Art Of War (A&E Television Show) [DVD]

For Beginners, an Excellent Prep
Watching the DVD for at least the fifth time now, and still riveted. Seen it a few times before on the History Channel and knew I had to have my own copy. I’ve read the Art of War before quite a few times, so the main points of this presentation were all nothing I didn’t already know. Where this presentation shines is how it uses the war between the ancient Chinese kingdoms of Wu and Chu as the main backdrop and reinforces it with the examples of the Vietnam War, D-Day, and the Battle of Gettysburg by illustrating their successes and failures where Sun Tzu’s principles apply. Follow them and prevail, ignore them and fail. This presentation not only makes that clear, but its strongest point is to break it all down to the level of understanding of both a brand new Private in Basic Training and a Freshman year Cadet. My only disagreement is very minor, it comes from the Vietnam War segment and the D-Day segment. One of Sun Tzu’s principles is that it is essential to victory that Generals must be unconstrained by the Sovereign, does apply to Gen Westmoreland as much as it did to Gen Eisenhauer. While it is true that Gen. Westmoreland’s Chess Strategy failed against Gen. Giap’s Go Strategy, anyone who has the most simple understanding of that war from a correct viewpoint instead of a politically correct one knows that President Johnson and SECDEF McNamera micro-managed Gen Westmoreland wheras Gen Giap did not have the same problems from Ho Chi Minh. No mention of that fact does an injustice to Gen Westmoreland and his men. Given Gen. Westmoreland’s military background of Airborne since WWII, it is very likely that if he wasn’t micro-managed by LBJ and McNamera, he would have done a Go strategy as expected from an Airborne officer. However, I do understand the reasoning of the makers of this program in illustrating the failure of the Chess Strategy in the Vietnam segment when the point of the folly of political interference was better presented and easier to understand in the D-Day segment. A mere mention of that folly in the Vietnam segment when comparing the advantages and disadvantages held by Giap and Westmoreland would have sufficed. Going into detail of that fact would have made the D-Day segment nothing but beating a dead horse. That is my only criticism of this program.Overall, however, the title of my review is only half of the bottom line. It is an excellent prep for beginners whether they be cadets in their freshman year or privates in basic training because of it’s simplicity and brevity. The other half is that the very same simplicity makes it an equally excellent reinforcement for both the Officer and NCO corps who have already been taught and studied the Art of War prior. Therefore, I not only recommend without reservation to subordinates, peers, and superiors alike, I have ordered another copy to make gift to my nephew who had graduated US Army Basic Training from my own alma mata, Fort Knox.

Very good in so many ways…
The DVD explains Sun Tzu’s Art of War and uses it to examine D-Day, Gettysburg and the Tet Offensive. In fact the DVD touches on each of the wars, seeming to focus a large amount of time on the Vietnam conflict. They use Sun Tzu’s ideas on how war should be run as a template to compare the different sides, the factors, and the commanders. It was interesting and frankly, I found the discussion about the Tet Offensive the most interesting. Let’s face facts, World War II and the American Civil War has been analyzed, examined, explored and explained to death. But while I have books on Vietnam I rarely find ones that truly helps me understand WHY we lost. This DVD really DID explain to me how both sides fought the war and, according to the rules made by Sun Tzu, why the US lost and the Northern Vietnamese won.Now, the special effects were sometimes OK, but I have to say they were not great. In the Battle of Gettysburg they show some soldiers aiming their muskets into the sky! And it could get pretty bloody, violent, and racy. They showed a bloody hospital scene in the part about the Civil War and a realistic knife fight between an American GI and a German soldier. There was also a scene, shown twice I believe, of hookers acting as spies for North Vietnam. Very shapely, sexy girls in tiny dresses. My older nephew had to leave the room when they were about to saw off a Civil War soldier’s leg. He didn’t ask about the hookers but if you have younger kids I suggest not letting them watch it till you have. It is in Color, 94 minutes long, and while very good does not cover the Art of War completely. So I would suggest getting a book copy – but be warned some are better than others. I would shop around!

Informative and entertaining documentary
I love this documentary from the History Channel. This is the second copy I purchased specifically for work. I play at work on my desktop and listen to documentaries as I work. History has always been my favorite subject, and this DVD is informative and well-made! Director David Padrusch directed my three favorite History Channel documentaries: Last Stand of the 300(2007), Battles B.C. (2009), and Art of War (2009). The Distinguished Professor of the Royal Military College of Canada, Richard A. Gabriel, PhD, is a marvelous speaker. His segments are always exciting & his explanations of battle techniques and theories are educational and brilliant. I wish Dr. Gabriel and Director Padrusch had produced more historical documentaries in this specific reenactment genre. These reenactments come across as live-action & anime/art! I highly recommend Art of War (2009) to any curious or serious history buff.