The Men Who Built America (2012)

Disappointment for a huge fan!

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

I enjoyed watching "The Men Who Built America" and do strongly recommend it. The show is engaging and interesting--no doubt about that. However, I did have a few minor objections which seemed to come up more and more when the shows progressed. First, the show would normally only be seen by people who love history and yet, time and again, the show tried to create cliffhanger moments even though nearly every viewer KNOWS that Rockefeller went on to become rich and Carnegie took a few gambles but became mega-rich! No surprises yet the show sure made it seem like it was. Second, sometimes the show was just a bit over-the-top when it came to the drama and music. Tone it down just a bit please. And third, a few times the history just wasn't quite accurate--especially in episode 4.So what we have is a rare show because it talks about the men who made America the economic power of the world--Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, Carnegie, Morgan and Ford. This is important history and generally is quite watchable but just could have scored a 10 had they roughed out a few aspects of the show.

I was expecting the usual type series you get for series' like this which is the usual 'they are good, but it's kind of boring and hammy'. Not at all the case on this one. First of all, very interesting. I learned so much that I had no clue about before. The acting is actually pretty good, but what really drives this series home is the terrific narration, the fantastic editing, and the magnificent sound and music that ties along with it.This series is proof that if you have some patience, talent and money to put into the production, the possibilities are then limitless. And this production understands the great importance and power of a well thought out sound and music to play in the background. At times you feel like you're watching different mafia families go at it with each other. That you're watching the high powered cartels dish it out and it absorbs you in to where you don't want to stop watching. This is a brilliant series to watch and I was very pleasantly surprised by it.

In the John Rockefeller episode. Described as Rockefeller 'fueling Vanderbilt's trains' . This should have been 'filling'. Your sub editors need to stay awake. Otherwise this show is riveting. Demostrating it is innovative business men who make a country great, not politicians. Perhaps the phrase ' what is good for General Motors is good for America' was right after all.In the UK we have destroyed our industry. Any that we have is owned by overseas companies. They may provide jobs which provides some tax revenues, but profits go overseas. Under European Union rules, the government has to purchase from the lowest bidder. Recently, orders for new trains went to Siemens in Germany who have been able to automate their plant as a result, The UK producer is left in the dark ages.

Came across the show while flicking through the channels one evening. Caught it half way thorough the second episode and was instantly interested. Decided quickly to find the On-demand channel for the History Channel so that I could start from the beginning. Watched the first and second episode in one swoop. Couldn't wait for next episode. I thought the show was great. I was not born in USA, so to me the show was immensely educational. Also, liked the way the show was constructed. Halfway between a documentary and a film.Many interesting and surprising facts about these "robber barons" - who they were, where they came from, how they made it and what made them tick. The most interesting thing was how these men were linked to each other through coincidental business deals. On another level the show explained the immense strength that America gained internationally through the tenacity and ambition of these men - without taking away from the individual aspect of the men themselves.