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Post by corsair67 on Jun 13, 2007 17:41:50 GMT 12
I never saw this series when it was on TV, so am thinking about buying the dvd set: a good investment, or a total waste of beer money?
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Post by flyjoe180 on Jun 13, 2007 17:44:37 GMT 12
Awesome investment in my opinion, one of the best mini series made.
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Post by Bruce on Jun 13, 2007 17:47:32 GMT 12
Absolutely stunning series - buy it!
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Post by corsair67 on Jun 13, 2007 17:55:46 GMT 12
Thanks guys!  Pay day on Thursday! ;D |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 13, 2007 17:55:47 GMT 12
Without a doubt it's the best war drama ever made. Certainly worth buying. The DVD set has a disc of extras showing how it was made, etc too, including a whole programme featuring the real East Co. vets telling their stories.
The writing is superb, the acting even better. You really become attached to the characters, unlike many war films where they're just stereotypes. They're based on real people and real events so the series is quite special in that respect. Especially since many of the real veterans were involved and appear at the beginning telling their own feelings of the situations.
And best still, it's not Hollywood. It was made in Britian with largely British crew and many Brit actors, including the lead, Damien Lewis, so there's real subtlety you won't see in a Hollywood flick. Spielberg and Hanks really know what they're doing.
I'm really looking forward to their Pacific 'sequel' which is being made now in Aussie.
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Post by lesterpk on Jun 13, 2007 22:02:54 GMT 12
Buy it! It was regular viewing on our days off when in the Gulf, and I mean the entire series one disc after the other, same with the M*A*S*H dvd set we had too though ;-)
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 13, 2007 22:32:13 GMT 12
If you need further convincing Craig, check out this clip from YouTube, from epiosde 2 'Day of Days'
It gets better from then on!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 13, 2007 22:36:42 GMT 12
I have to say that the biggest surprise of that whole series was Donny Wahlberg. After enduring his awful music in the 1980's (my sister was a big fan, I was most definately not), I was rather repulsed to see he was in the cast. However, unlike his brother Mark, he proved he is one hell of a fantastic actor. Real depth of character. Completely changed my whole opinion of the guy.
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Post by corsair67 on Jun 14, 2007 11:08:04 GMT 12
After watching that clip, I've decided that it would actually be possible to get me to jump out of an aircraft with a parachute!  I can't recall why I never watched it when it was on TV here quite some time ago, but will have to make up for it now. Thanks for your help, guys. |
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Post by screamineagle on Jun 14, 2007 17:11:28 GMT 12
I served in Vietnam with a recon unit of the 101ST Airborne Div. from July of 1969- Nov.1970, let me tell you the unit had a history and pride all of it's own, and it carried to Korea and then to RVN, we had a mission and it was SOP to accomplish that with minimal casualties... I shy away from Viet Nam movies ( I got my own ) but band of brothers is a must have...........   |
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Post by flyjoe180 on Jun 15, 2007 14:37:21 GMT 12
A useless fact: If you look closesly at the new officer in (i think) episode 7 (the reccon episode where they cross the river at night to get prisoners), you will see a striking resemblance to Tom Hanks. The actor is Colin Hanks, Tom Hanks' son. Told you it was useless info  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 15, 2007 15:26:31 GMT 12
If you look even more closely, Tom himself appears as a British officer!
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Post by flyjoe180 on Jun 15, 2007 15:48:01 GMT 12
Never noticed, I shall watch it again. I always notice something new everytime I view it. A visual feast.
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Post by screamineagle on Jun 15, 2007 17:10:14 GMT 12
The part that was most difficult was when they enter the Jewish POW camps........ I would have not wanted any part of that, but then we were under orders...
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Post by corsair67 on Jun 18, 2007 12:04:32 GMT 12
I watched the first three episodes last night, and I agree it is well worth the money spent buying it.
I think I know why I didn't follow it while it was on TV here - it has one of the clowns from "Friends" in it! I have a feeling I did try and watch the first episode when it came out, but was put off when I saw who the Capt. was. ;D
Thank God he disappears fairly swiftly, and I hope he doesn't reappear again!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 18, 2007 12:10:28 GMT 12
At least he's a character that you have to hate.
He reappears only briefly. Worth perservering mate.
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Post by corsair67 on Jun 18, 2007 12:43:38 GMT 12
Yes, he certainly is very easy to hate! ;D
Apart from that little casting hitch, the rest of the series is excellent from what I've seen so far.
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Post by Craig Sargent on Jun 18, 2007 17:03:59 GMT 12
And he does make a reappearance briefly later on too.
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Post by flyjoe180 on Jun 18, 2007 20:48:54 GMT 12
I think Schwimmer is a real  but he gets his reward for being a smart arse later on. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 18, 2007 21:02:07 GMT 12
Remember he was playing a character based on a real, rather unpopular leader. Some reports have said that Herbert Sobel was perhaps made to look worse than he was in real life, and he was just a tough leader. However I can't believe that if the story is true about all the NCO's committing mutiny, and all the other stuff. Apparently he was dead by the time the series came out, but his son had no problems with it. It was the first time the son had found out what his Dad did in the war! Nice way to find out your Dad's a dick. SPOILER CRAIG - don't read this bit till you've watched the seriesI really wonder how the family of the wierd, cowardly CO later reacted to the series. I forget his name, but he kept disappearing. Imagine the fmily would have got a telegram saying he was a hero, etc. Then they see the real story! Yikes. Read OnBy the way, the real Major Dick Winters has a website here www.majordickwinters.com/I think Damien Lewis was superb playing him. |
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