National Geographic - Pearl Harbor: Legacy of Attack

Starring:Tom Brokaw, Bob Ballard, Carl Carson
Studio: Nat'l Geographic Vid
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
The man who will always be known for finding the Titanic, Robert Ballard, contends that there's still a lot we don't know about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on the morning of December 7, 1941. And by going underwater he's determined to find out some of the lesser-known aspects of the Sunday morning when America was plunged into World War II. Everyone knows about the Japanese torpedo plane attacks, but Ballard, along with American and Japanese veterans, sought out the wreckage of a Japanese midget submarine that actually became the first casualty of the battle when it was sunk by an American destroyer an hour before the Japanese airplanes made their appearance. And while thousands pay their respects at the memorial built atop the wreckage of the sunken battleship Arizona, an elite team of divers from the National Park Service fear the old battlewagon is an "ecological time bomb" because of vast amounts of fuel oil still aboard. Diving robots equipped with cameras are used to assess the condition of the wreck, and sections of the ship not seen since the morning of the attack are viewed. This is a fascinating documentary that combines commentary by historians, including author Stephen Ambrose, with spectacular underwater photography. --Robert J. McNamara
Description
A contemporary look at the surprise raid that propelled America's entry into WWII. Includes never-before-seen images from inside the sunken USS Arizona and an undersea expedition by famed Titanic discoverer Dr. Robert Ballard. Pearl Harbor survivors share their painful and poignant stories and renowned historian Stephen Ambrose adds powerful historical perspective. Narrated by Tom Brokaw.

National Geographic - Pearl Harbor: Legacy of Attack
Average customer rating:

Best birthday gift for Dad, ever.

History Worth Watching

A powerfully moving tribute to the victims and survivors

Beautifully Made, Yet Painful To Watch

Another Excellent Video From National Geographic

National Geographic - Pearl Harbor: Legacy of Attack
Starring: Tom Brokaw , Bob Ballard , and Carl Carson
Manufacturer: National Geographic Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video
Politics | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video
General | Military & War | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video
World War II | Military & War | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video
All Titles | National Geographic | Television | Genres | DVD | Video
History | National Geographic | Television | Genres | DVD | Video
DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
( N ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Used DVDs | Stores | DVD | Video | Action & Adventure | African American Cinema | Animation | Anime & Manga | Art House & International | Classics | Comedy | Cult Movies | Documentary | Drama | Educational | Fitness & Yoga | Gay & Lesbian | Horror | Kids & Family | Military & War | Music Video & Concerts | Musicals & Performing Arts | Mystery & Suspense | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Special Interests | Sports | Television | Westerns
DVDs as Low as $9.49 | The Big DVD Sale | Stores | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

National Geographic's The Battle for Midway

The History Channel's Pearl Harbor

National Geographic's Untold Stories of WWII

National Geographic - Lost Subs

National Geographic - Secrets of the Titanic

ASIN: B00005NTOG
Release Date: 2001-11-06

Amazon.com

The man who will always be known for finding the Titanic, Robert Ballard, contends that there's still a lot we don't know about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on the morning of December 7, 1941. And by going underwater he's determined to find out some of the lesser-known aspects of the Sunday morning when America was plunged into World War II. Everyone knows about the Japanese torpedo plane attacks, but Ballard, along with American and Japanese veterans, sought out the wreckage of a Japanese midget submarine that actually became the first casualty of the battle when it was sunk by an American destroyer an hour before the Japanese airplanes made their appearance. And while thousands pay their respects at the memorial built atop the wreckage of the sunken battleship Arizona, an elite team of divers from the National Park Service fear the old battlewagon is an "ecological time bomb" because of vast amounts of fuel oil still aboard. Diving robots equipped with cameras are used to assess the condition of the wreck, and sections of the ship not seen since the morning of the attack are viewed. This is a fascinating documentary that combines commentary by historians, including author Stephen Ambrose, with spectacular underwater photography. --Robert J. McNamara

Description

A contemporary look at the surprise raid that propelled America's entry into WWII. Includes never-before-seen images from inside the sunken USS Arizona and an undersea expedition by famed Titanic discoverer Dr. Robert Ballard. Pearl Harbor survivors share their painful and poignant stories and renowned historian Stephen Ambrose adds powerful historical perspective. Narrated by Tom Brokaw.

Customer Reviews:

Best birthday gift for Dad, ever........2006-03-18

I gave Pearl Harbour to my Dad last week for his 74th birthday, and when I spoke to my mum this evening he was watching it again, for eighth time. Quoting my father: "I see something different every time I watch it!" and, " This will be a collectors item in ten years!". It's fun buying him things he likes.

History Worth Watching.......2005-03-12

I got this video as a part of a three DVD National Geographic set of WWII related topics. What interested me the most about this video was the combination of original film with elderly veterans giving a first person account of what they experienced at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. There is a third aspect to this DVD having to do with a modern underwater search for a sunken Japanese mini-sub. There were times that this story was somewhat interesting but mostly it interfered with the rest of the program. As I understand it, this search was the reason that the National Geographic took on this project. If so, I guess this documentary had to give that search SOME coverage. However, I would have preferred more of the interviews and the the original film of the attack and its' aftermath. History is presented well in "Pearl Harbor; Legacy of Attack" and it is aided by the excellent narration of Tom Brokaw. Overall I give this DVD a "4.5" but it could have been a "5".

A powerfully moving tribute to the victims and survivors.......2004-12-09

Robert Ballard's search for the Japanese sub fired upon by the Ward an hour before the attack on Pearl Harbor and the promise of the first look inside the sunken USS Arizona may be the featured selling points for this wonderful National Geographic special, but it is the personal stories of Pearl Harbor survivors that makes this a moving, incredibly rewarding video experience. This special, hosted by Tom Brokaw, was filmed to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the reprehensible sneak attack, and it is definitely one of the most impressive Pearl Harbor documentaries I have seen.

The video deals almost as much with the present as it does the past, switching back and forth between then and now in a pattern which basically takes you through the overall sequence of events on the day that will forever live in infamy. Personally, I could have done with much less footage of Ballard's search for the Japanese midget sub; it's certainly interesting, but the search fails to provide us with any important new information. The footage taken by robotic vehicles from inside the Arizona was also interesting; this was, after all, the first time the interior of the ill-fated battleship has been seen since the morning of December 7, 1941.

I won't quibble very much about the description and footage of the attack. Obviously, this one video could not go into all of the tragic events of that day, but it does offer a good overview of the situation, does great honor to those who died that Sunday morning as well as those who survived, and gives mention to several facts that aren't mentioned all that often - e.g., the fact that a sub was spotted approaching Pearl Harbor four hours before the attack (and three hours before a second sub was sighted and fired upon by the Ward). It also describes the senseless positioning of naval forces on that morning, making US ships and planes sitting ducks to the overpowering air attack. It does not go so far as to cast blame or ask who knew what in advance, but it does drive home the point that Japanese forces gave themselves away three times in the hours preceding the attack, but no action of any kind was taken by anyone on Oahu. It should not be a secret by now, of course, that the depth of the disaster that day had as much to do with American military incompetence as it did the actual Japanese attack.

The heart of Pearl Harbor, though, is the stories of the victims and the survivors, and this documentary does a great service to all those young men and women. Personal stories of bravery, such as that of Dorie Miller, are told, but these are far surpassed in emotional terms by a number of personal stories of victims - these are stories some men carried with them for decades, and few can relate them now without shedding tears of horror and heartbreak. One survivor had come to Pearl Harbor for the first time in six decades, finally opening up and telling his story because he knew he had only a few months to live. All of those men who suffered and died must never be forgotten, and they must never be relegated to mere numbers. Hearing the personal stories of survivors, no matter how horrible the things they describe witnessing, brings the importance of every individual soul lost that fateful day into the proper perspective. I daresay there are very few men and women who can watch this National Geographic special without becoming emotional themselves - it is a powerful presentation that I think every American should see.

Beautifully Made, Yet Painful To Watch.......2004-07-09

Nobody who has been to Pearl Harbor and the 'Arizona' memorial is untouched by the experience. I had always wanted to visit it since I was a child, and finally did so in 2002. Even after all the planning and anticipation, it was still far more emotional and moving that I could have imagined. This DVD is like that, too, although on a smaller scale. Even if you have read about Pearl Harbor, this documentary still has the power to draw tears to the eyes of viewers.

The DVD is multifaceted. In part it showcases Bob Ballard and his quest for a Japanese midget sub. That is interesting enough, but that isn't the real attraction of the documentary. The more important part of the film are images of the December 7, 1941 attack, the haunting footage of the 'Arizona' as she is now (including unbelievable interior shots), and most powerfully of all, the interviews with Pearl Harbor survivors. There are also some interactive maps, a behind the scenes feature and extended survivor interviews as bonus features.

I really must emphasize the importance of the survivor interviews. These interviews are unstructured, and they tell the audience what they think is important. It is all important. I can't imagine that anyone can listen to these men recount their experiences without feeling a huge debt of gratitude to them. They are true American heroes. This DVD is about sacrifice and the things that are good about the United States. It is hard to watch what they went through, but it is important that we never forget.

Buy this DVD and remember the lessons of Pearl Harbor.

Another Excellent Video From National Geographic.......2002-05-01

This video does an excellent job of telling the story of the Pearl Harbor Attack by using actual footage as well as testimonials of survivors. Again, National Geographic has solicited the help of Dr. Robert Ballard in hopes of finding a sunken Japanese midget submarine which tried to enter the harbor during the attack. Dr. Ballard has been featrued in other National Geographic videos dealing with the search for the U.S.S. Yorktown, the German Battleship Bismarck, and the ships of Ironbottom Sound. I own all of these other videos and I particularly enjoy Ballard's approach to finding sunken ships, so I was anxious to see how he would do in his search for the Japanese submarine. Survivors of the U.S.S. Ward, an American destroyer on patrol on December 7, 1941, are interviewed in this video. Their ship was the actual one which fired on and sank the sub that Ballard is searching for. I have always enjoyed the way that National Geographic has blended together the actual war footage along with the stories of the survivors, and this video keeps up the tradition. Perhaps my favorite part of this video was seeing the first images taken from inside the U.S.S. Arizona. It was really someting special to see. I would highly recommend this video to anyone who enjoys underwater adventures as well as Pearl Harbor readers/viewers.

The Ultimate National Geographic World War II Collection (Untold Stories/The Battle for Midway/Pearl Harbor - Legacy of Attack)

Average customer rating:

Out of their Element?

The Ultimate National Geographic World War II Collection (Untold Stories/The Battle for Midway/Pearl Harbor - Legacy of Attack)
Starring: Peter Coyote , Bob Ballard , John Ford , Tom Brokaw , and Carl Carson
Manufacturer: Nat'l Geographic Vid
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

World War II | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

Documentary | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Military & War | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

( U ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

National Geographic Mysteries of the Deep - The Lost Ships of World War II Collection (Search for the Battleship Bismarck / The Lost Fleet of Guadalcanal / The Search for Kennedy's PT 109)
National Geographic's Untold Stories of WWII
The History Channel Ultimate Collections: World War II
The Great Escapes of WWII
National Geographic - Lost Subs

ASIN: B00006G8K7
Release Date: 2002-10-01

Description

Three best-selling World War II titles in a DVD collector?s set for the first time ever. Experience compelling stories of America?s most extraordinary generation of heroes! Titles are: Untold Stories of WWII, The Battle for Midway, and Pearl Harbor: Legacy of Attack.

Customer Reviews:

Out of their Element?.......2005-03-14

I was looking for some of those old National Geographic nature specials when I came upon this selection of WWII DVD's. I had a lot of respect for the quality of the National Geographic specials based on what I'd seen on TV over the years. I expected the same when I ordered this set of DVD's. I have to admit that the quality of the production is very good. It's the overall content that disappointed me.

The first DVD I watched was titled "Untold Stories of WWII". It had several sideline stories about supposedly little known developments during the war. The main subject was the Nazi Germany early-stage development towards an atomic bomb. The events primarily take place in Norway and you probably would enjoy watching the movie "Heroes of Telemark" more than this segment. There's another on the development of the other super weapons that Germany developed towards the end of the war. There's is also a segment on the Japanese mini-sub which segues into the next DVD I watched.

The second DVD of this set that I watched was "Pearl Harbor-Legacy of Attack". This and the final DVD of the series apparently grew out of the funding that the National Geographic Society provided for a couple of undersea explorations. One was the search for a Japanese mini-sub supoosedly lost during 12/7/41 and the other was for the USS Yorktown lost after the Battle for Midway. The modern day underwater searches were a questionable aspect of the Pearl Harbor and Midway DVD's. I enoy the views of sunken ships that have become technologically possible in the last decade or so. However, they did seem to detract from the recounting of the history of the two battles. There is a lot of good original films of the two battles, good narration and outstanding reminiscences by surviving veterans.

The Pearl Harbor DVD, I felt, was the most worthwhile of the three in the set. Frankly, I'd recommend that you save money and just buy that one. It gives a better overview of the battle than does the Midway DVD. The one on Midway seemed rather sporatic in its' narrative.

I'm still looking for those great National Geographic nature specials that I saw when I was growing up. I'm not sure what to make of the National Geographic's journey into the realm of history. Maybe if the underwater discoveries are put on the center stage and the rest was just used as background, I might have appreciated these videos more. As it was, the two battle DVD's seemed to be trying to tell two seperate stories simultaneously and I didn't think that worked too well.

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

THE MIDDLE OF THE WORLD (O Caminho das Nuvens)

Even Cowgirls Get the Blues

Urban Gothic - Series 1 And 2 Complete

DVD: Runaway Jury (Widescreen Edition)

Flashdance