Pacific 'Band of Brothers' ?

Thanks Karma. I had not seen specs on this landing craft before. Because of its more V-bow than the Higgins Boat, I didn't realize it had a front ramp as well. Looking at the Daihatsu from the side, one can almost miss the front ramp feature. Thanks.

Greg C.

 

I would love to watch such a series. I guess one of the things is funding, and you're right about getting back the funding you would have to sell to a much larger market than the UK

 

hey Greg, thanks for the book recommendations, I've read both Leckie and Sledge. Which book about Basilone do you think is the best? (I'm on a budget here )

Thanks,

Dave

 

Dave, Sgt. Basilone has yet to be penned by a high caliber military history biographer. Neither of the bios above are worthy of Basilone. But, if you had to pick one, I would lean toward the James Brady bio. Authors Proser & Cutter chose to write in the first person, as if Basilone, himself were telling his own story. Although just a literary tool, many people have taken offense to this, since the man was killed in action. Proser & Cutter also have extensively interviewed Basilone's sister Phyllis, who claims John Basilone experienced premonitions, and on occassion accurately predicted the future, and even his own death. When an historical figure has not left behind letters, diaries, etc, having the support of the family is a plus, and Proser & Cutter got in good with Basilone's family. But, if you can get by this unorthadox writing style, the narrative is a real page turner, especially the battle parts. Brady, unfortunately, passed on before his Basilone book went to print, though it was supposedly finished. Brady's organization is a bit annoying. You read 76 pages of Basilone on Guadalcanel, then several chapters on his childhood and growing up in New Jersey, then back to Iwo Jima. Flashbacks work well in the movies, but I like to get the childhood/growing up part out of the way, and cut to the good stuff, not read some good stuff, then revert back to the childhood. So Brady's is the more down to earth bio of Basilone, but certainly not an earth-shattering book.

Greg C.

 

I know this television show is shown from a Western perspective, but I just hope this series isn't just another flick where the American marine good guys cut down seemingly endless wave after wave of fanatical "Japs" like that disaster *cough*windtalkers*cough* I really am looking forward to this series but it'd be disappointing for me if that was so.

 

John Basilone
YouTube - The Pacific: Marines of the Pacific - John Basilone

Robert Leckie
YouTube - The Pacific: Marines of the Pacific - Robert Leckie (HBO)

 

On Gradalcanal, the endless wave of futile frontal Banzai charges was the preferred tactic of the Japanese illustrated by Leckie's (Tenaru River) and Basilone's (October 1942) experiences. By the landings at Peleliu, Sledge discovered that the Japanese had resorted to coordinated counterattacks. Although a failure, the Japanese tank/infantry attack on the afternoon of D-Day was an example. We'll have to see if the mini-series depicts this.

Greg C.

 

It is finally here! This thread was started in Oct. 2006

 

tell us what you think of it. I don't get HBO

 

Good Lord man!! I believe that cable and satelite companies are offering this on a "Pay-Per-View" deal.

 

nope. i don't have satellite. and for cable i need to rent a box and have them turn on the teir with HBO

 

I'm really enjoying this series. Thanks to all of them who contributed to this film.

 

are they playing it every night or once a weeK ????

 

Once per week, for 10 straight weeks. Last night was as good as I'd hoped it would be.

 

Saw this last night. Looks pretty good. A little confusing and choppy flow. It helps that I read Helmet For My Pillow 25 years ago and could follow what was going on in Guadalcanal in the first episode. I feel it may not be as cohesive a story otherwise. Then again it's just the first episode and maybe the 2nd and 3rd ones would round-up the Guadalcanal story better.

The screenplay seems a little more experience-centric, rather than a telling of a big-picture story. So it seems like the scenes are just a mosaic of "sights and sounds" epxeriences, with some scenes helping to clue-in the viewer as to what's going on in the big picture.

It may have a different effect on other people but it hasn't emotionally drawn me in yet. For me so far it's a lot of visual and sensory treats. In contrast, by the end of the 1st episode of Band of Brothers, the tension and build-up had grabbed an emotional stake in me.

The first episode had a good depiction of the Tenaru/Ilu river battle. It was not an "action extravaganza" like Windtalkers, which is good. It's pretty honest.

I'm disappointed that the props department had the marines carrying Springfield 1903A3's though. It should have been 1903's. It jerked me out of my suspension of disbelief and got reminded that it was hollywood. It still gets the point across and a very minor detail to most everyone.

 

The series is coming to region 1 dvd in June. I liked the first episode. The night battles were realistic. Guadalcanal diary didn't feature any because in those days it was harder to film at night. I am glad that the Pacific is telling the story of John Basilone which has been overlooked for many years. Very few historical shows even mention him.

 

Wow that is a little picky, I was just ecstatic they did not have them carrying M1's.

 

If it doesn't bother you, that's great. It bothered me. Wrong rifle is wrong rifle. The 03A3 was not even around at that time of the war.

I'd like to forget that I'm watching a movie and get immersed in the story. Everytime I see the 03A3 it just reminds me that it's just a movie and that some prop guy made the wrong rubber replica rifle. Suspension of disbelief gone... but that's my loss. If it doesn't bother 99% of the viewers, that's great.