A Realistic Take On World War Two (Band Of Brothers - The Complete Series (6 DVDs))

Member Name: bilbobaginz

Product:	Band Of Brothers - The Complete Series (6 DVDs)
Date:	02/07/09 (17 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fantastic acting and specail effects

Disadvantages: Some episodes lack pace compared with others

BAND OF BROTHERS
The makers of the series have produced this incredibly well constructed box-set which contains over 10-hours of footage on 6 DVD disks, including some previously unseen material. The box is nicely decorated with stills from the series including the classic shot of Easy-company (the stars of the show) peering over the horizon. Some introductory information has been printed on the back of the box-set to set the scene for whats to come.

DISK ONE
The first disk breaks you straight into the action with the first two parts of this 10-episode long series. The programs are effectively a spin off from the award-winning film, 'Saving Private Ryan', which was set around the same time, just after D-Day, 1944.
Part One - Currahee is directed by Phil Robinson with Teleplay by Erik Jendresen and actor Tom Hanks. It introduces you to Easy-company, a group of paratroopers which the series focuses on. Their Leader Richard D. Winters is also introduced - a quiet man with a good heart and some great ideas regarding combat and strategy. Both he and the men are at first quite unforgiving, but as time goes by they begin to bond and eventuallly become great companions.
Part Two - Day of Days sees the beginnings of some action-based drama with Easy-companies first assignment to take out a German artillery installation after dropping into Normandy. With many of the company scattered in locations away from their drop zones, it takes just a handful of the men to successfully destroy their target.

DISK TWO
Part Three - Carentan begins two days after D-Day with easy company sent off to take the French town of Carentan from German hands. One soldier, Albert Blithe finds it difficult to adjust to close combat conditions and the stress and fear it brings. straight after being sent home to England Easy-company is brought back into the action of Normandy.
Part Four - Replacements expresses a soldiers joint admiration and discust towards replacements coming in from over-seas. The men are both grateful for the help and annoyed about the burden a replacement brings - as well as the added level of danger they may entice by being under-trained and under-experienced. The episode sees a fair slice of action with some deaths and several acts of bravery.

DISK THREE
Part Five - Crossroads sees Easy Company's commanding officer, Richard Winters, become haunted by his memory of shooting a German soldier at close range on a risky--but successful--mission over a Dutch dike. A weekend's leave in Paris gives a good sense of the importance of leave for
G.I.'s. Currently stationed in Mourmelon, France, Easy-company are instructed to head into the Ardennes Forest to aid in the Battle of the Bulge through the harsh winters cold.
Part Six - Bastogne documents the ice-cold fight in the forest. Easy-company is instructed to simply hold the line and prevent any German's from passing through their side of the forest. Here soldiers must learn to dodge morter fire and trust their medics advice on issues involving the weather. Casualties do occur, but with a quickly deflating aid station and ammo running low, will the men hold out long enough?

DISK FOUR
Part Seven - The Breaking Point. After defeating the German's in Ardenne, Easy-company was then shipped off to the French town of Foy to help with the Allies recapturing of French soil. Leadership is temporarily lost during this battle and friendshipd tested.
Part Eight - The Last Patrol highlights the tension between the weary, haggard veterans of the Battle of the Bulge and other soldiers who haven't suffered what they have. The episode is narrated by Pvt.
David Webster, an Easy Company veteran who missed the battle at Bastogne because he had been hospitalized with a relatively minor wound. Webster finds that other members of the company have some difficulty embracing him because he has not gone through their trials. Other soldiers with heavier injuries had insisted on returning to the front line whereas Webster had remained in hospital for the required time. This brought tention to the group who expected more from him.

DISK FIVE
Part Nine - Why We Fight. These final episodes lacked the tention of the previous eight and focused on telling the story of what happened once the German's had begun their retreat.
Part Ten - Points sees Easy-company reach the pinicle of their journey. They are streched way up the mountain-side to Hitler's very own private palace, 'The Eagle's nest' in Autria. Don't worry its not a cheesy ending where Easy-company get to gun down the man himself, instead they are rewarded with the chance to explore the nest for themselves, a rare sight.

DISK SIX
Bonus features include an 80 minute documentary "We stand alone together; the men of easy-company" and a 30 minute featurette"Behind the scenes; the making of band of brothers". Also included is "Ron Livingstone's video diaries" and "experiancing the war".

They really have managed to cram a hell of alot of stuff onto this fantastic DVD, highlighting the need to remmember World War Two through what ever medium necessary - to ensure history fails to repeat its self!

Certificate = 15
Cost = £16.98 (AMAZON.CO.UK) down from £59.99 now!
Treat yourself to an absolute bargin.

Thanks for reading.

Summary: A great experiance and one that can be yours to own for such a small price!