Ken Burns: National Parks - America's Best Idea |  | Director: Ken Burns
Actors: Adam Arkin, Philip Bosco, Kevin Conway, Peter Coyote, Andy Garcia
Studio: PBS (DIRECT)
List Price: $99.99
Buy New: $61.19
as of 11/22/2009 13:04 CST details
You Save: $38.80 (39%)
New (3) Used (4) from $61.19
Seller: Standing Ovation
Rating:  43 reviews
Sales Rank: 90
Format: Box set, Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Languages: English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Number Of Discs: 6
Running Time: 720 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.7 x 1.3
UPC: 841887009881
EAN: 0841887009881
ASIN: B002BO2R4K
Release Date: October 6, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
THE NATIONAL PARKS is the story of an idea as uniquely American as the Declaration of Independence: that the most special places in the nation should be preserved for everyone. The series traces the birth of the national park idea in the mid-1800s and follows its evolution for nearly 150 years, chronicling the addition of new parks through the stories of the people who helped create them.
This film is presented in "widescreen" format. Enchanced for 16x9 televisions.
Audio: English 5.1 Surround, English 2.0 Stereo, Spanish 2.0 Stereo, Described Video for the Visualy Impaired
Subtitles: English & Spanish
Region: NTSC 1
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 43
 Unique story, beautiful cinematography November 15, 2009
Sam I Am (California)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Who knew a history of the national parks could be this interesting? Unique story. Beautiful cinematography. Well worth the price to buy and time to watch.
DVD Series November 12, 2009
R. Davis
I bought this as a Christmas present for my wife after viewing the series on television. Great product, great price, quick delivery. The perfect combination.
 Should be called "Political History of National Parks" November 11, 2009
Mark E. Baxter (Layton, UT United States)
2 out of 6 found this review helpful
This should have been entitled "A Political History of National Parks". And even if it would have had that title, it would still be boring.
How can a respected film-maker like Ken Burns whose previous series are endlessly entertaining and informative at the same time (which is what a documentary should be), come up with this poorly edited, poorly written montage of political interviews? The answer is he didn't. The credits note that Dayton Duncan actually wrote the show. Dayton Duncan is a leftist bureacrat who wrote a book called "Out West" about 20 years ago where he did a modern day car trip that roughly paralleled Lewis and Clark. So I warn you that you think you are getting a Burns documentary but it is really not his product. Kind of like the latest Tom Clancy books that are plastered with his name but turn out to have been "inspired" by Clancy or he has read over the plot of some other author. Not the same thing at all.
So you have to watch this knowing that it really isn't the typical Ken Burns product.
Also the series is mostly about the politics behind the National Parks. Which is an interesting subject but not necessarily what you think you are getting. And even when this series is lecturing on some political struggle, it could have actually showed you parks instead of some scruffy-looking, boring ranger.
I really wanted to like this series. As a biologist, I am in love with the American National Parks idea. I enjoy history and politics. But this series is not at all what it could and should have been. A couple of hours is plenty to discuss the politics of National Parks.
The worst part of this series is frankly that it is boring. How do you take a majestic subject like National Parks and make it boring? Even if you only concentrate on politics, there have been enough political shenanigans involving them that it would be hard not to make this interesting and even controversial. I think that Duncan was trying to give us an environmental and political lecture and hiding it behind the National Parks idea. These are not compatible, in my view. Also, many of the lecturers are the same tired bunch of people that have popped up in Duncan's writings for decades. I've read their thoughts before and didn't find this reincarnation to be any different.
I fear the glowing pollyanna-like 5 star reviews have mostly not watched the series, and if they have, they are simply stating that they like wilderness and National Park ideals (as do I).
I've been in the Sierra Club, I've worked in this field, and I still had to force myself to watch these episodes hoping that the next part would be better. Way too often I woke up an hour later snoring. 2 stars is the best I could muster for this mixed-up and poorly edited series. Before you buy, by all means check out the 5 star reviews also. But I think you'll find I was right.
Ken Burns: National Parks DVD set November 10, 2009
Edna Lynch (Dallas, TX)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I am really enjoying this series. I watch a little bit at a time. I know that I will be sad when I finish, like the regret I feel when I finish a good book.
AMAZING November 10, 2009
Ryan Reader (Los Angeles)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
As a huge fan of our national parks i was instantly drawn to this film. and i was not at all disappointed. i came into watching the film with high expectations, and they were filled.
It is emotional and informative, and it did not even bore me AT ALL. this film may just go down as one of the best depictions of the national parks.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 43
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