Which did you like better?

[m1ashooter]

I have both and have watched them a lot. I lean towards The Pacific simply because my uncle was with the 2 battalion, 25th Regt., of the 4th Marine Division. When I watch The Pacific it helps me understand what he went through as a young man. Its part of my families history as my father and uncles were all WW2 or Korea Marines.

 

I knew the story of John Basilone before I knew who Audie Murphy was. As a boy my dad make sure I knew who in my small town were Marines and what they did during WW2 or Korea.

[Bill47]

I enjoyed them both, but I think that BoB was better for a couple of reasons. First, the series extended over enough weeks so that characters could be much more fully developed. Second, the terrain and seasonal change made for a more interesting story line. I'm sure that the Pacific didn't have nearly the budget or production commitment that BoB enjoyed. It's also interesting, I think, that writers of the Pacific had a much better body of literature upon which to rely. Both Sledge and Leckie wrote classic accounts of their experiences. Not only did they vividly describe fighting the Japanese, they also offered lots of introspection. That didn't carry over into the series. Both were good, but for me, Bob stands out.

Good thread, Justin.

Bill

[panzerbait]

I feel by the time they got around to doing "Pacific" the production had become formulaic {let's go through the motions and capitalize on the popularity of "Band of Brothers" & "Saving Private Ryan"}. While it's nice to have computer graphics to help I kept noticing the same Corsair flying with it's gear down, even when flying an attack; and it seemed to be elsewhere in different sizes. Of course the cost of flying these planes for real is prohibitive but I think they could have done a better job with the graphics. I could almost be more impressed with the animation in the original "Godzilla". In looking at the previews for the upcomoing version about the "Tuskegee Airman" I see at least one flying scene where a P~51 seems to do a loop that would tear apart a normal airplane, even a P~51.

Actually, the Corsair flying with its landing gear down is historically correct for the Peleliu scenes. The battlefield was literally at the end of the runway captured by the Marines, and by the time they were airborne off the end of the runway, they were already making their bomb runs. It slowed the planes a bit, and heck they were just going to turn around again and land. Mission accomplished in around five minutes-from take-off to landing!

[krautpot]

Like VirtualMariner said, you cannot compare these two series. BoB is old classic linear story telling. There are awesome characters and enough time for the developing of them. After several times of watching it, its almost like seeing good buddies on screen. The Pacific takes another way. Its very gritty and intensive. It doesnt have the "war is an adventure" feeling. I like both series very much, but Pacific impressed me a little bit more.

 

Michael

[teufelhunde.ret]

The Pacific takes another way. Its very gritty and intensive. It doesnt have the "war is an adventure" feeling. I like both series very much, but Pacific impressed me a little bit more.

 

Michael

:thumbsup:

[cutiger83]

I agree with others who have said these two movies cannot be compared.

 

I liked both of them but for very different reasons.....Kat

[RustyCanteen]

I wanted to like the series as a whole, and I think the last half was good.

 

A large problem was the pacing, I felt it rushed through important events (with minimal cast in some cases) while taking forever in other scenes. Like "Flags", it is good and bad, oddly "Letters" was more interesting since it didn't flash all over the place (as much).

 

No WWII films have ever really lived up to the events or people they were based upon, and only history can accurately tell their stories.

[jkash23686]

The reason why I think The Pacific doesn't work is because its based off of more than one book and more than one persons experience that happened at different times. I think the whole story of the 506th and what they all went though together is a more compelling story just because of the way it was told.

[rr01]

Actually, the Corsair flying with its landing gear down is historically correct for the Peleliu scenes. The battlefield was literally at the end of the runway captured by the Marines, and by the time they were airborne off the end of the runway, they were already making their bomb runs. It slowed the planes a bit, and heck they were just going to turn around again and land. Mission accomplished in around five minutes-from take-off to landing!

More to the point, the Corsair was the same one, just resized or positioned for a particular scene. I'm not arguing the fact that the battle lines were also the runway perimeter, just making the point that there seemed a greater reliance on computer graphics. Prudent use of graphics might not have been as distracting.

I read "With The Old Breed" when it first came out and recognized much of what was in the series. I think it was much more difficult to recreate the entire Pacific campaign, or even the portion shown in the series since each island varied so greatly. It was nice to see how things ended for each character which makes me mindful of another great book & movie, "Battle Cry".

[RustyCanteen]

The reason why I think The Pacific doesn't work is because its based off of more than one book and more than one persons experience that happened at different times. I think the whole story of the 506th and what they all went though together is a more compelling story just because of the way it was told.

 

You may be right.

 

RC

[willysmb44]

I know some of you insist it has nothing to do with being more interested in the ETO over PTO and that might the case for just one or two people, but I think a pal of mine summed it up a good six months before the series even came out, when a guy at a show was buying up PTO stuff because PTO was going to get huge with re-enactors “Any day now.” I told him I’d heard that before and that it’d never happen. PTO, I told him, would forever be a sideline to re-enacting and probably with collectors in general.

“Why?” he asked.

My pal looked him dead in the eye and said it best, “Because nobody gets to be – or look at – Germans. It’s that simple.”

He called it on this series as well, accurately predicting the reaction and reasons people would chose to give why they liked BoB better and this was long before either of us knew anything about the plot! We both agreed that no matter how good “The Pacific” turned out, without Germans, it’d be a ho-hum reception among WW2 buff in general. NO Pacific-themed movie stands tall among WW2 buffs like any comparable ETO movie does. Maybe it’s because we Americans can’t relate to the enemy in a PTO story as easily as we can Germans. I think it’s simply the lack of seriously cool-looking uniforms, weapons and equipment in a PTO film. Many of you will be offended by such a simplistic theory, but I firmly believe it.

[devincu]

I loved them both although if I had to pick I guess I would say that Band of Brothers was my favorite. I got to meet Bill Guarnere a few years ago and he was a lot of fun to listen to and still a "Wild"man! :thumbsup:

[panzerbait]

More to the point, the Corsair was the same one, just resized or positioned for a particular scene. I'm not arguing the fact that the battle lines were also the runway perimeter, just making the point that there seemed a greater reliance on computer graphics. Prudent use of graphics might not have been as distracting.

I read "With The Old Breed" when it first came out and recognized much of what was in the series. I think it was much more difficult to recreate the entire Pacific campaign, or even the portion shown in the series since each island varied so greatly. It was nice to see how things ended for each character which makes me mindful of another great book & movie, "Battle Cry".

Yes, to be sure the computer graphics left a little to be desired in some spots. The most glaring probably being the Amtrak blowing up on the way into Peleliu. BoB had some of the same issues.

[FNG]

Yes, to be sure the computer graphics left a little to be desired in some spots. The most glaring probably being the Amtrak blowing up on the way into Peleliu. BoB had some of the same issues.

 

Along with the bad cgi how about the poor portayal of combat, like the tactics used during beach landings. Sledge's amtrac leaves the boat and immediately goes toward the beach. Really? Also in Leckie's amtrac he is blasting away with the 30 cal machine gun at the treeline all the while we can see other amtracs and Marines already on the beach. Did he have a grudge with the earlier waves?

It's a shame there was alot of potential to raise the bar with warfilms in the Pacific.

[hink441]

I think it’s simply the lack of seriously cool-looking uniforms, weapons and equipment in a PTO film. Many of you will be offended by such a simplistic theory, but I firmly believe it.

 

So you didn't like the movie because of the un-cool uniforms, and you couldn't dress up and play an accurate Japanese soldier?

[willysmb44]

So you didn't like the movie because of the un-cool uniforms, and you couldn't dress up and play an accurate Japanese soldier?

No, I actually thought both series were about equal. I was refering to the vast number of people who can't admit that they can't relate to the PTO as much as the ETO because it lacks the 'cool' factor of German stuff and therefore think BoB was better simply because it had Germans in it and they find the ETO side of the war more interesting. It's the same reason why PTO re-enacting has never gotten big! Frankly, I am not big on either Japanese or Nazi stuff either way and am only into US stuff. I have respect for the ones who have told me in effect they liked BoB more because they have more interest in the ETO. The big difference between them and those who try to justify how BoB was better is only that the first group will admit their preference for the ETO clouded their objectivity.

[patches]

No, I actually thought both series were about equal. I was refering to the vast number of people who can't admit that they can't relate to the PTO as much as the ETO because it lacks the 'cool' factor of German stuff and therefore think BoB was better simply because it had Germans in it and they find the ETO side of the war more interesting. It's the same reason why PTO re-enacting has never gotten big! Frankly, I am not big on either Japanese or Nazi stuff either way and am only into US stuff. I have respect for the ones who have told me in effect they liked BoB more because they have more interest in the ETO. The big difference between them and those who try to justify how BoB was better is only that the first group will admit their preference for the ETO clouded their objectivity.

 

I hear what your saying, but I would really think that that would pertain only to those people who have limited knowlege of not only military history but world history in general, they're not going to appreciate it one way or the other, other then for SHOCK and visual ( digtal graphics ) value. I would say that the pacific theater is popular among individuals that are historicaly inclined,the movie or series of course has to be well made and if it is the case well acted. For instance back in the late 40s and into the 50s, the war in the pacific was a popular topic in many movies and Television shows, just look how immensly popular the series Victory At Sea was when it first came out on Television, this dealt primarily with the U.S. Navy's war in the pacific, it's still popular with students of military history, its no doubt in the video collection of many forum members. As far as a movie or series that will involve the Marine Corps in the pacific, or in any time period people will be watching, given the popularity of the Marines, the mystique of the Marines and all that good stuff.

[Sabrejet]

The point about re-enacting PTO is a valid one. It can only be achieved effectively if enough "recruits" from within the Japanese-American community become involved in order to provide plausible "opposition". ETO is easier to "cast" because the good guys and the bad guys are only differentiated by their uniforms and equipment. Also, the very limited availability of original or repro Japanese gear is another determining factor, even if the personnel to wear it were available. This isn't really an issue with ETO gear.

[ken88]

I agree with Sabrejet.

 

I personally think that, to the world, The third reich had a much more bigger impact than the Japanese Empire. Although the Japs are the ones who really started the fire when they invaded China (long before Germany invaded Poland).

 

It just seems like things that happen on the northern side of the planet always have a bigger impact on people who live there, naturally. And vice versa.

Chinese people for instance will probably like The Pacific more than we do. But this will definitely not always be the case.

 

Regarding warfare, the pacific is way sicker than the ETO. If I were a GI in wwII and had to chose where to fight, I would have chosen the ETO. Definitely. Warfare in the PTO was way more cruel than warfare in the ETO. Simply because the Japanese soldier was willing to spill his last drip of blood killing a GI, unlike the German soldier who didn't really like fighting deep down.

Japanese soldiers fought for their people, their wives and children, and most of all for their emperor, their rising sun. Some Germans fought for their country as well but most just did for a man with foolish ideas who thought that he could rule the world for 1000 years. Add to that that in The Pacific you see two different races fighting each other.

 

 

It's a good thing that The Pacific was made though, because every GI who gave his live on one of those islands deserves the same respect as his brother who did in Africa, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Italy or Germany. Just to say the least.

 

When it comes to photography: The pacific totally beats the crap out of Band of Brothers.

 

Storyboard and general impression: Band of Brothers, and this is probably the main reason why 80% of the people prefer Band of Brothers to The Pacific.

 

Perhaps the fact that I live in Europe has a big influence on my choice (BoB). If I lived in the States I probably would have chosen The Pacific. Simply because Pearl Harbor left such a big scar over there and must never be forgotten by any American worthy of his identity.

[Jeeper704]

Simply because the Japanese soldier was willing to spill his last drip of blood killing a GI, unlike the German soldier who didn't really like fighting deep down.

 

That's a bit simplistic, don't you think?

There were enough die-hard nazis around who fought till the last bullet.

 

And don't forget the savage fightings in places like the Hürtgen Forest, Cheneux, Falaise, etc.

 

War is brutal, cruel and savage ... no matter where it is fought.

 

Erwin

[teufelhunde.ret]

When it comes to photography: The pacific totally beats the crap out of Band of Brothers.

 

If I lived in the States I probably would have chosen The Pacific. Simply because Pearl Harbor left such a big scar over there and must never be forgotten by any American worthy of his identity.

 

:thumbsup:

[Jack's Son]

I'm surprised BoB isn't frather ahead!

(78.69%)

[teufelhunde.ret]

I'm surprised BoB isn't frather ahead!

(78.69%)

That's very close to the ratio of Soldiers to Marines who are present here...

[cutiger83]

That's very close to the ratio of Soldiers to Marines who are present here...

 

I have wondered if this makes a difference in the preference. I think it does have a deciding factor. It is perfectly normal for someone to have a greater allegiance and bias towards their branch of the service.

 

....Kat

[ken88]

That's a bit simplistic, don't you think?

There were enough die-hard nazis around who fought till the last bullet.

 

And don't forget the savage fightings in places like the Hürtgen Forest, Cheneux, Falaise, etc.

 

War is brutal, cruel and savage ... no matter where it is fought.

 

Erwin

 

Yes Erwin, some Germans would have followed their Führer into hell as well, but the bigger part wouldn't. A lot of Germans were glad that their chance to surrender had finally come. I'm not talking about the SS or other elite troops, just the regular Wehrmacht. A lot really hated their Führer. None of them would have volunteered to board a plane knowing that it would be their last flight (kamikazes), don't you agree? All I'm saying is that the general state of mind of the Japanese soldier was a lot different than that of the German soldier. Harder. You know what I'm talking about.. Bonzai charges, kamikazes..

You never would have seen Germans doing stuff like that, expect for a few or unless they were forced to do it.

 

Both Germans and Japanese men were brainwashed to serve for a cause bigger than themselves. It's only that the Japs were brainwashed much much much much more. Most just commited suicide when they couldn't win. Regular infantry as well. Germans weren't that fanatic, except for some (mostly older wwI veterans who didn't want to see Germany fall again). And of course the very core of national-socialism as well.

 

Well it's a bit too dangerous to compare the TR with the Japanese empire. I know what happened in the Hürtgenwald and you are absolutely right. It's just that those images and stories about places like Tarawa, Guadalcanal, Peleliu or Okinawa even have a bigger effect on me than what happened over here in Europe. I think of the PTO as an even bigger hell than the ETO, which was already beyond words. I experienced way more drama watching the pacific than BoB. I'm not only comparing the two though. I've read plenty of books and seen plenty of original footage as well from both ETO and PTO. But maybe that's just personal a personal impression so never mind.

 

Never mind. But you are right, war is hell, no matter where it is fought and I'm glad I haven't seen it myself.