The Seventies

Just as I like the related documentary "The Sixties," I like this, too.

This documentary has a place in my heart, and, memory, because I actually lived through all of this from the age of four to 14. I remember much of what's covered here, especially the television shows, disco, and, news coverage.

Along with "The Sixties," this is proving to be a very interesting, informative, thorough, and, enjoyable series. It's the kind of series that can be watched over and over again for reference reasons, and/or, because it's just that good.

Over the years, and, as well as being an excellent actor, Tom Hanks has produced some of the best movies, documentaries, and, mini-series there are - children's movies - "The Polar Express" and "Where The Wild Things Are;" movie-documentaries - "Band of Brothers" and "Charlie Wilson's War;" adventures - "Castaway;" musicals - Mamma-Mia!;" and, many others. In my opinion, he struck gold with "The Sixties," and, "The Seventies"...again!

"The Seventies" may not be for everyone, but, I highly recommend it for anyone who wants a refresher-course on this decade.

If you're looking for a fact-filled, historical romp; this ain't it. The material is certainly interesting but the perspective is so drenched with agenda it leaves you sickened. There's no balance or even voices from the right end of the spectrum - unless there's mocking to be done. There's only enough present-day commentary to perpetuate a sad version of revisionist history. Progressives will love it. Unfortunately, there's a twisted and cynical perspective woven throughout. I thought my kids would enjoy learning a little about my younger years, but this documentary only glorified and legitimized the social decay that furthered its narrative. People were conspicuously misrepresented, events contextualized poorly, and uplifting stories completely omitted. I expect trash from CNN. I didn't know Tom Hanks was a trash peddler, too.

I wasn't alive during the '70s, and I think that that's important to point out; naturally, it'll affect my perception of a documentary on the topic. There's nothing wistful or nostalgic involved, just a history lesson.

In that sense, this is a polished and informative miniseries, focusing on a tumultuous period for the baby boomer generation. Again, I didn't live it, so I can't really speak to its accuracy (was it really that grim?); but it makes for solid television.

If I have one complaint, it's that they didn't cover cinema. There's more than enough material simply between New Hollywood and the industry-changing effects of "Star Wars" to fill an episode. And it would tie in nicely with the Watergate/Vietnam cynicism that seemed so alive and well during the time.

Regardless of this, I'd still recommend this to anyone as a dip in the pool of history.

7/10

This series was great at capturing not just the highlights of the seventies but the spirit of the decade. Of course, it was not as depressing as the 1930's, but turning 12 in January of 1970 and thus turning 22 as the 1980s began, watching these episodes just brought back how depressing the whole time period was. There was a feeling we were on a downhill slide, and this documentary reflects that sentiment and the reasons behind it. An American president resigned for what so far is the only time in history, Vietnam fell to the communists after Americans lost so many thousands of soldiers there over the previous decade, the decade opened with "Jesus Christ Super Star" bringing the rise of the "Jesus people", cults began to rise, and near the close of the decade Jim Jones organizes a mass suicide/homicide of just under one thousand of his followers. Suddenly cults were not cool anymore. And then Jimmy Carter dons a sweater, and from an armchair tells us all of this is our fault. The Iranians agreed.

Of course, not all of it is newsy and depressing. The series goes into television and how much it changed over the decade, with "All in the Family" leading the charge. It also talks about the music of the decade which wasn't so bad, even though the decade started with the break up of the Beatles. However, I am STILL trying to get over having listened to "You Can Ring My Bell" ad infinitum on the radio back in 1979.

I think that is one thing younger people just won't get. We all shared a common culture back then. There were three network channels, no cable, maybe a couple of UHF TV channels if you were in a larger city. Music played on wax discs or on the radio. There was not a constant flood of information coming from different sources trying to compete with each other employing the flashiest "journalists" or carving out a niche and just telling you what you want to hear.

I highly recommend this series. It strikes just the right balance between informing and entertaining. Highly recommended.

CNN, who've since the 70's have been relegated to just another tool for the Government Industrial complex...Lies, obfuscations, spin, fraud and agenda driven...Those issues were not discussed.

I stopped watching TV in the 70's in my teens because, it was terrible...Laugh tracks, idiot dialog and a constant barrage of social engineering. Many of the people of today are directly mind controlled by this era...It was not important. It was experimental programming on a grand scale...Most people had TV's by the 70's and their whole lives revolved around them...Luckily; some movies of the time shown their lights in the dark corner...

Watch Network...It changed my life.

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