Posted: 12/09/2011

Vietnam in HD

by Amber Burnham

Now available on DVD and Blu-ray from the History Channel

Vietnam in HD sees History looking at another iconic American War involvement with color footage and first hand experiences just like they did with the successful WWII in HD. The six part miniseries looks at this controversial engagement through the eyes of the men and women involved. Interviews with thirteen people, aided by narration from actors to bring depth to the interviews, the war they experienced is brought to life for the viewers. This documentary does not look at the war like a text book. There are many things that are left out because of the nature of the involvement of the people discussing the war. At the time of the Vietnam War, many people living in the United States, including many recruits in the army, did not know anything about Vietnam. Its location and political strife were virtually unknown to the mass population and left the men and women who served in the army truly unsure of the people they were supposed to be aiding. What they did know about was communism, and for many of the enlisted, knowing they were fighting against communist rule was enough but this did not prepare them for what they would be going up against.

One of the greatest aspects of the miniseries is the fact that it gives the veterans of the war a chance to tell their story. When we learn about history, there are many times when the voices of the normal people involved get lost amidst all the politics and technicalities of war, it is a refreshing and eye opening experience to look at the war through the people who fought it instead of the ones who just orchestrated it from afar.

The previously unseen color footage was found in many places including; private collections, museums, the US government, veterans and news organizations as well as sources from Vietnam. The transfer to high definition is done beautifully while keeping the feel of the footage, some of which has hardly been used before this documentary. The footage is raw and realistic and does contain images that could be too hard for some to handle. This is the footage that really shows what the men saw when they were fighting in the jungles and swamps: heartbreaking and in your face.

Vietnam in HD is narrated by Michael C. Hall and includes the wartime narrations by talent such as; Edward Burns, Adrian Grenier, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Dylan McDermott, James Marsden, Blair Underwood, Dean Cain, Zachary Levi, Arnie Hammer, and more. The series is accompanied by music from the era and includes the following episodes: “The Beginning (1964-1965)”, “Search and Destroy (1966-1967)”, “The Tet Offensive (1968)”, “And Endless War (1968-1969)”, “A Changing War (1969-1970)”, and “Peace with Honor (1971-1975)”.

Amber Burnham has a BA in Early Childhood Education from Kendall College. She is also a regular panelist on Kichicast, the all-girl, Chicago-based podcast devoted to anime, manga, and Japanese culture. You can listen to Kichicast at kichigi.com.

Got a problem? E-mail us at filmmonthly@gmail.com