I've seen seven episodes of this series and consider them informative, well-produced and smoothly narrated (by Charlton Heston). The focus is largely on World War II but the series branches out and covers the Korean War -- oops! the "police action" in Korea -- the Cold War, the Arab-Israeli Six-Day War and the U.S. invasion of Panama.
Perhaps the most interesting episode is on the "Spy Games of World War II" disc, which describes the "battlefield magic" the British used to defeat Gen. Erwin Rommel during the North African campaign.
Military and history buffs will undoubtedly eat up the material. And general audiences will unquestionably reap educational benefits.
Unfortunately, memories of these wars have faded, and young people today have little knowledge or understanding of World War II, why it was fought and its consequences. Clearly, our educational system is at fault.
Ask a high school senior what the Manhattan Project is, and he or she will guess that it's the name of a rock group. What a pity!
Perhaps the most interesting episode is on the "Spy Games of World War II" disc, which describes the "battlefield magic" the British used to defeat Gen. Erwin Rommel during the North African campaign.
Military and history buffs will undoubtedly eat up the material. And general audiences will unquestionably reap educational benefits.
Unfortunately, memories of these wars have faded, and young people today have little knowledge or understanding of World War II, why it was fought and its consequences. Clearly, our educational system is at fault.
Ask a high school senior what the Manhattan Project is, and he or she will guess that it's the name of a rock group. What a pity!