Anyone Seen...

[GWagner]

Life and Death of the ANV by Lionheart....thoughts?

[FloridaConscript]

Re: Anyone Seen...

nope, but I'm on the cover...

[garyjd]

Re: Anyone Seen...

I'll try not to be too long winded here. The best part is the interpreters that make for great eye candy for those wanting to see good impressions. I found the format of the program could have been presented in a more logical manner and some of the stuff shown scaled back or left out. One section showed a soldier going through the manual of arms and how the movements looked from other angles. Unless you are familiar with what's going on it makes little sense to those that have very little to no knowledge of 19th century military drill. I found this segment long and boring as there was nothing in the way of supporting narration to tell you what was going on and why. What stands out most is that the footage being shown sometimes has little or nothing to do with the narration being given. The segment after that showed a group of soldiers doing Hardee's Light Infantry Tactics. However the begining and end of the scene talks about rations. Why? I think it would have made more sense to do a separate section on rations and cooking. Then we go back again to the single soldier loading and firing his weapon. Another scene shows soldiers constructing breastworks and briefly mentions that both sides sometime traded tabacco and newspapers. Again there is a lot of building going on but nothing being said as to what's going on and why. Then we see a group of Federals and Confederates trading items with no narration or dialogue going on as to what they are doing. I read at one time that Lionheart's American Soldier Series was going to be a DvD version of an Osprey Men-at-Arms book. This one like the first in the series falls short of that goal IMO. This program is easier to watch if you know the subject, even then I do not feel the subject is covered in the best format possible. I think they missed a golden oppourtunity to put out a great one hour program of what it was like to be a soldier in the ANV. I doubt I would buy another from this series sight unseen ever again. ~Gary
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[BrisbaneReb]

Re: Anyone Seen...

While I haven't seen this DVD in the series I have seen 'Von Steuben's Continentals' which is pretty much the same thing: drill, camp lifestyle, uniform, etc. If I take Gary's report to heart then I can honestly say I think Lionheart has perfected what they initially set out to achieve in 'Life and Death.' Well formatted, clear structure, visually pleasant, detailed but not weighed down by too much information. I really liked it: I think these documentaries are the things re-enactor film producers SHOULD focus on. Re-enactor movies, with plots and acting, tend to unravel and are still a long way away from a professional outing. In contrast I'm being blown away lately by the quality of some documentaries by Lionheart and Wide Awake Films.

But yeah seriously go watch it, its good. Maybe we can hope Lionheart can take what they learned in Von Steuben's and use it for a 'Life and Death' remake? Here's hoping.

[Archie R. Lib]

Re: Anyone Seen...

I haven't seen any of them, gents, but not for a lack of trying.

I ordered their Chickamauga film, Life and Death of the ANV, Von Steuben's Continentals and one other. I placed this order towards mid- to late-August. It is now the beginning of October Nothing so far. As of now they don't even answer my phone calls or e-mails - and I am a pretty friendly and polite guy just trying to find out if they're sending them or not. I believe this is mainly a one-man show, so I don't know if he is busy on other projects with no one to answer the phone or e-mails, but I am very disappointed in their customer service so far and pretty fed up.

I was looking forward to the Chickamauga film, as I have heard very positive things about it. But, lo. I guess they gets my money and I gets to read another book.

Rich