500 Nations
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Actor: Alma Mart?nez, Eric Schweig, Gordon Tootoosis, Gregory Harrison, Kevin CostnerBrand: Warner Brothers
Producer: Kevin Costner
Producer: Bernd Eichinger
Producer: Heather Rae
Producer: Jack Leustig
Producer: Jim Wilson
Producer: John Pohl
Writer: John Pohl
Writer: W.T. Morgan
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled)
Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 372 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-09-21
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Reviews of 500 Nations
DVD Review: Native North American History
Summary: 5 Stars
A sobering documentary of European exploitation of the native North American Indians. Highlighting a broad width of varying experiences some of the tribes faced.
A great job Kevin Costner did on this production, pulling no punches, revealing a continuing saga of broken promises, disrespect, betrayal and murder from the Europeans. While the Indians received sickness, disease, heartbreak and death. The most comprehensive presentation I have found on the subject.
DVD Review: Enlightening and heart-breaking...
Summary: 5 Stars
This most certainly IS NOT a romantic view of Native American history. Whoever thinks that chose either to not watch the entire series, or chooses not to see the truth about what is the greatest tragedy in this country's history. It's a shame more people today don't look upon this long-standing horrific aspect of our history more seriously; for the consequences have been too great and are still in effect today...a shame, in my opinion. I most certainly agree that more "anthropological"-type media should be made to understand and appreciate so many cultures; for they are interesting at the very least. Nevertheless, that is not the intent here...it's to educate us all on what is our very own "American Holocaust" and its legacy. Hopefully, it would prompt one to take some sort of action...whether it be simply to spark an interest to read and become more educated on this topic. DVD Review: Excellent overview
Summary: 4 Stars
At six hours it's difficult to portray everything about Native American History. Where to begin? From the prehistoric times or to when Columbus first landed on Hispaniola? And whose point of view should one consider?
Reviewers who give this production low stars don't understand the impetus of this DVD collection. Costner sponsored this collection but he did not speak in every episode in every scene. As he should not, since he's not Native American. (He's a German-Irish American born in California)
None of the DVDs are very thorough, I grant that. But for the layman this collection of four DVDs is a great start to become familiar with the Natives of North America. This covers big events of all the tribes, from eastern clans to Alaskan tribes to the tribes of Mexico and the Southwest.
The graphics are great and the photography at times breath-taking. Most of the narratives are from real Native Americans who tell their side of the story, using archival photography when necessary.
My one complaint is that for the price there should be at least one more DVD with two more hours of documentaries describing in more detail some of the lesser-known events of the Native history. That's why I give this four instead of five stars. HOWEVER what is presented here is well worth the time to sit through and absorb.
Anyone who feels this is a biased documentary should just buy a collection of US Military documentaries where the "heraldy and heroism" of the frontier soldiers are glorified. I've yet to see one US military history documentary that portrays the US soldiers as fumbling, racist exterminators. But who am I to judge? I wasn't around in the mid 19th century. I can only live for the here and now and respect all sides of history. This time I am glad that the Natives got their side presented.
DVD Review: Overlooked & Unappreciated...A Must See for Every American!
Summary: 5 Stars
I didn't even know this series existed until I happened to stumble upon it while searching the web for historical material on Native Americans. Aside from the outstanding production values, the story told will absolutely amaze you. Forget everything you were taught about early American history and watch this with an open mind. I guarantee that anyone with an iota of intelligence will understand how distorted the textbook versions are and begin to realize just how homogenized our national values have become. DVD Review: 500 Nations a let down
Summary: 3 Stars
500 Nations
Worth the money but still a let down. We bought this for Christmas and hoped to have many exciting nights of viewing pleasure. Kevin Costner's narration was as expected, and parts of the DVDs were exciting and of great interest, but much too much of it was old pictures with tired and boring monologue. I'd buy it again, maybe........ Just don't have too high an expectation!
Description of 500 Nations
500 Nations is an eight-part documentary that explores the history of the indigenous peoples of North and Central America, from pre-Colombian times through the period of European contact and colonization, to the end of the 19th century and the subjugation of the Plains Indians of North America. 500 Nations utilizes historical texts, eyewitness accounts, pictorial sources and computer graphic reconstructions to explore the magnificent civilizations which flourished prior to contact with Western civilization, and to tell the dramatic and tragic story of the Native American nations' desperate attempts to retain their way of life against overwhelming odds.DVD Features:
Featurette
Introduction
Other
With six episodes spread out over four discs and a running time of well over six hours (in addition to an interactive CD-ROM filled with extra features), director-producer Jack Leustig's sprawling 500 Nations, a history of Indians in North America, is likely the most comprehensive effort of its kind ever undertaken.
Mention the word "Indian," and most will conjure up images inspired by myths and movies: teepees, headdresses, and war paint; Sitting Bull, Geronimo, Crazy Horse, and their battles (like Little Big Horn) with the U.S. Cavalry. Those stories of the so-called "horse nations" of the Great Plains are all here, but so is a great deal more. Using impressive computer imaging, photos, location film footage and breathtaking cinematography, interviews with present-day Indians, books and manuscripts, museum artifacts, and more, Leustig and his crew go back more than a millennium to present an fascinating account of Indians, including those (like the Maya and Aztecs in Mexico and the Anasazi in the Southwest) who were here long before white men ever reached these shores.
It was the arrival of Europeans like Columbus, Cortez, and DeSoto that marked the beginning of the end for the Indians. Considering the participation of host Kevin Costner, whose film Dances with Wolves was highly sympathetic to the Indians, it's no bulletin that 500 Nations also takes a compassionate view of the multitude of calamities--from alcohol and disease to the corruption of their culture and the depletion of their vast natural resources--visited on them by the white man in his quest for land and money, eventually leading to such horrific events as the Trail of Tears "forced march," the massacre at Wounded Knee, and other consequences of the effort to "relocate" Indians to the reservations where many of them still live. Along the way, we learn about the Indians' participation in such events as the American Revolution and the War of 1812, as well as popular legends like the first Thanksgiving (it really happened) and the rescue of Captain John Smith by Pocahontas (it probably didn't).
With its sometimes New Age-y music and many beauty shots of the great outdoors, 500 Nations has a rather different vibe than the average Ken Burns documentary. That may lessen its value for sober historians, but for the rest of us, this is an illuminating and important work. --Sam Graham
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