Rating: Summary: My father was there. Review: My father was one of these paratroopers during WWII and it moved me profoundly. I cried and cried watching this, having heard about it firsthand from my father.I am sending this DVD for Christmas to my son and his own little boy, as this is their heritage. In a way, it's every American's heritage.
Rating: Summary: Best image quality I've seen in a nonanimated feature on DVD Review: I didn't see anyone mention this so I thought I would. The image is so crisp during the interviews especially, that you'd swear you could reach out and touch the vets. Also the sound is extremely well done in DTS. bullets wizzing past your left speaker will woosh on past your rear left. You can hear following solders running behind the camera when it's following a solder up front. I was quite impressed. Everything else reviewers have mentioned here is true as well, so I won't rehash.
Rating: Summary: Best War Movie Ever!! Review: This was the best war movie my whole family has ever seen. We were glued to the TV every night....Couldn't wait to see the next one. Would recomend to any one even the slightest interested in this War.
Rating: Summary: Outstanding war drama! Review: Band of Brothers are very exciting drama. the movie's sound is very reality and wonderful. Actor's acting is very excellent. I think that true leadership is devoution and self-sacrifice. Capt. Winston is good leader. See this movie, and you will gain many lessons that are about true leadership.
Rating: Summary: An Ambrose/ Spielberg/Hanks Masterpiece Review: I wanted to watch this mini-series when it was released on HBO, but couldn't seem to work my schedule so that I could watch each part of the series. So, after I missed the first part, I decided to wait until it came out on DVD. It seemed like a long arduous wait, but the product released made it all worthwhile. Not only is this mini-series one of the most exhilarating war stories ever told, it is told by the courageous men of Easy Company themselves. When you watch and listen to the veterans talk about their experiences (at the beginning of each part) and then watch the story unfold as they go through basic training and end the war at Obersalzberg (Eagles Nest), you feel a certain gratitude towards these men and the sense that the words "Thank You" just aren't enough. You will see how brotherhoods are formed, the cruelties of war (yes, we were cruel also), and many of the sad misfortunes that go along with war. This isn't just a mini-series for entertainment purposes, it's a documentary. The six DVD set comes in a collector's tin and folds out with five of the DVDs that have the ten part story on them and one additional documentary DVD. I promise you, buy it and it will be something that you watch over and over again.
Rating: Summary: No English Subtitles Review: The DVD release is fantastic. You can read other reviews for praises, etc.... I only have one gripe--NO ENGLISH SUBTITLES! Makes it hard to watch in the evening when the little one is asleep. Otherwise, love this set.
Rating: Summary: an heirloom for humanity, the best! Review: An intimate look at the men who gave their lives so the world can be at peace--this documentary-movie definitely salutes them. I'd give this 10 stars. This movie is not just something one must own, it's a gift one must pass on so others will learn and remember. Kudos to the makers and actors of this film and thanks for giving us a way to keep the spirit of these brave men alive for the next generation!
Rating: Summary: A miniseries to experience. Review: Band of Brothers will probably play as a curiosity piece for those who've heard a lot about it, but know next to nothing of the miniseries' story or ambitions. Some might just dismiss it as another in a long line of war films, which would be too bad. Band of Brothers is among the best war films I've ever seen, and don't let the made-for-TV label dissuade you. This may be a miniseries, but few films have achieved the epic scale and attention to detail this work creates. The miniseries' focus is on Easy Company, elite paratroopers fresh out of training and ready to make their drop over Normandy pre-D-Day. They're led by Lt. Richard Winters, a young, but intelligent, clear-headed officer who proves effective in the heat of combat. The film concentrates on Easy Company's journeys and battles through war-torn Europe, as well as the men themselves, and the growing effect war inflicts upon each of them. As Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks' second collaboration, Band of Brothers is a monumental achievement that approaches Saving Private Ryan in its ability to place you in the heat of combat. This miniseries isn't quite as successful with character development, mainly because the huge cast makes it hard to tell some people apart, especially when their faces are covered with dirt and grime, a consistent sight you'll get used to here. But the attention to so many details (including the characters) is what makes Band of Brothers a triumph. Most notable is a scene not long after the parachute drop, when one of the members of Easy Company encounters a German prisoner, who's actually from America, but fights on the opposite side because of his ethnic background. There's even a fairly in-depth description and meaning behind a flower that a dead German soldier has pinned to his buttonhole, a historical detail I was never familiar with (see, TV does teach you stuff). Most of the series is concerned with the camraderie among the members of Easy Company. And despite a cast of relatively unknown actors, there's not a weak performance throughout. As Richard Winters, Damien Lewis excels, displaying the admirable qualities that made this man so respected and beloved among his men. It's a superb performance, and hopefully it's the beginning of a great career for Lewis. The other standouts in the cast include Neal Mcdonough as an initially gung-ho soldier who undergoes the greatest transformation after he's shot in battle, Donnie Wahlberg as a thoughtful private who's quickly promoted through the ranks, and Matthew Settle as an enigmatic soldier who's so calm in the heat of combat, he almost becomes a living legend. Puncuating the moments of character interaction are the battle scenes, which are numerous, graphically violent, and often ferociously intense. Given the miniseries' 10 hour running time, you should prepare yourself for probably more battle action than any war film you've ever seen. The combat presented is harrowingly realistic, often resembling Spielberg's own work in Saving Private Ryan (methinks the fact he served as executive producer here is the main reason for all the similarities). The standout segment is the drop over D-day, sporting the most hair-raising aerial combat I've ever seen. The sight of paratroopers desperately trying to make their jump as flak threatens to down their plane is among the most terrifying sights I've ever seen. The other battle sequences focus on infantry combat. The miniseries does an excellent job of conveying rigorous gun battles and ubiquitous artillery. These scenes display a fair amount of clever strategy, particularly when Easy Company tries to disarm several German artillery sites, and do an excellent job of showing the difficulty of fighting in a variety of different settings (small towns such as Carentan, as well as snow-covered forests and villages). The production values are all first-rate. The special effects are mostly outstanding and the miniseries truly has the look and feel of the time period. Without a doubt, every penny of this 125 million dollar budget was well-spent. Less successful than the production is Michael Kamen's score, which is actually pretty good; there's at least one adrenaline-pumping, rousing theme, but the music threatens to turn into schmaltz during the quieter moments. While dramatically powerful, Band of Brothers is never quite emotionally devastating (unlike Saving Private Ryan, which is what makes BOB slightly inferior to it), with perhaps the exception of Part 9, which focuses on the discovery of a concentration camp. It's eerily disturbing, horrific, and every bit as graphic as what was featured in Schindler's List. Band of Brothers is flawed, but its pros by far outweigh the cons. This is an experience not to be missed.
Rating: Summary: THE Classic History and War Drama Review: This sets the standard by which all war movies will forever be measured. The only danger is that someday someone will say, as has been said of Shakespeare, "Band of Brothers is all cliche," forgetting that it was the original from which the cliche came. One complaint I have heard is that the men seem all alike in their uniforms, dirt, and blood. But as you watch the entire series and watch it again the subtleties become readily apparent. Finally, it is difficult not to fall in love with Winters, a reaction I shared with many female friends.
Rating: Summary: Ordinary men doing Extraordinary things! Review: This is the best "true" war docu/movie I have ever seen. One for the ages. I didnt have HBO when it was first shown, so I had to wait for the DVD. It was worth the wait. Some people have made the comparison with Saving Private Ryan. To be truthful, "Ryan" had a weak story line, if it were'nt for the amazing battle scenes, it would have been a flop. Anyway, this is far superior, and the most amazing thing is that, this is a "true" story. These guys were truly brave souls and we certainly owe them our freedom, so, the next time one of these old guys is driving 20 miles per hour on the road, and you blow your horn, just remeber it was that generation that you owe your freedom to. DVD Features DTS and DD5.1 surround and 16:9 widescreen format, so you see the film in its original format is great. Just one gripe..not with the movie itself but with the timing of the documentry "we stand alone together" They should have put this on the very first disk. When you see the "real" men, it gives you a greater appreciation of what they did. I am in awe..
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