The Pacific

[Terry]

I started watching the new HBO series, the Pacific. Anyone have any comments on it so far.

I've started putting all of the books on the subject on hold at the local library. The two major ones on the series are The Pacific, by Ambrose; and Helmet for my pillow by Leckie. I also found some books on the naval battles around Guadalcanal.

Terry

[Warluster]

There is also the other memoir by Eugene Sledge which is a major source for the series.

Similar to Band of Brothers, I love the series because it is based on these memoirs. Unlike every other historical movie/series, which are based on a script, the script is based on the books. The level of authenticity this adds to the overall series (I actually enjoy the show rather then constantly questioning its accuracy) makes it great. The $280 million budget shows in the jaw-dropping battle scenes too, and the quality of the shots.

From the one episode I watched it was above average, but not near the level of Band of Brothers yet.

[TinCow]

The first episode was decent, but I agree not up to Band of Brothers standards. That said, Band of Brothers didn't really get excellent until a few episodes in, by which time several of the characters had been fully fleshed out. If The Pacific follows the same trend, it could be a perfect accompaniment to the original. It'll be hard to give a real judgment until we're at least 5+ episodes in.

[Hooahguy]

There is also the other memoir by Eugene Sledge which is a major source for the series.

yes, get the book "With the old Breed" by Sledge. it is amazing and probably the best war memoir ive read to date.

[Centurion1]

this series is good, but as others have said not quite bob. but it can get there for sure.

Its nice to see the pacific to get some time.

[PanzerJaeger]

I have not read any of Ambrose's books on the Pacific Theatre, but if they are anything like his writings on the European one, they should be considered nothing more than historical fiction.

Will NetFlix this ASAP.

[Wausser]

Another week until the Pacific is released here, I'll take a look if I can find it on teh webz, cause I really can't wait...

[Terry]

Wausser,


The Pacific has an official website : http://www.hbo.com/the-pacific/index...fic/index.html. They have the first episode for a free view, you just have to do a quick register onsite. Also an rudimentary informative map that details the Guadalcanal timeline.

Terry

[Terry]

Thanks for the Sledge book info. Believe it or not, my library has it as well. Digital stuff is great, but I still like books.

Terry

[Terry]

I am going to try not to compare the two series. I've seen a lot of people complaining about the lack of boot camps etc. That was Bob, not the Pacific. If I produce two series, I think I would try to getting a different feel in the second one to make it different. I had no trouble making the small jumps in timeline that Pacific does. It sets up the three main characters in the homefront briefly, then jumps to Guadalcanal. No problem for me, though I have watched it three times :)

Another book --> Beyond Band of Brothers, by Winters, which I am currently into. BTW, the Ambrose author mentioned is Hugh Ambrose, not Stephen. I am guessing a son maybe?


Info on : John_Basilone

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Basilone

Terry

[G. Septimus]

I am going to try not to compare the two series. I've seen a lot of people complaining about the lack of boot camps etc. That was Bob, not the Pacific. If I produce two series, I think I would try to getting a different feel in the second one to make it different. I had no trouble making the small jumps in timeline that Pacific does. It sets up the three main characters in the homefront briefly, then jumps to Guadalcanal. No problem for me, though I have watched it three times :)

Another book --> Beyond Band of Brothers, by Winters, which I am currently into. BTW, the Ambrose author mentioned is Hugh Ambrose, not Stephen. I am guessing a son maybe?


Info on : John_Basilone

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Basilone

Terry

umm, I know john basilone, he died in Iwo Jima during an Artillery Strike.
and about the Film, I have all BoB Episodes, and , maybe I'll download the Pacific Via Torrent

[Ronin]

Seriously un-inspired when compared with BoB or even Generation Kill...

I watched the final episode yesterday and was astonished that i couldn´t remember more than half of the characters when they did the recap at the end......that's what happens when a show can´t establish emotional links between the characters and the audience.

[Subotan]

Medicore. I missed the first one and only saw the second in Guadacanal, and I was unimpressed. The impression was that of a Scout camp, only with bombs.

[al Roumi]

Medicore. I missed the first one and only saw the second in Guadacanal, and I was unimpressed. The impression was that of a Scout camp, only with bombs.

Once the story switches to Eugene "Sledge", I think it finds its feet a bit more. It starts to paint a much more gruesome and hideous picture of what the soldiers (and civilians) went through. Guadalcanal does seem like a scout camp compared to Iowa Jima, Peleliu or Okinawa, perhaps its the squallor of the fighting and environment which is so striking after Guadalcanal.

Compared to BoB, the shifting characters didn't work that well IMO. I never really understood Lecky and that's not great when you are meant to understand something by seeing him react to his environment. Longer was devoted to Sledge, and more depth -which makes him stand out more.

In a way I wasn't so pleased with how the story flitted about so much -not really covering anything to my satisfaction (leaving too soon or jumping in half way through). I had always understood the pacific campaign to be a nightmare, and assuming it really was, i'd say the series certainly presents it as that. I thought BoB had been quite brutal but not nearly as much - by comparison western europe looks like a gentlemans' adventure (well, except for Carentan).

I wonder if anyone would have the stomach for a similar recounting of the Eastern Front (or WW1)? The inhummanity of the conflict in Eastern Europe in WW2, or the scale of it must have far outstripped that in the Pacific.

[Azathoth]

My US History teacher happens to love it. He's even shown us a few episodes in class (as well as Band of Brothers earlier in the semester).

A couple of weeks ago he summarized what was then the latest episode and said something to the effect of,

It was very intense. When I saw how brutal and fanatical the Japanese soldiers were, I definitely found myself agreeing with the decision to drop the bomb.

Make of that what you will.

[Brenus]

Very very disappointed.
BoB was much better I term of evocation. I don’t speak of the acting, but the choices made in order to show what it was.
Most of the series is dedicated to the soldier’s difficult relationship with girl friends… I am not sure of the relevance to have one episode on the Australian Rest.
In one hand some battle are well depicted but don’t really show the horrors of the fight itself. More after battle scenes than battle scenes…
Could have been much much better…

[Hooahguy]

i too was very disappointed. for all the raving how it was better than BoB, it didnt live up to the ravings.
i watched the whole series just because it was available, but sometimes it was more a chore than anything else.

i felt like that if it had just centered on Sledge it could have been really great. but no, they decided to try to squeeze in two more characters who we didnt really connect with. as said before, i only recognized five of the characters at the end- sledge, leckie, Basilone's wife, SNAFU, and that head of sledge's mortar section.
that was it.

with BoB i felt a real connection with the characters. whenever one of the older guys in BoB was hit, especially in the Bastogne episode, i was really upset and you really felt for the guys.
nothing in the pacific comes close, not even when Ack-Ack dies.

but one thing that the pacific was good at, and i disagree with you on this Brenus, is showing the horrors of war, in fact episode 9 is the best episode of the series because it really homes in on that aspect.

[Subotan]

The bits I saw involving the Japanese were more reminiscent of a zombie film than a historically accurate piece of television.

The American characters were all one-dimensional and identical. There were no bad marines, and criticism of soldiers as individuals a la Platoon was mysteriously absent. Yes, one or two or the characters got cross, but there was no-one below "Neutral Good".

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

I dunno, the weird bayou guy in Sledge's platoon seemed maybe "chaotic good" and was pretty memorable to me at least.

[Subotan]

Was that in the second episode? Because that was the only one I saw

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

No, he's introduced in the first episode with Sledge overseas, so like the 4th or 5th, then he becomes a recurring character.

[Subotan]

Ah, I dropped out before then.

[al Roumi]

I dunno, the weird bayou guy in Sledge's platoon seemed maybe "chaotic good" and was pretty memorable to me at least.

Yeah, he starts with a nifty "pillage" skill which enables him to loot corpses for gold teeth. Pretty handy when grinding through low level quests and saving up for better weapons.

Something isn't right when you see the world through the mechanics of the D&D system...

[Dodge_272]

Seriously un-inspired when compared with BoB or even Generation Kill...

I watched the final episode yesterday and was astonished that i couldn´t remember more than half of the characters when they did the recap at the end......that's what happens when a show can´t establish emotional links between the characters and the audience.

Thats exactly what I thought. It's more like 'thin red line' than BoB, although thin red line was a brilliant film.