Last week I wrote a post on how much I love The Pacific on HBO. I had a couple people tell me I need to watch Band of Brothers, so we rented and watched the entire mini-series this weekend.
It was great. Extremely painful to watch, but great. Just like The Pacific, there are interviews with the men depicted in the film, but we don't find out who they are until the very end - after we are already attached to them. The last quote of the series got me, as in I balled.Major Richard Winters quoted a letter from Sergeant Mike Ranney who served with him in Easy Company, "'I cherish the memories of a question my grandson asked me the other day when he said, Grandpa, were you a hero in the war?' Grandpa said 'No… but I served in a company of heroes.'"
These guys were ALL heros. Every single one of them.
If you haven't seen Band of Brothers, I recommend it and I think it's an important story for every American to know.
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Here's an interesting tidbit: Tom Hanks had a huge part in creating both series. Hanks has always had 2 main passions - WWII and space exploration. So, when he was far enough along in his career where he could pick and choose projects, he worked on Apollo 13, Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers and now, The Pacific. Cool, no?
A while ago, we cancelled HBO... but somehow we still have HBO. I'm so glad, because now we get to watch this:
Usually, it's difficult for me to watch war movies, especially when they are based on real events. This miniseries is no exception, but I must say, it's wonderful. Wonderful in a very painful kind of way. At the beginning of each episode, there is an interview with the men whom this story is about (not the actors) - talking first-hand about their experiences. And then, we watch it unfold on-screen. I don't have anything even remotely close to an idea of what war is like, but I think The Pacific makes it clear - more so than other films of this type I've seen - that there is absolutely nothing glorious about it. I'm amazed and completely humbled by it all... what our fellow Americans had to (and have to) do to ultimately keep our country free.
It makes me think about my grandfather (who passed away a year ago yesterday). He was a WWII vet... on the other side of the continent - fighting the Germans, not the Japanese. For a long time, that's all I knew about his experiences because he never talked about them with us, my grandma, or my mom. I'm sure it was unbearably hard to relive the horrible things he probably did and saw. When we were home for his funeral, my grandma dug up his old scrapbooks from the war. Being the WWII history buff he is, my husband was able to tell us a little bit of what my grandpa was part of during those years. I can't even begin to imagine it. But, I know he was a hero.
God bless our troops and the sacrifices they have made and continue to make so that we are able to live in freedom. Let's remember every day (not just on special holidays) - and live lives that make them proud.
I must say, I'm sort of diggin' the alternate reality (but I remember the other reality, too) thing. I'm still confused as to why Desmond was even on Flight 815, but I guess we just have to believe in the alternate reality, when he wasn't stuck on the island, he would have happened to be flying with everyone else? Anywho, I adore Desmond, so I'm happy he's around and seems to be playing a big roll in the wrap-up. I'm sure he'll get out of that well soon, brotha.
Some other thoughts:
I wish Jack would stop talking. I'm over him.
Jin and Sun need to be reunited already.
Sawyer is my favorite. I love how sarcastic he is. "So, you talk to wood, now?" Ha! Plus, he's HOT.
I was happy to see Libbey again!
And how cute was the beginning? "Everyone Loves Hurley..." So true, writers, so true.
OK, so my thoughts are not that deep. I've decided to stop trying to figure stuff out and then maybe I won't be disappointed by the ending.
The season final of last season was super satisfying - they won sectionals, the truth about the baby came out, Shuster got the girl, and Sue got in trouble. So, pretty much a sure thing that the first episode of this season was going to be a little less that satisfying. I mean, how many shows have gone waaayyy down hill when the love intersts are realized? Yep, there needs to be a rift in there for at least another season. I'm hoping there will be some new drama since most of the old drama is wrapped up. Not enough drama... for a high school show, especially.
Sue cracks my shit up. How awkward/hilarious was that Vogue thing? Loved it. Can't wait 'til next week's Madonna episode... I'm betting it'll be back to awesome.
On a side note, my husband totally watches this with me and secretly likes it. OK, it's not a secret. He talks about it with one of his buddies in the shop! Haaa! Greasy, manly mechanics talking about GLEE! How awesome is that? (Sorry, babe. Love you!) BAHAHAHHAAAAA!
