Bruce Springsteen.
If you've ever wondered what became of some of the 60s revolutionaries, Brokaw catches up with many of them to reflect. Interestingly enough, the 1968 doc also shows how fleeting time and certain movements were since society and the very establishments they rallied against have swallowed up most former protestors. In great detail, 1968 also sheds light on the assassination of Robert Kennedy with current thoughts from former Olympian Rafer Johnson who was on the scene in California at the time and was the man who grabbed the murder weapon. It's by far the most emotional segment of the doc since Americans are just now finding their way back to similar hope that RFK instilled in people.
Although the war in Vietnam is explored to great degree, inside and out from a variety of angles, the race to the moon is also given as much time since the space race closed out the decade by giving Americans hope for a greater future beyond the confines of their daily struggles. What's fascinating about "The Race to the Moon" is the second volume in the series, which brings the viewer into modern times with the launching of the space shuttle and a glimpse into the future of where we may people to go if we can put aside our differences that were so much a part of the 1960s.
Spanning the remainder of the 14-Discs of The 60s are in-depth explorations, modern revisits, recollections and reflects on almost every aspects of the tumultuous decade, from politics, the women's movement, civil rights, the rise of drugs like LSD and Peyote, and the many protest riots that also defined The 60s. The set gives viewers a detailed exploration of many events while also providing more of a philosophical focus in discs such as "Days of Rage and Wonder" that takes a two-volume overview approach to the hippie movement, sexual freedom, and how the social and cultural shift also affected the soldiers on the ground in Vietnam.
If you're a fan of the A&E Biography series, The 60s also includes the full Biography discs on the lives of Martin Luther King Jr. (beyond the two larger comprehensive segments), Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, and the Biographies of both John Kennedy Sr. and John F. Kennedy from the award winning A&E bio-docs "JFK: A Personal Story" and "Joseph Kennedy Sr.: Father of an American Destiny". Since the decade of the '60s is synonymous with the Kennedy family, The 60s also devotes a significant amount of exploration to JFK: A Presidency Revealed in which viewers are taken inside the Kennedy administration to get a first-hand look at the White House, "Camelot" and the assassination of John F. Kennedy and subsequent conspiracy. The most enlightening part of the "JFK" segment is the impact of his legacy now forty years later as his family, friends and colleagues reflect on their time with JFK and the impact he had on their lives.
Anyone who has a love affair with the 1960s, whether it's historical, political, educational, or for its entertainment value, will be more than happy to travel back in time to revisit one of America's most pivotal decades in such a comprehensive manner. It's one of, if not the best decade DVD chronicles on the market. Like I mentioned, the History Presents set The 60s is a roadmap of change that we can still believe in today.
STUDIO: A&E RELEASE DATE: February 24, 2009
The 60s per disc:
Disc 1: King
Disc 2: 1968 with Tom Brokaw
Disc 3: The Vietnam War, Vol 1: Vietnam: On The Frontlines 1-4
Disc 4: The Vietnam War, Vol 2: LBJ And Vietnam: In The Eye Of The Storm / Command Decisions: Tet Offensive / Unsung Heroes: The Battle of Khe Sanh
Disc 5: Race to the Moon, Vol 1: Failure Is Not An Option
Disc 6: Race to the Moon, Vol 2: Code Name: Project Orion / Modern Marvels: Apollo 13 / Modern Marvels: The Space Shuttle
Disc 7: Voices of Civil Rights Vol 1: Voices of Civil Rights / Mississippi State Secrets / Crossing The Bridge
Disc 8: Voices of Civil Rights Vol 2: Biography: Martin Luther King Jr. / Biography: Thurgood Marshall
Disc 9: JFK: A Presidency Revealed, Vol 1: Feature
Disc 10: JFK: A Presidency Revealed, Volume 2: Bonus programs Bio John F. Kennedy / Bio: Joseph Kennedy Sr.
Disc 11: The 60's: The JFK Assassination / Modern Marvels: Apollo 11 / Bay of Pigs Declassified
Disc 12: The 60's: Peyote to LSD
Disc 13: Days of Rage and Wonder: Hippies
Disc 14: Days of Rage and Wonder: Riot: The Chicago Conspiracy Trial / Sex and the Vietnam War
Special Features:
- Interviews with Tom Brokaw
- Commentary with NASA Mission Control Flight Director Gene Kranz, Writer/Producer/Co-Director Rushmore DeNooyer, and Editor/Co-Producer Tony Bacon on "Failure is Not an Option"
- Two Episodes of the A&E Award-Winning Series Biography JFK: A Personal Story and Joseph Kennedy, Sr.: Father of an American Dynasty
Personally I do not think they are that bad. Find the files you are looking for at download-the-movie.net the most comprehensive source for free-to-try files downloads on the Web
Before we hop into the time machine, let me start by saying that the newly released 14-Disc History Presents set The 60s is a roadmap of change that we can still believe in today. When I look back at the 1960s, one of the most significant and profound decades in American history, the radical era of change makes me think of today and how much things have changed. Having fully explored the new historically rich 14-Disc History/A&E DVD release called The 60s, a trip back in time has been extremely revealing when looking at the events of today. I mean, with so many issues in today's society affecting people and the nation at large in similar fashion as the 60s, why aren't we seeing people step up to the socio-political protest plate like our parents or grandparents did in the 60s?
With the recent election of Barack Obama into the White House as President of the United States, the 1st of 14 discs of The 60s set is truly remarkable since it centers on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King and his crusade for civil rights equality. Although Dr. King hasn't been with us for forty years, his posthumous commitment to lead African Americans to the "promised land" paid off in so many ways since his tragic assassination. Although African Americans still fight many civil rights battles today, the fact that Barack Obama was elected President is a direct result of Dr. King's efforts. Veteran NBC newsman Tom Brokaw explores the life of Martin Luther King in "King" and how the battle for civil rights was one of the most significant events of the 1960s amid a minefield of social protests. It's a documentary that steps back in time with Dr. King while walking back to today without the civil rights leader to reveal his impact on society and politics.
If you've ever wondered what became of some of the 60s revolutionaries, Brokaw catches up with many of them to reflect. Interestingly enough, the 1968 doc also shows how fleeting time and certain movements were since society and the very establishments they rallied against have swallowed up most former protestors. In great detail, 1968 also sheds light on the assassination of Robert Kennedy with current thoughts from former Olympian Rafer Johnson who was on the scene in California at the time and was the man who grabbed the murder weapon. It's by far the most emotional segment of the doc since Americans are just now finding their way back to similar hope that RFK instilled in people.
If you're a fan of the A&E Biography series, The 60s also includes the full Biography discs on the lives of Martin Luther King Jr. (beyond the two larger comprehensive segments), Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, and the Biographies of both John Kennedy Sr. and John F. Kennedy from the award winning A&E bio-docs "JFK: A Personal Story" and "Joseph Kennedy Sr.: Father of an American Destiny". Since the decade of the '60s is synonymous with the Kennedy family, The 60s also devotes a significant amount of exploration to JFK: A Presidency Revealed in which viewers are taken inside the Kennedy administration to get a first-hand look at the White House, "Camelot" and the assassination of John F. Kennedy and subsequent conspiracy. The most enlightening part of the "JFK" segment is the impact of his legacy now forty years later as his family, friends and colleagues reflect on their time with JFK and the impact he had on their lives.
Disc 1: King