The Pacific (HBO miniseries)

[Shane]

I did think this past episode, the love story, etc., was actually more of my favorite episode than the other two so far.

Well Duh it is you Mike

 

[Shane]

I do find the acting to be pretty good. The guy who plays Leckie has impressed me as well as the guy who is play Basilone.

Lecky character is a complete bore. His acting is just not very good.

 

[azsportsfan01]

Lecky character is a complete bore. His acting is just not very good.

Watch the last episode again. When he opened up to the greek family and was talking about how his family never really wanted him. He delivered that extremely well. He also did a good job when breaking down at the stadium and pulling his gun on the officer. He isn't nearly as bad as you think he is.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Watch the last episode again. When he opened up to the greek family and was talking about how his family never really wanted him. He delivered that extremely well. He also did a good job when breaking down at the stadium and pulling his gun on the officer. He isn't nearly as bad as you think he is.

i gotta go with Shane on this one. that characters just does nothing for me.

 

[82CardsGrad]

i gotta go with Shane on this one. that characters just does nothing for me.

 

[Cheesebeef]

this really is an impeccably well made series that unfortunately does very little for me. I'll watch it till the end but we're in episode 4 and I really could care less about these characters, ESPECIALLY Lecky.

 

[82CardsGrad]

this really is an impeccably well made series that unfortunately does very little for me. I'll watch it till the end but we're in episode 4 and I really could care less about these characters, ESPECIALLY Lecky.

Again...

 

[Shane]

this really is an impeccably well made series that unfortunately does very little for me. I'll watch it till the end but we're in episode 4 and I really could care less about these characters, ESPECIALLY Lecky.

Yup. Totally agree!

 

[Cheesebeef]

ok, just rewatched the last episode and actually really liked it, especially the 2nd half of it. It was the first time I actually cared about Lecky. Problem is this...

SPOILER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!









Lecky is now gonna be gone from the series until the finale apparently. Makes no sense in how they've structured this thing. They make Basilone a hero and someone to care about and then yank him from the story... they finally make Lecky someone to give a damn about and then yank HIM from the story. I don't get it... but will continue to watch.




END SPOILER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

that's all... and mods who know how to spoiler this up, go ahead and do so cause I got no clue how to do it.

 

[azsportsfan01]

Once again, I think the guy who played Leckie did a very good job. He was able to get across (at least to me) all the troubles these soldiers have and trying to keep it together. The guy who I really like was the soldier who had to finish off any Japanese soldier who wasn't fully dead. When Leckie found him in the mental hospital, he was just a wreck. He played that very, very well.

One thing I have done that has helped me a ton is re-watching each episode after a day or two so I can catch things I may have missed. There is so much packed into each episode it is tough to see it all.

 

[LVG]

ok, just rewatched the last episode and actually really liked it, especially the 2nd half of it. It was the first time I actually cared about Lecky. Problem is this...

SPOILER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!









Lecky is now gonna be gone from the series until the finale apparently. Makes no sense in how they've structured this thing. They make Basilone a hero and someone to care about and then yank him from the story... they finally make Lecky someone to give a damn about and then yank HIM from the story. I don't get it... but will continue to watch.




END SPOILER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

that's all... and mods who know how to spoiler this up, go ahead and do so cause I got no clue how to do it.

History gets in the way, I believe.

Basilone goes off and wins the MoH, then promptly gets his butt shipped home to sell war bonds. Now, I'm sure war bonds are exciting stuff, but don't quite know how they would translate to the small screen.

Unlike BoB, the Pacific has to contend with the fact that units got pulled off the line while other units went forward to take the next island.

For example - when 1st Marines was pulled off of Guadalcanal (12/42), until it saw action again at New Britain (12/43), the following battles took place in the Pacific Theater of Operations:

Tarawa, the Soloman campaign, and a good part of the New Guinea campaign as well.

There's no "single unit" that fought in all of the major Pacific campaigns, that I am aware of. Again, going back to the 1st Marines, after New Britain, they'll head off to Peleliu, then to Okinawa. They never fought at Iwo Jima.

So, part of the problem is that you don't have a single unit, like BoB, that you can follow, get to know, and still touch on all the major battles in the Pacific.

 

[CaptTurbo]

They should have picked a unit that fought in New Guinea. That had the most gruesome fighting in the pacific.

 

[Cheesebeef]

They should have titled this show "Band of Guys Fighting Really Important Battles Who I Could Care Less About".

It's just too all over the place for me. Again, production wise it's breath-taking, but the characters... egads! I understand that history is probably getting in the way of following just one set of characters but that's why this might be better served as a documentary and not a narrative 10 hour piece.

 

[Zeno]

History gets in the way, I believe.

Basilone goes off and wins the MoH, then promptly gets his butt shipped home to sell war bonds. Now, I'm sure war bonds are exciting stuff, but don't quite know how they would translate to the small screen.

Yep. Basilone does return to combat though, not sure if it is part of the series or not but if I remember right he is the only Marine MOH winner to return to combat in WW2 and be killed.

It's hard for this series to focus on individual Marines because the campaign itself is the real story. If they wanted to focus on an individual character they would likely have to focus on a single engagement like Okinawa and follow an individual through that bloody battle.

 

[LVG]

Which reminds me, here is Basilone's official MoH citation:

For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry in action against enemy Japanese forces, above and beyond the call of duty, while serving with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division in the Lunga Area. Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 24 and 25 October 1942.

While the enemy was hammering at the Marines' defensive positions, Sgt. Basilone, in charge of 2 sections of heavy machineguns, fought valiantly to check the savage and determined assault. In a fierce frontal attack with the Japanese blasting his guns with grenades and mortar fire, one of Sgt. Basilone's sections, with its guncrews, was put out of action, leaving only 2 men able to carry on. Moving an extra gun into position, he placed it in action, then, under continual fire, repaired another and personally manned it, gallantly holding his line until replacements arrived.

A little later, with ammunition critically low and the supply lines cut off, Sgt. Basilone, at great risk of his life and in the face of continued enemy attack, battled his way through hostile lines with urgently needed shells for his gunners, thereby contributing in large measure to the virtual annihilation of a Japanese regiment. His great personal valor and courageous initiative were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.

and his Navy Cross citation (spoiler alert):

Spoiler

For extraordinary heroism while serving as a Leader of a Machine-Gun Section, Company C, 1st Battalion, 27th Marines, 5th Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, 19 February 1945.

Shrewdly gauging the tactical situation shortly after landing when his company's advance was held up by the concentrated fire of a heavily fortified Japanese blockhouse, Gunnery Sergeant Basilone boldly defied the smashing bombardment of heavy caliber fire to work his way around the flank and up to a position directly on top of the blockhouse and then, attacking with grenades and demolitions, single handedly destroyed the entire hostile strong point and its defending garrison.

Consistently daring and aggressive as he fought his way over the battle-torn beach and up the sloping, gun-studded terraces toward Airfield Number 1, he repeatedly exposed himself to the blasting fury of exploding shells and later in the day coolly proceeded to the aid of a friendly tank which had been trapped in an enemy mine field under intense mortar and artillery barrages, skillfully guiding the heavy vehicle over the hazardous terrain to safety, despite the overwhelming volume of hostile fire. In the forefront of the assault at all times, he pushed forward with dauntless courage and iron determination until, moving upon the edge of the airfield, he fell, instantly killed by a bursting mortar shell.

Stouthearted and indomitable, Gunnery Sergeant Basilone, by his intrepid initiative, outstanding skill, and valiant spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of the fanatic opposition, contributed materially to the advance of his company during the early critical period of the assault, and his unwavering devotion to duty throughout the bitter conflict was an inspiration to his comrades and reflects the highest credit upon Gunnery Sergeant Basilone and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.

 

[Shane]

Yep. Basilone does return to combat though, not sure if it is part of the series or not but if I remember right he is the only Marine MOH winner to return to combat in WW2 and be killed.

It's hard for this series to focus on individual Marines because the campaign itself is the real story. If they wanted to focus on an individual character they would likely have to focus on a single engagement like Okinawa and follow an individual through that bloody battle.

Seemed to work in BOB? All the campaigns themselves were and the individual stories worked in perfect unison it seems. Where these are just way to jumpy. They just aren't made as well for some reason.

Thanks for putting the Basilone story in Spoiler BTW.

 

[Joe L]

For those that haven't seen this, here is a 20 minute mini movie of The Making of The Pacific.

It pretty much explains the purpose and the difference between BoB and The Pacific.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94et1Bb53mw

 

[Renz]

They should have titled this show "Band of Guys Fighting Really Important Battles Who I Could Care Less About".

If the characters in the series live or die, I really don't care. No one in this thing to really root for.

 

[Cheesebeef]

If the characters in the series live or die, I really don't care. No one in this thing to really root for.

completely agree. HBO's Treme premiered last night and it had a ton of characters and the story jumped all over the place... but I actually cared about almost every one of them (save Steve Zahn). I expected this series to grow on me, but the further I get into, the less I give a crap.

 

[Zeno]

Seemed to work in BOB? All the campaigns themselves were and the individual stories worked in perfect unison it seems. Where these are just way to jumpy. They just aren't made as well for some reason.

Thanks for putting the Basilone story in Spoiler BTW.

BOB followed a particular company didn't it? Heck the name, Band of Brothers connotates it's about a particular group--it was really a single operation for them, the European theater was much different than the Pacific in how it was fought for obvious reasons.

The title "The Pacific" to me means the campaign itself is the central focus. It would be hard to focus on that entire campaign by using one particular unit as it would be difficult to follow when not every unit participated in every island invasion. Had they just focused on Iwo & Okinawa they probably could do it but the entire island hopping campaign is just too much.

To be honest I am not thrilled with the episode dealing with leave in Australia or the hospital episode. I guess I would prefer a more dramatized documentary than what we are getting so far.

Oh and sorry about the Basilone thing...didn't really think about it being a spoiler.

 

[Buckybird]

They should have titled this show "Band of Guys Fighting Really Important Battles Who I Could Care Less About".

It's just too all over the place for me.

I agree cheese. This series is not even close to being as good as Band of Brothers.

 

[Renz]

I liked Episode 6 the best so far. Finally some characters to identify with and care about, Sledgehammer, Snafu, Gunny Haney, the Captain and Lieutenant. Much more Band of Brother-ish tonight.

Too bad it took 6 episodes to get there.

 

[82CardsGrad]

I liked Episode 6 the best so far. Finally some characters to identify with and care about, Sledgehammer, Snafu, Gunny Haney, the Captain and Lieutenant. Much more Band of Brother-ish tonight.

Too bad it took 6 episodes to get there.

Ditto...

However, one major complaint I have is the actual, limited amount of viewing... I mean, they start every show with a 8-10 minute set-up so it's not until 9:10 that the episode actually begins. And then the episodes end at 9:50! 40 mins of actual viewing... that sucks!

 

[Shane]

I liked Episode 6 the best so far. Finally some characters to identify with and care about, Sledgehammer, Snafu, Gunny Haney, the Captain and Lieutenant. Much more Band of Brother-ish tonight.

Too bad it took 6 episodes to get there.

Agree. These characters are by far better.

 

[Buckybird]

Ditto...

However, one major complaint I have is the actual, limited amount of viewing... I mean, they start every show with a 8-10 minute set-up so it's not until 9:10 that the episode actually begins. And then the episodes end at 9:50! 40 mins of actual viewing... that sucks!

I think its 7 min to be exact