Benjamin Franklin

Ken Burns is THA MAN! We're so down with Burns documentaries in our house that we actually have a harder time paying attention to non-Burns history documentaries. The only reason I rated this a 9 instead of 10 is because I think some of his others rank a little higher within his own portfolio of work. (His Civil War is an exalted masterpiece among documentaries and his Roosevelt's piece is probably our household fave).

If you love Franklin though, this is the best way to absorb his story. Burns keeps you captivated with a cast of historians who are usually the top experts in their field who have written books of their own on the subject. He also is known for getting famous actors to portray the voices. Paul Giamatti reprises his role as John Adams in this, which is cool. The enormous compilation of images are expertly strung together to portray the story of Franklin's life. My 10-yr old sat and watched this whole thing with us.

I had always known Benjamin Franklin was one of the U. S.'s Founding Fathers -- and also that he discovered electricity - but his real life had been quite vague during my 60-plus years. In my high school days (back in the 70s) he was just an important early American. I wish such historical viewing was available back then.

Therefore I believe understanding Franklin's productivity and mental capacity, as well as his hardships and how he helped form the United States of America, should be required of every American high school student lest the country continue in its modern decay.

And once again, thank you Ken Burns for rejuvenating interest and adding knowledge to our American history.

Burn's "Ben Franklin is an excellent piece of work, bringing in most of the commonly known things about Benjamin. Then it digs into the why of the events in this incredible life. Yes, there is always room for improvement, something that those who believe our current age or any of our current selves have reached the pinnacle of what we could be.

I would be amiss not congratulate the many contributors, historians, writers who appeared in the documentary and added their perspectives, yet remain uncredited by imbd. Especially Stacy Schiff, whose observations added a humor to it all.

I'm not exactly sure how imdb rates diverseness or diversity. There was a considerable honesty about "the original sin" of these United States and Franklin's own perplexing hypocrisy in dealing with it, even while he improved in his appreciation of the enslaved's capabilities. He praised the intelligence and capabilities of the black race, while satirizing the ridiculousness of white slavers, yet he still did not free his own slaves. I suppose even the best and brightest of us are imperfect when changing a vice passed down from time inmemorable.

A slaveholder who was its evil late in the game. A scientist of Nobel-quality and a great inventor who allowed his inventions to benefit the public while not milking them for profit. A committed Briton who essentially lost his son because Franklin started to see himself as an American. Yet, he 'saves' that same sons' out-of-wedlock child. A man so in tune with others but whom effectively abandoned his wife. Probably the best diplomat and possibly the best politician to ever serve our nation.

Ken Burns has again brought to light the subject's complexity, enlightening us on many facets of his life that our schools history abbreviated, to our school childrens' detriment.

OK, his link to the FreeMasons wasn't mentioned. Maybe Ken Burns will do a series on that.

Countless of merely very interesting to very important and informative details in this brilliant work is not surprising and yet astonishing still. Mr. Burns is as prolific a biographer as Mr. Franklin was a Statesman, inventor, printer, humorist, publisher, liaison, and INNATE American. I am a die-hard fan of both and grateful to see such eloquence in showing Mr Franklin's genius as well as his faults and humanness.

Excellent is an understatement. Bravo again Mr. Burns.