The Pacific

[Nebu]

I didn't see a thread for this and being a HUGE fan of Band of Brothers, I thought I'd see what the rest of you thought. 

Here is the HBO site with a trailer.

Think of Band of Brothers, Pacific Theater Edition. 

I, for one, am looking forward to this quite a bit.  Then again, I'm a huge sucker for the WWII era. 

[tgr]

I'm squeeeeeeeeeee-ing so much over this miniseries, based on how utterly awesome band of brothers was. I can't wait.

[kaid]

My DVR is salivating waiting to record this. If its anywhere near the quality of band of brothers its going to be an instant classic.

[Slayerik]

I, too, can't fucking wait for this. Instead of my usual piracy, I might even sub for 6 months for this!

[Rasix]

Hey, this will keep me from dropping HBO for a while. Still need to see Band of Brothers...

[Engels]

I'm a little scared, to be honest. Is there any way any show, even by the same people, can match the awe of BoB without reverting to rewrapping the original conflicts and making it seem derivative? We shall see!

[Slayerik]

I'm a little scared, to be honest. Is there any way any show, even by the same people, can match the awe of BoB without reverting to rewrapping the original conflicts and making it seem derivative? We shall see!

I saw glimpses of love story in this in the trailer I saw.

Fuck that.

The only love story I want in my historically based WWII mini-series would be some hot little grateful Asians being plowed. Let's hope that was not an indicator of things to come.

[Polysorbate80]

The only love story I want in my historically based WWII mini-series would be some hot little grateful Asians being plowed. Let's hope that was not an indicator of things to come.

They may not have been that grateful; some estimates claim there were thousands of rapes committed by GIs after the battle of okinawa.

[Lt.Dan]

Love story?  Sounds like they're putting SG:U in my Band of Brothers.  Better not fuck it up 

[Comstar]

One of the guys I know from my WW2OL squad got to play an US Marine extra when they were filming in Queensland. I think he's in the background lugging a .30cal on his shoulder up a mountain somewhere.

[ShenMolo]

I read an interview somewhere with the producers that this has a much different feel than Band of Brothers.

It's a much more bleak, sober, war-is-hell kinda series. Whereas BoB was shot and released in the pre-9/11 world, when we mythologized "the good war", this was produced and shot after 8 years of war and is less hopeful and heroic.

Instead of scenes of virtuous Allied soldiers sharing chocolate with the locals, or feeling guilty after gunning down young German soldiers, you get the "no prisoners" slaughter and brutality of the Pacific War. Cooking suicidal Japs up close with flamethrowers then prying out their gold teeth while they are still alive...that kinda thing.

If you have On-Demand there are some interviews and trailers & previews available already.

I'm reading With the Old Breed right now to get some background.

It should be great.

[Abagadro]

Review by a TV critic I like who is also a huge Band of Brothers fan

[Musashi]

That review says it way better than what I would have said.

Marine Corps in the Pacific was way different than the Army in France.  I froth for this both as a Marine and a fan of historical drama.  I can only hope that this sheds light on a largely unknown part of the war like it's predecessor made us understand things we'd only heard about Europe.  But I have no illusions, as if it's faithful, it will be hard for people to swallow.  No love story will ruin this.  Bet on it.  Fuck, you'll probably be grateful for a love story break, even if you're the most hardened heart.

[Tannhauser]

I subbed to HBO HD last night just so I could catch this miniseries.  No one brings the authenticity of WWII like Spielberg and Hanks.  I am also a major military history buff and have read books on all the campaigns that will be covered.  From that review it sounds pretty intense!

[Teleku]

That review says it way better than what I would have said.

Marine Corps in the Pacific was way different than the Army in France.  I froth for this both as a Marine and a fan of historical drama.  I can only hope that this sheds light on a largely unknown part of the war like it's predecessor made us understand things we'd only heard about Europe.  But I have no illusions, as if it's faithful, it will be hard for people to swallow.  No love story will ruin this.  Bet on it.  Fuck, you'll probably be grateful for a love story break, even if you're the most hardened heart.

Yes, this, exactly.  Anybody who has studied the pacific war knows how different it was from the European war, and how brutal.  ShenMolo, I don't think the difference has anything to do with 9/11 or war glorification.  There is just a legitimatly stark difference between the wars.  I think Band of Brothers captured the European war excellently, and by all accounts, this should capture the feel of the pacific war.  I've only read parts of "With the Old Breed" (which is in based off) and need to pick it up. 

A good book I read in college on this particular subject is War Without Mercy.  Does a good job of laying out reasons why things became so brutal.

[KallDrexx]

Since hbo's site is failing for me, when does this start?

[Slayerik]

21st I think.

[murdoc]

This Sunday, the 14th

[ShenMolo]

This Sunday, the 14th

9pm EST

[Slayerik]

wow that's so awesome.

[Nebu]

First episode wasn't anywhere near the quality of Curahee. 

I hope this gets better. 

[Tannhauser]

Yeah, not too engrossing yet.  Where's David Schwimmer when you need him? 

[tgr]

To be honest, I never really thought of the first episode of BoB as all that great either, it was more the calm before the storm, and happily the episode I'm most likely to skip in a marathon. I'm not really worried about the series quite yet based on these comments.

[Slayerik]

To be honest, I never really thought of the first episode of BoB as all that great either, it was more the calm before the storm, and happily the episode I'm most likely to skip in a marathon. I'm not really worried about the series quite yet based on these comments.

This, exactly.

[Slayerik]

I believe the show will be classic. I'm happy to have ordered HBO to support this.

[Arthur_Parker]

First episode wasn't anywhere near the quality of Curahee. 

I hope this gets better. 

Yeah but BoB had the massive advantage of following a single unit that actually played a key role in the major events, D-Day/Bulge.  From my limited understanding, the Pacific is going to be all over the place just because of the nature of the campaign.

Still need to see Band of Brothers...

The only thing I have bought twice, DVD & blu-ray.

[Polysorbate80]

[Slayerik]

[Polysorbate80]

[murdoc]

The pre-war stuff felt tacked on to me. More like they felt they aught to show that stuff, then they wanted to.

[tgr]

[Polysorbate80]

[Musashi]

[Teleku]

On one hand, thanks for spoiler tagging everything because I haven't seen the first episode yet.  On the other hand, WTF.  This is "The Pacific" thread.  The last 8 fucking posts are nothing but a spoiler tags.  Shouldn't this be the thread where its ok to talk about whats going on in the series?

[Tannhauser]

The naval battles around Guadalcanal were so severe for the Navy that they didn't release casualty figures for years.

I'm really glad someone is finally doing Peleliu.  It never gets attention, but it was some of the worst fighting in the Pacific.  It taught the Marines, the hard way, how to ferret out the enemy in coral caves and ridges.  "Devil's Anvil" is a great book on it.