I got hooked on this series when I was in high school. They were being shown in HBO every Saturdays after the 9PM blockbuster screening. Unfortunately, the first time wasn't so appealing. It was the episode called Bastogne. If you've watched the series, you can agree with me that this episode was one of the most dramatic, probably the climactic part of the story. It was 10 episodes long, averaging about 50 minutes per episode.
Since the series showed around 11PM, you can just imagine the lengths I had to go through to stay up late (during high school, I was already off to la-la land by 9PM). Towards the end, it got pretty boring and I was very much interested how the story kicked off. That time, I didn't have the opportunity (and the money) to buy original VCDs. I didn't know that it was based on a book by Stephen Ambrose. I settled for another war movie, Saving Private Ryan. It was more accessible and since it was shot at the same time as Band of Brothers (both were produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks), it gave me the same feeling as watching Band of Brothers.
Another opportunity came up when we were in Jakarta. There were more pirated VCDs there than in Manila so Dad was able to buy the entire series. I watched it but was turned off by the grainy quality. I just settled to watching other war movies.
I was already in college when I got to buy the DVD set and was able to watch the entire series. I spent my evenings at home during the weekends in front of the TV and DVD player. The cinematography was just incredible. It felt like I was also in Normandy when they first jumped out of burning planes, falling from the sky towards enemy territory. I felt the cold winter chills when they were fighting in Bastogne and Foy (with me doing research that it was more known as the Battle of the Bulge). There was also the relief of finally capturing Berchtesgaden and being able to come home with more baggage they could handle.
Another opportunity presented itself to me while I was in transit to Singapore. I saw in one of Changi's bookstores some of the books written by Stephen Ambrose. I decided to get the title, Citizen Soldiers because, let's face it, WWII was all about citizens becoming soldiers. Civilians plucked from their peaceful lives to take part in the biggest campaign the world has ever seen since Alexander the Great.
Finally, during one of my WFS(tarbucks) day, I spent the afternoon doing SAP in Starbucks inside Fully Booked. There, sitting in the shelf under authors A-C, stood a lone book. I picked it up and began to read the 1st few pages, when the coding lifted by 7PM, I purchased the book, finished my work for the day and went home. I curled up in my chair and began to read one of the best memoirs (relatively speaking, of course.. I haven't read much war documentaries).
Band of Brothers was one of the best war stories I've ever encountered. Full-Metal Jacket was just too gory (in the eyes of an 8-yr old, anyway). Empire of the Sun was about the war but focused on Christian Bale. Pearl Harbor was too blockbuster-y. The older war movies were great. Some of the best I've seen were All Quiet on the Western Front (I just can't find the DVD here...), A Beautiful Life (love it! love it!), Der Untergang (German: The Downfall) and Schindler's List.
Or maybe because Band of Brothers had more air time than these films. After all, it takes more effort to convince a crowd to love a 2 and a half hour movie. 9 hours of air time gives the audience to connect more to each and every one of the characters, their trials and personal demons.
I just finished reading its book equivalent. It gave me more insight than the series.. of course, I've never heard of a movie that surpassed its book.
Recommended Movies:
:: The Longest Day (Sean Connery--> about the failed Market Garden operation)
:: U-Boat --> German movie on U-Boats.. a must-see for suspense junkies
:: U-571 --> U-Boat's Hollywood equivalent
:: Flyboys --> RAF vs Luftwaffe over the British Channel
:: A Very Long Engagement (Audrey Tatou -->WWI French drama and romantic epic)
:: Flags of our Fathers --> Battle on Iwo Jima
:: Letters from Iwo Jima --> Japanese POV on the Battle on Iwo Jima
:: The Great Escape --> Allied POWs in a German prison camp
:: Enemy at the Gates --> WWII from the Eastern front. A Russian sharpshooter (Jude Law) vs. a German corporal (Ed Harris)
I'm looking for WWII movies set in Africa.. mostly on the story of the Afrika Corps and Gen. Rommel. I've been reading up on him and it seems like he's one of the best German officers. He was also found guilty on Hitler's attempted assassination.
Check out some of the novels written by Ken Follet (Eye of the Needle, Man from St. Petersburg, Hornet Flight, Jackdaws), Fredrick Forsythe (Jackal, Odessa Files). Most are stories set on WWII. I'm more of a Ken Follet fan than Fredrick Forsythe, but I love them both!
No comments:
Post a Comment