Rating: Summary: Great Miniseries on WWII Review: I think this miniseries is very good and very powerful in a sense that you would not understand. This is the best miniseries that was made for World War 2. I have had see many World War 2 films but nothing that tops this. You have not only that fact is about a company of men but it is about the famous Easy Company of the 506th and 101st airborne division. In the first episode called Currahee they have a commander named Sobel and this man is about the first man they meet in a series of commands and they meet this man Sobel. In the next couple of episodes they start the drops on Normandy during D-Day and that episode is called the Day of Days. Then you have a very cool episode called Carantan it is the raid on Market Garden that is episode 3 then 3 episodes later they have the infamous Battle of the Bulge. That takes up 2 episodes of the miniseries episodes 6 and 7. After episode 8 they get ready to come off the line and they go ahead into the forest and spot what is one of the German POW camps where they spot some stuff they do not want to see. They find prisoners of war there and they find that they are getting killed in gas chambers and they are not being fed very well because they are all skin and bones. After that they meet up in the final episode and raid one of Hitler's famous homes called the Eagle's Nest and finish raiding it and after that they set fire to the home and they win the war.All in all this miniseries made by HBO will get your heart going it is a very sad movie and that will make you feel bad for the men in Easy Company.
Rating: Summary: I agree with the person from Sweden Review: This is not a good war movie and the reviews here doesnt change that simply by the fact that americans dont know what war is. America hasnt experienced war on its soil affecting civillians. To americans war is a sport where you send some men to a far off country to fight. The review by the swede is therefore correct, BOB is just another american war movie. Too the person who said that critics of this movie should get their facts right: The Panther and Tiger tanks were ww2's best tanks, tank for tank, and their crews were superior to anything that the allies could muster. You claim that the T series was the best tank, the problem is that all russian tanks have T in their name. It ranges from the T-26 tanks to todays T-90. I put the blame on this lack of knowledge on your part to the american school system which doesnt learn american children anything about the world outside the US. The movie is good for one thing namely glorification of the soldiers who took part in it. In most cases this is well earned but in some cases for example concerning Lt. Speirs it is simply shamefull. Only in america could a war criminal like this be hailed as a war hero. There are also a lot of triggerhappy americans and in this case the movie depicts the realities of american troops in war very accurate. A european quote from ww2 sums everything up:"When the British planes attacked, the Germans took cover. When the German planes attacked, the Allies took cover. When the American planes attacked everyone took cover..." If you like movies depicting the realities of war without american "mush" and patriotism a movie like "Talvisota" or "Stalingrad" would be better. These films depict suffering on an unimaginable scale that is virtually unknown to any american soldier or civilian.
Rating: Summary: Interesting, but neither truthful nor accurate Review: This series has not been on German television so far, and there's probably a reason for that: it's unauthentic. While the characters, setting and story are very nicely done, the enemy, i.e. us, the Germans, no matter whether SS or Fallschirmjaeger, are depicted mostly as military imbeciles. At the same time Easy Company NCOs are the personified Army-Ethic, role models no matter what way you look. The sign language the troopers use is supposed to look oh so professional. Mr. Hanks seems to want to make a point with at least one surrending German getting shot every epsisode, which was against Geneva convention even back then. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate war movies, but BoB is so much blind glorification it's almost propaganda. Is there something from with war? Not according to Band of Brothers, it only makes men out of boys. And because BoB is so busy celebrating US troops, it doesn't get much beyond entertainment. If we go on making these movies, we're going to slide into more wars again and again.
Rating: Summary: Visually compelling and a Great Story- slightly adapted Review: After meeting an Easy Company veteran (one of the featured people in the book that led to the miniseries you're now reading about), he told me he was involved a little bit in the production of this series. I have read a lot on the Second World War, and spoken with many veterans. This effort, though, slightly changed from the book of the same name by Stephen Ambrose, left me awed by what the Army had to deal with as they invaded Fortress Europe, and the amount of detail that HBO sought to include when the series was made. While some may complain that this series is too pro-U.S., their complaints are pointless. The book itself was based on the experiences of one unit, and given what they fought for, and what they saw, ther eshould be little surprise at that fact. What does stand out is the efforts made to show the very real horrors of combat and how even the innocent can be swept into battle; one Belgian family's experiences as their farm turns into a battleground is shown, and makes it all the more human. I greatly enjoyed this series, and would recommend it to anyone trying to get more a of a picture of the Second World War in more than just the occasional two hour movie- it's well worth the time.
Rating: Summary: To Watch This Series-- Follow This Order!! Review: Ok-- I've noticed some comments here about it being hard to follow the many, many soldiers throughout the series, thus making it hard to "connect" with any of them. My family and I watched this together-- one to two episodes a night until we were done. We were very methodical and enjoyed the experience more because we were able to follow all of the different names that get thrown at you. Here's how I did it: 1. Watch the Last Disc (Disc. #6) FIRST. At the very least-- watch the documentary of the survivors detailing their experiences in their own words. Now, some purists may argue this with me, saying that it "spoils" the series-- you may remember someone in the documentary and therefore know they live, but I don't think it's that big of a deal and it helps you understand the characters more. 2. BEFORE EVERY EPISODE-- Go to the episode you're going to watch and the go to the different features. Read the vocab they provide, then take a GOOD look at the maps, and then-- go to the section that gives you a run-down of the characters. It changes with every episode to let you know who is going to be featured in that particular one, and gives you some background on the character--what they did before the joined the army, etc. etc. This DVD package really pushes the limits of the medium. UTILIZE the DVD!! Trust me, these two steps will make this DVD one of your prized possessions.
Rating: Summary: Short and sweet review Review: If you want GREAT reviews that really describe what makes this series wonderful, others have written them on Amazon. What I will tell you is this: Band of Brothers is one of the most inspirational and accurate series ever produced. The re-creation of the battle sequences is unbelievable. The feeling you get from the men - what the World War II experience did to and for these men reveals much about the human experience and what it is to be an American. A word of warning - if you watch this series once, you will watch it again and again; so you better have some time on your hands.
Rating: Summary: SIMPLY THE BEST WW-2 SERIES EVER MADE;CANNOT BE EXCEEDED Review: I doubt that this World War II series will ever be equalled. Many factors had to be brought together to make an epic such as this. Words fail me in an attempt to praise this series sufficiently. After seeing several episodes on HBO I knew I had to have my own copy of the series in its entirety so I could dissect and review it slowly, part by part, at my leisure. I bought the DVD package, then bought a DVD player so I could watch it. It has been worth every dollar invested. The story line and dramatization depicts E company of the 101st "Screaming Eagle" Airborne Division from the time it was formed and trained in Virginia, and all the way through the battles it fought, from D-Day to the end of the European war and the capture of Hitler's Eagle's Nest at Berchesgarten. The episodes are pure reality and the events really happened. Most of the dialog consists of the same words as they was actully spoken by the real troopers who somehow lived through it. This series tends to leave the vewer stunned and pensive for a few minutes after the screen goes blank at the end of each episode. This is largely because the surviving troopers, who are now very old men, supplied first hand accounts of the events depicted, the descriptions of what it was actually like. and much of the dialog, word for word still engraved in their memories after so many years. Each of them was given a copy of the script to review, comment on, and correct. The actors were selected, in part, by their resemblence to the young paratroopers, as they were over fifty years ago. This series should be required viewing in every American high school curriculum. Aside from breathtaking entertainment, it allows the younger generations to see how horrible war can get, and the debt all Americans owe to the young men who fought and died to preserve our freedoms. The only film that even remotely came close was the much shorter WW-1 true story, "Lost Battallion." The viewer gets to know the men's names, their personality characteristics, their strengths, and their weaknesses. The characters eventually become almost like family to the viewer. When a leg is blown off or a seemingly fatal shot is taken to the head, the viewer is genuinely upset, and later relieved when word comes that the trooper somehow survived in the hospital. This is war reality at its best, without actually being in it. The cinematography and musical score are sensitive and virtually perfect. The series was filmed in muted color, neither black and white, nor full color, but a perfect blend of both, setting a perfect mood for the time and events. Hanks and Spielberg really outdid themselves on this series. It sets a high water mark for the cinematographer's art in skill, sensitivity, and accuracy. I would add more praise but must stay within the 1,000 word review limit. Nothing I can say can do it adequate justice, anyway. Get this series; you won't be sorry. But be prepared for a dose of war reality.
Rating: Summary: The Best Mini-Series Of All Time Review: Have you read Bret Fetzer's AMAZON review yet? Start there...it's dead on. I'm just here to simply gush on and on about this series. I have never been so moved by a movie of any kind. Because of the mini-series format, the viewer is given the time needed to venture into the minds of the young men of 'Easy Company', an airborne infantry unit that took the brunt of almost every major European battle in WWII. The elaborate character development here is second to none, and you truly get the chance to meet most of the key players in Easy Company. This is what pulls you in. The narrative first person view-point is magnetic. The troops of Easy immediately become your friends, and you worry about them. And for good reason. Band of Brothers takes you to a hellish boot-camp experience where you feel their hatred for Easy Company's overly-brutal Captain Sobel. You get to parachute into the hell of D-Day in Normandy in the middle of the night. You push through France, and reach Bastogne. Bastogne is the most brutal, realistic, and unnerving WWII film-sequence(s) ever shot. You freeze in the foxholes for days with summer gear in the middle of winter and you cover up in your foxholes while you endure countless shellings from the German army. You lose many 'friends' in Bastogne. You were there. I won't ruin the rest...I have to stop myself now as I could go on forever. Band of Brothers went on to receive many awards, but I still think that the amount of publicity it received pales in comparison to what it truly deserved. I read the book 'Band Of Brothers' by Stephen Ambrose (the mini-series is based on the book), and I think this ended up enhancing my 'relationship' with the characters. I'll finish with some very bold statements. This is clearly the best mini-series ever produced, and is also the best war movie/mini-series ever created. It's all in the 'relationships'.
Rating: Summary: A must have! Review: What more can I say, Band of Brothers is historical and a must have in your collection. I haven't seen any series so exciting as this one. After seeing "Saving Private Ryan", "Pearl Harbor" and many other war movies, I really enjoyed watching Band of Brothers in HBO and now in DVD. I am a fanatic of the WWII, so this movie does make you understand many things about the historical events from last century. The DVD comes with a lot of features that you cannot miss watching, from a step to step summary of each chapter to a WWII timeline, and many more. I recommend this DVD Series to anyone who enjoys of great, great movies!
Rating: Summary: Historic Project Review: Thank God for HBO. In recent years, they have successfully delivered series after series of adult comedy and drama that networks would never touch. A prime example of this quality adult entertainment is Band of Brothers, quite possibly the finest TV mini-series ever produced. I say TV miniseries with hesitation, as that often holds a negative connotation. No, Band of Brothers is more like a series of ten mini-movies, each expertly crafted with real meaning and brilliant and emotional acting. It will serve as a testament to all involved in the project, but especially the soldiers themselves. Through the graphic and powerful imagery, any viewer learns to have an amazing amount of respect for the real life heroes the actors portray. The series is based on the book by Stephen Ambrose, which followed a company of airborne soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division. The company is tracked from their training days, through D-Day, Bastogne, and into Germany itself. The characters change as many are killed or wounded, but some, the lucky few, manage to make it all the way through the war more or less intact. Each episode is just beautifully crafted, with a gritty kind of darkness many viewers will recognize from Saving Private Ryan. The environments are amazing, with well crafted European architecture. I was really shocked at how much attention to detail they had, as the viewer really feels like they are looking back in time. Even more brutal and shocking are the action scenes. They are absolutely brutal and realistic, with some gory results. However, it is not done for the sake of sensation, it is what war is. The series does not flinch from portraying reality. Not all the soldiers were heroes, nor were they all good men. Some of the performances are really special. Probably the best one throughout the whole series was Damian Lewis, who plays Captain Winters, an amazingly strong, sober man who is so dedicated to his men and their mission. He is really the rock of the series, as he is steadily promoted. His compatriot and the other series standout was Office Space veteran Ron Livingston as Lewis Nixon, a good-natured officer who steadily descends into depression and alcoholism. One of the special aspects of the series is how they splice in real life testimonials from the veterans themselves, it lends a real somber attitude to the stories. The episodes that stood out to me include the one centering on the night jump into France on D-Day, the battle of Bastogne, and, probably the best of them all, the ninth episode in which the unit comes upon a concentration camp. Horrible stuff. A historic series that will be treasured for years to come.
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