Band of Brothers

[Dichotomy]

HBO is replaying this starting I think tonight at 7:00 CST... Glad I caught it because I've never bought the movie for myself.  

If you haven't watched it you should.

[FBplmmr]

is ther e a DVD set ?

[plank]

There most certainly is a DVD set:

 http://www.amazon.com/Band-Brothers-David-Frankel/dp/B00006CXSS/sr=8-1/qid=1162433001/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-5238166-7648113?ie=UTF8&s=dvd

[Big Mickey]

An amazing piece of film making. I was actually quite surprised it ever got green lighted. Especially nowadays when it's just easier to remake old TV shows into features or remake Freaky Friday for the umpteenth time.

On the same note, sort of, has anyone seen "Flags of Our Fathers?" curious if it's worth the time.

Big Mickey

[FiLtH]

I liked Flags, but it wasnt the caliber of Band of brothers. I think it tried hard to be like Saving Pvt Ryan. It flashes back and forth a bit too much for my taste but most of the combat scenes are pretty good. The movie had a definate saddness to it, which is fitting. I felt they kind of rushed the end a bit the way they killed off the guys who originally raised the first flag.

   Favorite scene was the corsairs roaring past the invasion fleet, and seeing all the lvts forming up before going in. Id see it on the big screen if you want to watch it, before having to watch it at home.

[DREDIOCK]

Originally posted by Big Mickey
An amazing piece of film making. I was actually quite surprised it ever got green lighted. Especially nowadays when it's just easier to remake old TV shows into features or remake Freaky Friday for the umpteenth time.

On the same note, sort of, has anyone seen "Flags of Our Fathers?" curious if it's worth the time.

Big Mickey

Didnt surprise me as much it was made considering the clout of the names behind it.

What I particularly appreciated was how close to the book it was. With really very few,very minor things having creative licence applied to them.

Even given the length of the series some things were left out. But nothing too major and is quite understandable considering the time constraints of trying to cover several years in a couple months of 1 hour episodes.

Was one of the few movies I have seen that was almost as good as the book. As well as accurate to the book.

Unlike Say..Jurrassic Park. Where the movie, and the book are two completely different stories.
There I saw the movie first and loved it. then read the book. And got mad because they shoulda made it more like the book.
the movie is still great. But about the only thing the two have in common, are some of the charactors. and that they the cloned Dinosaurs.
Other then that. they arent even remorelhy the same story.

If you havent seen B.O.B. See it. If you havent read B.O.B.  Read it

And if you liked BOB and found yourself hungry for more but havent read them yet. Also read Ambose's "D-Day" and "Citizen Soldiers"

D-Day is about the events leading up to and including  the first day of the invasion. and Citizen soldeirs takes you from Day 2 to the end of the war.

Both GREAT books

Another book "the Victors" is basically a readers digest condenced version of D-Day and Citizen Soldiers

[SmokinSS]

Along the lines of BOB give a look at the book "biggest Brother". It is a nice companion that gives more insight into Richard Winters.

[Big Mickey]

Since we're throwing out books here's a couple worth reading.

"Miracle at Midway" ISBN: 0140068147
Excellent account of the battle from the author of "At Dawn We Slept"

"Target Ploiesti"
Not sure if this is in print anymore but is one of the best bomber books I have read. It was written by Ted Newbey (If memory serves) who was a bombardier on B-24's in the 15th out of Italy. It covers his experience of 50 missions over occupied Europe. Goes into excellent detail of the cat and mouse game played by the 15AF and the defenders of the Ploiesti Oil Refinery's. And is also full of quite a bit of humor which is a bit odd for a war book, but welcomed all the same. (Note) I did hear that at some point the publisher renamed this book so it my be floating around out there under another name.

"Wings of Gold" ISBN: 0891418539
Covers the role of the United States Navy aviators in the 2nd World War. Not the best book out there on this material, but a very enjoying read.


Big Mickey

[Sloehand]

Band of Brothers is arguably the very best WWII ground combat re-enactment ever produced, especially as it is based closely on real life exploits.  The realism, as I can best equate from studies and discussions from those that were there, is spot on.  Notice who produced it and who was involved in Saving Private Ryan.  That should tell you something.

Flags of Our Fathers comes close to the same level of realism in the combat scenes and is overall very well done.  But the movie style is, as said before, a bit too jumpy in it's flashbacks.  It will be 15 to 20 minutes into the movie before you get to understand the flow, plot and real focus of it.  

I as the topic was of great interest I easily stuck it out until I got into the sense of it.  One important note, it is very, very historically accurate on most every point I can determine.  Who died, when, and how.  The homefront scenario, the finacial crisis, etc., was all true to life.  The biggest thing I got from the movie, which I knew intellectually, but the movie really brought home, is just how close we came to losing the war due to financial and economic exhaustion.  I believe this is a rarily acknowledged contributing reason for the authorization to drop the A bombs on Japan and get the war over quick.

Definitely, worth seeing and having any of these productions.

[pluck]

yes, worth watching. i watched it when it first came out, and then again when i got the full set on DVD.  very well made, my favorite being the interviews after each episode with some of the many hero's of WW2

[DREDIOCK]

Originally posted by SmokinSS
Along the lines of BOB give a look at the book "biggest Brother". It is a nice companion that gives more insight into Richard Winters.

Havent heard of "the Biggest Brother"
But I have read Winters book "Beyond Band of Brothers"

Written By Dick Winters.

Another great book although of a slightly different flavor then BOB.
Good book for anyone interested in leadership

[Brooke]

Originally posted by FiLtH
  Favorite scene was the corsairs roaring past the invasion fleet,

Heh!  Me, too!  That and the Corsairs over Iwo doing runs on Mount Suribachi (including some rocket attacks) and taking fire.  I like that a lot.  The rest of the movie is OK, but I agree that it is nowhere close to Band of Brothers.

My favorite WWII movies:

Midway (truly awesome -- if you haven't seen it, you need to! )
Band of Brothers (ditto)
Das Boot

[lasersailor184]

Notice who produced it and who was involved in Saving Private Ryan.

Band of Brothers was made as an apology for Saving Private Ryan.

Sort of like, "Sorry guys.  We ****ed up.  Here's something awesome.  I hope you don't hate us for the rest of your lives."

[DiabloTX]

Originally posted by lasersailor184
Band of Brothers was made as an apology for Saving Private Ryan.

Sort of like, "Sorry guys.  We ****ed up.  Here's something awesome.  I hope you don't hate us for the rest of your lives."

Well, that's your opinion.

[rpm]

Originally posted by lasersailor184
Band of Brothers was made as an apology for Saving Private Ryan.

Sort of like, "Sorry guys.  We ****ed up.  Here's something awesome.  I hope you don't hate us for the rest of your lives."

What have you been smoking?