An impressively rigorous, unsentimental, and harrowing look at combat during World War II, Band of Brothers follows a company of airborne infantry--Easy Company--from boot camp through the end of the war. The brutality of training takes the audience by increments to the even greater brutality of the war; Easy Company took part in some of the most difficult battles, including the D-Day invasion of Normandy, the failed invasion of Holland, and the Battle of the Bulge, as well as the liberation of a concentration camp and the capture of Hitler's Eagle's Nest. But what makes these episodes work is not their historical sweep but their emphasis on riveting details (such as the rattle of a plane as the paratroopers wait to leap, or a flower in the buttonhole of a German soldier) and procedures (from military tactics to the workings of bureaucratic hierarchies). The scope of this miniseries (10 episodes, plus an actual documentary filled with interviews with surviving veterans) allows not only a thoroughness impossible in a two-hour movie, but also captures the wide range of responses to the stress and trauma of war--fear, cynicism, cruelty, compassion, and all-encompassing confusion. The result is a realism that makes both simplistic judgments and jingoistic enthusiasm impossible; the things these soldiers had to do are both terrible and understandable, and the psychological price they paid is made clear. The writing, directing, and acting are superb throughout. The cast is largely unknown, emphasizing the team of actors as a whole unit, much like the regiment; Damian Lewis and Ron Livingston play the central roles of two officers with grit and intelligence. Band of Brothers turns a vast historical event into a series of potent personal experiences; it's a deeply engrossing and affecting accomplishment. --Bret Fetzer
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating: Summary: Been There Comment: Band of Brothers [Blu-ray]
I had the opportunity to do to Normandy ans actually see the hedge row that Capt. Winters had to take out the guns firing on the Beach.
This should be required in school history classes. Every American should see this. Customer Rating: Summary: Perfect Comment: Best Blu-Ray release so far. Sound and picture quality completely justify the Blu-Ray format. Customer Rating: Summary: Probably one of the best war films ever made. Stunning on Blu-Ray. Comment: I have to say that this series blew me away. I was so impressed with the effort put into Saving Private Ryan to give it a documentary look and feel. Band Of Brothers falls from the same tree. Once again, Hanks and Spielberg reunite to produce this epic cable series of WW2 as told by the men themselves. Every episode has interviews from the soldiers who were there. Very realistic and emotional stuff.
First off, the set comes in a metal box with fold out style disk holders. Exactly like the standard dvd edtion a few years ago.
The Blu-Ray edition has 6 disks total. 2 episodes per disk on the first 5 with many, many extras on number 6.
The quality of the picture is perfect. These films were shot with tons of natural grain for that documentary style look. The lenses also give the look of a 40's camera used in the field. Although the film itself is washed out and very rough, it has awesome detail. You will notice so many things going on in the background. The size of the shots sometimes leave you in awe. The blacks are sometimes unstable, but that is the intent. The daytime scenes are beautiful in their full scope. The greatest thing about this series is the uncompromising attention to detail. From the uniforms to the weapons. The skintones are spot on and very nice looking.
The sound is second to none. You will easily be blown away with the audio track quality. You have to turn down the volume at many points during battle scenes. The voices are crisp and clean, but the battle scenes really rock your sound system. All of your speakers get a good workout. The subwoofer really hammers out the explosions. The rear speakers have tons of gunfire from all directions, as do the side speakers. You will have a true surround sound experience. Many movies do not make full use of the full audio possibilities. This one does!
There are great extras here as well. Great in depth interviews from the soldiers themselves. A really cool making of documentary called " We stand together: The men of easy company " And many other things for the history buff. Cant say enough about this product. If you are a war genre lover, this is one of the best. If you love history, and dont want a watered down, made for Hollywood war film. This is how it happened as told by the men of the 506th E Co. You will have a new respect for these guys who gave so much. It is hard to believe that some people could give so much for so little. Thank god they did. Customer Rating: Summary: IMHO, the BEST WWII Series EVER Created to date, A MUST SEE! Comment: Freedom isn't FREE! This is a series that EVERY AMERICAN from the age of 14 on should be required to see. This series took my breath away the first time I saw it. And now having it with the clarity of Blu-ray does so again.
It is as powerful a war drama as there has ever been. The telling of the events from the actual GIs who were there adds tremendously to the accuracy and credibility of this drama from Easy Company's boot camp through the end of the war. We owe so much to these valiant American's who put their lives on the line so that we could live ours to the fullest and have the freedom we so richly enjoy. This series is very profound and presents the events in an accurate, believable, and an unapologetic manner and allows you, the viewer, to make your own ultimate conclusions.
I wish that this video series (and the John Adams series Also by HBO) was a viewing requirement in every high school American history class in the country. I find it sad how historically ignorant the people of this country have become as OUR own history is being dumbed down in the school systems due to revisionists who want to distort the reality of our true history and the deeply founded beliefs of its founders. I believe that it is a responsibility of every American to learn and know the TRUE history of AT LEAST this country and its people. How can we possibly know where we are going if we don't know where we have been. "Those who don't know their history are doomed to repeat it". We have access to so much information between books, videos, and the internet that there is no excuse except for self-centered apathy for such ignorance. I pray that this will not be said of our generation! Customer Rating: Summary: Best War Movie Ever Comment: Simply put, this is the best war epic in history! And now it's on Blu Ray!
![Band of Brothers [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/513wu4U9bwL._SL160_.jpg)
