The Pacific Episodes 1 & 2

So, I waited over a week to catch this show purely because I knew I had a free ticket to see them on the BIG screen (Like, serious, HUGE, in beautiful HD, and awesome surround sound)
And was the companion piece to Band Of Brothers worth the wait?

Yes.
Oh my yes. As soon as the title sequence was over I was enthralled (The HBO miniseries' have amazing titles, and the music, oh my goodness, amazing).
Clearly the huge budget helps, as this show looks stunning, seriously, absolutely gorgeous, every frame of it, amazing. I guess the real shame of this is that in the first two episodes, which are 2 hours overall but feel like maybe an hour or so, slickly paced as they are, we never really see the characters enough, especially to distinguish who they are in the night time battles, of which there are at least two, the second being a complete mess to understand, but that's as it is, a complete panic.

Building up quickly we open with a young man at church, about to set out with a Marine corp to face up against the Japanese Empire, meeting his friendly next door neighbour, a young woman who he promises to write to. Then we jump to a family Christmas dinner, two brothers going out to fight the good fight. Then an 18 year old kid who isn't allowed to go because he has a heart problem.

Soon enough we're on the sunny isles of Guadalcanal, the marines wait, ala Saving Private Ryan, on small ships, get to land. Beaten to the punch by other US infantry. Walking round the island, still beaten by others to any place of action. That is until the airports and the ships are hit, leaving them all alone. Soon enough they are fending for themselves, at one point coming into contact with another group, the first having the young man from church, the second with the brothers.

In between the amazing action sequences are some real heartfelt moments between characters and hysterical moments, lines and pieces.
The show is astonishing, it's a shame there were only two shown, but I will be watching the rest, you can count on that. A tremendous undertaking done well, better than any film I've seen so far this year.

Astounding.
5/5 (No shit)