This miniseries is well worth watching again or for the first time if you never have. It is very moving and tells the story of slavery from the point of view of the slaves. Beginning with Alex Haley's book, which is wonderful in itself, this miniseries is still the most popular show to have ever aired on TV. It might take some getting used to because of the difference in TV production values but you quickly forget about it after awhile and learn to appreciate the beauty and sincerity of the production. It isn't about the amount of money spent but the effort and a job well done. The actors are superlative. The writing is wonderful. It made me cry at the end because it was so moving.
The DVD isn't the highest quality and there is a lot of times the picture stopped and I had to scan it rapidly for a couple of seconds to get it going again. The commentary is well done and highly recommended. I learned a lot and it made me feel closer to the production.

This production brings this sad part of history to life superbly. I remembered it from 30 years ago when it screened on German television and have now shared it with my husband and our teenagers in New Zealand.

We appreciated the many details of the environment at the time and as it was a true family history it was very moving and unforgettable.

I have always loved the movie, Roots. It was hard to watch when it first came out and it was even harder to watch now. I got this DVD for my son to watch because not a lot of Black history is taught at his school and he needed to see where we came from. He and his friends use the "n" word too much and I wanted him to understand how this word came to be and why it is unacceptable in everyday language.

This movie also was instrumental in giving me pride in my black heritage. Blacks were made to feel as though they were an "inferior" race of people and because of the "Roots" movie and the book author, Alex Haley, I know I have the right to be proud of who I am, and to appreciate our ancestors who shed blood for the freedom we now enjoy.

This product arrive in excellent condition for a Used item. The disc are clean without scratches and there is no skipping or picture loss. This is a classic film that can be difficult to watch but it is important piece of film. The actor list in this mini-series is absolutey phenomenal. To bad this is only shown on television during Black History Month.
"We've come a long way...Right????"

This was a great movie series with some "soul" and excellent characterization, and hated to see it end. But the dvd quality was poor in some areas, and had to fast forward and skip some scenes due to bad sectors on dvd.

Found item on Amazon that was hard to locate elsewhere, making Amazon one of my first places to look in future.

First saw it as kid and it moved something in me to see how terrible my people were treated. And to see how strong they were to endure that but still stand strong in their faith. And for a family to keep their history going by feeding their kids that story is amazing. My family can only go back about for four maybe five generations. This another one of my must haves.

WoW! I love this collection. It's clear and it's quality is amazing. I highly recommend Roots to all families.

I first watched this DVD in the 70's or 80's. Back then, all I learned was that Kunta Kinte was renamed Toby and that we may be descendents of Africans. This time I viewed the DVD in a whole different light; the importance of knowing your past so that you can move towards the future.

This DVD is great because it shows the importance of sharing family history. If the Haleys/Palmers/Thomases/Harveys and so forth had not shared the information from generation to generation then Alex Haley would not have taken such an interest in finding his ancestors.

Now, when I watched the DVD, I thought it was entirely true. I wondered how they could remember in such detail. I later learned that Haley coined his book FACTION, a combination of fiction and facts. Anyway, the story has been criticized mainly on the ground that Haley could not have been a descendent of Kunta Kinte' because Kunta Kinte was dead in the year of Kizzy Reynolds conception and birth. Even if this is true, I think it still is an excellent attempt at telling the story of a black man in America.

After viewing the DVD, I went to a-n-cestry dot com and found the census records online. I was able to find ancestors back to the late 1800s. Unfortunately, I found out how difficult it was from ROOTS because our last names changed at the drop of a hat and, thus, unless you know the last names of the people at all time, it will be very hard to locate the people.

Anyway, I plan to have my children (when I have them) watch this DVD just so they can know how far black people have come.

I was able to watch the original series on tv in 1977 & enjoy history, but this cut 4 dvd version is pathetic. To many scenes removed, that gives a greater understanding of the story. I wouldn't recommend you buy this set as the original was awesome not this cut down version. I would have paid for a 5/6 dvd set to include the scenes that has been removed.

i ordered this on returned it order another one and had to return it too because they are all defective. they all keep jumping back all through the dvd. i wish i could get on that doesnt skip. it is a story that everyone should watch.

We are very pleased with the 4 DVD set Roots.
We had looked in the past and could not find the series in a set.
We will enjoy viewing them repeatedly.

I purchased the Roots dvd for family viewing and a history listen for my children as well. I have 2 sons (8 & 12). I wasn't sure what the childrens reaction would be to a movie like this. Well, I have been pleasantly surprised!!! They love it and look forward to the nights when we watch. They are learning and have learned a great deal about their history and struggles from watching this movie. As African American's I thought this would be a great way for them to see how our people suffered from slavery to the early 1900's. They learn about these periods in school and from text books but Roots is different.

It shows the story of Alex Haley's people but we can all relate when we watch. My children are asking questions and seeing things you would not see or get the real concept from a book.

The dvd has a great picture and sound adding to the overall quality.
This will undoubtedly be a family favorite to share over and over again and I highly recommend viewing and adding to your collection.

Every household of every race should have this collection is their home. Slavery is a part of American History, not just Black History. This ground-breaking mini series depicts the horrors of that time in America and the triumph of a people who lived through it.

I purchased this 30th Anniversary Edition for my husband for Christmas. He had the VHS version, but VHS is pretty much obsolete! I am SO GLAD I made this purchase... it's been even more of a gift to me. I was very young when Roots aired on TV. I remember watching it and knowing it was an important part of TV history and Black history, but I didn't fully understand the impact. I absolutely was absorbed by the Special Feature documentaries on Disc 4! I am so glad this element was added to this DVD set. The documentaries truly gave me insight on what an amazing impact Roots had on American culture. I have an even greater appreciation for the mini series.

Any teacher out there reading this review should really consider using this as a special study in a Civic or History class. This current generation has no clue about where they have been, and that is why they seem clueless about where they are going!

This purchase was a waste of money and time. The story was so butchered that it was hard to grasp the story. There was only about two cd's worth of veiwing. The rest somebody telling how they made the film.etc.

I had forgotten how emotional this mini-series was when I first viewed it - this once again has been a eye opener for me.

ROOTS is probably my favorite mini-series ever. I remember having watched it when I was just 12 and the mark that it left on me was immense. It even inspired me to eventually read Alex Haley's bestseller about his African family tree because I had been so moved by the entire saga of several generations of Kunta Kinte all the way down to his descendants during the Civil War. I know that many have a gripe with the quality of the DVD product, but honestly, it does not matter... this is a classic and you definitely do need to own it, if not for yourself then for your children.

If you collect DVD's or simply want some excellent entertainment then this DVD collection is it. Roots is a standout of television entertainment and although it may be over 30 years old it is still regarded as one of the best television programs of all time and the best mini-series ever. Winner of multiple Emmy Awards with many episodes still in the top 50 rated shows ever "Roots" has not aged. Extremely well written, directed, and acted "Roots" is a story everyone should see. Warners has done an extremely excellent job in restoring the series and you also get some great bonus features featuring the cast, most notably John Amos who plays the lead Kunta Kinte. Sit back and enjoy!

Read Alex Haley's books Roots and Queen. So I was apprehensive to buy the DVD and watch the movie (this movie was on TV before I was born). Usually the movie isn't as good as the book but I found this movie almost as good as the book. I would defiantly recommend it. Even just in a historical way. I also wanted to get Queen on DVD. Was very disappointed that Queen wasn't out on DVD yet. So I researched it and it looks like it's coming out on 01/15/08 (deepdiscount.com). So hopefully that date is correct because I'm looking forward to watching Queen (Halle Berry).

Product was shipped very carefully and very quickly. The price was very reasonable. I wouldn't hesitate to buy from this seller again!

This is such a great movie. It reminds us of where we have come from and how much our country has grown since slavery was legal. It makes us really blessed to have the way of life that we do today for all people.

The miniseries is the best program I have ever seen and now thankfully own thanks to my significant other. Even though the young Kunta Kinte is only in the first two episodes, LeVar Burton is what made the show for me. Levar Burton is a revelation and it surprises me that he isn't doing more movies. He reminded me of those silent film stars who show with their eyes. The rest of the actors performed their characters just as well, and it gave me an impression of them playing their characters with the whole of their hearts. In this story Kunta is a good, brave young man who loves his village, his family and Allah. He is only 17 and has just completed manhood training and dreams of having a family of his own; the young warrior is out gathering food for his family when he hears a twig snap and turns to see a white man rushing him. Haley gets inside Kunta's mind and you feel his horror. Kunta fights bravely, he fights like a wild animal, but is overpowered and taken captive and then brutally abducted and put on a slave ship. Haley's book was so much more graphic; it showed scenes the TV show couldn't. To really grasp Kunta's nightmare, you need to read the book. The story eventually follows 200 yrs. of the descendants of this family who's strong will and striving finally brings them to Justice and Freedom.

I think that different directors were assigned to different movies in the series... which could be the reason why movie began to grow weak after Kunta Kinte leaves the storyline. I thought the beginning was rather powerful... displaying the savagery of the white man's actions... entering the peaceful villages in Africa and pulling everybody out in shackles onto their ships' dark and musty cargo holds, and slowly, try to bring the main character into submission once he arrives in America. The rest is...Watchable... but has much less to offer than the first 2. This film is history, it has held up well over almost 30 years since it was originally televised. Racism is still rampant, and not just in the South. By being informed it helps each of us to have compassion and to inventory our beliefs and question our teachings.

This particular DVD version, however, is a little disappointing. I guess I was expecting a little more by way of restored/improved video and audio quality, but this version definitely shows its age. On the other hand, I enjoyed watching this 4 disc anniversary edition. Only 3 discs were related to story. This was not the entire series though. It seemed some scenes were cut out making this typical of an anniversary set. Apart from feeling like I am missing parts of the movie the picture and sound was good. There are one or two new extra features on this DVD that are very interesting, but I would not recommend purchasing this version if you already own the older DVD version unless your copy has been worn out.

The Night Riders from the famous Ku Klux Klan appear in this otherwise forgettable sixth and last entry in the Roots series. Alex Haley, writer of the book and generational descendant of Kunta Kinta appears at the end of the movie. Christian houswives need to wake up- they've earned the right to do whatever they want, at least at Pilgrim.

Evolving from out and out racism with the slave trade, this pictures Amish people trying to make amends with the now civilized slaves. By this time the North U.S. states had freed the slaves but they didn't have many rights. The N wod is still used, but not in as hateful a fashion of the first 4 Roots films. The Europeans tried too hard to modern and were out of touch with the times, it's ironic. The times WERE and still ARE- RACISM!!! No film series ever so adequetely depicted the times in America as Roots, a trasure of American TV and historic film making.

This movie sees Kunta Kinta, aka Toby as an old man, with the blacks now being civilized living as slaves. As the opening montage points out, America is not a third wirld country but pretty close. The only better is the first entry in the 6 tape set of the Roots movies, which aired on American TV in the 1970s and broke ratings records for TV that I believe still stand today. The movies in the series get progressively more racist as the Afro Americans were kept alive and forced into civil slavery. The N word is used about 20 times during the movie. But they had a plan for the whites; in the 1980s to late into this deacade, white America sold out and started marketing most things at African Africans. "We owe it to them- I'm white, let's feel bad for me."

I purchased this dvd because I wanted my children to see and know something about our wonderful country and its development.

Roots acclaimed as one of the all time best miniseries boast some classic performances
Ed 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.

This is a FANTASTIC movie! The DVD's are wonderful! Thank you for selling it!

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.......

I recently rented this from Blockbuster and was TOTALLY BLOWN AWAY!!! Not only is it VERY true to the book (which I read several years ago), the acting is SUPERB from both sides (white and black). I esp. loved John Amos, Georg Stanford Brown and Lloyd Bridges; they were really "in the moment" when doing this. Queen is good too, but the acting caliber here probably WON'T be beat for a LONG TIME!!!

I watched the roots series when it came on T.V. sometime ago. It was a pleasure watching it again. This time I saw things that I didn't see before. I will give this DVD to my grandchildren so they can see how really important family is.

I originally ordered the Roots dvd and the Roots chapter book for my African American history class since it was required study material at my college, and i was going to sell them to the next student for next quater BUT i have changed my mind. The Roots saga is a very heart touching story. It is very well made and the actors are just fabulous. I would definitely recommend this for everyone who wants to learn more about the history.

good movie,but the DVD has a small hesitation about every 30 minutes throughout the movie. Just a bit distracting.

I found watching Roots just as enjoyable as it was thirty years ago. It was even better the second time around. It earns even more than 5 stars.

An honest and passionate portrait of American History. Great Movie from beginning to end.

Loved:
Levar Burton and John Amos' portrayal of Kunta Kinte
Ben Vereen as Chicken George
Leslie Uggams as Kizzie