The Pacific. New 10 part mini-series by Steven Spielberg

Hi All,

Not sure if this is already up and running but I'm watching this new HBC Miniseries The Pacific... Like BOB it tells the story of 3 Soldiers and in my view well worth seeing mines on Blue Ray as well so even better

Cheers
Tom

 

Here you go Tom

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/television-reviews/12530-pacific-new-10-part-mini-series-steven-spielberg.html

 

I give it the BIG Tribute to the Pacific theatre.

 

Ok,

Is it worth getting now at £20 or should I wait until its on freeview?

Pete

 

If anyone has seen the WW2 US newsreels of the time (The Marines at Tarawa, Iwo Jima etc) the series is pretty true to form.

 

I want to talk about The Pacific show, which totally based World war II. I like this show, coz this show has totally different concept and true story based, so that why I like to watch The Pacific show.

 

I want to talk about The Pacific show, which totally based World war II. I like this show, coz this show has totally different concept and true story based, so that why I like to watch The Pacific show.
Hi Kavin, you want to talk about The Pacific? Fire Away!

 

If you enjoyed the series (which I did immensely) I recommend that you read the books by some of the people portrayed in it. First of there is “With the old breed” By E.B. Sledge (Sledgehammer) which is a great piece of work and one of two books the series is based on, the other being “Helmet for my pillow” by Robert Leckie. Both are not massive books, but are well written by two educated men, and not something from the pen of a ghost writer.

Also worth a look is “You'll Be Sor-ree!: A Guadalcanal Marine Remembers The Pacific War” written by Dr. Sid Phillips, friend of Sledge and also portrayed in the movie. Both he and Sledge grew up together in Mobile, Alabama (just up the road from me), though joined the marines at different times. Philipp’s is still alive today and gives us some great insight on The Pacific Blue Ray expanded view option.

From that movie, another book you may enjoy is “Manila John: The Life and Combat Actions of Marine Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone, Hero of Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima</SPAN>” which covers the life of one of the most famous marines, and undeniably a hero of the war. Avoid “I am staying with my boys” another book about Basilone, which is truly awful and a waste of bookshelf space.


The Pacific was different from BOB but just as gripping. They subject matter was much broader but done well.

It was nice to see the battle on Peleliu covered, mainly because not many people have heard of it. It certainly lived up to the title “the forgotten battle!” If was a fierce encounter which cost the lives of many troops, survivors to their chagrin being told years after that the batlle was not even necessary!

Hats off to Hanks and Speilburg, they did it again – but like others I would love to see a “Band of Tommy’s” come to the screen.

 

I watched it a couple of months ago and agree that it was no Band of Brothers.

Your comments, Adam, pretty much coincide with my thoughts on the series.

I did not think that the characters were developed as well as they were in the first series. I also did not see how the pronography in added to the story.


Roll on 'Band of Tommies, probably in the Desert, Tunisia, or Italy'.


Get on 'em, make it happen.

 

It seemed to lack the characterisation of Band of Brothers.

Admittedly this is based on only the first three episodes, as I lost interest at that point, but I felt that what TP was really missing was a character like Lewis Nixon (as played by Ron Livingston) - a charismatic but also flawed human being, who while never losing the audience's sympathies also defied some of the triter cliches about the Greatest Generation. No-one by episode 3 seemed to be filling that gap - maybe they did later?

Best, Alan

 

Is that like pornography, only more professionally done?..
No doubt.

Admittedly this is based on only the first three episodes, as I lost interest at that point, but I felt that what TP was really missing was a character like Lewis Nixon (as played by Ron Livingston) - a charismatic but also flawed human being, who while never losing the audience's sympathies also defied some of the triter cliches about the Greatest Generation. No-one by episode 3 seemed to be filling that gap - maybe they did later?

Best, Alan
Near the end, it kinda got fixated on Sledge and Snafu, with an good run on Basilone.

So it wasn't just me then.
No, I followed it to the end & no one person really stood out, or gave a serious hook to hang a storyline on.

Almost like the whole thing consisted of 'Supporting actors' with no real leads. And by about halfway through I became pretty confused at who was who.
I don't know if they were deliberately keeping it a little confusing, and trying to give some impression of the rolling in of replacements as the grimness continued, but it didn't work for me. You can make a drama a tribute of sorts, but the drama aspect still has to be squared away for it to really work. It is, after all, supposed to be entertainment too.
Perhaps a result of basing the thing on several books, rather than the clearer line followed by Band of Brothers.

I still think it was well worth a watch, if only as a contrast to the old school of 'John Wayne' war films, but while Band of Brothers genuinely surprised me at how good it was, this left me a little cold.

I don't think they had a good run of documented characters to complete the whole war, given the battle and non-battle casualties the Marines suffered.

 

I have manage to watch most of it since getting the box set for Christmas,but I can honestly say its not really grabbed my attention,could take it or leave if the truth be known.

 

First off, I don't believe the series is nearly as intriguing as the books. However, I did enjoy watching the series. I think even though a lot of the crew behind The Pacific was also part of Band of Brothers, it's important not to compare these two too much. It's two completely different setups and the goal of The Pacific was to show various perspectives of the war, unlike Band of Brothers, which entirely follows a combat unit. I'm not saying I disagree. I love watching Band of Brothers more than anything. But if you put Band of Brothers out of your mind, and enjoy The Pacific for what it is, it's bound to be a very compelling and informative experience.

 

Melbourne episode is your most memorable part?
Be amazed of the scene with (spoileralert) falling in a puddle with a japanese (spoileralert) on the island of (spoileralert).