buoy-75707 This is a very unique documentary of the West. True the focuse is too heavy handed on Native American and poor treatment of minorities, but I believe most is probably accurate. What I felt was missing were the characters that shaped the Legend of the West. The characters that hundreds of movies were made about. This was a scientific observation and not anything entertaining. No Billy the Kid, Jesse James. No Wyatt Earp or Geronimo. Wild Bill Hickok ? Crazy Horse ? Bat Masterson ? The Donner Party ? All missing thus this leaves you highly disappointed.

Leofwine_draca THE WEST is another lengthy, epic, in-depth documentary TV series produced by Ken Burns. It's not quite up there with his work on the Second World War or the Vietnam War, but it's certainly powerful stuff, full of emotional stories, fine editing, and engaging, human-centred narratives. The scope of the show is to explore American settlers and how they displaced the Native American peoples as they spread across the country from east to west. Famous incidents are looked at, from the fall of the Alamo to the Battle of the Little Bighorn, with figures such as Buffalo Bill and Sitting Bull included.

WildBullWriter This documentary mini-series does a decent job of covering such a huge, complex subject in 9 episodes (about 10 hours of time). I like that appropriate focus and time given to American Indians, who played such a crucial role in the story, and to other groups like Latinos, blacks, and Chinese immigrants who played vital roles, as well.(I'm also offended by a number of reviewers who complain that too much screen time is given to Indians and minorities. These same reviewers complain that whites aren't credited enough for their courage and virtues in subduing the "wild west" and "civilizing" the Indians. The irony is that these reviewers are the very sort of racist people who caused so much trouble and misery while the real history was being played out!)On the whole, I do recommend watching this mini-series.

AlexMI Unique, amazing, massive project thoroughly documenting the expansion of the United States into the vast territories of the American WEST. Brutally honest, sympathetic insight into the fall of the many Native American peoples... some of the material is painful, sometimes bleak, but an absolute MUST SEE for any feeling person with even a passing interest in the history of America. Outstanding photography and the classic Ken Burns look & feel (executive & senior producer), but with director Stephen Ives' own insightful point-of-view. This series ranks right along side Burns' "Civil War" in scope and depth, IMHO. See it anyway you can, then demand the set on DVD! (DVD not available at this writing).