102 Minutes That Changed America (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)The History Channel aired this program several times in the wake of the anniversary of 9-11. I was able to catch two viewings of this show.
I live in San Diego, Ca. and like most people, I witnessed 9-11 through the lens of the collective (and individual) camera eyes. To say this is the "best" 9-11 documentary is, perhaps, inappropriate to say, but this particular program stands high above any of previous 9-11 shows I have seen as far as capturing what must have been a horrific event to witness first hand.
What makes this program stand out is it's lack of a produced narrative. No Dan Rather telling me what I already know. No trite musings that have littered most of these types of programs. Instead the producers have allowed the viewer to see and hear the events as they happened. It is, for the most part, straight footage with no production elements added.If any narration IS heard it is from any given individual who happenes to be speaking within the video footage itself. As a viewer we are drawn into this presentation as we watch others watching the horror, and then watch it ourselves. There is a minimal amount of ambient soundtrack included but it is highly underscored and very consistant with much of the raw footage that fills this doucumentary.
As for the footage included, it is safe to say it has to be some of the most compelling news-type footage I have ever seen, in regards to anything. Much of this footage was done by amateurs but it does not detract form the experience one bit.
One particularly haunting shot that sticks out to me is a shot taken by an individual somewhere near the base of the WTC towers after both have been hit. THe camera is busy collecting visuals of a courtyard barren of any people...just papers and ashes drifting lazely with ominous whimzey. The sounds of distant panic accompanied by an outdoor speaker system playing a muzak version of Billy Joel's "she's always a woman to me". Truely erie.
I could not recommend this program enough. I would say order it direct from the History Channel, but Amazon has it for less, but no matter where or how you get, do get it. It's not easy to watch, but it's very difficult not to as well.

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21 Jump Street Season 5 (1987) Review

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(More customer reviews)It should first be noted that Johnny Depp is not a member of the cast of 21 Jump Street during the 5th Season. He left the show after the 4th season. The show was then cancelled by Fox and was produced for one more season in syndication. The only reason Depp was included on the cover of this season set was because "Blackout", a 4th Season episode, was held back from the 4th Season DVD Set for this one. So be forewarned when buying this set that Depp appears in only one episode, and following that he and Dustin Nguyen leave the show, followed soon after by Peter DeLuise. Only Holly Robinson and Steven Williams remain from the original cast. Michael DeLuise joins the cast for a bit as Joey Penhall and Michael Bendetti joins the cast as Tony "Mac" McCann. The formula of the show largely remains the same, though the show's production values descrease with the move to syndication, and the cutting of the budget per episode. This was not a bad season, as per usual with this series, some storylines were weaker than others, but overall the season is entertaining, with Holly Robinson being the focus of most of the episodes, especially after Peter DeLuise and Michael DeLuise leave. However, again let me just repeat that Johnny Depp appears in only one episode and buyers of this set should know that, so there is no confusion on this matter.

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