Pacific v BoB

[DMark]

In regard to HBO's "The Pacific" and "Band of Brothers."

JMHO, but I feel that my Marine friends are getting less than they deserve with "Pacific" when compared with what we Paratroopers got with "BoB."

In fact, I get the feeling that HBO is going out of its way to show the Corps in a less than magnificent light. In a couple of scenes Marines are shown committing war crimes (killing wounded, pulling gold teeth from the dead, etc., etc.).

Also, Basilone's actions on the night that earned him the MOH are given short shift, its almost as if firing a watercool Browning without his glove and burning his arm while doing so was the major reason for the award.

And....., How can HBO not explain to the viewers who Chesty Puller is and why he IS the Heart & Soul of the Corps!

Comments?

[Guest mustangdave]

What is there to say?...Its HOLLYWOOD...the facts be DAMNED. I don't have HBO...but I watch it in hotels when I'm on road trips.

[LagerHead]

Dmark, I noticed all of those things too. Easy Company definitely was not shown in a negative light; at least not enough to notice. But the boys from 1st Marine Division, while being shown as brave warriors in fighting, are showing a bit less professionalism. More realistic maybe? I don't know, I wasn't in either place.

But as soon as Chesty Puller came walking by that first time, they should have explained who he was. Or maybe that will come later?

[Guest rystine]

Now, I only saw one episode of Pacific, so I don't know the specifics of the other episodes. That said, killing prisoners, pulling gold teeth, and general collecting of "war prizes" was pretty common in both theaters. It's not "facts be damned" so much as the facts are damning.

HBO actually showed alot of that in Band of Brothers as well. I remember several scenes where the boys of Easy company were looting through houses and personal belongings of German citizens. There was at least one scene where prisoners were shot and another where a suspected SS officer was killed (shot in the back as the unarmed man ran away IIRC). Not to mention numerous accounts of cowardice and incompatence on the part of various American paratroopers.

If you think that The Pacific is much more negative in its portrayal of Americans, you could probably go back and watch BoB with the same attention to the negatives and be surprised how similar they are. Like I said though, I haven't seen all the episodes of Pacific, so I can't say for sure.

But I do remember the first scene with Chesty, and I was a little disappointed. That said, he isn't supposed to be a major part of the series is he?

[mk19]

I guess i am lucky to not have seen it, or I'd be kicking to TV.

[robin48]

The book is outstanding. Never did like HBO when I had it, now I don't have it.

[Mike.357]

I think the series is great.

One thing to keep in mind here is that In Pacific they have done some background on the three main characters. You had none of that in BoB. And the time frame in Pacific is much greater. In BoB aside from Episode One it took place in about a year. Pacific takes place over several years, now episodes 6 through 10 are going to go by at a much faster pace. I see nothing wrong with showing Marine brutality on the Japs, they were pissed and issuing payback, that stuff happened. The tropical sickness and mental illness all happened, so why not tell that story?

And who doesn't know who Chesty Puller was, especially if they are into WW2?

I think Pacific is every bit as good as BoB. Both are outstanding.

I am going to watch last nights episode over.

Edited April 12, 2010 by Mike.357

[Guest Swamprunner]

HBO <spits>. These are the folks who have Bill Maher on.

[Guest JHatmaker]

I've enjoyed it so far, and went into not expecting a BoB II. The next episodes are going to definately go by fast. Especially the next one.

Here's a little trivia in case anyone didn't know. The character with the heart murmur who finally made it to the Corps, is the little kid from the first Jurassic Park movie...

[CBC2009]

I expected more, probably wont finish watching the series.

[SavageSig]

The Pacific is taking it's time to build up steam, but I'm beginning to really like it. I think white washing the Marines in the Pacific was done to death in the 40's and 50's. A more realistic and balanced approach is refreshing, maybe even past due. For instance, that soldier was picking gold out of that dead guy's mouth, but he was also the same soldier who wanted to sit around and watch the new guys bust their butts. Perhaps a bit of his humanity was lost at Guadalcanal. Who knows.

We should also not forget that war crimes were shown in "Saving Private Ryan" without besmirching the brave soldiers who invaded Normandy in '44. And of course there was the drunk soldier from Band of Brothers who killed several men while on a bender. You don't have to have a rah-rah-rah movie to honor our fighting men. Horrific moments like that serve to contrast against moments of great heroism and good, to make them shine brighter.

[Mike.357]

If any of you are/were Marines, the Gunny only has one stripe on the bottom.

What do the bottom stripes signify? He seems like one bad ass SOB. Also loved his campaign hat.