PinoyDVD: The Pinoy Digital Video & Devices Community

Entertainment => Film & TV Talk => Television => Topic started by: devlin_waugh on Jun 24, 2009 at 10:21 AM

Title: The Pacific
Post by: devlin_waugh on Jun 24, 2009 at 10:21 AM
At Last!

Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg did a hell of a job looking at the European theater of WWII with their epic HBO "Band of Brothers" series, and now they're heading to the water for "The Pacific."

A 10-part mini-series from the creators of "Band of Brothers" telling the intertwined stories of three Marines during America's battle with the Japanese in the Pacific during World War II.

The Pacific is to be based primarily on two memoirs of U.S. Marines: With the Old Breed by Eugene Sledge and Helmet for My Pillow by Robert Leckie.[3] The series will tell the stories of the two authors and Marine John Basilone, as the war against the Empire of Japan rages.

Given the literary sources mentioned above, the series will feature well-known battles involving the 1st Marine Division, such as Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, Peleliu, and Okinawa, as well as Basilone's involvement in the Battle of Iwo Jima.

Trailer (http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/06/trailer-hbos-the-pacific.html)

more updates (http://www.pacificfans.com/)

Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: viper on Jun 24, 2009 at 12:08 PM
At Last!

. . . .sources mentioned above, the series will feature well-known battles involving the 1st Marine Division, such as Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, Peleliu, and Okinawa, as well as Basilone's involvement in the Battle of Iwo Jima.



No Corregidor landing?, Battle for manila? Seem the battle for the PI was not as bloody interesting as Okinawa, Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima.  :( :(
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: voj on Jun 24, 2009 at 12:40 PM
No Corregidor landing?, Battle for manila? Seem the battle for the PI was not as bloody interesting as Okinawa, Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima.  :( :(

or maybe they have a hard time getting "permits" to shoot here.  permits in quotes intentional.
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: allanmandy on Jun 24, 2009 at 12:45 PM
Weird that the Philippines isn't part of this when it is widely considered that the greatest naval battle ever occurred within our territorial seas (Leyet, I believe).

Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: devlin_waugh on Jun 24, 2009 at 03:08 PM
yup and the Battle of Manila is uncontested as pivotal in turning the tide of WW2 in the Pacific Theater, no major operations could've been mounted in the other islands culminating in Japan's defeat without the US reclaiming Luzon first...with the help of Filipinos of course
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: alihug on Jun 30, 2009 at 08:45 PM
video game counterpart is COD:WAW~!
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: yamota on Jun 30, 2009 at 10:41 PM
Actually, the US could have bypassed the Philippines altogether on their way to Japan, they didn't have to re-take the islands. Re-taking the Philippines was a matter of pride to them. The Japanese came in, conquered the Philippines and defeated the Americans in humiliating fashion in 1941 and when it was time to re-take the Pacific, Macarthur had his eye on the Philippines, he was determined to take it back no matter what.
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: devlin_waugh on Jul 01, 2009 at 09:42 AM
Actually, the US could have bypassed the Philippines altogether on their way to Japan, they didn't have to re-take the islands. Re-taking the Philippines was a matter of pride to them. The Japanese came in, conquered the Philippines and defeated the Americans in humiliating fashion in 1941 and when it was time to re-take the Pacific, Macarthur had his eye on the Philippines, he was determined to take it back no matter what.

Factually, the US did not bypass the Philippines and they did retake the islands...so why leave that out?  ???
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: wedge on Jul 01, 2009 at 09:53 AM
One thing is that The Pacific is based on the accounts of two Marines.

The Americans did not employ their Marine Divisions on the retaking of the Philippines as they were being prepped up on the imminent invasion of outlying Japanese islands starting with Iwo Jima on February.
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: devlin_waugh on Jul 01, 2009 at 10:01 AM
thanks for clearing that up...that's a more plausible explanation  ;) I should start reading the book(s)...
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: wedge on Jul 01, 2009 at 10:04 AM
No problem.

Start with Leckie's Helmet for my Pillow. It's autobiographical---saves you from the usual military mumbo-jumbo and tactics. I don't have a copy of Eugene Sledge's book, though. For a detailed account of the Iwo Jima invasion, try Richard F. Newcomb's Iwo Jima.  :)
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: devlin_waugh on Jul 01, 2009 at 11:52 AM
thanks sir wedge. Although I would've been happier if they based the series on W.E.B. Griffin's The Corps (http://www.webgriffin.com/corp.html) series
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: wedge on Jul 01, 2009 at 12:26 PM
Unfortunately though, for The Pacific, it appears that they did not include Tarawa--which was as equally bloody as Iwo Jima and Okinawa---for the three days it took the Marines to capture it, lost them a thousand killed.

However, from the Divisional history of the 6th Marines they've yet to be activated the time the 2nd Marines stormed Tarawa.

Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: Dowals on Feb 24, 2010 at 08:06 AM
this will start this March 2010  ;D

I'm very excited
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: Verbl Kint on Feb 24, 2010 at 08:33 AM
Something to watch out for, definitely.  I hope I get to read at least one of the books prior to seeing the first episode. :)
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: choy on Mar 06, 2010 at 08:15 AM
i'm also eagerly anticipating this

but i would have preferred that someone put some spotlight on the war that occured on Philippine soil

most americans probably think that the Pacific Theater of the war started on Pearl Harbor and then the next thing the Americans did was nuke Hiroshima and Nagasaki, bypassing all the events that happened in between

while The Pacific will show some of that finer details, i'm still hoping for some good ol' Bataan or Corregidor battles, including the island by island retaking of the Philippines

time to gather the story now while we have veterans and other eyewitnesses still alive
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: Dowals on Mar 07, 2010 at 01:31 PM
ilang tulog na lang  ;D
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: Munskie on Mar 15, 2010 at 06:13 PM
Looks promising.  Cant wait for the 2nd part.
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: Verbl Kint on Mar 15, 2010 at 06:19 PM
9 more episodes to go...
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: Clondalkin on Mar 16, 2010 at 07:28 AM
9 more episodes to go...

9 weeks?
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: choy on Mar 16, 2010 at 07:33 AM
it didn't have the same buildup as Band of Brothers.  essentailly be the second part of the episode they were in the middle of the war already

i just wished i knew a little bit more about the characters before they get into action

but in the end, i liked the first episode.  so far i find a lot of consistencies with what has been taught in our history classes and by speakers in war memorials like Corregidor
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: SiCkBoY on Mar 16, 2010 at 10:48 AM
Factually, the US did not bypass the Philippines and they did retake the islands...so why leave that out?  ???

His point is that the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Bataan, or Corregidor is not as pivotal or as crucial as some members here claim. 
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: wedge on Mar 17, 2010 at 11:06 AM
They were indeed pivotal for: (1) Leyte Gulf (and the three separate engagements fought in-and-around) effectively ended the threat of the Japanese Navy; (2) Bataan and Corregidor--though obviously was a defeat (it was noted, however, that both Churchill and Roosevelt decided that Pacific was a lost cause and that the primary point of focus would be the European Theatre of Operations) bought time for the Americans to reorganize their strength that culminated in the landings at Guadalcanal.

The Pacific, as I posted months ago, is based on accounts of Marines. The Marines were used in the island hopping operations during the war from Guadalcanal to Peleliu to Tarawa to Guam to Iwo Jima and eventually to Okinawa. The Philippines was just as important to the Americans as the smaller South Pacific islands were to the Japanese. And most of the horrendous fighting that occurred in the Pacific Theatre of the war were fought on such tiny specks of land that bore those unfamiliar names.

Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: Clondalkin on Mar 17, 2010 at 12:43 PM
One thing is that The Pacific is based on the accounts of two Marines.

The Americans did not employ their Marine Divisions on the retaking of the Philippines as they were being prepped up on the imminent invasion of outlying Japanese islands starting with Iwo Jima on February.

History Channel WWII in HD says Marines did.  And tawanan nga daw ang Marines while they were resting sa Leyte after taking control of the beach, nang biglang may dumating na taas ilong na general na plantsadong plantsado daw ang trousers and ubod ng linis, and ang daming abubot na puro malinis at planstado din.   Who TF was that guy daw?   ;D  McArthur and entourage allegedly ignored all the laughter and walked straight towards the trees.
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: Dowals on Mar 17, 2010 at 01:24 PM
that was McArthur?
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: wedge on Mar 17, 2010 at 10:13 PM
History Channel WWII in HD says Marines did.  And tawanan nga daw ang Marines while they were resting sa Leyte after taking control of the beach, nang biglang may dumating na taas ilong na general na plantsadong plantsado daw ang trousers and ubod ng linis, and ang daming abubot na puro malinis at planstado din.   Who TF was that guy daw?   ;D  McArthur and entourage allegedly ignored all the laughter and walked straight towards the trees.

I think that would be the majority of the Marine aviators or a small detachment of Marine gunners (artillery) since the bulk of the Marine force (at the time of the Leyte Landings) was sent to invade the Mariana Islands (notably Peleliu). MacArthur pretty much relied on his Army in the retaking of the Philippines.

There is an extensive detailed narrative history of World War II somewhere in the Web. Not sure if it still exists though, google nyo na lang HyperWar (or something like that). Last time I copy-pasted (and went to Recto to have it bound) a complete volume of Historical Monographs of the Marine Corps and the US Army Operations in World War II. Took me close to three years in doing that. (obvious na military buff ba?) Hehe  ;D ;D
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: Verbl Kint on Mar 18, 2010 at 07:24 AM
I am very interested as well on how they will portray the repeated attempts by the Japanese to retake Henderson Field.  The naval aspect is also compelling, which became a war of attrition for both the Allies and the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: Clondalkin on Mar 18, 2010 at 07:50 AM
that was McArthur?

I haven't given you that doc yet?   McArthur and entourage must have realized how inconsiderate they appeared to the filthy, smelly, exhausted marines who actually fought hard to clear the beach heads - hence they didn't even react to all the laughter and jeering.  I thought that was an interesting side story to that famous picture.

Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: Dowals on Mar 19, 2010 at 04:50 PM
di na kita inistorbo about the copies of the docu  ;)

i got my copy from a very generous co-member  ;D
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: alihug on Mar 20, 2010 at 10:00 AM
got the first part from demonoid
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: Dan on Mar 23, 2010 at 01:04 PM
And here I thought McArthur's sole interest in the Philippines was to retake his old suite at the Manila Hotel after the Japanese occupied it.
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: Verbl Kint on Mar 23, 2010 at 01:25 PM
Part 2 features John Basilone, a sergeant who received both a congressional medal of honor and a Navy Cross in WW2.   
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: Arulco on Mar 23, 2010 at 08:01 PM
So far, not as captivating as Band of Brothers or Generation Kill but interesting nonetheless.
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: jt68255 on Mar 24, 2010 at 02:18 PM
I agree... I am not yet completely blown away by the series! I guess I just have too much expectations on this series.  But none the less, I still find it good so far.  There's still Cape Gloucester, Peleliu, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa so better wait for the whole series to end before giving out the final verdict.  I also think that potrayal of Leckie is quite good. 
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: mike c on Mar 24, 2010 at 02:21 PM
oo nga, i'm simultaneously watching BoB.

mas attached ako sa characters ng BoB than Pacific.

question lang po sa mga expert historians:
anong pinagkaiba nung bilog na machine gun sa pacific and yung ibang klaseng machine gun ng BoB?

bakit same era, ibang weapons ang gamit?
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: Clondalkin on Mar 24, 2010 at 02:32 PM
question lang po sa mga expert historians:
anong pinagkaiba nung bilog na machine gun sa pacific and yung ibang klaseng machine gun ng BoB?

bakit same era, ibang weapons ang gamit?

Hula.  Baka mas suitable sa tropical weather.   May parang hose pang kinakabit sa barrel.   Did you notice sa 1st episode when they had to dismantle the machinegun after a long fire, and parang napaso yata yung main character dahil mainit yung barrel?



Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: devlin_waugh on Mar 24, 2010 at 02:38 PM
haven't seen the aired episodes yet

but i'm guessing they're water-cooled MGs

otherwise they'd have to be hoses for a flamethrower which was extensively used in clearing the caves for holed-up Japanese troops
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: Clondalkin on Mar 24, 2010 at 02:53 PM
The dual hoses looked like some kind of cooling medium conduit.
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: mike c on Mar 24, 2010 at 03:13 PM
na curious ako

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Browning1917.jpg/300px-Browning1917.jpg)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1917_Browning_machine_gun

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cf/Brm1919.jpg)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1919_Browning_machine_gun

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Machine_gun_M2_1.jpg/300px-Machine_gun_M2_1.jpg)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M2_Browning_machine_gun

looks like the first two yung napapanood natin ...

the water cooled one was used even in non-tropical countries ... so question mark pa rin on why they decided to use what weapon for what war theatre.
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: Dowals on Mar 24, 2010 at 04:36 PM
I find the jungle warfare in Pacific theater based war movies too repititive, as i have seen in the first two episodes.  i will still watch this series  ;D

I wish they've included The Battle of Bataan, The Death March & Battle of Leyte Gulf  :-\
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: wedge on Mar 24, 2010 at 09:32 PM
oo nga, i'm simultaneously watching BoB.

mas attached ako sa characters ng BoB than Pacific.

question lang po sa mga expert historians:
anong pinagkaiba nung bilog na machine gun sa pacific and yung ibang klaseng machine gun ng BoB?

bakit same era, ibang weapons ang gamit?

I think the Marines in 1942 were still ill-equipped than their Army counterparts. They still use the old bolt-action one-shot-reload Springfields and the water-cooled M1917 machine guns. Note that when Leckie and his buddies raided the Army quartermaster dump, they discovered crateful after crateful M1 Garands supply for the Army.
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: mike c on Mar 25, 2010 at 07:49 AM
I think the Marines in 1942 were still ill-equipped than their Army counterparts. They still use the old bolt-action one-shot-reload Springfields and the water-cooled M1917 machine guns. Note that when Leckie and his buddies raided the Army quartermaster dump, they discovered crateful after crateful M1 Garands supply for the Army.

kawawa naman sila.  akala ko mas elite force yung marines than army.  pero i guess it would make sense that infantry weapons would reach the army before the navy.
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: Munskie on Mar 25, 2010 at 08:01 AM
John Basilone is one badass Marine!!!
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: Clondalkin on Mar 25, 2010 at 08:03 AM
kawawa naman sila.  akala ko mas elite force yung marines than army.  pero i guess it would make sense that infantry weapons would reach the army before the navy.

Probably because US had mainland Europe in mind as main theater of land battle.  The Pacific/Japanese made them adopt quite a different style of fighting.
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: wedge on Mar 25, 2010 at 08:14 AM
I've read somewhere that the Marine Corps did not officially adopt the Garand M1 rifle and the Browning M1919 until 1943, when it was decided to standardize the main combat rifle for all branches of the military. However, the Springfield M1903 proved to be an effective sniper rifle and saw service throughout the entire conflict.
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: jt68255 on Mar 26, 2010 at 09:46 AM
Watercooled 30 calibre MG yun gamit ng Marines sa Guadalcanal.  The barrel is filled with water to prevent it from quickly overheating.  It was a lot heavier than its air cooled counterpart but it cooled a lot faster.  Pag air cooled gamit mo you really have to fire 3 round bursts lang dahil mabilis uminit compared sa water cooled na mas matagal ng konti yung MG bursts.

As to why Army people always receieved the best equipmnt first before Marines...  Yan na lagi gripe ng mga Marines eh! 2nd in line sila sa mga mas bagong equipment. Like the Springfield rifles they were using vs. The Garand rifles that Army people were already equipped with when they landed in Guadalcanal
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: alihug on Apr 01, 2010 at 01:46 PM
part 1 na sa Saturday, Apr. 3...
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: boredfilmmaker on Apr 01, 2010 at 01:57 PM
^and part 2 actually.. they're doing back-to-back episodes..
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: AshKetchum on Apr 04, 2010 at 09:58 AM
can someone confirm if the HBO Asia airings were butchered with cuts? didn't catch the local airings but i saw the trailers and "making of" features (on Cinemax, go figure  ::)  )

as a big fan of Jurassic Park, which i still consider one of my all-time favorite movies, i was shocked to see Joseph Mazzello, who played  little Tim in that movie, all grown up and playing one of the leads in The Pacific as Eugene "Sledgehammer" Sledge. looks like Spielberg hasn't forgotten him.
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: Ashburndaride on Apr 04, 2010 at 10:17 AM
^^ haven't seen the HBO airing but there's a long nude/sex scene on Part III which obviously cut by HBO asia. as for the violence, BOB still tops at the moment  ;)
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: Verbl Kint on Apr 04, 2010 at 11:15 AM
The HBO Asia version does have cuts.
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: kraut on Apr 05, 2010 at 02:30 PM
yup dun sa part 2 where a soldier being shot in neck, biglang nagshift kaagad ng scene.....

dun sa preview eh pinakita talaga yung whole scene.....
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: Munskie on Apr 05, 2010 at 07:10 PM
Just watched part IV.  Underwhelms so far.   More drama than I like it to be. And the battle scenes..scarce as they come.... are becoming generic....(marines defending a line......gunning away on Japs on a suicidal attack).

 I guess I cant help but compare it to BoB. Hoping action picks up in the succeeding episodes.
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: wedge on Apr 06, 2010 at 09:33 AM
I've read Leckie's autobiographical Helmet for my Pillow years ago and the way The Pacific is trudging through each episode, is becoming faithful to the book from where it was based. Leckie's narrative is both funny and tragic, though he peppers it with euphemisms he coined his buddies in his unit. I think personal accounts differ tremendously from historical accounts (by way of detail, historians like Stephen Ambrose or Cornelius Ryan tend to divert from the humanistic point of view of the war and into the specifics of strategy and the actual combat, which Band of Brothers or The Longest Day depicted).

Eugene Sledge's book, I haven't read, but is next on my reading list. :)

I kind of liked Part IV, by the way, even if it lacked the "giveaways".
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: jt68255 on Apr 07, 2010 at 01:12 AM
agree with you on that one.  Personal account are a whole lot different from historical accounts.. thats why when watching the pacific for the last 4 episodes, It feels too enclosed to just the world of the characters.  Thats why the battle scenese feel to small and enclosed.  But I bet action will pick up in Episode 5
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: Dowals on Apr 14, 2010 at 05:23 AM
my favorite FBI agent, Anna Torv, appeared in the 5th episode  ;D

(http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ky1loiQYgf1qa7nf2o1_500.jpg)
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: Verbl Kint on Apr 14, 2010 at 10:15 AM
Peleliu is supposed to last 3 episodes.  Can't wait for the next ones.
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: JojoD818 on Apr 15, 2010 at 03:36 PM
unlike BoB, this mini-series already had 2 bed scenes and a grass scene...  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: Ashburndaride on Apr 28, 2010 at 08:04 AM
anyone still following this series?  ;D half of episode 6 and episode 7 is ABSOLUTELY BRUTAL!  :o
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: wedge on Apr 28, 2010 at 08:51 AM
Yes. I do. Can't wait for Iwo Jima or Okinawa.
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: mike c on Apr 28, 2010 at 09:12 AM
still watching, but am pretty bored with the series.

doesn't have the same effect as BoB where i care about the characters.  (here, i don't even care to know who they are)

i'm having a lot more fun with my WWII in HD BD :) (documentary pa)
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: kraut on Apr 29, 2010 at 12:09 PM
medyo ok yung pt 1&2 but the succeeding 3-5 alang kwenta lalo na may cut dun sa :o
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: Ashburndaride on May 11, 2010 at 09:44 AM
one more episode to go....this mini series is not as impressive as BoB  :P

although props to JP's Joseph Mazzello for his portrayal of Eugene "Sledgehammer" Sledge...the only character I was attached on the series  :)

Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: krets pulpol on May 23, 2010 at 03:46 PM
my favorite FBI agent, Anna Torv, appeared in the 5th episode  ;D

(http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ky1loiQYgf1qa7nf2o1_500.jpg)

Just noticed now that the guy playing John Basilone appeared in Bad Boys II as Johnny Tapia's goon. Not sure why they even casted this guy because he doesn't look like the actual Basilone in pics.
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: Clondalkin on May 24, 2010 at 09:44 AM
I marathoned the 10 eps during the weekend so the continuity of the storyline made it better.  Still not as captivating as BOB I agree, but watching the struggle of the marines over the entire condition of muddy and hot war, I thought there must be some truth to the claims that the atomic bombs were used in order to minimize the American casualty -among other things.

My favorite character is Sledge's rather eccentric mate.  I thought for a while that I'd see Anna Torv naked.   ;D 


Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: anya618 on Oct 06, 2010 at 12:34 PM
just started ep1 of this, mukhang ok siya though ive never seen any episodes of bob yet
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: AICRAG on Oct 06, 2010 at 12:40 PM
hindi rin na capture nito yung attention ko nung nasa HBO runs pa.  Not like BOB na talagang inaabangan ko weekly episodes.
Same with clondalkin, made me appreciate this better when I watched all episodes a la marathon.  ;D

the gore on some scenes reminded me of Saving Private Ryan.
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: jas on Oct 06, 2010 at 12:45 PM
R1 DVD & Blu-Ray release is on November 2.
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: anya618 on Oct 07, 2010 at 07:42 AM
me mga scenes pala rito na siguradong di pinalabas sa cable tv  ;D
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: kraut on Oct 07, 2010 at 10:56 AM
meron talaga lalo na yung mga  :o :o :o
Title: Re: The Pacific
Post by: anya618 on Oct 07, 2010 at 05:43 PM
meron talaga lalo na yung mga  :o :o :o

mas marami sa spartacus  ;D