To anyone who has read the earlier books about Vegas and gangsters, this documentary will be a disappointment. The main commentator is a thoroughly boring historian who gets most of the screen time allotted for commentators is extremely boring and pedantic. The few others who are given any time seem more knowledgeable and thus more interesting than the "star", who is a self impressed UNLV history professor.
There are a few good historical photos of famous criminals, but the telling of the history is left to the professor who downplays the importance of mob figures who had the most to do with making Las Vegas, while lauding the politicians, law enforcement figures and corporate pirates who dismantled the old Sin City.
The worst thing about this documentary is the tedious detail put into the half hour of schlock given to describing the "new" Las Vegas built by corporate crooks who are actually much less interesting than the relatively small time crooks who established the city. Three stars is generous, IMO.
There are a few good historical photos of famous criminals, but the telling of the history is left to the professor who downplays the importance of mob figures who had the most to do with making Las Vegas, while lauding the politicians, law enforcement figures and corporate pirates who dismantled the old Sin City.
The worst thing about this documentary is the tedious detail put into the half hour of schlock given to describing the "new" Las Vegas built by corporate crooks who are actually much less interesting than the relatively small time crooks who established the city. Three stars is generous, IMO.
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