tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post5061633855435983570..comments2024-03-28T18:01:28.997-04:00Comments on What's Alan Watching?: The Pacific, "Part Five": On the beachAlan Sepinwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-83216897870332725472010-04-28T02:50:35.600-04:002010-04-28T02:50:35.600-04:00I'm enjoying the series, although I agree abou...I'm enjoying the series, although I agree about the wasted time spent on 3 minute mini-docs, 2 minute recaps, a 2 minute intro, a minute of upcoming scenes, and 3 minutes of credits. All that time shortens the length of the actual story to nearly that of a network TV show. I find that appalling. 11 minutes out of each week that could be used to fill some of the holes in the narrative. <br /><br />When you think about it, by the end of the series, we will have lost out on almost two hours of story, making The Pacific more like an 8-part miniseries.Lem_Fliggityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09535608734858978195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-78785784621842566562010-04-20T17:53:53.878-04:002010-04-20T17:53:53.878-04:00I think that my biggest problem with this series i...I think that my biggest problem with this series is that I'm only connecting with Leckie, and everytime he's off screen, I'm pretty much uninterested.Ju!https://www.blogger.com/profile/12563811114478808362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-27793584898500896072010-04-17T13:58:16.180-04:002010-04-17T13:58:16.180-04:00I am enjoying this series to a degree, but my disa...I am enjoying this series to a degree, but my disappointments do not just stem from having thoroughly enjoyed BoB... more significantly than that, I've been waiting in anticipation for this series since it was first announced -- over FOUR years ago! (I think it was provisionally entitled 'The Pacific War' at the time?).<br /><br />I agree with others that a 10-part mini-series is insufficient to convey the experience of the US marines in the huge Pacific conflict. <br /><br />With that in mind, why complicate the task further by trying to incorporate three central characters with their own storylines? <br /><br />Perhaps the writers should have dropped Basilone as a main character but kept him as a significant secondary character in the Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima battles. The Basilone war bonds sub-plot is unnecessary (in such a tight-fitting series), because that theme has already been thoroughly portrayed in 'Memphis Belle' and even more so in 'Flags of Our Fathers'.<br /><br />Dropping at least one central character would have meant the series could concentrate more on Leckie and/or Sledge (for whom there is more source material i.e. published memoirs) and their fellow soldiers, giving the writers more room to develop these characters and give us the bigger picture of the Pacific war.<br /><br />I also agree with what others say about the Tom Hanks intros. If your Pacific war history knowledge is up to scratch, the intros are useless anyway (just put 'Guadalcanal 1942' on the title screen, for example). For those less familiar with the history, the intros are arguably a spoiler to some degree. Worse still, combined with the 'story so far' recaps and overly-long title sequence, this clutter really eats into the limited time to get stuck into the actual story each week. <br /><br />For example, episode 5 is approx. 55 minutes long. The very first actual scene doesn't start until the 7 minute mark, and the last 4 minutes are taken up with end credits. That leaves only 80% of the total time for actual story telling! The previous episodes are much the same in this respect.<br /><br />I think the underlying theme of most people's gripes with this series is the lack of depth. With such a tight limit of 10 x 54 minutes to tell such a big story, I think too much time has been wasted on recaps, intros, title sequences, end credits -- and at least one central character too many.Jon Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-39637300796686052872010-04-17T03:00:47.559-04:002010-04-17T03:00:47.559-04:00Rami Malek was amazing in this episode. He, alone,...Rami Malek was amazing in this episode. He, alone, made this episode great. Hopefully his character gets more screentime in the upcoming episodes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-68758662996482500352010-04-15T13:34:01.017-04:002010-04-15T13:34:01.017-04:00I had high expectations for this series based on t...I had high expectations for this series based on the excellence of "Band of Brothers".<br /><br />If I could say one thing to the producers I'd say, "Don't tell us. Show us." Based on the other comments I'm reading I'm not alone.<br /><br />Having said that I feel Part Five is setting us up to spend some time in one place so we might get to actually feel some of the hardships of battle.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-76888956053124874642010-04-14T09:38:02.299-04:002010-04-14T09:38:02.299-04:00I think this was the best ep so far. The "Bat...I think this was the best ep so far. The "Battle of Peleliu" beach storming scene was spectacular. Superb direction to say the least.<br /><br />I hadn't bothered looking up the name of the actor who plays Eugene, and kept trying to remember where I had seen him. Jurassic Park, of course. :)<br /><br />Nice seeing Torv in something other than "Fringe". Damn sexy in this role. I wasn't sure when the mini-series was filmed (2007-2008), so I had initially thought this scene was done in her off-season from Fringe.<br /><br />It was great to have finally have a battle scene in daylight, and not in darkness.Kujohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10078809694509169496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-36308982308810946132010-04-14T04:54:57.613-04:002010-04-14T04:54:57.613-04:00I didn't turn out my lights and I knew what wa...I didn't turn out my lights and I knew what was going on. Clearly the way those nighttime battle scenes were shot was a conscious choice, made to convey very specific feelings. You may not agree, but I thought it worked brilliantly. However, calling it "production inattention" seems off the mark to me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-7646607077307049322010-04-13T11:10:19.892-04:002010-04-13T11:10:19.892-04:00Anonymous,
Not to get too technical, but there ar...Anonymous,<br /><br />Not to get too technical, but there are dozens of ways to recreate a night battle so that it provides the kind of surprise and terror you describe.<br /><br />But it wasn't done. It's the kind of production inattention that makes people like the other commenter turn out their lights so they could understand what was going on.<br /><br />There's a level of just not caring about the audience or not working for anything new.<br /><br />Therefore you end up with moments like the battlefield deafness moment that's obviously historically accurate but was a repeat of a memorable moment these producing partners have used before.<br /><br />All I'm saying is that the detail and care taken on "Band of Brothers" doesn't appear to have had the same priority on "The Pacific".<br /><br />When an audience has difficulty following the story, they often move on to something else. <br /><br />And the ratings seem to confirm that's happening.jimhenshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07815834271470133872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-67031457987373672862010-04-13T11:08:34.774-04:002010-04-13T11:08:34.774-04:00why do people keep insisting this is a BOB redo?why do people keep insisting this is a BOB redo?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-53620974835991031612010-04-13T10:52:46.150-04:002010-04-13T10:52:46.150-04:00*snore* *snore* *snore**snore* *snore* *snore*Orihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06467842739859533468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-81758147648098497312010-04-13T10:16:57.897-04:002010-04-13T10:16:57.897-04:00To the people STILL complaining about the night ba...To the people STILL complaining about the night battle sequences... my wife and I simply turned out the living room lights to watch those episodes. We could see everything just fine.Dannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1791285043887572092010-04-13T00:21:30.511-04:002010-04-13T00:21:30.511-04:00jim,
Uhm, exactly how is changing how they shot t...jim,<br /><br />Uhm, exactly how is changing how they shot the battles so that the nighttime battles occur in the day instead so you can see what's happening NOT changing history. This was PART of the terror of the Pacific War: You and your buddies are bedding down in your foxholes for a couple hours of sleep, when all the sudden a thousand screaming Japanese are charging at you out of the pitch-black jungles surrounding you.<br /><br />I would have found the Cape Gloucester battle FAR less intense if it had been filmed as a bright sunny day, or a night with a clear sky and full moon. The driving rain, periodic lightning illuminating the battlefield, and the muzzle flashes of the machine guns and rifles of the Marines in the darkness CONTRIBUTED to the visual texture of the scene (and I LOVED the steam rising from the hot gun barrels as the rain fell on them). The scene would have lost a LOT of its surreal beauty if they had shot it in any other way.<br /><br />I'm GLAD they made the stylistic decision to follow history and utilized the darkness. I found it only added to the tension of the battles when you can't see the attack coming before it hits.Ambaryernonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-39448260868542038532010-04-12T21:10:43.680-04:002010-04-12T21:10:43.680-04:00Sister T,
Nobody was suggesting changing history...Sister T, <br /><br />Nobody was suggesting changing history, just changing the way the story was shot so you could understand what was going on.jimhenshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07815834271470133872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-36447707721612986442010-04-12T20:26:36.055-04:002010-04-12T20:26:36.055-04:00It was nice to see Carl Franklin's name in the...It was nice to see Carl Franklin's name in the credits. He directed two of my favorite films of the 19990's One False Move and Devil in a Blue Dress. Good job on this episode.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13723478672093442336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-14968031160200143722010-04-12T19:36:00.697-04:002010-04-12T19:36:00.697-04:00Why is everyone so anal-retentive and deeply nitpi...Why is everyone so anal-retentive and deeply nitpicky with their criticisms of this miniseries? I like it and watch every ep. at least 3-4 times to make sure I get the characters and nuaces right. It's 100% better than most of the crap out there that passes for 'programming.' We're stuck with reality shows about the Kartrashian whores and other reality slime. <br /><br />This is excellent compared to most of what's out there so either stop watching it if you don't like it or stop complaining. After all, no one's holding a gun to your head or trying to extract gold teeth from you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-34311941363642569132010-04-12T18:28:13.921-04:002010-04-12T18:28:13.921-04:00I understand viewers' frustrations with night ...I understand viewers' frustrations with night time battles, but would they rather the story of Gaudalcanal and half the stories of Gloucester not be told because the significant battles happened at night? or rather that the filmmakers change history and have them happen in daylight or a full moon?Sister Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05951804464704449331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-52059694440070512842010-04-12T18:02:58.969-04:002010-04-12T18:02:58.969-04:00I think the inability of audiences to connect with...I think the inability of audiences to connect with "The Pacific" is because the series isn't trying to connect with them.<br /><br />This is story telling by rote with Tom Hanks literally describing and to some degree "spoiling" what we're going to see over the coming hour.<br /><br />That's followed by a recap and credit sequence with all three taking up seven minutes before the dramatized retelling with the characters we're supposed to identify with can even begin.<br /><br />They also shot the 1st Marine's first two major battles with the Japanese in virtual darkness. It's practically impossible to communicate the horrors of war and its immediate impact on our soldiers if you can't really see what's going on.<br /><br />I also agree with several commenters that I'm lost with regard to the big picture and agree with whoever said it would be nice to have somebody describing the plan or strategy (if there was one) or the chaos of not being able to do that in this theatre of war if that was the reality.<br /><br />Taken together, it gives rise to a lot of scenes where characters deal with inaction and boredom instead of the danger and brutality the veterans regularly describe as "a nightmare".<br /><br />Battle scenes like those in Episode 5 clearly show the filmmakers are capable of grabbing their audience by the throat, but so much of the rest says they don't really want to.<br /><br />And therefore, we don't feel like it really matters if we keep watching.jimhenshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07815834271470133872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-6284333806704267292010-04-12T17:20:39.843-04:002010-04-12T17:20:39.843-04:00The cliche and gimmick dialogues have started to g...The cliche and gimmick dialogues have started to give on my nerves. <br /><br /><b>What is the target audience for this series? 8 to 13 years old? </b><br /><br />WHY everything must be explained?<br /><br />Do I need to listen to "you have to be there" 2-3 times in order to understand the hell of war and the impact on the soldiers?<br /><br />Or listen to silly dialogues between worn out soldiers about God, life whatever.<br /><br />Ok I finally get it: <br />the show was created for kids and teenagers probably trying to make them realise that a war is<br />not a video game or CNN reports but a living hell.<br /><br />Personally I get all this from the intro - documentary at the beginning while watching pictures of the real soldiers and their haunted looks.<br /><br />The rest of the episode I watch it as an accurate reenacting of the Pacific war. <br />The poor acting and the crappy writing doesn't permit anything else.<br /><br />And since I dont want to bore you more with saying the same things all over again after each episode I will review only if there is a good reason probably at the end of the series.<br /><br />Till then I suggest "Thin Red Line", "Letters from Iwozima" and "Flags of our fathers".The Bgthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07745110872360429848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-91955471452191955042010-04-12T17:07:34.449-04:002010-04-12T17:07:34.449-04:00I'm not really connecting with this and possib...I'm not really connecting with this and possibly it is all or part of everything everyone has stated so far. Maybe I was looking for something new or different on how to tell a war story or some connection to the characters that's just not clicking yet. It has all the elements, I just wish it was coming together for me better.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-79359106589522269242010-04-12T16:32:49.459-04:002010-04-12T16:32:49.459-04:00SteveinHouston wondered how anyone who survived th...SteveinHouston wondered how anyone who survived the Pacific Theater could have their "marbles intact." I just read yesterday that retiring Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens was an intelligence officer in the Pacific during WWII. So I guess we know of at least one.buddhabearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03476626189146617884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-77900524913697548512010-04-12T15:03:21.940-04:002010-04-12T15:03:21.940-04:00If I remember correctly, we didn't get the nam...If I remember correctly, we didn't get the names of the retired soldiers used in the "Band" intros until the documentary that concluded the series. I'm guessing this is because the producers wanted you to stay curious about who made it and who didn't. Not sure if they're going to have a similar doc on "Pacific" -- maybe Alan can answer that when he comes back.<br /><br />One thing I don't understand, though, is how viewers have a difficult time separating actors from previous roles. I mean, I know Hoosier was the dork in "Euro Trip," but I don't fixate on it every time he's on screen. If anything, the fact that he's made it to something bigger and better makes me like him a little more.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-27179080446856679142010-04-12T14:48:38.548-04:002010-04-12T14:48:38.548-04:00@Carter:
BoB did not reveal the veterans names...@Carter:<br /> BoB did not reveal the veterans names UNTIL the end of the last episode. Each BoB eisode began with actual veteran interviews, sans their names. However, it was easy tofigure out who Major Winters was.TinMann0715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-18842848091192253662010-04-12T14:39:23.196-04:002010-04-12T14:39:23.196-04:00Alan, what is your response to those people who sa...Alan, what is your response to those people who say "I just don't feel the bond between the soldiers in this one" or "there is no brotherhood in the Pacific"? <br /><br />To me that isn't what The Pacific is all about, it's more focused on showing how this theatre of war affected the lives of three individuals which is why they chose 3 central characters who had 3 very different paths during the war. An example being Leckie who we see in Part 1 leaving the church and in roughly 2 years turing a complete 180 and disavowing the existance of God in his conversation with the still naive Sledge.<br /><br />I feel like everyone I talk to fails to view this series as a standalone story and criticizes it only for it's differences from Band of Brothers.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12611062520131970259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-88881631783369381242010-04-12T14:37:00.618-04:002010-04-12T14:37:00.618-04:00When they interviewed actual veterans in Band, the...When they interviewed actual veterans in Band, their names appeared on screen. They aren't doing that for The Pacific. Is it because it would serve as spoilers?<br /><br />Why the lag of a couple of years between Pacific production and its debut?Carternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-80171286917107977452010-04-12T13:43:55.517-04:002010-04-12T13:43:55.517-04:00Good episode. Random thoughts:
1. I felt that the...Good episode. Random thoughts:<br /><br />1. I felt that the series was long overdue for a charismatic Gunny to break balls and be badass. This is what the Marines are known for.<br /><br />2. I would have liked to seen the evidence of the invasion of rats and crabs. I hear about this stuff, and I am expecting 'The Pacific' to help me feel the experience of it.<br /><br />3. A great scene with the Basilone brothers. One of the best scenes by Seda so far.<br /><br />4. The landing was good, but missed the critical point that the Japs were firmly entrenched, fortified and camouflaged. This instigated the use of flamethrowers later on.<br /><br />5. To keep things into perspective. We are in episode 5. It started out at roughly the same time BoB parachuted into Normandy, which started in episode 1 of their series. They had 9 more hours to focus on the details of their involvement.TinMann0715noreply@blogger.com