The Pacific

Eine überraschend ungesunde und dramaturgisch völlig abgetötete Brühe von Band of Brothers – Wir waren wie Brüder, wo es sowohl an frenetischer Atmosphäre als auch an charismatische Helden fehlt, und vor allem an jenen wunderschönen "Mikrogeschichten", dank welcher der Vorgänger zu einer wirklich rohen Aussage über die Menschen und Krieg wurde. Pacific ist ein visuell schön hergerichteter, jedoch innerlich zusammengefallener Ballon. Ich bin nicht durch die Serie selbst motiviert, mir diese anzusehen, sondern lediglich durch meine langfristige Leidenschaft für den Pazifikkrieg. [Dieser Kommentar wurde nach dem Betrachten des sentimentalen Felsens mit der Seriennummer 3 verfasst ] (16.03.2010)

The Pacific is a series I had high hopes for, especially as a follow-up to Band of Brothers. I wanted it to be as compelling, gripping, and memorable as its predecessor, particularly because the stories of these men deserve to be told with the same impact. But while I hoped for something on par with Band of Brothers, I quickly realized this was going to be a different experience—and not necessarily in a bad way. After all, who needs a carbon copy of the same series, just set in a different theater of war? But here’s the thing: as much as I tried not to compare it to Band of Brothers, it was impossible not to. After about eight episodes, I even had to take a break because I just wasn’t feeling engaged. The stories, while authentic and acted well, didn’t hook me the way I’d expected. The characters didn’t resonate as deeply, and the episodic structure often felt disjointed. One episode focuses entirely on a soldier’s personal struggles in Australia, only for that storyline to be dropped completely afterward. It felt like a huge misstep, especially in a series where we're supposed to connect with these soldiers’ journeys. It’s not that the show lacked authenticity. The production value was top-notch, the atmosphere and music were on point, and the grim realities of war were certainly portrayed. But despite all that, The Pacific felt more like a long slog through muddy swamps than a gripping war epic. Where Band of Brothers shocked you with the brutal absurdity of war, The Pacific often felt like a slow, grim march that struggled to keep me invested. There were moments, a few episodes even, that really grabbed my attention, but overall, I found myself frustrated. You expect gripping stories about soldiers, only to end up with an entire episode focused on one guy chasing after a girl—which ultimately feels pointless. And don't get me started on the lighting. Half the time, I had no idea what was happening because everything was so dark. It’s like they expected everyone to have their TV brightness maxed out to catch the action. Honestly, 80% of the battle scenes are just shadows, gunfire, and confusion. Who wants to sit through that? Even trench warfare at night in other films had more impact. Look, I get it—war is hell. Maybe this is how it really was, but if you're trying to engage an audience, at least do it with some finesse. Instead, The Pacific feels like a missed opportunity. It's as if they were so focused on being "different" that they forgot to keep things compelling for the viewer. I’m disappointed, deeply. The series does provide a valuable look into a brutal chapter of WWII, but it just doesn’t have the emotional weight or storytelling finesse to match its ambition. (05.01.2011)

The same war, but a different battlefield and mainly a different enemy. Hanks and Spielberg guarantee a high quality movie, so the special effects and the actors are both at a pretty high standard. I was also pleased by the quality dubbing. So far so good, we’ll see what will come of it. After the part two I raise my rating to the full five. Jon Seda is the ultimate bruiser and the thousand headed Japanese dragon shows its strength. More destructive in their fury and ferociousness than the Nazis. -- In the end I’m giving it 4 stars, the same as for the Band of Brothers (both series complement each other nicely). Where The Pacific is weaker in overall atmosphere there it makes up for in the action scenes. The actors are almost all of them seriously good, James Badge Dale being a big surprise, but the portrayal of some of the characters was a little weak. Also Rami Malek’s loopy bastard Snafu deserves a mention and I foresee a big future for him. Did you turn it off, you bastard? I’m covered in soap. (16.03.2010)

The pure mastery of Band of Brothers could not be repeated for a second time, but even so, lamenting the dubious quality of The Pacific is completely out of place. It's interesting to watch this glorious miniseries in hindsight, as it matures over time like wine. Many then-unknown actors are now A-listers, and it's fun to watch them on set in their early career moments. James Badge Dale, Jon Bernthal, and Rami Malek are all worth mentioning. For all the technical opulence, sound design, and lavish sets at every turn, The Pacific falls short of the technical prowess and frenetic fury of Band of Brothers. Another minus may be the theory that we Europeans are, after all, "closer" to a conflagration on home soil than in Japan and adjacent islands half a world away. That said, this miniseries does make an important flashback to the past and shows that the hells of war and its heroes as well as its losers were at one stage of humanity almost all over the globe. (08.07.2024)

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one. Band of Brothers holds a special place in my heart, so I was relieved to see that The Pacific's pilot hinted at something just as compelling. I’ll be eagerly watching the rest. Edit: After finishing the whole series and giving it some thought, I’d rate it a notch below Band of Brothers—but still a solid 80%. I’ll definitely keep an eye out for similar HBO projects in the future. (28.03.2010)