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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 9780767042819
Format: Box set, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
ISBN: 0767042816
Label: A&E Home Video
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
Number Of Items: 2
Publisher: A&E Home Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: January 02, 2002
Running Time: 200 minutes
Sales Rank: 24098
Studio: A&E Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: 1995
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Editorial Review:
Amazon.com:
Of all the wars waged in the name of God, none has ever matched the arrogance and conceit of the Christian Crusades. For nearly two centuries (1095-1291), this medieval 'holy war' variously raged, sometimes so spiritually misshapen by rapaciousness, murder, and political greed that to think it all had to do with Christian faith is absurd. And really, there is no one better to dramatize such a theater of holy war than Wales-born Terry Jones, host of The Discovery Channel's Ancient Inventions and an accomplished medievalist. Best known for his absurdist contributions to all things Monty Python--he was a founding member of Monty Python's Flying Circus and cowriter of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Life of Brian, and Monty Python's The Meaning of Life, among others--Jones wields an uncanny ability to explain the methodologies and madness of the Crusades while not failing us his sense of humor.
Jones wrote the scripts for each 50-minute presentation in the four volumes of The Crusades, which originally aired on The History Channel. His narration is not without an occasional sardonic air, almost of the roll-your-eyes type, which not only lends a skeptical perspective to a frequently misunderstood era in Western Europe, but also quite frequently editorializes the events that occurred between Pope Urban II's call for liberation of Jerusalem from the 'infidels' of Islam and the embarrassing moment when officers of the fourth Crusade are conned out of its divine calling by the Venetians. While Jones's reconnaissance is sometimes oversimplified by casually not mentioning several Crusade sorties after the fourth (there were several, but by the 13th century they had become redolent of ennui and misguided commercial adventure), the technical ingenuity of the production and Jones's use of anecdote backed by academicians and preserved eyewitness accounts cinches a viewer's interest. Medieval 'siege machines' are re-created to test their mettle against legends of famous battles, Jones dons real 11th- and 12th-century armor to demonstrate the outlandish appearance of Crusaders in the lands of Mohammed, mosaics come to life with body-painted characters of medieval fable, and computer graphics are deployed to re-create the interior of the great cathedral at Cluny.
All these elements are contrasted with intermezzos of contemporary European and Middle Eastern society and a moving original soundtrack to make The Crusades a thoroughly engaging documentary of the bloodletting of medieval Christian conquests and the ultimate result of Islamic fanaticism born from its crimson tide. In Jones's own words at the end of Volume IV: 'It took 200 years for the Crusaders to create [this] Muslim fanaticism. It was the exact imitation of Christian intolerance.' To understand the effects of the Crusades is to understand much of today's religious geography, and Mr. Jones and company can fairly lay claim to having helped set the record straight. --Jamie Friddle
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
Nice introduction to this history block. Good use of the the opposing (Islamic) sides views. Nice use of technology and side cultural notes. Disagree with some of his comments; I am not apologist for the pure mercenary members of the Crusades or methods but I see the political side of his view of history. His views are well known about the Global War on Terror from his editorials in the Guardian. He like many Muslims are still hung on the Crusades and use it as an excuse for their presnt actions.
Rating:  -
Terry Jones's The Crusades is everything that a good documentary should not be. In brief, it is filled with misrepresentations and factual errors, and it perpetuates myths that were discredited long ago--in some cases several generations ago. The video program is based largely on a superficial and somewhat erroneous reading of Steven Runciman's three-volume history of the crusades, which was revolutionary when it appeared over a half century ago but which has been superceded and even discredited, in part, ... Read More
Rating:  -
Since seeing this back in the 90's there has not really been a better way to show biggest holy mess in time itself.
Terry Jones is a class act at taking us though those dark years. Along with France & England and others we see our great knights & local folk take up arms and ride off or walk to destroy all. Really in the end it was mass murder in a scale unseen. Eating babies and drinking horse blood are just some of the tales of wow.
The fine details I leave to Mr Jones to ... Read More
Rating: -
Bringing in Terry Jones to take a look at the Crusades was a bit of good casting. Jones' quirky humour, pleasant presentation skills and somewhat humorous outlook on things make this an informative and entertaining DVD.
Some have accused the series of being "anti-Church" or biased against the Europeans to an unnecessary degree. Let's face it, the church and Europe probably deserves some bagging over its actions concerning the Crusades. Also, considering that the series uses some very well-respected ... Read More
Rating: -
Terry Jones is proably best known for his participation in the Monty Python troupe. The present Broadway musical about King Arthur demonstrates the ability of this British comedy to attract audiences. Not so well known is the serious side of this actor. Mr. Jones is an amateur historian about the Middle Ages and especially the Crusades. Although there were a number of "crusades" such as against the Slavs in the Balkans or the Cathars in southern France, most Westners think of the struggle between Christians and ... Read More
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