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Band of Brothers (TV) (2001)

Posted By: Mindsnatcher
Band of Brothers (TV) (2001)

Band of Brothers (TV) (2001)
HBO | 2001 | Season 1 | 705 min | Rated TV-MA
6x Blu-ray Discs | m2ts | BDAV @ 48.0 Mbps, 23.976 fps | 1920 x 1080 | 11hr 45min | 192 GB
Audio 1: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit) @ 1509 Kbps | Audio 2: Russian DTS-HD MA 5.1 @ 1509 Kbps
Subtitle: English, English SDH, French, Spanish, Russian
Genre: Drama, War

IMDb | Blu-ray.com

Band of Brothers (TV) (2001)
Band of Brothers (TV) (2001)
Band of Brothers (TV) (2001)


"Band of Brothers," an ambitious, grandiose, and above all else moving World War II-based miniseries that debuted on HBO in 2001, remains the quintessential story of not only the Company portrayed therein, but perhaps of the War on the whole. The series showcases effortless character development, incredible action sequences in both scope and detail, and many of the War's most significant developments through the eyes of Easy Company, from their training regimen in the United States through the end of the conflict in the European theater, all over 10 episodes that together run more than 10 hours in length. Saving Private Ryan colleagues Tom Hanks (Cast Away) and Steven Spielberg (Close Encounters of the Third Kind) produced the series based on the text of the same title by noted historian Stephen Ambrose. "Band of Brothers" is a product forged from hands both capable and loving. The material offers not only incredible value from an entertainment and production perspective, but it makes a valuable contribution to the understanding of World War II in Europe. It is a series that serves as a tribute to those men who served the world in perhaps its greatest undertaking, and is a reminder to current and future generations as to the sacrifices, courage, and love of freedom and country that shaped history, and the world, forever.

The aptly-titled "Band of Brothers" follows the progression of the Second World War through the experiences of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. From their Beginning at Camp Toccoa, Georgia, two years prior to the invasion of Normandy, to the capture of Hitler's "Eagle's Nest" compound at Berchtesgaden, Germany, and experiencing much of the War in between, Easy Company seemed the spearhead of the Allied War effort. Involved in several of the most memorable engagements of the War, Easy dropped in and fought behind enemy lines during the Allied invasion of France in June of 1944; the Company participated in the failed Allied attempt to win the War by Christmas of 1944, known as Operation Market Garden; Easy participated in the long, cold, hard battle of Bastogne in the winter of 1944-1945. Besides the fighting, Easy Company also experienced some of the most heart-wrenching moments of the War first-hand, including the public humiliation of Hollander Nazi sympathizers and their discovery of a concentration camp deep inside Germany. While each man's unique personality, outlook, and skill added to the makeup and effectiveness of the unit, it was nevertheless their collective bravery, dedication, and sense of purpose that made them a Band of Brothers.

"Band of Brothers" excels at many levels, both through its visual presentation and its stirring emotional overtones. As a War picture, or in this case series, the filmed action sequences offer viewers a spectacle like nothing before it, matching and arguably besting in scope, tension, and gritty realism, outings like Saving Private Ryan and Black Hawk Down. Most episodes showcase a major confrontation, each a unique entity with its own character, hardships, and challenges. The action never feels repetitive nor clumsy. If anything, the series' visual style places viewers in the middle of the action thanks to its complete sense of immersion through both its visuals and world-class sound design, both of which are improved on by this Blu-ray set. While the chaos of the sequences sometimes leaves viewers in a state of confusion, unsure of what is exactly happening to whom, that sense seems to capture the essence of combat perfectly. It is anything but an exact science, a calm, easily understood organism that is structured and precise. The fighting takes place at night, in daylight, in cities and towns, in fields and forests. "Band of Brothers" does all filmmaking can to recreate the dread and disorder of combat with striking realism.

"Band of Brothers" is perhaps the most emotionally charged and positive series ever made. Even before the series begins to play, as images and the series' score loop over the main menu of the first disc, it is difficult not to become overwhelmed by the emotion conveyed by the visuals and the segments of the score that accompany them. Michael Kamen's score is an astounding tribute to the men, and a fitting theme for the series. It is both powerful and exiting, conveying the raw emotions of each and every scene it accompanies with amazing grace. The knowledge of what these men did for everyone then and now and tomorrow, the sacrifices they made, the hardships they endured, and the friends they lost, all in the name of freedom, often stirs the soul and brings a tear to the eye. Despite its power, it is not the reenacted series that offers the most dramatic and touching elements to the "Band of Brothers" experience. It is the interviews with the real-life veterans that precede each episode that provide the foundation for the series and set the tone for the emotional underpinnings of the episode to follow. The words, the eyes, and the souls of these veterans, as they briefly recount their tales, provide the real significance of the series. No actor, no camera, no set, no sound, no special effect can capture the essence of the experience better than these heroes who serve not only as the inspiration for the series but provided to their country and their world the freedom to tell their story through their actions as portrayed in the ten episodes of "Band of Brothers."

Encapsulating the series, the War, and the men who fought in it is the series' third episode, "Carentan." The episode centers around the experiences of a mostly anonymous Easy Company rifleman named Albert Blithe. Blithe is certainly not a hero but is rather an everyman with real emotions, real problems, and an honest outlook on both life and death. He is neither excited nor depressed to be in the War. Lost in the shuffle, he simply is unsure of himself, of the world, and of the War exploding around him. His story focuses on his experience in combat, the terrors of War, and his coping with the realities of his situation. His is a story of becoming a true soldier as, through the episode, he runs the gamut of life as a combatant: contemplating the meaning of the War, dealing with fear, trying to earn the respect of others, killing an enemy solider, and himself receiving a wound. The themes of the episode are tied around the edelweiss flower that adorns many a German soldier's lapels, described to Blithe as "the mark of a true soldier." Indeed, Blithe, and his Company, see their emergence as "true soldiers" and "The Greatest Generation" as a result of their experiences fighting in World War II.


EXTRAS
This set offers viewers a selection of bonus materials that remains consistent across the first five discs. In the Field With the Men of Easy Company offers viewers an "Interactive Field Guide" that presents an on-screen timeline that tracks the progress of the corresponding episodes. Viewers are able to select and view material across a broad range of topics, including character biographies, archival videos, interactive maps, definitions for military jargon heard throughout the series, and factoids pertaining to the War. This is one of the finest, easiest to navigate, informative, and fun special features ever to come to Blu-ray. This supplement is available with all episodes. In the Words of Easy Company is a picture-in-picture feature that offers video commentary from the real men of Easy Company, describing their experiences as they pertain to certain scenes as seen in the episode. This features is also included for all episodes. Finally, each disc concludes with the same series of previews (720p, 10:20) for each of the ten episodes.

Disc six of this set contains several extras, highlighted by a documentary entitled We Stand Alone Together: The Men of Easy Company (1080p, 1:17:33). This is an extraordinary documentary that goes beyond the incredible dramatization of the War from the perspective of Easy Company as depicted in "Band of Brothers." Featuring in-depth, personal, and poignant interviews with the surviving members of the Company, intertwined with archival photographs and film footage, the documentary proves even more powerful than the series itself. Next is Behind the Scenes: The Making of 'Band of Brothers' (480p, 29:32). This feature provides viewers with a fascinating look at the creation of this series, briefly examining the sets, costumes, the actor's boot camp, the camaraderie between the actors, the look and feel of the series, a look at the weapons used in the series, and much more. Ron Livingston's Video Diaries (480p, 56:05) is a twelve-part feature that captures life on the set and the experiences of the cast and crew over the 18-month process of shooting "Band of Brothers." Concluding the supplemental features is Premiere in Normandy (480p, 3:01), a brief look at the series' premier at Utah Beach.

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