Holy crap. I just watched DVD 1 of 5, and it’s really good. My only criticism is that there are a few too many portentous, lingering closeups of guys with that “war is hell” look on their faces-- these should have been whittled down to improve running time. We get it already; one too many of those and the whole thing starts to feel preachy and contrived.
Amazing Dolby Digital 5.1 sound on this disc, as well. I know I’m starting to sound like an audiophile whore here, but… for God’s sake, do whatever it takes to get yourself a decent 5.1 home theater system with a proper subwoofer. And rear speakers large enough to produce some bass (think 5" or so). Damn the neighbors, full speed ahead!
But seriously. It doesn’t have to be loud to be impressive; simply reproducing the bass rumble of a tank, or the clear, localized gunshots going off all around you – that’s more than enough at reasonable volumes to make it well worth your while.
I didn’t think it was contrived - especially compared to SPR. As someone who has had to put up with one too many military exercises believe me you do adopt a certain look after four weeks of no sleep and constant battle exercises.
(Please note that although I have served in the military I have been lucky enough never to have participated in a real war - maybe someone here with some real battle experience can comment).
I wonder how it would have been if they had used Gunnery Sgt. Hartman (R. Lee Ermey) in airborne boot camp instead of David “the whiny Friend” Schwimmer?
You see Ermey’s series on The History Channel? Guy has become a total caricature of himself.
The reason they used Scwhimmer is because the real-life character was exactly like that. Totally inept in leading men, but thanks to the Peter Principle, he was an airborne company commander. There were serious discussions amongst the enlisted men of actually fragging him, because they knew he was a serious danger to their survival once combat started.
That’s why all the NCO’s threatened to resign like they did.
The guy Schwimmer is based on looks very much like him, and was even a worse person than BoB lets on.
Band of Brothers is freakin’ awesome, and is one of the best programs to appear on television, cable or otherwise, period. Found 2, 5 (Tom Hanks dir.), 7 and 8 to be the best episodes, and 4 and 6 (surprisingly) the weakest, but by far it is well worth watching. If this if your first time wumpus, I think you’re in for a treat.
Oh yeah, the picture looks better from the DVD than it did on digital cable, though I dunno how the HD broadcast fared. Worth every penny of $80.
sorta OT but I was playing my recent purchase of Crash Bandicoot on PS2 (friggin load times are insane!) and guess who does voice on it? Gunnery Sergeant Ermey!
BTW, I thought Band of Brothers rocked… except a few episodes were letdowns… like the marketgarden episode felt like MacGuyver. But most of the battle scenes are great and the way they reveal more of the characters as the series goes on is good… like how they tell stories of the cruel lieutenant and then you find out something else.
I will concur that Band of Brothers was excellent. My only problem is that red-headed limey bastard who was the main character. We needed a real American in that role dag nammit. :wink:
Seriously, he was great, that guy from Office Space was great, Donnie Wahlberg (where is that New Kids on the Block reunion tour) was great, the guy who played the medic was great, the ‘Catlic’ guy was great. I apologize for not remembering any of the names, but it has been a while and I am too lazy to look them up. Hanks and Spielberg gathered quite a cast of talented actors who, while not well known, all fit the bill. Jeez what a great series.
Until my wife and I watched it, I had no idea the U.S. and it’s allies were in the dark about the concentration camps until the war was nearly over. I hope some sort of deal is being made with High Schools around the country to use this as a teaching tool in history classes for it’s excellent and accurate depiction of the war.
Until my wife and I watched it, I had no idea the U.S. and it’s allies were in the dark about the concentration camps until the war was nearly over.
it’s excellent and accurate depiction of the war.
Hmmmm??? Humpf.
There was news in US papers of the concentration camps before the US even entered the war. Once the war started for America, there were even protests by US Jews to demand the US bomb the railways etc, anything to try and stop the carnage.
But it was not headline news until the US was in the war, and it is very likely that no one had a very clear picture of what was really happening and to what extent. At least not in a personally connected way as shown on the show.
No one knew exactly what was going on, and there was a lot of confusion. It was widely known that Jews were being de-populated throughout Europe and moved… and sometimes there were clear indicators where. Most just assumed they were concentration camps and didn’t have any real inkling they were death camps.
Some did suspect, but it was never really given much basis to run with. This sub-plot in War & Remembrance was one of the better ones I thought.
BTW, Donnie Wahlberg (Lipton) and Neal Macdonough (Compton) are both in a show this season called Boomtown on NBC (a Dreamworks show) which is quite good. Both Wahlberg and Lewis (Winters) are in movie Dreamweaver (Feb 2003) as well. Kind of cool to see BoB actors working in the same program.
I just watch the re-runs of the Sopranos, since it’s on every night of week… unless it’s must-have-water-cooler talk on Monday.
Alternatively I could download Boomtown, but it doesn’t seem to be a priority for most of the places I visit (yet they digitize Evermore or Everclear or whatever… bah) so it’s pretty hard to find.
Actually, I saw a historian on Booknotes or Charlie Rose (yes, I’m nerdier than the average gamer - yet somehow the ladies still love me) discussing America’s awareness of the Holocaust. In particular Roosevelt, I think. One of his advisors was a secular Jew that tended to avoid the more radical and outspoken Jewish community until they presented him with evidence of the deathcamps. This was before we got involved in the war. Roosevelt refused to pubicize the issue or get committed because he was afraid that endorsing a ‘radical’ Jewish agenda would hurt the cause of getting America to go to war. There was, evidently, as much or more anti-Semitism in the U.S. in that period as any hostility towards Germany or Japan.
Our government, as well as the British government, had documented proof of what was happening but simply had other priorities. The public and the regular military probably didn’t find out until much later.
