| Centennial: The Complete Series | 
 enlarge | Actor: Centennial
Studio: Universal Studios
Category: DVD
List Price: $59.98
Buy New: $36.77
You Save: $23.21 (39%)
New (23) from $36.77
Avg. Customer Rating:  202 reviews
Sales Rank: 71
Format: Box Set, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Full Screen, Subtitled, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Running Time: 1252 minutes
Number Of Items: 6
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 6.1 x 1.3
MPN: 61103921
UPC: 025195031776
EAN: 0025195031776
ASIN: B0018RKEQO
Theatrical Release Date: October 1, 1978
Release Date: July 29, 2008 (New: Last 30 Days)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
Great Great Movie August 9, 2008
I was 12 years old when this movie played in the 70s. Over all these years, I remembered only one part of the story. The part of an Amish guy running away with an orphan girl, and how exciting their romance seemed to me. And then her getting bit on the neck by a snake and dying. And how sad I was for him. Did not remember that the two actors were Gregory Harrison and Stepanie Zimbalist - actors I later knew in the 80s and 90s in other shows. They seemed so young too. But it was fun to see that segment of the story over again, and to recognize them now as two of my favorite actors.
Well I'm in my mid 40s now, and for a couple years I was on the Amazon list to be notified when this movie was released on dvd. It came about 10 days ago, but my decorative box was ripped. Amazon sent another copy right away. I want to mention that because I was very impressed at how fast they moved to address my complaint.
When it arrived last Friday I had a dilemma. I had sooo many things to do that weekend. It was a choice of doing those things or watching the movie. The movie won. Ended the weekend with a sore backside from sitting so long, but it was worth it.
I kind of see the movie as having 3 main periods. The early period, the middle period, and the last episode that takes place in modern times. My two favorite characters were played by Richard Chamberlain and Gregory Harrison. Both were salt of the earth type characters. I read someone else's opinion that Gregory Harrison was miscast. Could not disagree with that more. He played the part perfectly. It was totally believable to me that his character would have won the respect and admiration of the Indians and settlers alike.
I had a bunch of emotions watching the film. Seeing the young people grow old, and then die (the movie covered roughly 200 years, and had many `main' characters), it gave me a feeling of how temporary our existence is here. And how our lives can matter if we try to be people like McKeag (Chamberlain) or Levi Zendt (Harrison). Or that our lives could be utterly wasted like Zendt's daughter Clemma's. A tragic figure in the movie. I guess it made me reflect on life in general. And the sense of how our surroundings change over time. My home town in Idaho, for example had only 9,000 people in it when we moved there in the 60s, but today has nearly 150,000. It isn't the same place. It isn't as special. I sensed that in the movie too. Clearly the area the movie took place in went downhill with the population increase.
I liked that as a main character came onto the scene, we got to know him or her, and then experienced their death - and then there were other characters to move the story forward. What I did not like is that that sense of closure with some of these characters was lost in the middle part of the movie. What happened to Lucinda McKeag? To her half sister Lisette? Lisette's husband Mercy was a pretty central figure in the middle part of the movie, but after the trial over the Indian massacre, not a word about him? What happened to the Zendt children? We never found out how or in what way Charlotte passed on, and many of the others. I realize there were many, many characters. But it seems to me that there were a few too many flashbacks, and the flashbacks were far too long. The flashbacks showed entire sequences from the earlier discs, and they could have used that time to give us more closure with some of the characters we all liked so much. I mean, suddenly it was the 1970's and all those great characters were now dead for several decades, and we don't know their endings. That part I did not like.
But regardless, the movie has to be one of the greatest films in history. And when you find yourself having such a great time getting into a story - you don't want it to end. With most movies you get 2, maybe 3 hours. But with this one - 26 hours! The experience lasts...
If you like a good story - stock up on some food. Get plenty of liquids set about you... turn off the phone...tell friends to stay away... and just enjoy watching this great movie that gives you such a sense of history and of life in general. Just take a few short breaks to sleep.. then proceed where you left off.
totally satisfying August 8, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I could write a long review, but I will try to keep it short and to the point. I tried to watch this on television when it first came out. Even though I wanted to see it, it was difficult. The 12 episodes aired over 5 or 6 months. Sometimes there would be a week between episodes, sometimes several weeks due to the show being preempted by sporting events or other types of programming. When you have to wait several weeks for the next episode, it is easy to lose the rhythm of watching a regular weekly program. Next thing you know, you missed an episode. I did see enough of it to know it was a great miniseries, and, in my opinion having now watched the DVD, second only to Lonesome Dove.
Someone commented they could not find the bonus material. For some reason, it is on disk 2 (of 6) and just consists of interviews with some of the cast. I enjoyed it very much and wish there was more. Someone else commented that episodes were missing. They named specific material. All the material they named as missing was on my disks. Maybe they just overlooked some episodes. I had no mechanical or technical difficulties with the disks. I think the transfer is good. It may not be like watching the latest movie release, but it is good enough.
Having seen many of the actors in other things over the years, I think some of them did their best work in this program. Robert Conrad, Richard Chamberlain, Barbara Carrera, Stephanie Zimbalist, Alex Karras (yes, the football player), and Richard Crenna are especially good. I highly recommend this DVD set or the book to anyone who is interested in an old fashioned good story with memorable characters. It is the kind of historical fiction that makes you want to visit the bookstore or library to learn more about the time and places. I live on the Colorado River, and the issues of water rights as they apply to Colorado from the late 1800s to the 1970s in the story are still with us today in Arizona. The Skimmerhorn Massacre from Centennial can lead you to researching the Sand Creek Massacre and Colonel Chivington. You can go spend $40 for the two latest movie DVDs, or you can spend $40 for this, 20+ hours of great entertainment for the whole family.
Centennial August 6, 2008
Very excited that Centennial is finally on DVD. Great miniseries and quick service. Thanks.
 Finally on DVD--about time August 6, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I love this mini series. I read the book every few years and watched the series on TV whenever I could catch it. Finally I got the VHS set on a popular auction site a few years ago. Paid a pretty penny for it, but it was out of print at the time.
I set up email alert with Amazon years ago for Centennial. So a few months ago, Amazon emailed me to let me know it was coming out on DVD. I pre-ordered. Got a really good price, and free shipping. I sold my VHS set at a garage sale a few weeks ago, go a pretty good price for it, almost enough to pay for the DVD set.
I am watching the series tonite. Quality is pretty good--no obvious foibles and the sound is crisp and clean. I am thrilled to be watching this in DVD format.
I love this story. James Michener's characters are real and believable. None so heroic and perfect that they couldn't be real, but the good guys are the guys you'd like to know yourself or be like.
If you have never read the book, read it! I really suggest reading the book before watching the videos, but the video is pretty close to the book without lots of important differences.
missing episodes August 5, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Having seen the original series on t.v. I was disappointed that several episodes are missing from the dvd I bought. For example, at the gathering of fur traders, it's McKeag who must remove the arrow tip from Pasquinel's back. Very little is mentioned about the relationship between Pasquinel and Clay Basket, including 2 sons who aren't mentioned until much later when they are grown men.
Further on in the story, a cattle drive from Texas to Centennial is missing along with all the characters involved.
There are many more things missing so I couldn't give this series 5 stars. Perhaps when the title of a dvd contains the word"complete" series, it should contain the COMPLETE series.
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