Generation Kill
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Movie Reviews of Generation Kill
Movie Review: Great interpretation of the book based on -FABULOUS CASTING
Summary: 5 Stars
Not many of us give thought to what it must be like to be in combat, particularly in someplace like Iraq. This series tells the story (based on the non-fiction book by Evan Wright) about a group that was on of the first on the scene in Iraq at the beginning. Certainly a complex topic, but with many facets to it. Not only does it show the war side of it, it shows the human side that those serving are faced with. It's complex and rather gritty at times. The series doesn't glorify war and there's no political slant to it. It focuses on the marines and what goes with it.
I actually started reading the book that this series was based on by Evan Wright before I started the series. The characters that were described so well in the book are brought to life on screen with a fabulous cast that is led by Alexander Skarsgard as Brad Colbert, Team Leader. This series cetainly shows his range as an actor. He's the "iceman" - calm, tough and calculating, but also shows humor, compassion and downright sadness at times. We get many glimpses of him behind a large gun and what he conveys with his eyes nothing short of amazing. Also James Rascone as Ray Person, Brad's Humvee driver and a great source of comic relief. Sleep deprived and on "RipFuel", he's usually telling stories, making jokes or singing songs, but you see him a bit down a few times and he does that equally as well. Stark Sands is excellent as Lt. Nathaniel Fick. His performance is a little more difficult to describe, but I can't imagine someone else cast in the same part. His interactions with the entire cast are fantastic.
The rest of the casting is great as well, but the 3 mentioned above were the most noteworthy. I don't own any "series" DVD box sets, and this is my first. Well worth the time. If you like the series, check out the book that is was based upon.
While the series follows the dialog almost verbatim most of the time, there are things in the book that are not in the series, as well as insights and more information about the marines in the series. The book gives the information, while the series gives a visual and puts a face on the marines described.
Movie Review: Outstanding Series
Summary: 5 Stars
This series is an accurate and engrossing depiction of combat in Iraq. The Marines are presented realistically, as neither heroes nor villains, but men doing their jobs. There are stoic idealists like Sgt. Colbert and borderline psychotics like Cpt. America, and everything in between. This is just like any military unit, or any group of people for that matter. Instead of idealizing war, Generation Kill simply gives viewers a glimpse of what it is really like. And by the same token, the series does not condemn warfare, as many documentaries and films are so tempted to do lately.
War is frustrating for the individual soldier. Not just the Iraq War, but any war. Generation Kill does an excellent job of capturing this frustration. The Sergeant Major's obsession with the grooming standard is a perfect example of how military units often lose track of what their priorities should be. But in the Sergeant Major's defense, standards are set for a reason. And if you stop enforcing some, others will usually follow. In combat, small standards and procedures often determine whether people live or die.
On a more technical note, the acting and writing in Generation Kill were very well done. Realistically portraying a soldier or marine is probably one of the most difficult roles for an actor. There are so many subtle nuances of being a soldier or marine, that without actually being one, it is hard to understand them. Generation Kill did a great job of training the actors to look and sound believable.
I was in Iraq for 27 months, in 2005 and in 2007/2008, and I can attest that this series is about as accurate as you can get in a film. I am in the Army, but I worked pretty extensively with Marines during both of my tours, so I have a pretty decent knowledge of how they work. In the end, whether you are Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force or any other armed service member, the Iraq experience is for the most part universal. At different times you feel a wide range of emotions, from disappointment and despair, to elation and nostalgia. And Generation Kill does a great job of bringing those feelings to the viewer in a realistic and respectful way.
Movie Review: required vieiwing
Summary: 5 Stars
In Generation Kill, David Simon and Ed Burns (creators of HBO's Critically Acclaimed series, "The Wire") give us highly realistic portrayal of the invasion of Iraq and the trial and tribulations experienced by the Marines who led the charge. The events here were orignally reported in the book of the same title by Evan Wright, an embedded Rolling Stone reporter sent to document the first days of the invasion.
Though it is now clear that the military incursion into Iraq was "bungled" by our defense, military and political leaders, in Generation Kill, we see how much of an effect it had on the soldiers sent to lead the charge. They went in without armor for the turrets on their Humvees, without enough batteries to keep their night vision goggles powered, without a clear plan as to what exactly they were going to be doing. Further, the political in fighting and occasional incompetency among the marine leadership on the ground in Iraq simply creates more confusion and chaos for the soldiers of this unit to contend with.
I can only hope that Generation Kill (both the book and the mini-series) serve for years to come as a realistic document of the Iraq war and a reminder that when sending our military in to foreign battles, we equip them with not only the supplies they need, but the forethought and planning that is necessary to keep them safe and make their operations run smoothly.
I recommend this to anyone with any interest in the Iraq war, regardless of wether or not they support it. They only way we can prevent the arbitrary use of our military in foreign conflicts in the future is to keep the American public informed about what happens. Generation Kill is a first hand look at the situation in Iraq, and much credit should be given to HBO, David Simon, Ed Burns, Evan Wight and the marines whom this miniseries is about, for bringing it to life and showing us, from the comfort of our living rooms, what is was like to be there.
Movie Review: Brutal, Relentless, and Authentic
Summary: 5 Stars
As an Iraq veteran I was skeptical about watching this at first, thinking that it would be a "Hollywoodized" version of the war. Then a buddy of mine told me it was by far one of the greatest shows he's ever seen, so I gave it a go. Halfway through the first episode I was awestruck. Like the title of my review states, this show is brutal, relentless, and above all AUTHENTIC. Though I was with the Army, our job was very similar to these Marines in that we rode around in Humvees searching for the bad guys.
Anyone who has served in Iraq in a combat role will relate to these Marines all-too-easily. Well talk the same, have the same frustrations with the chain-of-command and understanding our mission some days (though thankfully my unit did not have anyone like "Captain America"), and deal with the same issues regarding supplies, lack of sleep, and fighting an enemy who the day previously may have been begging you for food.
Some viewers may be turned off by the extreme vulgarity and profanity, but fact is that is the way most "grunts" talk. And I think every Platoon or Squad in theater has its own "CPL Pearson." Fact of the matter is, none of us are saints and war does bring out mankind at both its best and its worst. "Generation Kill" shows both sides to the Marines in the rawest sense. One thing I like is that it does not attempt to take a political stance one way or the other on the war. Some may view the series as anti-war, given the way some of the Marines question their mission and why they are there. But again that is another reality of this war.
I never thought I would ever want to watch a movie or series about Iraq, however this is by far one of the best series I have ever seen, period! For anyone who is a veteran, knows a veteran, or just wants to know what the war over in Iraq is really like, "Generation Kill" is a must see!
SFC James Mace, U.S. Army
OIF III, 2004-2005
Movie Review: I'm Just A Teenage Dirtbag, Baby
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been watching David Simon shows since Homicide so I guess you can call me a fan. Honestly, after The Wire, I needed a little break from him so I consciously decided not to watch Generation Kill when it aired on HBO but when holiday season rolled around and I had time to sit and watch a mini-series in its entirety, I decided to go ahead and just buy GK. I've heard some lukewarm reviews (some having to do with the casting, others involving "what really goes on in combat", and others still... involve the lack of action) but I really loved this show and can't say enough about it.
If you're expecting some shoot-em-up style show, then you don't know David Simon. It's definitely dialogue-based with long moments or action, suspense, and pretty graphic scenes (if you can't handle someone getting shot in the eye and seeing it, this is probably not the show for you). It takes about 2 episodes to really get into the characters because of the ensemble cast (which is another David Simon idiosyncrasy). Even as a fan of some of the actors, it took me a minute to distinguish them (especially Alexander Skarsgard and Stark Sands who look nothing alike in real life) but again, if you watched The Wire or Homicide, you know you're just going to be dumped into a situation that is already happening and no one's going to hold your hand. But once you get a handle on the complex characters, it's a fantastic show; great acting, beautifully shot, incredible sound design, and an interesting perspective on the war.
I don't know how I would have felt if I had to wait a week between episodes. I know a lot of people who "didn't like it" after only watching the first episode. Like I said, it took me a minute to distinguish the characters/actors so as far as the DVDs go, I recommend watching at least the first 2 episodes back to back. But it's definitely worth it.