Review: Band of Brothers
I think everyone knows how big of a war movie fan I am. I am not really sure when I started becoming interested, but once I saw Saving Private Ryan, WWII flicks were officially on the top of the list. What is somewhat amusing is that there was ever a question as to what should be my career choice. Between the history channel, books, & other war movies, I have learned as much as possible on the topic as I could absorb. Band of Brothers was always something I heard was a good mini-series, but the price ($120 at one point) kept me away. Last year, someone was kind enough to borrow it to me. I think I watched it in 2 or 3 days. It had me hooked. Then last Christmas comes & BoB is under the tree with my name under it. Merry Christmas. I highly recommend, when watching any war movie, to turn on subtitles for your 2nd go around. Whenever I do, the amount of additional info I pick up is incredible.
The format of BoB(10-1 hour episodes) is far different than other war films. The time allows for unusual character depth & overall development. Each episode is directed by a different man making each one feel very different. The stories combine to uniquely tell the tale Easy Company on their march through
One thing that stands out is the complete lack of big name actors. David Schwimmer, Ron Livingston, & yes, Jimmy Fallon, are the only exceptions. I think this helps sell the characters & separates it from Saving Private Ryan. SPR has top name actors (Tom Hanks, Tom Sizemore, Matt Damon, Giovanni Ribisi, Barry Pepper, & Ted Danson) & relies upon them to help sell the story. The casting of BoB is incredible when you compare the actors to the actual men of Easy Company. Their portrayals of each man go beyond just playing a good part. They bring out the soul of each man. I think this also shows just how good the script was for this movie, allowing the actors to just concentrate on telling the story & not selling it.
The 1st time I watched the series, parts confused me but the story still made sense & flowed well. Each episode builds upon the previous, yet would be able to stand alone. There are so many highlights but to the person looking to just get started, pop in the 1st episode & I guarantee you will be hooked. Although you will understand the basics your 1st time through, every successive time you watch you pick up on something new. This is also why I enjoy watching the episodes with friends. Without fail, someone points out something new every time I watch. BoB is a box set of Friends, (able to be watched over & over again) without the agony for men.
The plot has both simple and complex parts. It tells the overall story of WWII, but also takes the time explore different characters in greater depth. Because the episodes were written and directed individually, they all have a unique feel to them. This breaks up the BoB & helps keep you refreshed through the entire series. The series goes as far to devote an entire episode to their training & another to what happened after the war was over in
After watching the series, the DVD set also includes the documentary We Stand Alone Together, which is an expansion of the interviews of the soldiers at the beginning of each episode. To truly appreciate it, you have to have seen BoB, but could be played by itself. The documentary actually features one of the most touching moments in the entire set as it shows Bill Guarnerre standing in the woods facing Foye where he had his leg blown off. It nearly moves you to tears.
It is well known I get emotional during movies. When Patrick Swayze jumps inside of Whoopi Goldberg & kisses Demi Moore, I cry my eyes out. Same for when they carry Rudy off the field. At the end of SVP, Private Ryan’s, “Tell me I’ve led a good life. Tell me I’m a good man,” gets me every time. Band of Brothers is full of these moments. Why We Fight is easily the most gripping moment but several others get you. Major Winters states, “If I make it through this day. I will find a quiet piece of earth & live the rest of my life in peace,” after the Day of Days. Captain Spiers running through enemy lines with Krauts surrounding him is just incredible. I don’t to give the wrong impression. The entire series grips every human emotion. BoB ranges all the way from the sad to laughter. You are ultimately left with unending pride for your grandparent’s generation. Unlike SPR, it is a 100% true story.
BoB is one of those movies that everyone should see. I put it above even Schindler’s list & the above mentioned Saving Private Ryan. When I am teaching, I will never teach an American history class that doesn’t see at least a few episodes. I could write for years on this show but just trust me, check it out.
