C.I.A. – The Shocking Stories Behind The Headlines set
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C- Episodes: B
A recent
mini-series about the Central Intelligence Agency has made it to DVD, the
6-parts on 2 DVDs, under the title C.I.A.
– The Shocking Stories Behind The Headlines, a co-production by the BBC and
A&E among others. Though not as
thorough as it could have been, it only runs for six hour-long time slots, so
only so much could be said and shown.
Despite being an agency of secrets, there are tons of things to say and
show about the agency, pro and con. With
that said, this is not bad, albeit basic.
The episodes are as follows:
1)
Berlin Cowboys
(on WWII)
2)
Hidden Persuaders (on stopping the spread of
Communism in Europe)
3)
Hi Tech Low Cunning (on technology and codes)
4)
Phoenix Rising
(on Vietnam)
5)
Executive Action (Cuba & Latin America)
6)
Moving Targets (Iran-Contra Affair)
They are
smart, literate, have rare interviews, and rare footage. They are archival enough and I thought this
was very matter of fact and honest about the events for the most part. Of course, the post-9/11/01 events make this
all the more dated, even making some of the most intense aspects seem more
distant. That is a reason why is so good
this is out on DVD so we never forget.
The full
frame analog videotape is in the PAL format and looks good, as being made
recently. The Dolby Digital 2.0 is
practically monophonic, and just fine.
Only brief by informative text terms and trivia on Spying is offered,
but it is valuable enough. For what is
not told, being that this is DVD, it is disappointing there is not much more in
the way of extras.
I
actually remembered the shows as I watched them, so good that the better
aspects of the shows have stuck with me for a long time, if overlapping with
other such programs and literature on the subject before and after. Especially if you have never seen this series
before or know much about this world, C.I.A.
– The Shocking Stories Behind The Headlines remains compelling viewing.
- Nicholas Sheffo
