HBO show "The Pacific"

[alex_trebek]

What do you guys think about it?

Getting ready to start the 4th episode now. I didn't care too much for last week's episode. I think that overall it is ok, but I find myself not relating to the characters as much as band of brothers.

So far I think band of brothers was better, although it took a couple of episodes for me to really like that show so, who knows?

[Jamisjockey]

The characters aren't as relatable as Band Of Brothers so far.  But I'm enjoying it so far.  Need to watch tonights episode, it's recording.

[Vodka7]

Recording them all, then making sure I have a weekend off after the last episode airs so I can lock myself in a dark room, turn up the speakers, and really enjoy it.

I do the same routine once a year or so with my BoB DVDs.

[robear]

I actually just logged on to post this very question.   I like it so far, but in my opinion, it doesn't hold a candle to BoB.

[taurusowner]

This might just be a case of sequel-itis.  I know it's not really a sequel in the strict sense of the word, but it is seen as such, being made by the same crew, same kind of series, etc.  And when is the last time anybody thought of a sequel in the same positive light as an original?  Not saying it really is as good, I haven't actually seen any of The Pacific.  I'm just wondering if some see it as inferior because of all the build up and the immediate comparisons to BoB.

[alex_trebek]

That could be, however, I approached this series as being different than BoB. Since this show featured a different military branch, a different war, a different enemy, and a different strategy compared to the European front I expected it to be a different show all together.

I guess I was/am hoping that it would be different enough to be "fresh" but capture what made BoB such a great show.

I never envied the creators of this show. Most Americans focus on the European campaign, and only the major highlights of the pacific.

[Jamisjockey]

I think its starting to defintely tell the story of how awful the Pacific campaign was.  It's like every fight is the Battle of the Bulge.  I think the next episode is Tarawa....

Semper Fi,

[robear]

The next THREE episodes are about Peleliu.   Here's a good episode guide on IMDB.   
** WARNING ** Minor spoilers: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0374463/episodes

I guess one of the things that I liked so much better about BoB was the characters.   By episode 4 of Bob, I already knew most of the characters, remembered all of their names, basics of their personalities, etc..    Right now (after episode 4) I can only tell you two names and/or recognize two faces from The Pacific: Leckie & Basilone.   Of course I had already heard about Chesty Puller.

It's not that I am "let down" by the series, I'm still enjoying it and will continue to watch.   I just had VERY high hopes for the BoB team.

[P5 Guy]

I don't have HBO so I've not seen an episode.
Personally I'd have rather the HBO/Speilberg/Hanks have done the African, Mediterranean theater than the Pacific.
WWII was fought on three continents from 1936 thru 1945. There are many stories that should be told. Burma, China, India theater, Asia, Africa and Europe. I really don't think that many people grasp how big that war was. Especially seeing as the past conflicts have been so localized by the fear of Nuclear arsenals in the hands of players with other motives.
Its just me, I'm waiting for the DVDs so I can watch it all at once like I did with BoB.  

[charby]

I like The Pacific, but I also looked at it differently than Band of Brothers.

[lupinus]

I think it's ok, but in a way it has fallen flat and not lived up to expectations.

While OK, it's far from being great. Also from a cinematic view, I'm annoyed by the jungle scenes. It's dark as hell at night in the jungle. I get it. But I'd like to see WTF is happening.

[red headed stranger]

I'm enjoying it.  BoB was a masterpiece, so I didn't really expect The Pacific to be its equal. 

[41magsnub]

I'm looking forward to renting it on DVD

[Jamisjockey]

The next THREE episodes are about Peleliu.

Didn't realize that.  The preview had a Tarawa look to it, but I thought it might be kind of early for Tarawa.  

[Jamisjockey]

Okay so I found a book that is kind of the companion guide for The Pacific:
With the Old Breed, by E.B. Sledge. 
http://www.amazon.com/Old-Breed-At-Peleliu-Okinawa/dp/0891419195/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1272889534&sr=8-1
Explains alot more about the backstory of alot of whats going on. 

[red headed stranger]

Okay so I found a book that is kind of the companion guide for The Pacific:
With the Old Breed, by E.B. Sledge. 
http://www.amazon.com/Old-Breed-At-Peleliu-Okinawa/dp/0891419195/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1272889534&sr=8-1
Explains alot more about the backstory of alot of whats going on. 

That book, along with Leckies book "Helmet for My Pillow: From Parris Island to the Pacific" are the primary source material for the miniseries. 

There is also a companion book started by Stephen Ambrose and finished by his son:
http://www.amazon.com/Pacific-Hugh-Ambrose/dp/045123023X/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

IMO, the show has done a really good job of communicating the Horror of what people had to go through on Peleliu. It isn't quite the masterpiece that Band of Brothers is, but it's damn good.

[Jamisjockey]

Part 8 was    Gives the viewer an insight into the type of character that it takes to be a real hero.  John Basilone would have been one hell of a man to know.  The world is poorer for his loss on Iwo.

[Perd Hapley]

I haven't been watching The Pacific, but we've been discussing it in my historiography class, and the people watching it seem to be getting a little bored.  The class is about how history is written, including how popular history like The Pacific is communicated to the public. 

The complaints (from the prof, and one student that is watching) are that the characters all seem the same, and the fatigue with the band-of-brothers approach to military history in general (sequel-itis).  Apparently, military history has been moving away from the great generals and grand strategy approach, and taking on more of a social history approach that focuses on the everyday life of the men in the field.  That worked great for Band of Brothers, but I guess it's been getting kind of old.  Yeah, war is hell, but we already knew that, I guess.  (Not that I would know; I'm not a military history guy.)

One thing the prof brought up was that, in the old days, war movies had a guy from Brooklyn, a guy from Texas, a guy from Iowa, etc, with the appropriate regional characteristics.  Pacific apparently doesn't have that, which may make the characters less interesting. 

The above aren't really my comments, just some commentary I thought might interest some of you.  Haven't seen Pacific or BoB myself.

[MechAg94]

IMO, the Pacific is trying to do a bit too much in too few episodes.  There is enough material in With The Old Breed by E.B. Sledge alone to do an entire series just on that.  If they can covered Sledge and his comrades from training through Okinawa and after, it might have been a little better. 

One person commented to me that Guadalcanal was a 6 month battle yet only lasted 2 episodes.  They could have covered a lot more.


Just an FYI, by I have heard that With The Old Breed is considered by some to be the best enlisted man's autobiography ever written.  It is highly recommended reading material if you have the time. 

[roo_ster]

Okay so I found a book that is kind of the companion guide for The Pacific:
With the Old Breed, by E.B. Sledge. 
http://www.amazon.com/Old-Breed-At-Peleliu-Okinawa/dp/0891419195/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1272889534&sr=8-1
Explains alot more about the backstory of alot of whats going on. 

Read that a couple decades ago.  It is The Standard for all other other Pacific theater books.

[lupinus]

Basilone came into his own a bit last night. He's still a local hero in his neck of the woods of NJ, especially his home town of Raritan. Only thing is as I recall he was hit by a mortar, not shot as depicted in last nights episode.

It's gotten better over the last few episodes now that they've actually done a little focusing and haven't been so jumpy. The first few episodes you barely knew who anyone was or what they did.