Peanuts - This Is America, Charlie Brown Reviews

• "Some of your customs I don't quite understand!"

  
  By A2SDM2D1X3HE7Z on 2006-03-31
  This is a great way to teach your children about American history. This Is America, Charlie Brown was an 8 part miniseries in 1988-89. In it, Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Peppermint Patty, Sally, Lucy, Linus, Marcie and others travelled back in time to witness events like the dreary Mayflower voyage, the signing of the Constitution, Ben Franklin discovering electricity, the Depression of the 1930's, the building of the Transcontinental Railroad and the Wright brothers' 1st flight. In addition, the Peanuts gang took a trip in outer space, travelled to the Smithsonian Institution, paid tribute to many American musicians like Scott Joplin and Stephen Foster and got to meet George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Henry Ford, Squanto, Alexander Graham Bell and others. Some "purists" may object to the showing of adults in an animated special but the caricatures of some of the famous historical figures look like something Charles Schulz would've drawn. This features music from Dave Brubeck, George Winston, the Winans, Lou Rawls, Ed Bogas, Wynton Marsalis, David Grusin and David Benoit (and of course, lots of standards from the late Vince Guaraldi). Enjoy the history lesson and try to be patient until July, when this video collection is released!
  
  

• Miss Othmar would be proud.

  
  By A3QAQUUPFIARWB on 2006-09-13
  Let's face it, Peanuts has been slow getting onto DVD. Fortunately the holiday specials are out (and on the DVDs include extra shows). I'm still waiting for The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show from 1983 to hit DVD. Some viewers didn't like it, but I did because even when it missed (and it often hit) it had the same pacing as the comic (as did Garfield and Friends which began in 1988) which is so distinctive of the best Peanuts specials.
  
  These eight specials ran on Nick under the umbrella title "You're on Nickelodeon, Charlie Brown" and made it out on VHS. This double DVD set saves more than $60 off the cost of the VHS videos. Pardon the 'e' word, but it's very educational. The shows are very different one from another. I very much liked the NASA space station show, which is sort of like a Peanuts take on the History Channel. But this set costs less than two of the VHS tapes, so it's like you get six shows free.
  
  Of the 75 half hour Peanuts specials, some of the best had an educational bent, such as "What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?" about D-Day, which won a Peabody Award. The four best known specials are the feature length ones: "A Boy Named Charlie Brown", "Snoopy Come Home", "Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown" and "Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown". Then there was the live action Broadway musical, "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," which I saw recently in its current revival. Charles Schultz didn't originally like the name "Peanuts" which was foisted on him by the syndicate. But like that addictive snack food, at least some of us can't get enough of his comic creations. Here's hoping more of them make it to DVD soon.
  
  

• Peanuts Of The Past

  
  By A3W4D8XOGLWUN5 on 2006-06-26
  There are often times where the comics have done really well at projecting a great deal of joy and entertainment to so many young hearts. That has been the feeling with the Peanuts cast for so many eras. While the comic strips the late Charles Schultz have drawn for all throughout his lifetime, and until his retirement in 2000, continue to entertain al ages, the televisions specials have also gained a lot into the light as well such as A Charlie Brown Christmas, and Snoopy's Reunion. When it came to the moments of history, Schultz put them as if they were at those gracious eras too. Now, that series is on DVD for the first time.
  
  This Is America Charlie Brown, the 1988 eight episode series take so many great moments as told by Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus and the rest of the Peanuts gang. The collection includes special moments from the original flights at Kitty Hawk from the Wright Brothers, to the moments of NASA and the history of space, and the moment the pilgrims have stepped off The Mayflower. The collection of episodes from the CBS mini-series has been restored very well, and the animation looks and sounds better than ever. It still continues to enetertain for all ages, and portraits a lot of history that still hasn't been described enough in classrooms today.
  
  All in all, This Is America Charlie Brown is a great DVD package for anybody who loves the Peanuts series from television, or for anyone who hasn't yet read even the comic strips. I loved watching this when I was seven years old, and I still enjoy the shows today.
  
  Episodes: B
  
  Price: A-
  
  Remastering: B+
  
  Educational Value: B+
  
  Packaging: B+
  
  Overall: B 1/2+
  
  

• A Look at American History, the Charlie Brown Way!

  
  By A1LTG5LBVRF04P on 2006-06-21
  Charlie Brown and Snoopy and the rest take viewers on an eight episode tour of highlights in America's history (well, seven, and one look to the future, at Nasa's then current plans of a manned space station, which here becomes a fun adventure for the Peanuts kids.) The best of these episodes put Charlie Brown and the rest into entertaining retellings of events in history, such as The Birth of the Constitution and The Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk, or have the kids talking to historical figures like Alexander Graham Bell and Abraham Lincoln. Some of the episodes try to cover perhaps a bit too much material through narration by Charlie Brown and the others, which takes a bit away from episodes like The Mayflower Voyagers and The Building of the Transcontinental Railroad. The mini-series ends with a look at The Music and Heroes of America, in a co-production by Schroeder and Lucy (which was certainly NOT Schroeder's idea!) This was certainly a departure for Lee Mendelson and Bill Melendez's long line of TV specials based on Schulz's famous comic strip, but for the most part they turned out well. In a few of these episodes, the drawing is a little sloppy, but not totally unwatchable. There are a lot of good character moments in these shows as well as all those facts...Snoopy and woodstock trying on powdered wigs in the Constitution episode, Charlie Brown loaning Ben Franklin a kite, Lucy pulling her old football gag on Charlie Brown in the Nasa Space Station and a lot more...One of my favorite parts is seeing just who drove the golden spike that connected the railroads (according to Schulz, anyway) I won't spoil it here, watch it yourself!
  
  

• Not as fun as you'd think

  
  By on 2006-06-25
  I got this for my fifth grade class. It's better than the social studies textbook, but not fun. I'll probably have to make worksheets to go with it. Basically a kid reads a history report as a voice-over while the Peanuts kids occasionally do something.
  
  
• Charlie Brown is Finally out on DVD
  By A2MCIG5J609HEM on 2006-06-20
  So happy to see more Charie Brown shows coming out on DVD. Charles Schultz really was a class act and knew how to entertain as well as teach with "This Is America Charlie Brown."
  
  Now for Race for your life, Charlie Brown would be released.
  Release, Release, Release...
  
  
• Finally out on DVD!
  By A28N3E8SHCXUX4 on 2006-07-07
  I have been a Peanuts fan for quite a few years now. I remember watching these on TV back when I was about 5 years old. I am happy this series is finally out on DVD and at such a great price. Bring back some good memories and happy times of my childhood.
  
  
• Fun and Educational
  By A26W63NYCNSTNJ on 2006-10-28
  I purchased this DVD for my 6 year old grandson. He thoroughly enjoyed it. He wants to watch it over and over and I think that he has learned a great deal from the different segments. His favorite is the Space Station selection, but he likes all of the segments. I enjoy watching this DVD with him. I am delighted that he can respond to the quieter and more thoughtful pace of the Charlie Brown DVDs.
  
  
• Great Review in my Classroom
  By A5HYC2XLKZAVK on 2007-12-27
  I use this video before the holidays when the students are the least bit interested in me and only thinking about the holidays and their time off. This grabs their attention and is factually correct. Great aid in the classroom.
  
  
• This is American Charlie Brown.
  By A2LGI7BKU66R55 on 2007-01-09
  Our daughter is a big Charlie Brown fan and absolutely loves these movies. There are 2 discs both with very educational stories. I've even learned a few things!
  
  
• Charlie Brown
  By A25GMO2PE8Z60 on 2007-01-11
  I don't know really what to say bu my 2 year old likes this DVD. I like the play all option or you can choose which one to play.
  
  
• Safe for All Ages
  By A2D07K14W8B5G on 2007-03-19
  I first saw this DVD at Camp Snoopy at Knotts Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. I decided to check prices online. Amazon had a much lower price with free shipping. I ordered it without hesitation. I like watching Peanuts with my 2 yr old son. He likes Charlie Brown and Snoopy. He enjoys the silliness of the characters. I like it not only for it's dialogue, but this series has tid bits of American history that I found interesting as well. It may be a bit advanced for my young one to understand. Nonetheless, we both get our thrills plus our father and son time watching this DVD together. Who ever said you can't learn anything from cartoons? I definitely recommend Peanuts to all parents to show to their kids. It's timeless and safe for the whole family.
  
  
• Worth my every penny
  By A18QNHHT0S2IO7 on 2008-04-26
  I borrowed the DVD from the library mainly because I thought it would be a educational but didn't expect my 8 and 4 year old to actually sit down through the duration of the movie, to my surprise they both did! We borrowed the video a couple more times after that and they are still not tired of viewing it, so I decided to purchase one. The characters are cute and they thought were funny. To this day, it is still one of their most favorite DVD.
  
  
• What a fun educational way to teach US history!
  By A14OL7EARV0QLF on 2008-09-27
  My son selected this dvd at the library and we loved it! Short segments for each chapter with unusual facts presented by the lovable, familiar peanuts gang. I loved the segment on the Mayflower. I am thinking of buying a copy for our school library.
  
  
• a must have for any peanuts gang lover!
  By A16MACV3LLV9GH on 2007-05-12
  my son watched one of the peanuts gang DVD's and was hooked. it is great to share something that i loved during my childhood with him. what i love is that i know it is appropriate for all ages and will be loved by all!
  
  

• Peanuts - A Boy Named Charlie Brown
• Snoopy, Come Home
• It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown (remastered deluxe edition)
• Peanuts - Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown
• It's the Pied Piper, Charlie Brown