Ken Burns' new documentary: The Vietnam War

Discussion in 'Visual Arts' started by Thomas D, Aug 20, 2017.

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  1. theoxrox

    theoxrox Forum Resident

    Location:
    central Wisconsin
    So far this has been better than I thought......
     
  2. misterdecibel

    misterdecibel Bulbous Also Tapered

    I'm wondering how long ago they shot the interviews with the US veterans? None of them really seem old enough, unless it was shot 8-10 years ago.
     
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  3. beccabear67

    beccabear67 Musical omnivore.

    Location:
    Victoria, Canada
    Episode 4: "And now it's time for spot the future presidents!" I spotted a Bill and then a George. :D
     
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  4. It has been 10 years in the making so this is possible.
     
  5. The Panda

    The Panda Forum Mutant

    Location:
    Marple, PA, USA
    Last night we get McNamara's 'crisis of faith', as it is poetically called. Or, as I guy in college once called it, 'we're drowning, maybe a life raft isn't so bad.'
    That battle at the end was horrific. The body count thing reminds me of Duvall in Apocalypse with the cards.
    Now it really laid down the foundation for the generation gap conflict that the war escalated at home.
    And lo and behold, there's our buddy Nixon speaking up.:sigh:
     
  6. Leviethan

    Leviethan Forum Resident

    Location:
    Portland, OR
    You would be correct if history didn't keep repeating itself in an endless loop. Sometimes I wonder if I'm watching a historical documentary or the nightly news.
     
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  7. mongo

    mongo Senior Member

    Agreed. Total eye-opener and excellent book.
    I perked up watching that episode when I heard both names.
    I read Bright Shining Lie years ago.
    Anyone who wants to know about the evolution of America's involvement in the war has to read this book to be informed.

    Boy after watching the episode last night, Dr. Spock had the situation totally nailed.
     
  8. The Panda

    The Panda Forum Mutant

    Location:
    Marple, PA, USA
    Now I know when the old man threw out the Spock books. A sure way to get the old man red in the face was just to hear Spock's name. I wonder if he raged hard like that in public when he was with other adults.
    He took it almost personally. I think he felt used, like Spock was this guy with all this good advice, then he comes out against the war and shows that he obviously has no judgment whatsoever.
     
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  9. rjp

    rjp Senior Member

    Location:
    Ohio
    ken burns is a national treasure
     
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  10. townsend

    townsend Senior Member

    Location:
    Ridgway, CO
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  11. Daily Nightly

    Daily Nightly Well-Known Member

    Location:
    New Jersey, USA
    On an audio-related sidebar: the PX's in Southeast Asia -during the Vietnam era- were what made Sansui and Akai equipment become recognized in America.
     
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  12. Enjoying this documentary immensely so far - it's filling in a lot of the details I missed growing up with this war when I was young in the 60s. I thought George Kennan's Senate testimony in last night's episode was particularly cogent, and very tragic that it wasn't heeded.

    Incredible also to me that from all accounts that given this history, the Vietnamese now welcome American visitors to their country, and have largely put the war in the past. I just missed visiting on a trip to Southeast Asia a few years ago (though I did get to see Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines), and would definitely like to go in the future.
     
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  13. bhazen

    bhazen I Am The Walrus

    Location:
    Deepest suburbia
    Spot on!

    When we lived in Bangkok, my dad bought an Akai reel-to-reel deck and Sansui receiver (along with Garrard turntable and huge Wharfedale speakers) at the PX. This would've been 1966. The first really good stereo I ever heard!

    Teac, Kenwood, Sony and Pioneer also benefited from this era. I've often wondered why not more American hifi in the PX system -- maybe the PX wholesale buyers recognized the extraordinary value the Japanese gear represented?
     
    Last edited: Sep 21, 2017
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  14. knob twirler

    knob twirler Senior Member

    Location:
    Cleveland, Ohio
    Haven't seen any of it yet. I'm just here to say, when I was in Telluride for the film festival a couple of weeks ago, I saw Ken Burns with his kid while eating lunch in a Mexican restaurant.

    I was torn between being starstruck and feeling pathetic that I'm dorky and old enough to recognize a guy who makes documentaries for PBS.
     
  15. PonceDeLeroy

    PonceDeLeroy Forum Resident

    Location:
    Maryland
    Knob Twirler. That's nothing. I was excited to see Brian Lamb (C-Span) in my hotel lobby in Indianapolis for a conference! (Chance of a lifetime!)
     
  16. The Panda

    The Panda Forum Mutant

    Location:
    Marple, PA, USA
    "I had a hole in my chest that you could put your whole hand into"

    Just think on that for a minute.
     
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  17. Leviethan

    Leviethan Forum Resident

    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Is that the most patient man on TV?
     
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  18. theoxrox

    theoxrox Forum Resident

    Location:
    central Wisconsin
    Last edited: Sep 21, 2017
  19. boboquisp

    boboquisp Magic Prism Eyes

    Location:
    NE Ohio
    I'm finding this series compelling and informative, but I can't really say I'm enjoying it.
     
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  20. SizzleVonSizzleton

    SizzleVonSizzleton The Last Yeti

    Near the end of tonight's episode (thursday), that picture of McNamara sitting by himself in that room full of chairs and the podium is a great photograph. I assume that's in the White House and I wonder when it was taken.
     
  21. tomunbound

    tomunbound Active Member

    Location:
    Denton ave.
    Scary how many medics passed treating him thinking he was a goner...

    +1

    And that's the worse part. 50.ooo dead and nobody learned a lesson....
     
  22. debased

    debased Senior Member

    Location:
    Roanoke, Virginia
    "When the truth is found, to be lies."

    The first use of a song in the series soundtrack to grab me. I can't believe that I never thought of it in this context before.
     
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  23. beccabear67

    beccabear67 Musical omnivore.

    Location:
    Victoria, Canada
    Episode 5: Fun with M-16s? "You know it's swell when it says Mattel." :cry:

    That John McCain footage was very hard to watch. :(
     
  24. beccabear67

    beccabear67 Musical omnivore.

    Location:
    Victoria, Canada
    Darby Slick was a very perceptive tuned-in cat.
     
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  25. jamesmaya

    jamesmaya Senior Member

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    I've not been able to catch the series. Was Nixon-Chennault mentioned?
     
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