Band of Brothers

[Dixie]

I started watching Band of Brothers. I'm on episode 2 and so far it's very captivating. The camera work (filmography?) is excellent, and the acting is good. Okay, except David Schwimmer. He's probably a great guy, but personally I've never thought he could act. He seems to have only two emotions, and both look the same. Then again, what do I know?

So, Did y'all enjoy Band of Brothers? What stood out to you, good or bad?

PS, I know, I know, there's probably some previous thread on this, but I don't care.

[Skytrooper]

I love Band of Brothers! I have watched it many times, same with The Pacific. These movies immerse you into a darn good idea of what WWII was like. The stories of course, have been “adjusted” for dramatic interest. The combat is very well portrayed. They are very good mini series !

[herr_oberst]

One of the few movies I own. Love it. So fun to see the guy from Office Space in a drama.

(And I feel exactly the same way about Schwimmer. This is the perfect role for him. Exactly what I think of him)

One thing about this movie. When I watched it when it first came out, I remember thinking the violence and gore were eye opening and thought provoking. Now, we have Private Ryan, Inglorious Bastards, Fury - movies that make Band of Brothers seem pretty tame.

And of course the realization then sets in that no movie would ever be able to depict the absolute true horror of a war.

[look 171]

I think its up there with Saving Private Ryan. Tom Hanks has been pretty good in all he's involved. One of my fav. war movies.

[look 171]

Phil robinson is an old client of mine, every time I see him, I remind him that he did an alright job as the director in the first episode. He laughs.

[Steve Carlton]

I thought it was excellent and liked the later episodes when they got into Germany.

[Dixie]

Originally Posted by Skytrooper

These movies immerse you into a darn good idea of what WWII was like.

I'm sure as $h!t glad I never had to serve, let alone see combat, so mad props to those that answered the call to serve. Bless y'all.

[pwd72s]

I've watched it several times, have the box set. Kind of personal for me. You see, when Cindy & I would go to the Cue ball in Salem, Oregon, there was an old guy who'd show on many Thursday afternoons. He loved playing "golf", a low stakes gambling game, on the hall's snooker table.

I have it on good authority that the series is "mostly true", except for one thing he said was added for dramatic effect. That he is sure nobody in Easy Co. ever saw a concentration camp, or he'd have heard about it.

Another memory from when I asked where he was after he missed a Thursday, he said he was in Omaha for a book signing & band of brothers gathering for a museum. I then asked how he handles airport hassles at his age? "I didn't. Tom Hanks sent his jet for me." I had to chuckle over that one, imagining people at the small Salem airport wondering who he was to have a private jet show up...

Don Malarkey passed in 2017, but I'll always remember our conversations...He loved flirting with Cindy...soldiers like "younger women", right?

[look 171]

Paul, you must have had some great stories.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by look 171

Paul, you must have had some great stories.

One brief one I'm sort of proud of. Howard Shoemaker, a Playboy cartoonist & I were pen pals for decades..since the 60's. Anyway, after I'd written about knowing Don, Shoe sent a clipping from an Omaha paper. The article was about an Easy Co. vet who had never talked about his war experience. While watching Band of Brothers with his daughter, he said something in a scene was wrong, the church was on the wrong side of the road. First his kids had a clue he was Easy Co.

Anyway, I gave this clipping to Don the next time we went to play, asked him if he knew this guy? "Know him? He was in my platoon! We've been trying to find him for years!"

So, another contact made...just happenstance, but I'll always be glad it happened.

Definitely, Don had some stories...from his jump before others began storming beaches, to drinking Hitler's booze atop the Eagle's nest, Don was there. A miracle guy...never a purple heart, making it all the way without a scratch. I'm honored to have known him.

By the way, I don't know if it's still in print, but he has a book. "Easy Company Soldier". It's a good read...talks about more than just the war...

(edit) The battle of Brecourt manor is described well by "The operations room"...a much better description of what happened than in the series:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=814qEsxSzmA&ab_channel=TheOperationsRoom

[Bill Douglas]

I loved it. The best thing I've ever seen on tv.

That and the Sopranos LOL.

[ramonesfreak]

Loved it. Have the box set and watched it dozens of times.

[flatbutt]

I've read that Schwimmer did a good job of portraying Sobel.

[Steve Carlton]

I think he did. The problem is Sobel is an extremely unlikable character. Actors get disliked because of that. Fortunately, Sobel is gone quickly and only seen briefly later.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

I think he did. The problem is Sobel is an extremely unlikable character. Actors get disliked because of that. Fortunately, Sobel is gone quickly and only seen briefly later.

Good point...in his book, Don mentioned that he was not angry at Sobel, realizing Sobel was making them tougher for the hard things to come.

[GH85Carrera]

One of our customers landed on Omaha beach the second day. He wwas in many battles but he said thee worst was the battle of the bulge. It was insane cold, and heavy causalities. he said one sight that haunted him the most was the dead soldiers stacked up like cord wood each all frozen stiff. It was hard to get him to talk much about the war until Band of Brothers came out. Then he opened up to his grand kids and they wrote down some of his battles. He wwas not in Easy company, just one of the many other men fighting for the free world.

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

I loved it. The best thing I've ever seen on tv...That and the Sopranos

Agree on both!

They gave serious attention to production values on Band of Brothers. I was surprised to learn that the Arden Forest scenes were all shot on a sound stage instead of outdoors. All those prop trees

Camera work was amazing too...

[berettafan]

every bit as good or better than saving private Ryan!

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

One of our customers landed on Omaha beach the second day. He wwas in many battles but he said thee worst was the battle of the bulge. It was insane cold, and heavy causalities. he said one sight that haunted him the most was the dead soldiers stacked up like cord wood each all frozen stiff. It was hard to get him to talk much about the war until Band of Brothers came out. Then he opened up to his grand kids and they wrote down some of his battles. He wwas not in Easy company, just one of the many other men fighting for the free world.

Good point...defeating the axis, winning WWII, took the efforts of many people from around the globe. The 101st ABN and Easy Co. played their part, but they were a far cry from alone. Bastogne was a part of the battle of the bulge, but it wasn't the only part.

[Jim Bremner]

When Band of Brothers came out we let our elder two son watch it. We knew it would be too gruesome for the younger two sons. We re-watched it when "The Pacific" came out. All four sons, a Nephew and a "Fith Son" all on the couch to watch it. Band Of Brothers to me is a better miniseries. I did own a M1 Garand prior. Bought a M1 Carbine and a 1903A4 to round it out. I think that the weapons master in both series did a great job. I do want a WW2 era 1911