Ken Burns

[Robinson]

Being an Aussie I know very little about this man, and his work.

I have seen his documentary on Jack Johnson, 'Unforgiveable Blackness" it was good to me in the sense that one seldom sees much footage or photos from early last century. Was also to know some of the back stories of some of Johnsons fights, in quotations.

I found the Johnson theme generic as I have seen a few docos on him, some good some, well generic.

Has he done any other docos on boxing, and what makes him such a controversial figure?

I have come across his Civil War series some time ago, but was unable to justify the $80 for it.

Thanks again guys

Kym

[Ambling Alp]

He really isn't a controversial figure. Almost everyone that likes documentaries thinks he is great. He did do a documentary that some Hispanics didn't like because he didn't talk about them much. I believe it was about World WarII, but am not sure. I never saw it myself.

I have seen his documentary "Baseball" and loved it. Since you are an Aussie, I doubt it would interest you.

He also did one on the American Civil War. Again, I don't know how much interest you would have in it; but it was excellent.

I also liked one that he did on Thomas Jefferson as well.

He also did one on the History of Jazz; I'm not really into Jazz so I haven't seen it. Maybe you would like it. Maybe boxbuzz has seen it?

Some people think that it's too slow moving, covering some aspects of the documentary that some people consider to be trivial, but his audience is really people that are real buffs of the topic that the documentary is about. So they really don't mind.

[BoxBuzz]

I was surprsed to learn that he does not produce books...this according to alp. So when I bragged to granberry that I had not read any of his books...it put me in the same catagory as everybody else.

A fate I don't deserve.

[Ric]

One of his very first successful efforts was about the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, and I enjoyed that documentary very much. Without googling this first, I think he also did a good one on the Statue of Liberty.

[marcianofan]

The only ones I saw all the way through are Baseball and the Civil War. I own them both. Civil War is okay, but it's not quite as deep as I'd like considering this is my top area of academic and historical interest. It didn't have the same kind of payoff to me as a Civil War buff as Baseball did for me as a baseball history buff. In fairness, I am pretty sure Baseball is plenty longer.

Overall I'd say his Baseball is my favorite documentary ever.

[Robinson]

I have the sound track to the Civil War documentary.

[Ambling Alp]

I was surprsed to learn that he does not produce books...this according to alp. So when I bragged to granberry that I had not read any of his books...it put me in the same catagory as everybody else.

A fate I don't deserve.

Recently, he did co-write a book on World War II, as well as do a documentary on it. As far as I know, that is the only book that he wrote.

Buzz- Did you see the Documentary on Jazz? If so, what did you think?
I am not a buff like you, though I don't mind it. (I have actually only heard Jazz music once in person.)

[pound per pound]

Being an Aussie I know very little about this man, and his work.

I have seen his documentary on Jack Johnson, 'Unforgiveable Blackness" it was good to me in the sense that one seldom sees much footage or photos from early last century. Was also to know some of the back stories of some of Johnsons fights, in quotations.

I found the Johnson theme generic as I have seen a few docos on him, some good some, well generic.

Has he done any other docos on boxing, and what makes him such a controversial figure?

I have come across his Civil War series some time ago, but was unable to justify the $80 for it.

Thanks again guys

Kym

Burns docs are good stuff. The criticisms on his films are he really is not an expert on the subject material. Burns hires experts to talk for him. Burns docs also skips portions of history that do not suit his sociological interests.