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 Fact is, most people just aren’t interested in ancient history. Oh, sometimes they feign interest, talking about Cleopatra for a spell (Elizabeth Taylor firmly in mind) or talking about life among the Romans (thinking all the while of Charlton Heston and Ben-Hur), but such things are passing fads, interest in the latest “thing” more than anything else. We all loved the notion of Roman gladiators after Ridley Scott’s (overrated) Gladiator, British royalty after Cate Blanchett’s stirring portrayal of Queen Elizabeth in the movie of the same name, and orcish history after The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, but how firmly is ancient history truly engrained in our consciousness?
In the case of Egypt’s Tutankhamun, better known to the masses as King Tut, firmly indeed..
From some 5,000 years in the past, Egypt’s King Tutankhamun has captivated even those uninterested in history, the mystery of this great (or was he?) leader all but defining Ancient Egyptian culture for some. For many, King Tut is Ancient Egypt, a nebulous idea more than a real person. A golden symbol of a culture older than 30 Americas.
The History Channel’s King Tutankhamun: The Mystery Unsealed seeks to unravel the most cloudy aspects of King Tut’s history even while playing into the very mystery that gives his life its allure. Tut’s fame is interesting because his name is legendary despite his time as a leader being, to the best of our knowledge, less than noteworthy, The fact is, many were the leaders more notable in Egypt’s history, whether by the legacy of their rule or the legacy of what they left behind. Despite this, it is Tutankhamun, a relatively minor boy-king, who thousands of years later captures the imagination of those otherwise disinterested in ancient history.
 Did you catch that part? Thousands of years later. That’s the magic behind King Tut, and the magic behind what the History Channel does. Whether this is a quality feature (it is) or whether this is information worth knowing (arguable, but I say it is) can be debated. What can not be debated is the remarkable strides the History Channel has taken in bringing history to the masses. I admit, as a reviewer I’m biased. I’m not a history major and far from a history expert, but I’m a history lover; this stuff fascinates me and keeps me engaged. The layman’s features the History Channel offers with most of its productions are inviting for someone like me. Just scholarly enough to inform, just casual enough for the layman, they manage to strike a good balance.
 The main feature (two other full features round out the set; see below) offers a well-produced overview of the entire King Tut story, both from an historical perspective and from the perspective of archaeological discoveries. Great narration, nice photography, still pictures. Very professional.
In a way, this is more of the same when it comes to History Channel DVD releases. Take a few of the very formula-driven episodes of shows they broadcast, package them together by theme, and toss it onto the shelves. Sounds kind of half-assed and cheap, but if you’re interested in the subject matter, it really isn’t a bad thing. All in all, this is very solid stuff done in a style now very familiar: Some talking heads, reenactments, computer simulations, and so on. It’s very History Channel, and while that means it ain’t art, it also means it’s very accessible for the casual viewer.
Presentation
Everything on this disc (previously released on the Mummies & Wonders Of Egypt set) looks as you’d expect. These are solid transfers of well-produced TV features. And that’s just what they look like. Because The History Channel relies on reenactments and computer work more than archival footage, the quality is pretty consistent throughout. Nothing special, but nothing to scoff at, either.
 Extras
The folks at A&E Home Video added a couple of very nice bonus features to this disc that really round out your value. “The Curse Of King Tut,” which is an episode from the Investigating History series, and “Howard Carter: Triumph & Treasure,” from A&E Biography. The former title focuses on Tut the historical figure – was the boy king murdered? What is the Curse of King Tut? – and gives an in-depth look at how forensics can tell us more about history, while the latter focuses on the triumphant 1922 discoveries of archeologist Howard Carter, who gave to the world the first ever pristine burial chamber of an Egyptian King when he found the remains of King Tut, and an overall look at the famous archeologist's life.
Oh yeah, the release also has dazzling Interactive Menus (for the layman, this means that if you click the various options presented, those options will work) and Scene Selection (which allows you to select a scene, and then watch the scene you selected).
Wow! Scene selections? What more could a DVD fan ask for?
The Bottom Line
More of the same from The History Channel - but releases like this are really all about the subject matter, and say what you will, The History Channel does a good job of packaging history for the masses. To me, that’s hardly a bad thing. If you have any interest in King Tut, archeology or ancient history, this is a fine purchase.
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