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World War II with Tom Hanks review
This 20-episode take on the second world war, helmed by the Saving Private Ryan star, is a vast creation. But it still manages to wind up feeling basic – despite its great archive footage
TL;DR
- The series is a 20-episode documentary on World War II, narrated and hosted by Tom Hanks.
- Despite its scale and archive footage, the series is described as feeling basic and lacking deep analysis.
- Unlike older documentaries that relied on first-hand witness interviews, this series frequently uses academics and historians as talking heads.
- The program benefits from tremendous archive film, including newly discovered footage and contemporary propaganda responses.
- The series provides the basics of World War II for viewers with limited knowledge but does not overturn settled opinions about the war.