Roots (1977)

I was 9 when this mini series was originally on TV. Ever since, it has been near the top of my all-time favorite movie or television events. I recently saw it again for the first time in years and it I still feel the same way. This time I watched it with my 7 year old and she loved it too. Certainly, it is limited by being a television series from the 70's compared to the quality of good modern theatrical movies in terms of editing and production. There have been other great movies more recently that tell similar stories of historical events. But there is really not a comparable event. Because it is very long, it takes all day (or several days) to watch, you really have to plan around it. I think this adds to the overall experience.
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Great Movie, Directors do a good job pulling emotion out of audience, As a child it was a yearly event to watch this as a series on Television. I can remember being enraged, upset, sad, but also happy and hopeful. Great for any group of people , especially African-Americans, who feel oppressed or unable to control their destiny. I just wish I could find it to buy or rent from any place. It is almost as if some one or some group does not want it available to the world anymore.
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I'm sad to see only 4 reviews on this mini series. I rented this film from the library to watch over summer when I was a child. I'd recommend it to anyone, even though it's a few hours long. We should never forget what happened to the people taken out of Africa, the holocaust , 9/11, Darfur, Oklahoma . Suffering is horrible no matter the nationality.
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I remember this TV series when it first came out in the 70's. I loved it then and I still loved it when I rented this movie. It is a beautiful story of what the African Americans went through in that time and how they became free. I just watched the third DVD and at the end I actually cried. If you like this type of movie, I recommend you watch this one.
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All I have to say is bravo to Alex Haley! A very touching and poignant series about slavery in the 1700's. The only downfall is that it is sent to you 1 DVD at a time and there are 4 of them. The acting is wonderful and the best is Fiddler (Louis Gossett Jr.) and Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton)! So I will have "more grits....dummy" LOL
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I was 16 the year Roots originally aired on TV. Growing up in the coal region of North Eastern PA I was not exposed to the African American community until I moved to the capital 3 years later. I rented this movie again back in March and me and my then 13 year old daughter watched it. She was so moved by the entire saga that she recommended to her history and english teachers that this would be a good project for them to do during black history month (or any time really). She even has the title for the project. "Slavery in America." I was just as moved seeing it again some 30 years later as I was the first time I saw it. An amazing movie and the predecessor to other movies on the topic of slavery, such as North and South another favorite in my house.
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An absolute must see movie- not only a moving story of Alex Haley's family but Very Educational, very intense - well acted- well casted- the list of famous, or 1st starts of actors is incredible. - It tells the story of 1 family the family of "Kunte Kinte" a young man who was kidnapped in Africa by the slavers and taken to america where he was sold as a slave- He knew freedom as an african and told his story so that he and his children and grandchildren would not forget where they came from and where he want to return to- A story of strength and family and a big part of american early history- well told! Alex Haley found his purpose! "a writer" for sure- Every american child and adult -should see this movie and the sequel "Roots, the next generation".
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IMy family was very interested in viewing the ROOTS series. 1. When the first disc arrived it was the right sleeve with a different movie in it. 2. When I did receive the first disc it did not play the entire segment so that disc two picked up farther along in the story than it shoudl have. 3. Disc three sleeve came next with disc four in it. 4. We gave up! When I complained about it theresponse I got from Blockbuster was to apologize and offer me two weeks extension on my contract. Somehow this automatically generated response did not leave me feeling like anyone "got it" at BB. The whole thing leaves me with a sense of shame and disappointment for BB's indifference and inattention to something that could be a sign of deliberate racist sabotage within their staff. Over reacting? Paranoia? Maybe so but I would have felt better if BB had responded more as if this could be an important issue to them! Sorry BB but I can't seem to get your attention!
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