The '70s

Compared to The 60's (1999), The 70's was a piece of television genius. Although there were some historical innacuracies, I was impressed overall at the way that the film makers were able to portray the heartache and disbelif felt within the USA and around the world during the decade that shaped the way the world looked at itself.

I am, however, concerned about the fact that the next mini-series to be produced, in order, will be The 80's :)

To describe this mini-series (The 70s)as a Pathetic attempt by NBC to boost ratings by target marketing this pathos-driven, banal drivel to the older Melrose Place/late baby-boomers crowd would be too kind. The acting is, well, ordinary at best. The chosen actors are laughably WAY too old to play college kids, they look exactly like they were pulled from the set of Ally Macbeal or Melrose place; their actual ages are a range of 25-32 which is not very convincing. The artful cinematography reminiscent of the dreamy-eyed Forest Gump is the best feature of the movie series. Finally, the sentimental baby-boomer oriented whining is annoying and the shameless Pathos runs amock here, A la "Saving Private Ryan", confounded by a trite and hackneyed series of 'themes' and life-lessons that only a 3yr old would miss, further burdened by a smattering of revisionist history (key your eye open and your history text nearby and watch for it)... Anyway, find something else to watch, ANY History channel show would be far, far more fullfilling.

For those who have no idea what the 70's were all about, this is a good try to a good insight. Not totally accurate because of the limitations of the story, the movie manages to give an overall view of the era but does not accomplishes its purpose.

If you're in the right age bracket to remember the '70s fondly, you'll enjoy the music that permeates this cinematic travesty. Apart from that, you'll probably find yourself watching this 4-hour hodgepodge of cliches with your mouth hanging open in horror. It's astonishingly bad.

Dont waste your time with this pathetic NBC attempt to boost lagging ratings, it is very much a Hackneyed rif-off of Forest Gump-type rememberances and pathos driven, late baby boomer sentimentality. Yuck! Even the actors are B A D, way too old to play college kids; not to mention the annoying and obvious 'Ally MacBeal'-'Melrose Place' type personalities and pretty bourgeoisie faces here. Vapid and Insulting. Click over to History channel instead.