Product description DOGFIGHTS: THE COMPLETE SEASON ONE .com Detailed digital re-creations of aerial combat are the obvious highlight of Dogfights, but the greatest value of this popular History Channel series lies in its assembly of priceless interviews with veteran pilots who fought in history's most dangerous dogfights and lived to tell the tale. As an oral and visual history that will enthrall viewers of all ages, the series pays tribute to these men and their remarkable skill, and their vivid recollections ensure that this series will be discussed and studied for many years to come. Filling four DVDs, these 11 first-season episodes run about 43 minutes in length, with each episode focusing on specific dogfights where "you're in the pilot's seat" for a breathtaking study of how these potentially deadly aerial encounters began, developed, and concluded. From the biplanes of World War I to the F-15 Eagles of the U.S. and Israeli Air Forces, the series re-creates legendary dogfights with computer-generated aircraft so authentically detailed (including accurate paint-schemes and military markings) that you can even see the rivets in their fuselages. With CGI pilots nestled in their cockpits, these airplanes look and move like the real thing, and while other details such as aircraft debris, flames, explosions, and crashes are rendered in video-game quality resolution (i.e., not state-of-the-art but sufficiently impressive) the aerial activity also includes gun-tracers, rockets, and missiles that are instantly convincing. As you learn about strategic maneuvers like the "Thatch Weave" and "Rolling Scissors," the only thing missing is the G-forces you'd feel if you were actually flying the planes. With highlights too numerous to mention individually, each episode follows a precise and logical structure, thrusting the viewer into the chaos of combat, then supplementing the visual excitement with detailed schematics and comparison charts of aircraft on both sides of battle. Each chart examines the characteristic strengths and weaknesses of the aircraft involved (from structural integrity to weapons systems, maximum speed, climbing rates, etc.), and archival footage of the actual aircraft in action is accompanied by background history and pilot testimonials. Although most of the action is taken from Pacific theater combat of World War II, dogfights from the Vietnam War (as in "The Last Gunfighter," a tribute to the F8 Crusader) and the Middle East are also included. Among the most thrilling episodes are "Long Odds" (focusing on the heroic endurance of WWII Navy Ace "Swede" Vejtasa and Medal of Honor winner Jay Zeamer) and "Hunt for the Bismarck," a riveting study of aerial supremacy over Germany's legendary battleship. As a bonus feature on disc 1, the feature-length pilot episode "Dogfights: Greatest Air Battles" was produced a year before the 2006 premiere of Dogfights and offers a more generalized history of aerial combat and flying-ace heroes. Also included is "Dogfights: The Planes," a featurette compilation of individual aircraft profiles culled from the series proper. Unfortunately, Dogfights is presented in "plain" widescreen (i.e., not enhanced for widescreen TVs), and subtitles and closed captioning are not included. These are the only drawbacks in a four-disc set that's an absolute must-have for military buffs, future "Top Gun" candidates and anyone interested in the history of aerial combat. --Jeff Shannon
L**N
A Must For Aviation Buffs
As an Air Force retiree, I think these episodes are priceless. Kudos to the people who had the forethought to get legends like Robin Olds, Robbie Risner, Swede Vejtasa, and countless others to tell their stories in their own words while they were still around. I teach middle school science, and I have the privilege of taking my classes on a field trip to the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, FL, every year. I show my students a couple of these episodes prior to the trip, as they're not only loaded with history, but they contain a tremendous amount of science concepts as well. One of the F-4s featured in the episode "MiG Killers of Midway" is on display there. Yeah, it's weird to many, but it's not every day you get to see an aircraft on display that can claim a MiG kill. I also worked with one of the guys who was a WSO in the "Hell Over Hanoi" episode. Very addictive - I could watch them all over and over again!
B**N
Gripping! A must-have for air enthusiasts!
If you've ever wondered what it's like to experience the harrowing, dizzying heights (and pulse-pounding depths) of aerial combat but haven't strapped yourself into a combat aircraft, this is your chance. From WWI through the Kosovo Campaign, this series does just that. With graphics that rival the best of computer flight sims and narration that sets up each engagement, Dogfights takes you on the best of couch-borne joyrides. You'll probably even find yourself telling your workmates about one engagement or two you've seen, because some of them are almost too unbelievable to be true! Ever seen a B-17 -- flying solo on a reconnaissance mission in the Pacific but loaded to the gills with machine guns -- dogfight with a swarm of about 17 Japanese fighters, yet somehow make it through alive? You will in this series. Each show includes a 'You Are There'-style narrative, yet seamlessly includes interviews with some of the pilots involved and presents a brilliant setup of each situation. The shows are so well-done you'll probably find yourself watching them over and over again -- the perfect reason to buy them on DVD.
S**R
Great documentary!
I will keep it short, because a lot of good reviews have been written on this already. It's a great show and well worth the money. I give it four stars instead of five, though, for the following reasons:1. The video ought to be in wide screen format in this day and age. It is not, and this makes the show look dated already.2. The Spitfire and the Hurricane, two of the most decisive and well-known air planes of World War 2, are not mentioned at all. This I find rather strange.3. The Hawker Siddeley Harrier is also not mentioned, despite it being one of the most famous air planes of the eighties because of the Falklands War and it's ability to land vertically, etc. This I also find very strange.Anyway, it is a good show, and I hope they will make a third season and include the mentioned air planes. There is a limit to how many episodes about the F-4 Phantom and the Wildcat I can take in the long run :)
W**S
Worth every penny I paid for this series!!
I have been studying WWII fervently for the past 3 years. I have seen lots of DVDs on it. Dogfights has material for WWII up through the present era. Each episode gives you the history of what led up to the event, all the circumstances, etc. I was looking again at the aircraft carrier Enterprise last night. As much as I already knew about it I still found things I had overlooked. I love the format: you see actual combat footage, you hear first hand accounts of veterans that were there and the graphics are just great. They tie the whole ball of wax up and by the end of the episode you knew just what happened at the battle. I didn't buy this set until recently as I watched it on the History channel, but it is just a must if you want to better understand WWII history especially. I got my money's worth out of just one DVD and you get 7 in this series....great buy, better education.
V**N
Superb !
Fabulously produced series. Great Value for Money. Worth every valuable cent you can find these days.Kudos to the team. Highlight for me was interviews with the pilots and aces ... the Israeli - Jordanian dog fight was a classic - the pilot acknowledging that (and, I am paraphrasing here) .. "even though we are sworn enemies, as pilot to pilot, I really wished he had lived".I was never into battles etc, but this is a must see. Warning :: It's highly addictive !Very inexpensive for what it offers.SUGGESTION :: I bought Dogfights Vol 1 and Vol 2 and saved a bunch of money :) Don't buy them together -- buy them separately. And with free shipping, you've got yourself a deal !
H**E
Dogfights, the Movie
Season One of Dogfights featured on the History Channel is an excellent, exciting and informative series of videos on military aviation spanning almost one hundred years. As a pilot, the features presented are of special interes to me. I have never been disappointed by items purchased through Amazon. Ease of use and quick response is the outstanding characteristic of services at Amazon. This is in contrast with other online buying systems like Ebay (although a different philosophy) and their cohort in crime these days, Paypal, who should be investigated for their unwarrented holding of money on items sold (up to 21 days). Even banks don't do that. Thanks again for your prompt and courteous attention, and your regard for the customer's opinion. -Herb Trimpe
P**S
My little men and big men LOVE this DVD!
I bought Dogfights for my 3 grandsons ages 3 to 10 and they are absolutely glued to the TV when it's on. Their father and grandfather are right there with them too, not to mention my daughter and myself as well. The graphics and the stories are unlike anything you hear today. WWII vets are a dying breed and such a breed apart that it's inspiring to hear them tell their great stories of heroism, danger and tragedy. I love for my grandsons to understand a world that had men that were full of honor and self-sacrifice rather than a world of tattooed dope-head ego-maniac rock stars who simply follow a herd of pathetic self-serving fools.Love this DVD.
N**M
Four Stars
Good but too much bias on American pilots and american planes
B**0
Eine sehenswerte Luftkampfdokumentation
Hier werden mittels Computeranimationen legendäre Luftkämpfe auf allen Schlachtfeldern seit dem 1. Weltkrieg nachgestellt und erläutert.Die Flugzeuge und Bodentexturen sehen wirklich sehr gut aus und die Manöver der Maschinen werden exzellent erklährt. Diese Dokureihe geht über zwei Staffeln Dogfights - Season 2 [DVD ] und ich kann diese wirklich jedem Militärflugfan an's Herz legen.Das meiner Meinung nach einzige Manko ist das fehlen einer deutschen Tonspur, aber damit kann man klar kommen.Einige Episoden liefen ja schon das ein oder andere mal auf N-24, aber längst nicht alle. Dogfights - Season 2 [DVD
L**D
Dogfights season one
For everyone, who has a interest in fighterplanes, from WWII through Korea, into the Vietnam war, this is the best DVD set that I have yet to see! The computer animations are astounding, each section has a interview with the original fighter pilot conscerned, including stories from historians and some of today's fighterpilots.Very highly recommended!
Trustpilot
4 days ago
1 month ago
