The Pacific on HBO

I thought the first two episodes were ok.  The third was  made to have that love angle.   Interesting thinking about being overseas with no end date in sight.  No idea of when you would return to the states.......so,  you are a young Marine and you are dropped into Melbourne  ( although I was amazed they were still running around with their raggedy fatigues) and with all the Aussie soldiers in North Africa or elsewhere.  PARTY!!!!

Recommend Letters from Iwo Jima and Flags of Our Fathers two get a interesting look at the war in the Pacific.

Another thing to think about.  BOB was a story written by Stephen Ambrose (a great writer although controversial)  so the the series was consistent.

The Pacific is parts taken from books written by E.B Sledge and Robert Leskie (I have them requested from the Library-did read Leskie's book about Guadalcanal).

Unfair to compare them.  They (Hanks {racist overtones?} and Speilberg are trying to show another side of the Greatest Generation.  And are using things they have learned from BOB to use in this series.

The Pacific theater was playing second fiddle to Europe.  It was beat the Germans first and than we will get to the Japanese. 

I didn't know Australia had a Greek Community.


 

Big Greek community in Melbourne especially.

I agree with a lot of the comments so far - I will continue to watch the whole series but just not quite as into it as I was with B.O.B.  Good point about the source material, but even despite that I think maybe the acting is not quote as strong.

I know I'm not identifying with and following the main character as much as I did with Winters.  I can't even remember his name off the top of my head...

The Aussie/Greeek girl is smokin'.  I hope for SGT. Whatshisname that aspect of the story is true.

BOB was also Ambrose (I think).  Agree there is no character development.  If I didn't know the history I would have no idea what was going on.

There is a lot more character development (and more characters) in the book by Ambrose.  I'm only halfway through, but you don't get the same sense of fear from the series as you do from the book. 

Anybody else think that the younger Sledge (prior to war) was a little too gung-ho?  His letters make him sound like he feels he is high and mighty compared to "ordinary" citizens.  Not sure how this plays out yet, but he seems like...well, I guess a young soldier.  I wonder if I would have been the same.

I'm not really looking forward to the next episodes if Basilone is going to have a big part...given what the near term holds in store for him, being a CMOH "winner". 

I LOVED band of brothers, and was holding this show to the same expectations. So far it hasn't met them. It's been alright so far but I liked band of brothers much more, and I feel the doesn't have as much character developement or action scenes, and i feel like the action scenes aren't as direct..

However I will say I did like the last episode.

My grandfather was in the Navy and while in Australia he met my grandmother(born and raised in Adelaide) and brought her back, so it was cool to see that kind of played out in the last episode...My grandfathers best friend(who is pretty much my "uncle") also fought in one of the battles coming up, so i'm also excited to see that.


Edited by fire34fighter 2010-03-31 9:00 AM

Racial hatred angle is wrong.


Edited by Johners 2010-03-31 12:25 PM

Unfortunately, history is a spoiler - His story is one of a true American war hero, and I for one and looking forward to it.  The actor who play Basilone is already showing the torment on his face as being sent home and leaving his brothers behind.  Even though, as the col said, getting money for the war effort is more important than slogging through the mud on the solomons, he still felt like he wasnt contributing enough.

As far as the younger sledge being a little too gung-ho.  It was pretty accurate during the time.  Everyone wanted to do their part, and for men, it meant enlisting and not feeling 'man' enough if you weren't eligible. 

I agree that Letters and Sands are better depictions of the Pacific theater (so far), but I am enjoying the story and cinematography and willing to take it to the end.  They only spent one episode on AU, even though they were there for almost an entire year.  And also remember, the war in Europe was deemed as more important, and what we are watching now is before D-day and before the pacific and WWiII really got started. 

I enjoyed the new episode and think this still has potential, just bear with it.

Anyone been watching it? I missed all but episode 5, but I’ve been following it otherwise. It’s pretty good overall, but, as I feared, it doesn’t really feel “new”—it kinda feels like Band of Brothers, but with palm trees. I haven’t found any of the characters, with the exception of Leckie, to be as interesting or fully-formed as some of the guys on BofB.

The last couple episodes have ben on Peleilu. I was there a couple years ago, and visited the airfield and the caves the Japanese used, it was pretty sobering then, but I had no idea the battles were so horrific. I'd like to go back with this new perspective

Its gotten a lot better...my grandfathers life long friend fought on peleliu so its been interesting to watch.

That would be an awesome visit.  I'm very envious.  I know I would be very misty.....for both sides. 

I just finished E. B. Sledge's book "With the Old Breed" last week and I can only imagine what they all went through on those Islands.
I thank God every day for their sacrifice for us and our country.
I highly recommend the book. Fast read, very sobering.

Finally got to watch episode 7.  Very Raw, Brutal, Stunning.    Great Acting.

Every episode has been better than the previous one, for me. I'm really liking the series and I LOVE Band of Brothers.

It's great to see the Pacific campaign come to life, as we mostly do hear more about Europe (except of course for Pearl Harbor and Midway).

My grandfather was a POW in the Philippines for 39 months, so getting to see some of what was around him is rather sobering. 

In what way do you mean? Do you mean that it’s not an accurate portrayal of the sentiment at the time, or that it’s inappropriate to portray that element in the series?

Not sure where this was going,  but I do find it interesting that they had interment camps for Japanese families, but also the U.S. Army did have a unit fighting in the European theater ,  442nd Regimental Combat Team.

It's acceptable but I too had higher hopes.  It's hard to put my finger on, but I sort of think they want to include everything and not have anything overlooked, but at the same time, not even 12, 1 hour epidsodes is enough do fully develop all the characters (as soon as you sort of get to know one, they are gone) AND to fully depict each of the significant battles...

I think more than a 10 minutes segment could have been used to cross the airfield at peleilu...  for example.  But THEN they give an entire 3rd episode to Australia.  I get that was a part of the story (and they didn't want to gloss over it), but really not THAT important of an item.  To spend just about as much time showing them do the training hike in Australia as they did crossing the airfield?  I don't get it.

I also recomment Helmet for a Pillow by Robert Leckie.   Good stuff about the Canal...and part of the series.

I think it just happens they decided to use the Leckie and Sledge books.  Otherwise you could do the series about Tarawa, Okinawa,  Iwo Jima, and other battles (just saying...and where ever else they battled....)

Freaking Marines with ratty, sweat/shitstained fatigues and the 5000mile stare was really achieved in the cinematrogophry of the show.  (i know my speeling is offf)

I read recently that Gunney Basilone was submitted for a second MOH for his action on Iwo Jima, but it was down graded to the Navy Cross.  Not sure where I read it.

Any way...I was a little distressed that episode 8 was going to be just another of the drama lovey dovey  shows.  But was happily proved wrong.  Good action, military discipline and great acting.

I tried goggleling Sgt Lena Basilone.  Not much info.  Found one link to her obituary.
http://akinoluna.blogspot.com/2010/04/john-basilones-wife-part-two.html

Edited by BellinghamSpence 2010-05-02 9:30 PM

Yeah I enjoyed tonight's episode...and Lena was on Law and Order as one of the ADA's I believe (can't recall her name though).