HBO Mini Series: THE PACIFIC (Spoiler Alert!!!)

[Roy Hersh]

I have been watching this since the beginning last month and am finding this to be an extraordinary montage of the WWII Pacific theater.

Anybody else watching this?

[Espen S.]

I'm watching, can's miss this one. I've seen Band of Brothers several times, it's amazing. So far, The Pacific seems very good. Only seen the first 3 so far.

[Espen S.]

And now the fourth.

I think too many are comparing this to Band of Brothers, and that's a mistake IMO. Yes, the same guys are producing the series, but it's not BoB 2. This is very different. I see lots of people are disappointed so far.. I'm not. There are 6 episodes left, lots of time for action.

[Roy Hersh]

I never have seen Band of Brothers and know nothing of it, to be honest. So I can not make any comparisons or contrast them. I have not read anything about The Pacific, by choice, and won't do so ... until the entire series of 10 are viewed. I don't like spoilers and do my best when discussing movies, never to spoil them for others. (Caveat: That said, for those that have yet to see this series or parts 3 and 4 ... don't read further, if you do plan to watch this).

Anyway, it is nice to have someone else to chat about this and glad you got to see #4 too. Not enough action? I am sure that some people may actually enjoy the intensity of watching people get blown away in scene after scene. I am the least squeamish person imaginable when it comes to movies and can't think of a single war movie that I thought was too gory. Yet, I find there is plenty of action in The Pacific (TP). But beyond the action, I like some of the gritty emotions shown. When Robert Selkey (sp?) was in the psych ward and found his friend in there and the brilliant acting depicting someone who had literally gone mad with fear, that to me is as good as any battle scene. Raw tension and touching at the same time.

In Part 3, when the same actor comes back to his Aussie lover's home and she blows him off ... who expected that outcome? In part 4, the look on the face of the soldier who choked the enemy soldier to death with his hands gripped around the neck, only to see the dismay on his friend's faces and they quietly turn and walk away without a word ... brilliant. In most war movies, they'd have patted him on the back or given out a loud yell in favor of that action. Not in PT. This is a well thought out portrayal, that rings true ... and does not FEEL like it is a made up depiction.

That's my take so far.

[Espen S.]

I totally agree with you, Roy. I think it's great so far. It shows what war can do to people.

Band of Brothers is also a 10 part miniseries by Hanks and Spielberg. It's probably the best show on tv ever, in my opinion. I highly recommend it. It's about the American soldiers in Europe.

Speaking of spoilers, what about adding SPOILER ALERT to the title? Just in case, people might start throwing bottles at us.

[Eric Ifune]

The European and Pacific were two completely different theaters of war. By all historic accounts the Pacific theater was more brutal with inherent racism on both sides. Each sought to portray the opponent as subhuman which lead to acts of barbarism not seen in the western front of the European theater. Of course there was racism on the eastern front so more of the barbarism was seen there. I think the "Pacific" seeks to show the dehumanizing features of the Pacific theater, and how the individuals tried to cope. "Band of Brothers" was set in Europe and is more about the exploits of the unit; hence the title which is taken from the book and originally from Shakespeare's Henry V. The book, by the way, is terrific as well; written by Stephen Ambrose and based on the exploits of the real Easy company of the 506 regiment. The "Pacific," I believe is taken from several sources.

[Andy Velebil]

I've not seen the Pacific yet, but Roy you've got to watch Band of Brothers. While war is obviously the main context, it really explores the human side of the soldiers, what they go through, and how a unit literally becomes a tight group of "brothers" along the way. Not to mention how "older" members of the group deal with death and the acceptance of newer replacements along the way. And that is just the tip of the ice burg on the many other complex sub-themes it tackles in such a seamless way. One of the best show's I've ever seen on TV.

[Roy Hersh]

I changed the title to mention spoilers, as requested.

When time permits, I will make sure to see if Band of Brothers can be viewed online or rented @ Netflix.

Did you guys watch the five year series of THE WIRE? That for me, remains the best all time multi-season series. I liked it more than The Sopranos and other personal favorites.

[Andy Velebil]

When time permits, I will make sure to see if Band of Brothers can be viewed online or rented @ Netflix.

I just checked and Netflix has it.

[Roy Hersh]

Thanks Andy!

[Espen S.]

Still watching, Roy?
I just saw part 5. Some real action going on here. The two previous episodes have been very quiet for a war series. Still very good, though.
Btw, it's kinda fun to see that kid from Jurassic Park as a soldier.
This is very exciting to watch.

Being European, I don't really know that much about the war in the Pacific, not like I know what happened in Europe. I've heard my grandmother tell stories about the invasion, when she was young. It kinda hits you when someone you know tell you about actual SS soldiers coming to their little town.

[Roy Hersh]

Honestly, I am FAR more familiar with the European theater during WWII and the Pacific, way too little. This is an eye opener for me. I did see a few of Clint Eastwood's recent movies along the same theme though, both of which were quite good, from opposite perspectives though.

I enjoyed part 5 too. Will watch it again 1x before next Sunday's new version. What night do you get it there and is it on Home Box Office (HBO)?

[Espen S.]

We don't get it here, but I just can't resist downloading torrents. I'll buy the blu-ray when it's out anyway, so I figure it won't make any difference. I buy what I like.
I usually watch on Mondays.

[Roy Hersh]

I watched #5 again last night. Probably my least favorite segment of the series so far. Lean in terms of the content. The beach landing scene on Peleliu was incredibly intense, but was not too different than Hanks' Saving Private Ryan. In fact, it was deja view. Beyond that, there was very little action, or great dialogue. How many times are we going to see Lackey say that the only thing he believes in, is ammunition?

[Roy Hersh]

#6 the intensity is racheted up a few notches and from the looks of #7, the intensity continues to build. I'll wait until after you've seen this to say anything more.

[Espen S.]

I've just seen it (and I didn't read your post until I did.)
Yes, this was really intense. Some pretty disturbing scenes in this one. So many died or were injured.

[Roy Hersh]

Crossing that airfield with little to no protection just seems wrong for any military (no less w/out water) given the number of casualties which were a certainty. It shows you how little value a country truly puts in their enlisted men. Yes, some may become heros, but they think nothing of putting men in harm's way, if the depictions here (backed by the words during the opening interview of the old men who supposedly lived to tell the story) are all real and not dramatized. How crazy was it to see the soldier who was losing it during the dark of night and had to have his head caved in (by his own men) before he'd stop screaming. How do you ever forget seeing an incident like that, even during war time?

[Espen S.]

It's just impossible to imagine how they felt during that time. I've been really scared, but I bet it's nothing compared to what those guys felt every day. And while being scared, you still have to stay sane and make desicions. That's pretty tough.
Did they actually kill that guy? That was a disturbing scene.

[Roy Hersh]

Yes, they even showed him being bagged up the next morning in the light of dawn.

Yeah, it was a crazy war and like Eric said, their was an intensity driven by hatred of race on both sides, which made it personal and fierce. The European theater was purely good vs. evil at its most basic core. This Pacific engagement is brutal and I have a feeling what we're about to see in part 7, will be wilder than this prolonged island battle in Peleliu.

[Roy Hersh]

Until I know Espen has seen the next episode, all I will say is: WOW!