The National Parks: America's Best Idea

[BluLobsta]

Anyone watching this six-part PBS series on The National Parks that was directed by Ken Burns? The premiere is tonight. It looks like a great film if you're into some of the most stunning scenery that nature has to offer combined with an undoubtedly interesting human story as well.

http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks/

[tigtat77]

I definatly will be watching. I love Ken Burn's films.

[riseagainst]

I'm glad this is airing on PBS. I was going to blind buy the blu-ray set next week, but it looks like I'll be able to preview it tonight. I'm surprised it is being released on Blu-Ray at the same time it is airing for the first time on PBS.

[BluLobsta]

No way, I didn't even notice this was coming out on Blu?!?! Nice! The first episode was very good. People would just stumble on Yosemite and Yellowstone before anyone knew it was there and it would become pure religion...wild stuff....besides exterminating the American Indian culture of course I'll screen before I buy as well...

[Elvis]

I am recording them on the ol' DVR will watch watch next week.

[repete66211]

I caught some of it this weekend. It was pretty good, not for the narration so much as the old pictures. It's a very rich subject, but leaves Burns little opportunity to express his white guilt, so it's surprising he chose to do a documentary on the parks.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by repete66211

I caught some of it this weekend. It was pretty good, not for the narration so much as the old pictures. It's a very rich subject, but leaves Burns little opportunity to express his white guilt, so it's surprising he chose to do a documentary on the parks.

"No white guilt?....Um, you did notice the native Park Superintendent as the main "Natives thrown off 'their' land" spokes-witness? He'll be there for most of the series.
Just wait till we get a whole mini-episode of it, and that's When, Not If.

A good Burns is about the Stories, though, not the subject--Never knew John Muir was that much of a nutcase for the greater good.
And like "The War", I'm only watching it now to save time on renting it on Netflix later...But it's only having to watch it on successive nights that makes people impatient with the longer nine-hour series--Watching "Baseball" or "Jazz" one library/rental disk a week, like any regular series, is much more addictive, easier to follow the "stories" of the individual subjects, and yes, you can actually get through them.

[repete66211]

Originally Posted by EricJ

"No white guilt?....Um, you did notice the native Park Superintendent as the main "Natives thrown off 'their' land" spokes-witness? He'll be there for most of the series.
Just wait till we get a whole mini-episode of it, and that's When, Not If.

Didn't catch that part, but I agree with you here.

[Romulus]

Caught it last night. Excellent series, thought the first episode was pretty good. I'll definitely be catching the next 5 episodes. This will give me something to watch every Sunday night too.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Romulus

Caught it last night. Excellent series, thought the first episode was pretty good. I'll definitely be catching the next 5 episodes. This will give me something to watch every Sunday night too.

(It's nightly in most markets, not weekly--
Which means Episode 2 on Monday, and rerun marathons on the weekend....See what I mean about the rentals being easier?)

[BluLobsta]

Yup, it's an all week marathon unless you want to buy the Blu next Tuesday and watch on your own schedule.

Last night's Episode 2 was also very good. I don't feel like channel surfing at all when I'm watching this. I didn't really understand Teddy Roosevelt's views on nature too much at first though. They seemed very conflicted to me. He loved nature and animals yet he couldn't get enough of killing everything on four legs, even the poor little mouse that he hand-stuffed in his tent lol. Nevertheless, no President has done more to protect the environment than him. Also, I think my next vacation will be to Mesa Verde National Park. The ancient Pueblo cliff dwellings are amazing. Ancient cultures have always fascinated me, especially the American Indian. I have two pieces of Navajo pottery that I treasure very much. So far so good with the show though

[Romulus]

Yeah I found out that it ran every night. So I just set all of them to record and I'll watch at my own pace.

[P@t_Mtl]

Watched the first 2 episodes this morning, great as always from Ken Burns. Will DVR the other probably will catch them this weekend

[ParadoxLC]

Saw the whole episode last night, and parts of the first two episodes; great series.

[BluLobsta]

Yup, this series impressed me very much and has an incredible amount of replay/entertainment value. Leave it to Ken Burns to create good, thought-provoking commentary and an excellent story. Makes you appreciate our fine country even more I'll store it on TiVo until I can afford it, though