'A New Republic is Born in Blood'

[pedrolino.livejournal.com]

I first got really into the French Revolution after watching the documentary the History Channel made in 2004 or 2005. I rewatched it recently, and while I was somewhat dismayed that they managed to get through the entire thing without mentioning anybody but Robespierre and Danton more than once, I think it's a pretty good, understandable introduction to the period. Has anyone else seen it? What are your views?

Comments

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

I thought it didn't start out badly, but got progressively worse and worse. That it would be oversimplified was a given, of course, but I felt that it emphasized the wrong events, people, trends, etc.; was extremely repetitive for a less than two-hour documentary; and particularly toward the end devolved into spouting cliché inaccuracies. I have a bit of a rant about it actually, if you're interested: http://estellacat.livejournal.com/28069.html#cutid1

[bettylabamba.livejournal.com]

It was pretty bad on so many levels. (The guy playing Robespierre was really cute, though.) I have the DVD, and the making-of featurette was more exciting. Robespierre subway station! Random magicians with fake guillotine! French guy rubbing his re-enator pants in the dirt! Whoo! Paarty!