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Roots
Directors: Marvin J. Chomsky, David Greene, Gilbert Moses
Actors: Maya Angelou, Ji-Tu Cumbuka, Moses Gunn, Thalmus Rasulala, and Hari Rhodes
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Retail Price (not our price): $59.98
Release Date: 2002-01-15
Theatrical Release Date: 1977-01-23
Studio: Warner Home Video
Run Time: 573 minutes
Format: Array
Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Miniseries, NTSC
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Discs: 3


Editorial Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):

1) Amazon.com essential video
From the moment the young Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton) is stolen from his life and ancestral home in 18th-century Africa and brought under inhumane conditions to be auctioned as a slave in America, a line is begun that leads from this most shameful chapter in U.S. history to the 20th-century author Alex Haley, a Kinte descendant. The late Haley's acclaimed book Roots was adapted into this six-volume television miniseries, which was a widely watched phenomenon in 1977. The programs cover several generations in the antebellum South and end with the story of "Chicken" George, a freed slave played by Ben Vereen whose family feels the agony of entrenched racism and learns to fight it. Between the lives of Kunta and George, we meet a number of memorable characters, black and white, and learn much about the emotional and physical torments of slavery, from beatings and rapes to the forced separation of spouses and families. Nothing like this had ever confronted so many mainstream Americans when the series was originally broadcast, and the extent to which the country was nudged a degree or two toward enlightenment was instantly obvious. Roots still has that ability to open one's eyes, and engage an audience in a sweeping, memorable drama at the same time. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5

1) Another epic 70s classic   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
Roots acclaimed as one of the all time best miniseries boast some classic performancesEd Azner as he did in Rich Man Poor Man again terrific also Brad Davis as he did in Chiefs. The young Kunta Kinte played by Levar Burton and Kizzie by Leslie Uggams as well amongst a host of great performances. The story is well known so no need for me to repeat what other reveiws allready explain.

2) Anti-white propoganda   [Rating: 1 out of 5]
Having seen this as a youngster, I can admit the acting is superb. Hence the 1 star review. That's where it ends though. "ROOTS" is, for the most part, a fictional tale Mr. Hailey plagiarized from WHITE AUTHOR Harold Courander and his book "The African". Yet this mini-series is held as indisputable fact. The slave trade was already going when whites went to Africa. Only a fool could think African warriors would let Europeans run roughshod over their country, taking slaves at will. The slaves were bought and sold by their own, this has been proven. It also has, to a certain degree, painted whites as the epitome of all that is evil. It's also interesting that Jews produced it(but that's for another story)If this tale of fiction could ever be challenged in schools all over the country, it'd be a step toward improving race relations, albeit with many angry blacks. It'd also challenge the doctrine of Jackson and Sharpton who make their living off of white guilt and extortion. Not to mention the innocent whites who were bullied and assaulted by blacks after this program premiered. Until then, expect the white resistance movement in America to continue growing. Good day.......

3) Just my thoughts   [Rating: 4 out of 5]
I got this movie because I wanted my son to see it. I know when I watched it when I was young, it really had an effect on me. I could not believe how the slaves were treated. I watched the mini-seris on TV back in the 70's & when I watched this movie, it seemed to me that there was a lot of stuff not included in it but I am not sure. It still got the message arcoss to my son. I think it is a great movie that everyone, needs to see.

4) this really happened?   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
this film truly allows for viewers to experience 2nd had the cruelties of slavery. i 1st saw this film back in 1993 and it still hits hard everytime i watch it .

5) Groundbreaking Mini-Series   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
Still the most compelling program ever aired on televion. I bought this set so my children could experience a bit of their history. Great transfer to DVD, and still packs a powerful blow to racism. The cast is one of the best ensembles ever assembled for any project. A great adaptation of Mr. Haley's years of research.