Band of Brothers episodes: THUMBS UP!

'Mob of Mates', a new 10 part series to follow a bunch of British troops from volunteering in 1939, through their service in the BEF, to the desert, to volunteering for the paras, through pegasus bridge, Arnhem and the crossing of the Rhine. How about that?? Maybe they could join the commandos or be marines or whatever, could be very good.

I dont know what the German version could be called, something to do with Kameraden. follow a group of Landser from vlounteering for the Whermacht in 1938 to serving in the LSSAH and then HJ division in 43/44, ending up fighting around their last tank in Austria in 1945, maybe even including being taken prisoner, following their 'fare treatment' at the hands of the British and Americans. Maybe ending when they are finally released in 1948?? Could even follow them home to the ruins of Germany.

Let me know what you think, titles are working. I actualy have an idea for how to work on these stories thinking about it.

 

Sounds like a VERY good idea to me, keep us informed will you? I was actually thinking of doing one based on a squad of Germans and a squad of American soldiers--what they did and where they forught ending up with them in combat against each other and seeing who would be the victors and who would be the losers and why.

 

I would sh## my pants if hollywood every made a movie portraying germans not as nazi, but as real people. But what would the general public think after believing at all germans are nazi for years. Would they change their minds or would there be outrage from american critics. Who knows?

 

Dear Panzergranadier, actually hollywood has made a few ww2 movies portraying Germans as other than nazis.

A Time To Love and A Time To Die, Cross OF Iron, The Eagle Has Landed, Battle of Britain, Decision Before Dawn, The Enemy Below, The Longest Day, IS Paris Burning? Patton and Flight of The White Stallions are some that come to my feeble mind. even though some of these films were meant to be antiwar films--but didnt turn out that way.

 

Sorry about that, I was in a moment of anger when writing it, at that time all of could of where a few really bad films. I know there are movies that show the germans as humans, and I should of thought of them before writing that post.

 

No problemo Batman, I agree with what you said. In my opinion, Hollywood has all their heads un their *sses.

I put these also as a shameless plug for people to see them.

 

Why is it, they send millions on stuff like Band of Brothers, but they cannot even do a little bit of resherch. In Ep 3 we had the SS troops that should not have been there, and last night in 4 we had the 251/22 in use 3 months before it entered service. I know this is trivial and only saddos like us even notice, but it cannot be that hard to get these things right. 10 minutes on the net and they could solve these little things. After all the effort they do put in, they spoil it with minor errors.

 

I concur with you Bish. What IS also surprising is, an ex-USMC Captain--Dale Dye, was the man there who was supposed to be in charge of accuracy. I think he did do a very good job on most of it, but I agree, somethings are not excusable.

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Bish:
Why is it, they send millions on stuff like Band of Brothers, but they cannot even do a little bit of resherch. In Ep 3 we had the SS troops that should not have been there, and last night in 4 we had the 251/22 in use 3 months before it entered service. I know this is trivial and only saddos like us even notice, but it cannot be that hard to get these things right. 10 minutes on the net and they could solve these little things. After all the effort they do put in, they spoil it with minor errors.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Did they really "spoil it" for you? C'mon, you are right when you say it's TRIVIAL. Maybe they didn't do perfect research. They did a damn sight more than any other Hollywood production that's been done, hundreds if nor thousands of hours. So they've got they wrong model of a halftrack present. Thank God they have something that looks German!

No offense, but some people really need to get lives and stop thinking that a little bit of useless trivial knowledge puts them in a position to pass judgement.

With that, I'm outta this group!

 

Ok, maybe spoil it was a bit much. What i really mean is that they went to all this trouble, did tons of resherch, spent loads of money and effort to create those vehicles, then they let in a little slip that could be so easily avoided. It is good that they have recreated these vehicles, especially the rare ones like that halftrack. And i am sure it will be used again. I think we all appreciate the effort these guys have gone into. Sure, the vehicles are not perfect, but we realise they have limitations. But as you say, it is much better than it used to be. In some movies, the Germans had more American tanks and halftracks than the Americans. As to gett8ing a life, you could be right. I spend all day driving or fixing modern AFVs, then spend evenings with my head in books studying older ones. But, i can think of worse ways to spend my evenings.

 

To be honest I didn't spot the half track, then again I am not an AFV buff really. It is interesting to think about where the gear used in BoB came from. A lot of it is on sale in the UK including jump smocks and suits as worn by the cast. There is a joke going around the re-enactment community that dealers are raising the prices of gear just because it has been on BoB. Actualy once while looking at field gear I saw a Swedish E-tool in a converted carrier, this would normally go for about £30-£40, a dealer tried to sell it to me for £90, I laughed and asked why, he said 'it is a real German one and was used by one of the main German characters in Band of Brothers'. I said 'thats odd, its got a swedish makers mark on the back of the carrier, there is a guy over there selling them for £40, I think I will leave it' I wasn't actually expecting anything but I think he realised that maybe I aint some dumb kid and said I could have it for £30 with the ammo pouches I was looking at, suited me.

As for the rest of the gear in BoB, most of the jump are converted Norwegian post war suits, the falshirmjager helmets are normal helmets with the rims cut off and most of the german trousers are actually missing the belt loops and pockets, except those you see up close. If anyone is actualy interested in any of this let me know and I will fish out the proper kit list complete with prices.

 

C'mon guys admit it Band of Brothers is the best attempt Hollywood has ever made at portraying events during World War II

 

Yes, deffinatly agree with that 100%. just being a picky git.

 

Agree, but sometimes its fun to be picky besides, hollywoodland deserves it because ot their stupid political correctness.

 

I agree.

 

I agree as well. The fact that they made a 10 hr film devoted to realistic ww2 with no sappy filler is amazing!! We should all be sending letters to HBO and dreamworks with appreciation lol.
Also if anyone has read the book (i have) how do you think it is following/depicting the book? I personally think they are doing a wonderful job!

 

I havent read his book on BoB, I refuse to read his stuff because he is always leaning in the wrong direction, puts his changed version as history, and the worst thing of all--he uses all the vets for his own self interest--and you guys know how I feel about veterans.

In fact: last night at work, I got written up for having too long a conversation with a 101st Airborne Vietnam combat vet. I was supposed to be talking to him about civilian cars when, somehow, the conversation turned into talking about the Abrams tank, The Bradley Fight Vehicle, and the Kubelwagon. Heck, I didnt care and I told them so.

[ 25 October 2001: Message edited by: C.Evans ]

 

BOB was my first book by Ambrose, aparently Winters and a few others wanted to see what he had written before it was published, something Ambrose hadn't done before. They asked him to change a few things and he did it, you know if you are dealing with personel remembraces ,some of the recolections are bound to be at odds. Anyway my point is Ambrose was very leary about allowing anyone to see it before it was published. He hadn't allowed anyone to see his previous "Pegasus Bridge" before it was published. But he admited it eventually made for a better book, and now he wishes he had done the same thing with Pegasus. Gotta get that one btw, its my next project

 

My problem with Ambrose, is mainly that he uses veterans just for his financial gain. Thats something I cannot tolerate. He also used German veterans, and I have only seen or heard from one Germant vet--who said something positive about him.

Im sure he also used British and U.K. vets too.

 

My history teacher was recommending alot of Ambroses book for me to read in school this week. Why do some people think he is the only athority on World War two. I never really cared for his books very much and after learning more about him on the forum I doubt that I will buy any of his books.

Speaking of books its been a long time since I made a trip to buy some new ones. I think I'm getting lazy, because all I want to do any more is watch docturmenies and movies instead of picking up a book.

I have a very small library of my own. Since Septmeber I have already read every ww2 book in my schools library and I can't check any for the local one, because I have some overdue fees, which I have no money to pay for. Poor me.

Also what happened on BoB last week, since I sadly missed it, because I tried to tape it and the vcr destroyed my tape.