Marathon Tour Chicago To L.A.

I had read the (mostly positive) reviews for this compilation and purchased this set based on those opinions. After watching the first 30 minutes or so, I found myself falling asleep at my desk. I turned and looked behind me and saw my wife had already fallen asleep on the couch. This from two people who consider ourselves avid Route 66 enthusiasts and who eagerly consume anything "Mother Road". In a nutshell, this production is extremely boring.

I own, and have watched every other available Route 66 DVD and must say I was greatly disappointed with this set. The production is completely void of feeling, unlike other compilations. The interviews are much too long and the dialogue quickly loses audience attention. The quality of the audio during interviews is extremely poor in comparison to post-production studio editing. What's worse is, we really didn't find an "intimate feel" to this program, unlike all other Route 66 related films.

Running Route 66 in a 45-foot deluxe conversion bus may be great for the production crew, but it greatly loses the true grit and feel for what Route 66 is all about -- the people, places and "things" that makes The Mother Road what it is today. And this film greatly lacks, in immense detail, the road itself. One would think a film nearing 6 hours in length on 5 DVD's would depict much of the actual route and road, but it does not, instead, leaping from one area to another sometimes traversing hundreds of miles between "interviews". Far too many "iconic attractions" and "route characters" either chose not to participate in this film, or simply weren't considered! And really, other than Angel and Juan Delgadillo, the interviews were far too lengthy and ran off into personal details unrelated to Route 66 history. Even Michael Wallis, for all his flair and "66 flamboyancy" seemed subdued and less-enthusiastic than in other interviews.

Aside from the lengths of the interviews, the lack of route detail and many missed iconic figures, there is hardly an audio score that keeps you "in the mood". Oh yes, they have their attention-getting prelude to each section, but that's where it ends. There's no fluid flow to this set. Nothing that keeps your attention and nothing that gives you any feeling you are right there on the road with them. In essence, in my opinion, this is a boring documentary devoid of any feeling that could have fit on a single DVD. And probably should have!!

I implore anyone who has never seen a Route 66 film to avoid this set and instead purchase ANY of the other available Route 66 DVD's. Because if I had purchased this compilation before my first drive across Route 66 in 2007, chances are I would have changed my mind and canceled my trip. Thankfully, this DVD wasn't available when I began planning my route years ago.

I don't where to start on what is wrong with this. It is nothing but interviews -- many with a vested interest (restaurants, etc.) in gaining publicity. There are virtually no landscape shots or anything that tries to convey the excitement of traveling on this historic road. There is very little historical perspective (no old photos or movie footage incorporated). The tour itself is in an RV, which is a slap in the face of the history of this road. Read some of the highly rated books on Route 66 or drive it, but when it comes to this DVD set, take the bypass and avoid it altogether.

Not just a slice of goodness, this DVD collection is the whole pie! Enjoy with the World's Greatest Fried Chicken, a Ted Drewes Custard, blueberry/banana pie and the best scenery Americana can provide. All the Route 66 staples appear in this collection. Nostalgia is alive and well and on Route 66 The Marathon Tour.