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Remarkable historic war footage unfortunately combined with an overbearing and inappropriate Richard Rogers score and strident narration makes this series dated. Japanese soldiers leave for war to the sound of Vienna waltzes. Ships are bombed and torpedoed to sounds of swirling crescendos of symphonic hysteria. The narrator, when he can be deciphered beneath the score, virtually shouts throughout. Someone like Ken Burns should save the footage and update the series. The BBC "World at War" series and WWII documentaries on the History Channel (now on You Tube) are much more worthwhile viewing.