Band of Brothers (Rpkg / Blu-ray)

Simply put, this is one of my all-time favorite TV mini-series.Tom Hanks and Stephen Spielberg, as executive producers, and the cast and crew did a tremendous job of recreating the American paratrooper experience in World War II.There are so many things I enjoy about this mini-series, it's hard to write them in narrative fashion, so I'll use bullet points:* The use of interviews of actual Easy Company members to open the episodes, telling their memories of the actual battles and their thoughts and emotions. Some of them are identified in the final episode.* The dessicated color, which is similar to that of the US Army Signal Corps color footage of the time, along with hand-held camera work, which puts the viewer directly "in" the battle scenes. Unlike "The Longest Day," these battles are neither "clean" nor distant. You're right there in the gore, and there's a lot of it.* The use of Ron Livingston's character as an intelligence officer (and therefore, a "know-it-all") to provide the linking information about strategy and the progress of the war.* Each episode focusing on a different theme or subject: training, assault, overcoming fear, settling in as a replacement, leadership, medical care, reaching personal breaking points, endurance, resilience, dealing with horror, and picking up life after it's all over.* Outstanding performances by ensemble actors who were trained in a "boot camp" atmosphere for their role.* Attention to period detail...the equipment and dialogue matches the war and the 1940s.* The use of subtlety...for example, when we first meet Sgt. Carwood Lipton, he has just sewn on his sergeant's stripes, indicating that he has been freshly recognized for his leadership skills, which will expand through the series. In that same episode, Colonel Sink describes an exercise plan to his officers -- that's the one they actually carry out.* Michael Kamen's superb musical score.My three most favorite moments in the series are these:1. The aerial and seaborne armada heading for Normandy under the Kamen music...I remember the great CBS reporter and commentator Andy Rooney, in his essay on D-Day, writing about how that invasion was not about achieving glory or conquest, but simply an effort to free a continent from it enslavers and return it to its rightful owners, and thus, one of the most unselfish acts in history. When I think of that phrase, the immense effort behind it, and the immense sacrifice to achieve it, and see that scene, I'm moved to tears.2. The "Why We Fight" episode, in which the Easy Company guys come face-to-face with the true horror of Hitler's regime and the task of defeating him hits home -- to most GIs, even paratroopers, it was a dirty and tough job to be done, not a moral crusade. Entering those camps changed all that, and the Americans understood what the war was about -- it was more than the phrase that is taken from the Frank Capra films. "Why We Fight" is for a strong moral reason.3. A scene near the very end -- and I apologize for the spoiler -- in which a surrendering German general asks permission to say farewell to his troops. We see exhausted and surrendering German soldiers, battered by war, listening to their general. He gives a speech, which Gottlieb translates into English, and you suddenly realize that the German general's speech could apply to the guys in Easy Company, or any other American combat unit -- or a British unit...or a Canadian unit...or a New Zealand unit...an Australian unit...a Soviet unit...just about any military unit in World War II (or many other wars), with the certain exception of such sadists as an SS Einsatzkommando, Japan's Unit 731, or the Dirlewanger Brigade...he is giving a benediction to all the kids who get conscripted into and caught up in their country's wars, and suffer and endure.It is a brilliant scene because you know that the American generals (and British and Canadian and New Zealand) and their colonels and captains gave similar speeches to their own armies, and Easy Company's men heard it from their bosses. But that would be cliched. All you would need to complete the cliche would be a band. For the audience to hear it from a German general raises that moment from the cliched to the specific (of the place and time) and the universal (of the statement being offered). It's a powerful scene, in a powerful mini-series, and the timing of its appearance on HBO -- during and after 9/11, was a source of strength and inspiration to Americans during an agonizing moment in their history.As for these aging men of the real company -- I will never forget how they were specially honored and recognized at the 2002 Emmy ceremony, and am grateful to have had the privilege to meet and dine with the family of one of them -- Wild Bill Guarnere.It should go on to inspire future generations to match and excel Easy Company's deeds, and every American should watch it.

If you ever wanted to know which movie/mini series is the best portrayal of WWII. Band of Brothers is just that. Not is it only based on true events but also the men (who are from the greates generation and true heros) who fought for our and the worlds freedom. Thank you!

This is absolute the best movie/series about World War 2. From the cinema photograpy to the dialogue is absolutely perfect. The series was cast to perfection. Damian Lewis play Major Dick Winters. Silencing the guns at Brecort Mansions is still taught at West Point. I recommend this to everyone.

One of the best WWII movies out there - modern style of course. Old stuff like Tora!Tora!Tora!, Bridge Over River Kwai and more are not to be missed ever, but B.O.B. is right up there. Riveting, disturbing, thought provoking, and more. You learn to care about all the men of Easy Company by the time it's over. You start watching the first episode and you can't help but, return as soon as you can and watch the other 9 back to back to see what happens as the company moves from the US to England, Belgium, Holland, and Germany. So sad to know so many good men never made it home. They went through so much - starting it all as young men barely out of their teen years and end four plus years later completely different than they started. All fought for a cause greater than themselves - some did it with ferocious bravery, others with courage and dignity and some, sadly near cowards, but doing the best they could in the most difficult of circumstances. My husband and I have seen this series about three times so far and came back again. It never gets old. Nor does the story of evil that must be overcome by good and men called to arms and doing what they must to save themselves and those they care about back home. I especially enjoy the clips in each episode where they do small interviews with the "true Easy Company" men who did beyond the call of duty. The real men - Captain Winters, Nix, Bull and more. You then return back to the series to see the actors that played each of these men. Of particular enjoyment is Battle of The Bulge war scene, when they take Hitler's mountain retreat and the final scene where the men play baseball in Germany and as VE day is called, you get a snap shot of where each of the men who made it end up in life - jobs, marriage, location, age, etc. And some even went on to the Pacific theater to finish the Japanese. This series was done back in 2001 and is still fresh and new as if it was just done. The cast is huge in this motion picture - too many to name or count - you may recognize some of the actors either newer to acting or moving on to new projects like David Schwimmer (yes, Mr. Friends himself), Donnie Whalberg (New Kids on the Block & Donnie Loves Jenny realty show fame), Damian Lewis, Neal McDough (more recently in Justified series) Jimmy Fallon (yes, small part but now a talk show host!), Such a wonderfully done series - don't miss it. I/we can't say enough about how great this series is. 5 stars and then some!