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LTTP: Band of Brothers
- Thread starter Valhelm
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I think it was more to do with the singular source material (the book) and the people involved (Spielburg/Hanks) than anything network executives had to do with it. IIRC correctly, The Pacific was cobbled together from multiple sources which probably allowed them to take more liberties with the story.
Although you may be right, they might have had their eye on the future on how these scenes would be play out on national broadcast television.
NinjaBoiX
Member
Yup, awesome cast of characters.
Is that the one that opens and closes with the violin in the case? Gorgeous episode.
Benjamin_MFF
Member
I found Bastogne to be a landmark episode in the series, a great example of how far they pushed the characters, after Bastogne there was a weight lifted, but not removed from those who had experienced it. This show is a testament to great storytelling and great film making.
The Pacific would have been far better if they just focused on Sledge and his buddies instead of jumping around between three different story lines.
And it's Lipton's finest hour too.
I have it but I've only watched a bit on there, saw the whole series once on DVD then again in school. Quality seemed good but that's only based on the small bit I saw on the bluray and I didn't check out the special features yet. This probably wasn't much help, sorry.
"I cherish the memories of a question my grandson asked me the other day when he said, 'Grandpa, were you a hero in the war?' Grandpa said 'No... but I served in a company of heroes.'"
;_;
Thanks man, I just teared up at work.
Goosebumps
Also,
the scene at the end of the Bastogne episode when they are in the church with the choir... So incredible and peaceful.
NinjaBoiX
Member
I prepare myself every time, but I can't hold back the feels.
It's the little pause before struggling to say the last sentence while choking up.
Even just replaying it in my head as I type, hairs on end. Such a perfect ending.
I managed to make it through Why We Fight without someone cutting onions in the room but that got me in the end.
In The Pacific, the main character and his Aussie love interest? Apparently, she was
an amalgam of half a dozen ladies he banged all over the place.
I started a new run last night on my new Blurays. Watching it on the PS3 with my new Pulse Elite headphones... I forgot about the pulse "force feedback" thing. Was fine untile like 30min into the first episode where you see them shoot guns for the first time, holy shit haha. The real war scenes in the next episodes will be crazy.
Yup. OP I can't wait til you get to Bastogne.
Yeah. Even though there are many great moments in BoB, the best one is definitively at the end of Episode 1. The scale of the mission they are embarking on is incredible. And then they fly into the sunset of a beautiful summer evening and the music plays. Even writing about it is giving me goosebumps.
(I always wondered how long it took them to fly to France. Why do they leave at sunset, while they arrive in pitchdark? It looks like they flew for 6 hours)
I got the boxset BoB+Pacific bluray for like 50$ at Costco a couple of weeks ago. Beautiful set too
Wikipedia said:
I don't remember the exact details (I went through a WWII book streak in HS), but the flight wasn't a direct flight in order to disguise the targeted assault area. Doing a quick bit of research, it seems that there was an initial small wave of pathfinders who were to designate the DZs, but I can't find an exact time on that. After that, the main flights began at 2200, and the first drops were between 0048 and 0140 the next morning. I guess the sunset in the show was just a bit of artistic freedom.
I really have 0 interest in watching the Pacific. I tried watching a couple of episodes when it first aired, but I couldn't get into the disjointed storytelling of it.
To be honest, I watched BoB so much on dvd that I don't even know if I could justify a $43 purchase.
I get chills every time I listen to this. I'm going to have to re-watch the series this weekend. I purchased the BR set for really cheap from a gaffer last year.
I really have 0 interest in watching the Pacific. I tried watching a couple of episodes when it first aired, but I couldn't get into the disjointed storytelling of it.
To be honest, I watched BoB so much on dvd that I don't even know if I could justify a $43 purchase.
Oh yeah, I still have the original metal boxset for Bob that I paid like 120$ for back in 2002 but I couldn't pass up that deal.
You should watch it anyway it's still pretty good. The main difference that you will come to understand is that The Pacific follows individual soldiers and not an entire unit. You follow the adventures of Lecky, Sledge, and Basilone primarily with a few others thrown in. But, once you get to Sledge on Pelilu and meet Cpt. Ack Ack the show really just takes off.
I always felt bad for the instructor from bootcamp. You know... Ross from friends.
I remember reading about the actual person and he lived a lonely life and sad death if I remember well
He shot himself in the head and lived for like 17 years after.
Yeah, I probably didn't give it much of a chance. I just remember thinking the first episode was waaaaaaaaaaaay too slow compared to BoB, and then they just to another set of characters who I had no fucking clue about in episode 2.
Pretty sure I have that sitting in my parents' attic. I need to rewatch it, even if I don't get the Blurays.
firehawk12
Subete no aware
I still find it a bit unfortunate/disappointing when some of the errors crept up after the show aired. The biggest being that Blithe didn't die of his wounds after episode 3.
What's silly is that they have the real Captain Winters show the gun he took from the German General after he surrendered, saying that it was a token of the end of the war, in the interview footage... then in the episode itself, they show him give the gun back to the General because it makes for a better story. lol
What's silly is that they have the real Captain Winters show the gun he took from the German General after he surrendered, saying that it was a token of the end of the war, in the interview footage... then in the episode itself, they show him give the gun back to the General because it makes for a better story. lol
I just saw Bastogne. In short, damn.
The characters are really starting to become more memorable and relatable. I like how the episode didn't linger on Winters as much as usual, and gave us a closer look at the privates.
I loved how, despite the lack of significant action, the deaths of allies were no less impactful. The business with the nurse and her bonnet was incredibly moving, and I loved how she healed somebody even in death.
The characters are really starting to become more memorable and relatable. I like how the episode didn't linger on Winters as much as usual, and gave us a closer look at the privates.
RoninChaos
Member
THAT'S FORD, AND GENERAL FUCKING MOTORS!
DUFFMCWALIN
Member
One of the greatest things ever recorded on film and the only show to ever get me teared up.
IAmtheFMan
Member
I was gonna do another thread since I recently started a rewatch.
It's amazing how many future stars are in this show. Really the biggest star back then was Schwimmer playing against type, a former New Kid on the Block, a weirdly out-of-place cameo by a Weekend Updating Jimmy Fallon, and a cult following of Ron Livingston from Office Space, but that was about it.
Looking back, it's basically a who's who of big (mainly British) actors:
Damian Lewis: Homeland
Professor X and Magneto (James McAvoy, and Michael Fassbender):
In between Cornettos (Simon Pegg):
Before Baning up (Tom Hardy):
And some that aren't as huge, but still made me do a double take:
Al Capone looking a little out of place (Stephen Graham):
Apollo Adama (Jamie Bamber):
Plus the other main casts went on to do stuff like Scott Grimes was on ER, Rick Gomez was on Justified, and I think that Neal McDonough has been in like... everything.
It's amazing how many future stars are in this show. Really the biggest star back then was Schwimmer playing against type, a former New Kid on the Block, a weirdly out-of-place cameo by a Weekend Updating Jimmy Fallon, and a cult following of Ron Livingston from Office Space, but that was about it.
Looking back, it's basically a who's who of big (mainly British) actors:
Damian Lewis: Homeland
Professor X and Magneto (James McAvoy, and Michael Fassbender):
In between Cornettos (Simon Pegg):
Before Baning up (Tom Hardy):
And some that aren't as huge, but still made me do a double take:
Al Capone looking a little out of place (Stephen Graham):
Apollo Adama (Jamie Bamber):
Plus the other main casts went on to do stuff like Scott Grimes was on ER, Rick Gomez was on Justified, and I think that Neal McDonough has been in like... everything.
blainethemono
Member
That reminds me that I never did find that Tom Hanks cameo even though I've watched this series like a million fucking times
RoninChaos
Member
Gonna start my rewatch this weekend. I knew all those "NOW" famous people were in the show, I didn't know that about Lee Adama. I never caught that one. WHen I saw Inception I was like "... wasn't that the kid from Band of Brothers?" lol
ClassyPenguin
Banned
I watched him on BBC's Occupation first and he hides that accent well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKAPBczJO8M
If you are interested in the Battle of Bastogne, I read this book a few years ago and it's a pretty good retelling.
Seven Roads to Hell: A Screaming Eagle at Bastogne
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