Battle 360 - Season One (History Channel) (Steelbook)
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DVD details
Actor: USS EnterpriseDirector: various
Brand: A and E Home Video
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo; English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 470 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2008-08-26
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: A&E Home Video (New REleaset)
DVD Reviews of Battle 360 - Season One (History Channel) (Steelbook)
DVD Review: Two stars for effort, five for Enterprise and her crew
Summary: 2 Stars
For the past few months I have noted the numerous accolades written on both The History Channel website and Amazon about this series. Yet in my circle, which is mostly middle aged historian and military types (with a few authors) I have heard only expressed disillusionment and heartfelt disappointment of a failed opportunity. Though it appears I am alone in my views in certain venues, I know for a fact through feedback that I am not. And it needs to be said.
First and foremost, my own criticisms of The History Channel's (THC's) Battle360 and the DVD have nothing whatsoever to do with USS Enterprise (CV-6), her gallant crew, or the campaigns she was involved in. I repeat-I have only the utmost respect and admiration for this ship, her crew and the men who flew from her decks. It is for them (and their families) my heart is heavy.
As a carrier buff with particular interest in USS Enterprise and Solomon Islands campaigns I was excited with the news of THC's Battle360 project on Enterprise. I have studied Guadalcanal and Enterprise for more than forty years. Rarely if ever have I longed for an extensive and thorough series on the carrier war in the Pacific. And what a subject it is. The Big E served in every major campaign in the Pacific Theater. And I myself have interviewed a dozen Ship's Company and Air Group personnel who had served aboard Enterprise during the desperate and savage campaigns off Guadalcanal. What an opportunity to finally portray the history of the Pacific Carrier War as told via the crew of the most decorated ship in naval history. However, within minutes of the first episode I sadly realized Battle360 was merely a lackluster hack production of poor graphics, distorted film techniques, and a badly written script strewn with historical and technical inaccuracies. Ultimately, Battle360 was a missed opportunity for a thorough and honest dissertation of the true history of Enterprise and The Pacific War. In fact, within fifteen to twenty minutes into the first segment I fielded no less than a dozen calls from friends and colleagues complaining of the abysmal production style, thus confirming my own observations. (Like me, they were all looking forward to this.) Moreover, the film was so distorted I found myself standing in the middle of my living room and raving in frustration: "Why on earth would they do that?" As the series progressed the callers-to a man-aborted the mission entirely, most having done so by the middle of episode two. Four of these viewers had the persistence to slog through to the end of episode three and then hit the silk all together. I alone was the only one to grind through the series in its entirety. I have since watched the series two more times. And it was never easier to do so.
Admittedly, much of my criticism is based exclusively on my own production taste. The stock footage used of the Pacific War, carrier war, and USS Enterprise was shot initially in standard 4x5 full screen ratio format, which included a substantial amount of carrier footage filmed in beautiful Technicolor. Unfortunately, every single foot in the series was altered by the producers to fit the modern 16x9 widescreen ratio format. The result is a distorted "fish eye" or "squatty" effect that distorts the historical record. Though this technique is now typical, and perhaps understandable, it is hard to accept nonetheless when viewing actual film history of any given event. This problem could have been corrected simply by using a Japanese "rising sun" representation to one side of the screen with a partial configuration of the Stars and Stripes representation opposite. Or perhaps any ship silhouette would have done nicely, i.e. Enterprise to one side and a Japanese carrier (Chiyoda, for instance) to the other. (The Military Channel's "Air Combat" series, among others, used the original 4x3 stock frame placed upon a CGI aircraft skin to fill the 16x9 format, thus preventing any alteration of the original recording. It is both simplistic and brilliant.) Ultimately, it would have been better for THC's producers to zoom on the existing frame to reduce the stretched "fish eye" effect, even at the expense at a lost percentage of the overall frame than to have the film ruined and altered in its entirety.
Regardless, the time and effort to reduce the fish eye effect is a mute point considering that literally ALL of the film footage used throughout the series-the most accurate (and best) record to reflect the actual VISUAL combat record of USS Enterprise-was utterly made worthless by what appears to be a rotating and hindering grid of the world (hence 360?). Lord only knows what it was. This single bells and whistles affect was the predominant view throughout the entire series. As near as I can determine this was done for the sake of superfluous eye candy only. In addition, it appears much of the actual film stock-unbelievably-was INTENTIONALLY altered with scratches and "wear lines" to provide a rustic or worn appearance. As a historian I feel such techniques that deliberately alter the actual film record borders on sacrilege and historical abomination. And it is becoming more and more Standard Operating Procedure with THC. Instead, the visual story of the Big E in Battle360 is based upon substandard computer graphics (now standard for THC); a MAJOR disappointment when one considers actual film footage is sometimes available for specific events. Indeed, nothing can duplicate the true film record. I am not nit-picking such inaccuracies as the lack of nose or tail fuses on a CGI produced 500-pounder as it strikes Yamato. But whether we may agree or disagree with the old adage "a picture is worth a thousand words," it is true. Ask any author, writer or journalist. Accordingly, when film records are available, either stills and motion picture footage it should be used. (I have viewed tons of carrier footage at the National Achieves Records Administration or Washington Navy Yard in Washington. It IS available.) And for the sake of the Enterprise crew-the subject demands it. Instead, THC chose to use poor CGI graphics while much of the history of Enterprise is available on film. Furthermore, the enemy bomb detonating near the island and the number 2 elevator, one of the most famous photographs and combat movie footage of the carrier war recorded, was never used. Not once. (You can view the entire scene on youtube [Air Attack on USS Enterprise].)
Furthermore, some may believe the "old stock footage" is perhaps boring and the computer imagery was new and refreshing, especially for the younger audience who know nothing of the Second World War. This indicates the primary focus was not on history or Enterprise and her crew, but the younger generation. Indeed, any objective historian or student of history cannot classify the miles of incredible color footage of USS Franklin blowing to smithereens as boring. Instead THC diminished the sacrifice of the Franklin crew with VERY shoddy and second rate computer graphics. Incredible.
But perhaps worst of all is the production's high degree of music video imagery, -i.e. fast action computer graphics coupled with altered stock footage, spliced together as millisecond film clips. The viewer is disconnected from the action, disoriented from the subject, and distracted from the storyline. While techniques such as this is perhaps accepted as entertainment by the younger music video generation, it is nauseating and overwhelming to the synapses. Neither the eye nor the ear can breathe. Indeed, at times the storyline seemed utter pandemonium; the media equivalent of trying to take a drink from a fire hose. Coincidently, this is without doubt the biggest complaint I've heard about the series from all quarters and age groups, including several Enterprise veterans, and second only to THC's "repetitive, repetitive, repetitive, repetitive" and monotonous post commercial break summaries. How many times did we see a CGI created unexploded bomb flying across the flight deck on March 19, 1945 strike? Over and over and over... Again, when one considers that ACTUAL film footage of this event is available and easily accessable (including several fasinating still photos of the bomb lying on the flight deck), the viewers instead were subjected to the historical interpretations of a (young?) computer graphics artist. This is simply unbelievable and would never have passed muster for the higher standards of the old History Channel.
Ultimately, I believe all these techniques were done for dramatic affect only. They provide a measurement of THC's current lack of focus on true military history and its apparent obsession with video techniques. Instead, the actual true history of the Pacific War, and Enterprise in particular, when told in a straightforward manner is dramatic enough. Indeed, how we long for the days of spectacular, gut wrenching, historically accurate and cutting edge documentaries such as Thames Television's/producer Jeremy Isaac's multi-part series "World At War". These true professionals, dedicated students of history, knew that World War II combat (and film footage) was a spectacular event without the need of these rapid fire, visual eye candy, and noisy enhancements. (Ken Burns' influential masterpiece "The Civil War" changed the historical landscape of documentries, and he did so with still photos only.)
The interviews with Enterprise veterans, though, were most welcome to see. Any story told by these brave veterans is an addition for the historical record and a joy to watch. Yet while many of the clips were moving several of the men were limited to single and mostly insignificant sound bites owing to the producer's evident focus on useless computer graphics, =more than actual eyewitness accounts=. If for this single reason alone, reflects negatively on THC's focus on CGI. (Or at minimum the interviews were botched.) And while Parshall, Martin Morgan and other historians were informative and accurate (especially Morgan), others come up way short. I say this with all due respect...but instead of modern Marine or Naval aviators explaining the dive characteristics of a SBD Dauntless dive bomber, or the particulars of a Zero fighter, World War II carrier operations, flight operations, combat history of Enterprise or battle campaigns, other Enterprise or Pacific War scholars of the caliber of Richard Franks and Barrett Tillman should (and could) have been used. Ultimately, the best choice to explain the dive-bombing techniques of a SBD bomber were the men flying the aircraft. And quite a few from the Enterprise Air Groups are still available.
Lastly, the overall script was occasionally inaccurate, amateurish, and peppered with weak and flowery adjectives. At times it was downright embarrassing (the narrative would never have passed THC muster ten years ago). I doubt seriously that an actual military/carrier/Pacific Theater/WWII historian wrote the narrative or at minimum, proofed it before the series aired. There is no other explanation for the blatant errors throughout the series. Indeed, even a dedicated high school age student of history could easily have identified the inaccuracies with the script (I saw a 14 yr old tear the script apart before my own eyes).
What we saw in Battle360 was not history but a vast experiment in video and CGI imagery. And it didn't work. I feel for the veterans of Enterprise and the thousands of heroes from the Pacific; those who fought from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay who had longed for this series. To them they are owed our best. And Enterprise/Battle360 definitely ain't it. This series should set the standard on how future documentaries should not be done.
Description of Battle 360 - Season One (History Channel) (Steelbook)
BATTLE 360:SEASON 1 - DVD MovieIt would be an understatement say that Battle 360: Season 1 has substantial appeal for World War II and naval history "enthusiasts." Considering the depth and thoroughness of the program and the sheer volume of data and information on hand--and with ten episodes, each more than 50 minutes long, there's very little that?s not covered--it?s likely that experts, fanatics, and obsessives will be well satisfied too. Using a combination of extensive computer-generated imagery (CGI), charts, graphics, statistics, file footage, photos, interviews with military men both past and present, and more, the program focuses on the Pacific Theater, where the United States and its allies battled Japan for the three and half years between Pearl Harbor in December 1941 and the end of the war in August 1945. At the center of virtually every battle during that span was the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. Launched in 1936, this Yorktown class vessel, also known as "a fighting city of steel" and "the Lucky E" (for its ability to avoid major catastrophe, at least for the most part), carried 96 planes, a huge amount of weaponry, and a crew whose average was an astonishing 19 years old. Proceeding chronologically, the series details such major conflicts as Midway (when the U.S. disabled no less than four Japanese carriers), Guadalcanal (when the Enterprise suffered serious damage while helping to thwart the enemy?s plans to invade Australia), and Leyte Gulf ("the largest naval battle in the history of mankind"), finishing with the Japanese?s last-gasp use of kamikaze pilots to attack the U.S. fleet. Much of this is genuinely gripping, as the episodes provide literally minute-by-minute accounts of every encounter and the size, speed, function, and firepower of every vessel and aircraft on both sides. But there are notable drawbacks as well, starting with the fact that for all of its detail, we see almost nothing of the Enterprise?s interior or descriptions of daily life on board the enormous vessel. There?s also the issue of how much CGI you can take; although there is some film footage (which may or may not be from the specific skirmish being described), the computer work, while generally pretty convincing, is pervasive and rather like a video game without a controller. What?s more, each episode is kinetic almost to distraction, with a ceaseless flow of pounding music and sound effects, flashing graphics, and macho voice-over detailing the action. On the other hand, the reminiscences of those who were actually there are often very moving, not to mention a welcome surcease from the high-tech assault of the rest of the show. Bonus material is limited--a few additional scenes--but the steel box it all comes in is pretty cool. --Sam Graham
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