Band of Brothers
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Movie Reviews of Band of Brothers
Movie Review: World War Two comes to Life like Never Before
Summary: 5 Stars
Michael Kaman,music.
Kaman is responsible in a large part for the success of this wonderful mini series co-produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg.The music is epic in tone,grand in sweep and sets the emotional mood throughout the series.Kudos to Kaman for his spectacular work.
The series,based on the book by the late Stephen Ambrose of the same name,follows the exploits of the men of the 101st Airborne(Screaming Eagles),506 PIR(Parachute Infantry Regiment),E(Easy)Company from their training in Toccoa,Georgia in 1942 to near the end of the units de-activation at the end of /46.Ambrose while generally a good author was known to have his "moments" and "Band of Brothers" was no exception.The biggest mistake he made here is depicting E Company taking Hitlers' so called "Eagle's Nest" above the town of Berhtesgarden,first.In point of fact the 7th Infantry from the Third Infantry Division took it on May 4/45,a day before the 101st arrived.This has been long known fact as it was even in the 101st Divsions' own official history in "Rendezvous With Destiny" and even in(the Airbornes' own over all commander)General Maxwell Taylors' memoirs,both written years ago.It's unfortunate Ambrose didn't do the proper research.In 2008 a plaque was finally dedicated at the "Eagle's Nest" site of the 3rd's accomplishment.
However,despite this faux paux and others much smaller,the series is still an oustanding piece of story telling.It tells with great drama,grit and realism the story of these brave and great young men as they trudge across Europe,often enduring the unendurable.There is little left out as far as realistic touches go;from the equipment,weapons and machinery used to the interaction of the men themselves and the wounds they receive both pyhsically and mentally,as they slowly and surely bond with each other,becoming "brothers" in arms.We also witness a certain"pecking order" that develops amongst the men;from those that were there from basic training and all the way to end,as compared to the replacements that arrive piecemeal into the group.
There are ten eps in this series ranging from around 50-70 minutes in length.All are filmed in widescreen(taken from a hi-def master)with a colour-washed sepia tone to them,giving a nice added touch to the proceedings.Also the camera work and editing provides(especially during battle scenes)a wonderful immediacy that draws the viewers easily into the action.
The actors throughout the series display a wonderful restraint,an "under-acting",if you will,which again serves to enhance the entire pace and mood of the series(watch for Simon Pegg of "Hot Fuzz" fame briefly as a courier!).From the acting to the directing,editing,story writing and to it's final execution,it is top drawer all the way.Therefore it was no surprise that it garnered itself six of the 19 Emmy awards it was nominated for.I believe it is STILL the most successful DVD release of all time to date,and deservedly so!
Along with the 10 eps on five discs,each disc contains a story summary,the usual scene selection and language selections,along with a "field guide" which includes:an intro to the field guide,soldiers(a blurb on the main characters),an historical timeline,a general map of Europe,a glossary of terms(military jargon,etc)and chain of command which lists the ranks of command from top to bottom,in order.On the sixth disc there is a documentary"We Stand Together Alone",about 77 minutes long.Also a behind the scenes doc about 29 mins.long,a video on-set diary by actor Ron Livingston(Capt.Dixon),some footage on the premiere of the film in France in June of 2001,little vids of each Easy Company persona and a photo gallery.
I cannot recommend this set"Band of Brothers" highly enough.Although vets and WW2 buffs will get the most out of this set,there is enough plain human drama and emotion in this series to attract just about everyone in every demographic.Very few watching will be able to catch or really care about any mistakes that may have arisen in the series.Its'intelligent and highly crafted story line,its great acting and beautiful soundtrack far and away make up for any shortcomings.A great piece of historical stortytelling that belongs in every one's home!
Movie Review: Outstanding Realism and Underlying Themes!
Summary: 5 Stars
Without a doubt, HBO's mini-series based on Stephen E. Ambrose's book _Band of Brothers_, is the best war film ever produced! Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks has proven unequivocally that the old adage "truth is stranger (and more interesting) than fiction," holds true. Realism and an undauted quest to bring to the screen the actuality of the combat experience in an infantry company, resonates in the countless themes exhibited throughout the film. The production team, that consisted of eight directors, including Hanks, has accomplished an extraordinary feat both on and beneath the surface of this remarkable mini-series. What the viewer sees in this action-packed movie will delight the staunchest war film aficionado. The directors utilize the same revolutionary cinematography techniques first seen in Spielberg's prior effort, "Saving Private Ryan." The chaotic hand-held camera work places the viewer right in the heart of the battle scenes. The addition of all the latest computer generated special effects, clearly confirms how great a war movie can be when backed by a big budget (lucky for us Spielberg is a World War II buff). The night jump over Normandy is arguably the best battle sequence ever shot on film. But it is the countless themes beneath the surface of the film that makes "Band of Brothers" a true gem, and destined to become a film classic. Let us always remember that this is not only the story of an elite Airborne company, but of the actual men who made up Easy Company. The Army succeeded in molding these men into a fine-tuned combat effective team through the most intense, rugged mental and physical training. Individuality is discarded and team-work is exemplified if one is to survive in combat. Yet regardless of the level of training, it is human beings that are sent into combat, and Easy Company's rank and file consisted of individuals of varying and diverse human attributes and character defects. And the film illustrates the "humanity" of Easy Company beautifully. The 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment had good and bad leaders. The outstanding and natural leadership abilities of its level-headed commander Captain (later Major) Richard Winters (Damien Lewis) are off-set my many who could not make the grade. Anyone in a managerial position at any corporate level would benefit from watching the varying leadership styles depicted in this film. Likewise, a handful of youths filled with a volatile mixture of naivety and bravado will, through fire and death, become a solid cadre of N.C.O's. Their role is vital not only to a successful combat mission, but also to the survival of green replacements. Yet the horrors of war affected all ranks within Easy Company and the producers wisely chose not to sugar-coat anything. Alcoholism and the murder of enemy prisoners by officers and enlisted men alike, are very real themes boldly conveyed in the film. Combat exhaustion, or "battle fatigue" is another unpleasant topic displayed in the film. Men who could not be broken physically (several of Easy Company men recovered from wounds and went A.W.O.L from hospital to rejoin their unit), succumbed to the mental strain of constant exposure to enemy fire. Looting, murder and a general callousness towards the German civilian population after witnessing the horrors of a concentration camp, are also very real occurrences that took place within the entire European Theater at war's end. Band of Brothers is not only an action-packed and riveting war picture, but also an accurate social history of the American G.I. in World War II. Any combat veteran, particularly those who fought in Europe, can relate to the experiences (both internal and external) of these men. Any relative of a combat veteran, regardless of what unit he served, will gain a better understanding of their loved-one's experiences. Captains Winters, Nixon; Lieutenant Speirs, Compton; Sergeants Lipton, Martin, Randleman, Toye, Guarnere, Malarkey and others are not made-up characters, they are real men. And it is their real-life experiences, so accurately captured in this film that defies any screenwriter's pen. I cannot recommend this package highly enough. Five stars...Bravo!Movie Review: A harrowing look into the men of easy company.
Summary: 5 Stars
In 2001,in wich began in 1998 Director Steven Speilberg and Academy Award winner Tom Hanks colaberated to put together this
120 million dollar epic cable miniseries about the trials and
the tests of the men of easy company an elite paratrooping and
combat company formed in the start of World War 2,when Japan
attacked Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 it was obvious that the
United States and it allies would have to come up with some new
companys one of these companys were easy company these men were
voulenteers who didn't even or never even heard of easy company
some voulenteers for more pay from the military little did they
know that they would be pushed harder then any other company in
the Army.
To there gruleing traning , to the epic invasion of D-Day
through the doomed operation market garden to take Holland and
the unbearable conditions of Bastogne in the Battle Of The Bulge
and the discovery of a death camp that tells the men of easy
company why they are fighting in the war and finally the take
of Hitler's home Eagle Nest.Some men of easy company would at
times freeze in battle of fear,others would be wounded,the rest
would pay the ultimate sacrifice for there country , they loved
each other , they hated each other,but one thing is for sure
they were united brothers in arms they relied on each other and
the world would come to reliy on them,and behind enimey lines
the one thing these men could trust was in themselves and each
other because that's the only comfort they had in the horrors
of war, this monumental epic series captures the men in easy
company in such a way that it becomes a living monumemt of the
sacrifices our country asked of them and they would do these
orders with fear but with no questions asked.
Because of the intrest that the Academy Award winning Saving
private Ryan brought back for World War 2 made it possible for
Steven Speilberg to show what a film could not the experiences
of an entire company in World War 2 and he couldn't have picked
a more respectable company of men who may not have thought each
other as hero's but this series shows that the men of easy were
just that American Hero's an insightful and emotional docudrama
We Stand Alone And Together:The real men of easy company wich
shows in there own words of the veterans themselves what it was
like for them to live in the heat of battle and there bravery
and courage to go on and live normal lives with the thought
that the men who really earned the title of American Hero's
were the ones that never made it back to there loved ones and
were willing to pay the ultimate price for this countrys
freedom.A realitive cast of unknowns including Damian lewis and
David Schwimmer, and Donnie Whalberg make Stephen E. Ambrose
harrowing book come to life in realistic and respectful ways
that pays homage and tribute to these brave men who just were
doing what there country asked of them but would forver become
a Band Of Brothers for life and death they were united.
Quite frankly one of the best cable series ever made winner
of 6 Golden Globes a very fancy metal casing houses 6 disks of
each of ten episodes and an extra DVD with Special features and
information on the army and the history of easy company and the
campaigns they they took in ,stats on the men of easy company
maps timelines and the respectful and emotional docudrama We
Stand Alone And Together that shows the real easy company that
only makes the veiwing experience that much more real and does
the series honor in paying tribute to these brave men if you
own one series this is the one to own and never forget the
sacrifices of the brave men and woman past , present and soon
to be future for it is to them that we enjoy this great freedom
we have today a great edition to your DVD collection.
Movie Review: BAnd of Brothers
Summary: 5 Stars
Movie review: Band of brothers:
Easy company will always be remembered
Have you ever wondered how part of WWII was fought in the eyes of the airborne? Well look no further, cause Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks have done it again. This HBO big hit show is now on a DVD box set.10 disk, 10 hours of almost non-stop WWII hit action TV/Movie is one of the greatest.
The name is Band of brothers, it is based in the years 1944-1945, and it is Europe and in Germany. Band of Brothers takes you through the eyes of the men in easy company. They are apart of the 101st Airborne Division, US Army, and 506th parachute regiment. It takes you through the training of e-company, the airborne assault on Normandy (D-Day), through the harsh fighting in Carentan, the liberation of Holland-and the fighting in Holland, the move into Bastonge, taking the town of Foy. A patrol to take three German prisoners, and the last two episodes are about the end of the war.
It has some of the best sound affects, greatest looks. It's WWII and it follows the story behind the airbornes point of view, so US and the Germans, and it has some of the best character selection.
If you want all WWII, well here you go. Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks have succeeded with one of the best WWII movies. It started on HBO then onto history channel, then to a DVD box set. The name of this DVD is Band of Brothers-BoB.
Band of Brothers takes you from the training of easy company all the way to the end. It goes through many locations, Normandy, Carentan, crossroads, bastonge, Ardennes forest, the town of foy, to the German lines, and then into Germany. So you will get smarter about WWII, I know cause I did, it told me a-lot.
Here are some facts about band of brothers. Based on the bestseller by Stephen E. Ambrose, Band of Brothers tells the story of Easy Company, 506th regiment of the 101st airborne, division, US army. From the interviews of the real men/survivors of easy company, as well as the soilders journals and letters, Band of Brothers chronicles the experiences of these men who knew extraordinary bravery and extraordinary fear. They were on the elite rifle company parachuting into France early on D-Day morning, fighting in the battle of the bulge and capturing Hitler's eagles nest at Berchtesgaden. They were also a unit that suffered 150 percent casualties, and whose lives became legend.
The main character (I think) is major winters, who start out as a Lt. And goes all the way to a major. Here's something that he says but I don't remember all that he says, "After the war is over I'm buying a big piece of land all by myself for the rest of my life." Now you got to remember I don't think those are his actually words but I think their close. My favorite character Is George Luz, why he's my favorite character is cause he can imitate anyone and act like them, I think he's funny when he's not fighting but when he's fighting he's serious. I also like "Wild Bill" cant really spell his last name but if you have watched you will know what I'm talking about.
I recommend this to eleven year olds and up. Kids younger will not understand what's going on and ask to many questions. And theirs cussing, but its war theirs going to be cussing. Also you'll learn something if you watch it over, and over like I do.
Out of all the WWII movies I've seen this is the best. Cause it has great sound, great looks, and great character selections. Its realistic cause its true stuff. Great sound cause they took a-lot of thought into it and their real. Great character selection cause it connects with the real people.
Next time you're at Wal-Mart or at Sam goody and you have $80.00 you might as well check this out. Or you can go to your local video store and rent this series. Here is a question, do you think e-company make it through all of the war? Well you might as well find out.
Movie Review: Amazing Series--Much Better than "Saving Private Ryan"
Summary: 5 Stars
"Band of Brothers" is an excellent docudrama of the 101st Airborne Division, Easy Company's training, and military exploits including D-Day, the failed Operation Market Garden, triumphant survival during the Battle of the Bulge, and subsequent forays into Germany and Austria until the Allied victory in World War II. The series contains an excellent format in which each episode is preceded by the accounts of aged Easy Company veterans who both set the tone for the drama that follows and who remind us that (unlike "Saving Private Ryan"), this is not a Hollywood adventure film-it's the real thing. Each episode is based on a true story and none of the characters in this series is fictional.
The DVD series also contains some excellent supplementary material. Each episode also includes a brief summary, biographical information of the principle individuals, and historical details about World War II, the American military, and maps that pinpoint Easy Company's progress.
The most remarkable aspect of this series is that it allows us to witness life in Easy Company from a variety of situations including training, leave, deployment, and combat, as well as a variety of perspectives. We see the entire life of the company from the lowest ranking soldier, to the executive officers and we experience issues ranging from killing and surviving on the battlefield to navigating through the thick military bureaucracy.
Not surprisingly, the most sympathetic people in this series are the non-commissioned officers who provide the actual leadership of the company under all circumstances. When Easy Company is lead by competent field officers such as Winters, Compton, and Spears, the NCOs simply augment their effectiveness with their own professionalism and understanding of the day-to-day realities of their men. In some situation, however, Easy Company is lead by incompetent officers such as the hapless Lt. Dike who (like our President) is given command because of his connections but proves vacant and cowardly during a crisis when leadership is most needed. In such situations, command of the company unofficially and almost unnoticeably falls to the NCOs who must hold things together and make them work in place of the leadership needed from above.
Equally as interesting is the mindset of Easy Company. Veterans who have survived training and battles together command the respect of green replacements. Even returning veterans, who have missed out on a battle or two because of their wounds, are not given an instant welcome but must prove themselves on the battlefield again.
"Band of Brothers" inevitably contains many dramatic moments since it examines battlefield heroism, survival, fear, despair, killing, and the horror of seeing your buddies die. Unlike "Saving Private Ryan" however, this series manages to be dramatic without being melodramatic. "Band of Brothers" simply recounts events and explores some of the feelings behind those events and fortunately, it does so without moralizing or sentimentalizing as "Saving Private Ryan" wound up doing.
After watching this series I came to see the "greatest generation" of World War II veterans in a new light. It's not so much that they were better than our generation or that we are worse than theirs. It's just that they had great leaders and a just foreign policy, which motivated them to unite and make sacrifices for the greater good. Unfortunately there is no such leadership or foreign policy in place today. Consequently, despite the fact that Americans are hungry to serve their country in a meaningful way, they simply can't unless they figure it out on their own. You see, right now, we are all under the leadership of Lt. Dike and the only thing he's good at is serving himself or chickening out during combat.