Band Of Brothers (Tin) > Reviews > Band of brothers

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Outstanding
Characters / Performances	Outstanding
Special Effects	Good
How does it compare to similar films?	Outstanding

Advantages:	Superbly filmed and very believeable
Disadvantages:	tough to watch in parts, can be a little depressing

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Band of Brothers remains one of my favourite TV shows of all time. Its well written, well shot and most importantly its believable.

Band of Brothers follows the story of Easy company, an increadible group of paratroopers. The story spans right through from their training, through D-Day, the battle of the bulge and finally the capture of Hitlers Eagles nest. Based on the book by Stephen Ambrose (a fantastic and interesting book by the way, i reccomend it.... but thats for another review) this is a superbly made series which stays very true to the book and the records of the people who lived through it.

The series is made up of 10 hour long episodes in a fantastic six disk box set which includes a whole disk of extras.

part 1: Currahee
This episode sets the background for the characters and although not the most exciting of episodes, it helps you to understand how these "band of brothers" became so close and how that helped them throughout the war.

Part 2: Day of days
D-Day and before anyone landed on any normandy beaches the members of easy company were being scattered across the countyside. This episode follows luitenant winters and various members of easy and various other companies as they attempt to reach their objective, and they experience their first fighting of the war. This is a well shot episode which shows well the increadible difficulties of the job of the paratroopers.

Part 3: Carentan
This episode brings to life the true nature of war as easy company get bogged down in battles as they attempt to take the french town of Carentan. Following the diffculties of some of the soldiers as they struggle to adjust to the realities of war and the job in hand.

Part 4: Replacements
As easy company strolled through the streets of Eindhoven, welcomed as heroes there is a belief that operation market garden would be a success and they would take Berlin by christmas, but when they get overpowered by a far more powerful german company this hope ends.

Part 5: Cross-Roads
In this episode luitenant Winters, soon to be captain Winters leads a patrol on a mission to take some cross roads, as he writes his report we follow them and learn a bit about what made Winters such a good leader. This is the episode directed by Tom Hanks, and i think he does a good job of it too.

Part 6: Bastogne
A sad episode sees Easy company attempt to hold back the germans in the freezing cold woods of belgium. With little food, limited ammunition, no support and constant shellings; Easy company loses a large number of men and morale is the lowest of the war. This episode follows the medic as he attempts to continue through exhaustion. A tough and gritty episode but very good none the less

Part 7: The Breaking point
Following on from the battle in the woods outside bastogne, this is another tough episode as several of the original members are seriously injured or killed and easy is stuck with an incompitant leader. At least by the end there is a glimmer of hope for easy and the future of the war.

Part 8: The last Patrol
Easy company are finally out of the cold woods and finally have a roof over their heads, doesn't mean the dangers are any less though. In this episode a patrol has to cross the Rhine to capture german soldiers for interrigation. One of the less interesting episodes but still good to watch none the less

Part 9: Why we fight
If you have made it through the whole series without shedding a tear yet then your a heatless bastard, but this episode will set you. This is by far the saddest and most difficult to watch of them all. Finally into Germany a patrol comes across a concentration camp teeming with dying jews. A difficult but a necessary episode.

Part 10: Points
Victory at last! as the germans surrender easy company get the job of taking Hitlers eagles nest, a present to him and one of the last stroong holds of resistance. With the war finally over this episode is a farewell to the members of easy, or at least those who are allowed to go home. many of them have not served enough time in the army and as a result have to stay where they are, seperated from their loved ones and with nothing to do.

Extras:
Extras include the making of the show and a documentary about all of the men of easy company. An intersting documentary well worth watching