JFK: A New World Order (2013)
Distributed By: Mill Creek Entertainment
Blu-ray Release: May 14, 2013
Director: Jason Spafford
Rating: Not Rated
Reviewed By James M. Dubs
I'll watch anything...including JFK: A New World Order.
When sitting down to watch JFK: A New World Order, I’ll admit to suffering from a mild case of John F. Kennedy fatigue. November 22, 2013 marked the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination and the coverage was nothing short of over saturating. Documentaries, docu-dramas, history lessons, conspiracy theories… There was something for everyone, no matter your interest or knowledge level of the 35th President of our United States of America. Smack dab in the middle of all of it is JFK: A New World Order, an 8-part documentary series clocking in at around 3 hours and 35 minute. With so many options should anyone really care if one more JFK documentary series saturates the market?
Film [Rating: 3]
The answer to that question is a little harder to come by because it really depends on what you’re looking for. Conspiracy theorists and historians of the JFK legacy may want to pass on this one (except for the extras!) as this series is a pretty straight-forward, by-the-book account of many of the events, personality traits, and secrets that have made John F. Kennedy one of the most popular and studied Presidents of all time. Grade school and middle school students would benefit from the broad strokes the series brushes, but may find the content a little dry. In many ways the series does remind me a great deal of the high school videos substitute teachers would play in U.S. History class to help pass the time. I also recall many of my classmates using that as an opportunity to squeeze in a quick nap.
I’m certainly not suggesting that JFK: A New World Order will put you to sleep, but the target audience may be limited to people who have some to no basic knowledge of JFK, individuals looking to experience the nostalgia of the time, or high school students looking for an entertaining method for gathering information for their homework.
If I were to add one more small criticism of the series, it is that the usual gallery of “experts” interviewed are seriously lacking. Typically in these kinds of productions, the production company will gather hours upon hours of interviews from experts, historians, eye witnesses, friends, family, etc. JFK: A New World Order enlists only three “talking heads” – Historian, Tim Rosenfield; Author and Lecturer, Wy Spano; and former Legislative Assistant to Robert Kennedy and Georgetown University Law Professor, Peter Edelman. The rest of the series is comprised of archival film footage and photographs, narrated by Gordy Burdo.
Video & Audio [Rating: 3]
Most of the series is stitched together from archival video, film, and photos. Naturally, due to the varied nature of the archival images, the source material ranges from good to very poor. The only new video footage comes from the three interviews. The interviews are shot and mastered in 1080p, look good with color and clarity proving above average, but there’s not a lot of depth or dynamism to the images either.
Audio comes in the form of a Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0 track, which is clean and clear. Interviews, narration, and archival audio are all audible, but nothing dynamic or exciting.
Extras [Rating: 4]
If the 8-part documentary doesn’t interest you, it is quite possible the extras will. JFK: A New World Order includes a bonus DVD that sports four additional features that trump the main series:
Overall [Rating: 3.5]
It is quite possible that Mill Creek Entertainment knew that JFK: A New World Order wouldn’t satisfy scholars and experts on our former President, and in order to improve mass appeal created an incredible supplemental package for the JFK completist. Without the bonus material, JFK: A New World Order is a great documentary for your entry level historian, but may be too basic for everyone else.
About the author: James Dubs is a father and husband who loves his family first and movies a close second. He believes every movie is worth watching once and, as a film fan and critic, believes that even the worst movies offer something in return. His mission is to watch anything and report without pretension. Follow James Dubs on Twitter and send him suggestions on movies you would like reviewed - popular, obscure, independent, etc. He'll watch anything for you.
Blu-ray Release: May 14, 2013
Director: Jason Spafford
Rating: Not Rated
Reviewed By James M. Dubs
I'll watch anything...including JFK: A New World Order.
When sitting down to watch JFK: A New World Order, I’ll admit to suffering from a mild case of John F. Kennedy fatigue. November 22, 2013 marked the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination and the coverage was nothing short of over saturating. Documentaries, docu-dramas, history lessons, conspiracy theories… There was something for everyone, no matter your interest or knowledge level of the 35th President of our United States of America. Smack dab in the middle of all of it is JFK: A New World Order, an 8-part documentary series clocking in at around 3 hours and 35 minute. With so many options should anyone really care if one more JFK documentary series saturates the market?
Film [Rating: 3]
The answer to that question is a little harder to come by because it really depends on what you’re looking for. Conspiracy theorists and historians of the JFK legacy may want to pass on this one (except for the extras!) as this series is a pretty straight-forward, by-the-book account of many of the events, personality traits, and secrets that have made John F. Kennedy one of the most popular and studied Presidents of all time. Grade school and middle school students would benefit from the broad strokes the series brushes, but may find the content a little dry. In many ways the series does remind me a great deal of the high school videos substitute teachers would play in U.S. History class to help pass the time. I also recall many of my classmates using that as an opportunity to squeeze in a quick nap.
I’m certainly not suggesting that JFK: A New World Order will put you to sleep, but the target audience may be limited to people who have some to no basic knowledge of JFK, individuals looking to experience the nostalgia of the time, or high school students looking for an entertaining method for gathering information for their homework.
If I were to add one more small criticism of the series, it is that the usual gallery of “experts” interviewed are seriously lacking. Typically in these kinds of productions, the production company will gather hours upon hours of interviews from experts, historians, eye witnesses, friends, family, etc. JFK: A New World Order enlists only three “talking heads” – Historian, Tim Rosenfield; Author and Lecturer, Wy Spano; and former Legislative Assistant to Robert Kennedy and Georgetown University Law Professor, Peter Edelman. The rest of the series is comprised of archival film footage and photographs, narrated by Gordy Burdo.
Video & Audio [Rating: 3]
Most of the series is stitched together from archival video, film, and photos. Naturally, due to the varied nature of the archival images, the source material ranges from good to very poor. The only new video footage comes from the three interviews. The interviews are shot and mastered in 1080p, look good with color and clarity proving above average, but there’s not a lot of depth or dynamism to the images either.
Audio comes in the form of a Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0 track, which is clean and clear. Interviews, narration, and archival audio are all audible, but nothing dynamic or exciting.
Extras [Rating: 4]
If the 8-part documentary doesn’t interest you, it is quite possible the extras will. JFK: A New World Order includes a bonus DVD that sports four additional features that trump the main series:
- Kennedy Vs. Nixon Presidential Debate: This is the second debate offered here in its entirety.
- Assasination of John F. Kennedy: A black and white news reel that chronicles the events and details as they were reported at the time.
- Funeral Service of President John F. Kennedy
- Vietnam! Vietnam! By John Ford: What?!? A documentary directed by John Ford and narrated by Charlton Heston?!? This documentary alone is worth the price of the set.
Overall [Rating: 3.5]
It is quite possible that Mill Creek Entertainment knew that JFK: A New World Order wouldn’t satisfy scholars and experts on our former President, and in order to improve mass appeal created an incredible supplemental package for the JFK completist. Without the bonus material, JFK: A New World Order is a great documentary for your entry level historian, but may be too basic for everyone else.
About the author: James Dubs is a father and husband who loves his family first and movies a close second. He believes every movie is worth watching once and, as a film fan and critic, believes that even the worst movies offer something in return. His mission is to watch anything and report without pretension. Follow James Dubs on Twitter and send him suggestions on movies you would like reviewed - popular, obscure, independent, etc. He'll watch anything for you.
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