Stage Light: HBO's The Pacific

Two episodes into the new HBO series The Pacific and I am amazed. HBO had produced another winner. Following the lives of several U.S. Marines through their collective experiences in the Pacific theater of operations in World War II the series tells of war in a gory sort of poetry. Indeed the series in highly reminiscent of the great war film from the 1990's "The Thin Red Line", the cinematography is very similar. However, this series is better in that it has a reel feel for the humans involved and a sense that you are with them in this horrific experience. As with "Band of Brothers" you like these guys and you want them to survive. They are the guys you grew up, played ball with, surfed with.

Last nights episode detailing the exploits of Marine John Basilone was stunning in its human portrayal, a very real trip into a bloody battle in which a man questions his survival over that of a close friend. No false heroics or shallow glory. Actor John Sada brings this great American hero to life in very real terms. Actor William Sadler bring legendary Marine Col. Chesty Puller to life in a much more compassionate man than I previously thought, I have always thought him a vain glorious nut job who got people killed. The Puller shown here seems to care a great deal for his Marines.

This is a very good series and should be given a watch as it shows the very high price by very young men to preserve freedom in the World. Another HBO winner, these folks know how to tell a great story and on some occasion it may actually be true.