Cyclon8u, my father was a seabee from 1952 to 1972..servd in korea, vietnam and various ugly places. I was also in the seabees from 1981 to 1986. I was fortunate and served in nice places where nobody was killing anyone.. But did have some friends die in the marine barracks bombing in Beruit. I love Band of Brothers.. have it on DVD. It is a great story, but it is almost painful to watch the whole thing
I liked BOB for it's authentic, thru-the-eyes storytelling. Sure hope they don't get all Clint Eastwood on this and make it a 'modern interpretation' or some BS. I see this also involves the son of Stephen Ambrose--should be interesting.
It's for sure that it'll be a high quality work like Band since Hanks and Spielberg are making it. Just the trailer gave me chicken skin! "I believe in ammunition"
"Saving Private Ryan" to me was not that great of a movie, to much of the late 20th century interpretation thrown in. "Band of Brothers" on the other hand is excellent portrayl of WW2.
Wish my internet was a little better, I can't view the video! I remember reading Band of Brothers and meeting Bill Guanere, Forest Guth, and Dick Winters at the Battle of the Bulge event at Fort Indiantown Gap back in about 1998. A couple friends of mine and myself were young 17 year old reenactors waiting to turn 18 and joing the ranks (yeah 3 of the 4 of us are here in Iraq, what were we thinking then?). Carper got a unit crest from Bill, I got a 101st patch from Winters and we talked to many other veterans from different branches. Later I met up with Stephen Ambrose in DC after raising a couple thousand dollars for the WW2 memorial. I expressed how well written his books were, and how I wished to have a job like him. He was a big influnce on me picking history for my major when I went to college in 02. When the movie came out, I watched it intently. One of the things that brought a tear to me eye was that each person in the movie had a story. Each actor represented a real living person, and the events depicted on the screen actually took place. Thats what made it stand out too me. From a collectors point of view, they used correct vehicles, spot on reprodcution armoured vehicles, and excellent reproduction uniforms. I always wished they would do a movie on the fighting in the Pacific, maybe using E.B. Sledges book "With the Old Breed" to depict the war, hopefully without the Hollywood romantic interpretation.
Don't get me wrong I served 5 years in the Corps. But man I wish they would give the Army some coverage in the Pacific, the only movies that come to mind are The Thin Red Line which was fictional and The Great Raid(based on fact from the 6th Ranger Bn.). Say like The battle for Leyte, when we effectively killed Japan's oil production from Indonesia. I mean great names Adm. Halsey, Vice Adm. Kinkaid, Gen. MacArthur. And then you get to throw in the U.S. Navy and Royal Australian Navy as well. On that note what about the Naval battles Battle of Midway, Coral Sea, Truk, Phillipine Sea, the Solomons, my personal favorite the sinking of the Yamato.
I love the Corps but just like to see some more service coverage.
X1, To cover about huge number of the the Naval engagments, they could do a movie on the USS Enterprise CV-6. She was the most decorated ship of WW2, and fought in all but the Battle for Coral Sea. There is an old movie I think just called "Midway" with Charlton Heston, interesting because of the actual footage they snipped into it. I am trying to remember, I think "In Harms Way" had the sinking of the Yamato, but I beleive that was using fictional characters.
The pacific campaign was island hopping invasion from navy ships by marines, the army's part was mostly mop-up and occupation of the island after the marines did the taking of the islands.
Not to minimize the sacrifices by army personell, but because of the topography,the navy and marines were best suited for it.
Funny thing is, Band of Brothers series is playing on the History Channel right now. Even though I've seen them a million times, I just can't take myself away from watching it.