The Goggle Box Thread

[Langers]

The Pacific is well worth watching. I'm Sky+ing for the second time and going to see if it stands up to a second viewing. Sometimes things are better the second time round as you pick up on nuances you missed in the first viewing. But even if it isn't better at the second time of asking, it'll still be worth watching again.

I enjoyed it more the 2nd time I watched it.

 

[Toon Wolf]

The Pacific didn't really do it for me, i loved Band of Brothers, just thought the characters and story weren't quite up there with BoB, i didn't really feel like i got to know any of the characters or cared much about them.

I felt somewhat the same way, though I still thought it was very, very good. But comparing it to Band of Brothers, whilst inevitable I suppose, is a little unfair: BoB is arguably the best thing ever made, so nothing will stand up to that comparison! I think if The Pacific had come first it would likely be heralded as brilliant.

 

[Langers]

I felt somewhat the same way, though I still thought it was very, very good. But comparing it to Band of Brothers, whilst inevitable I suppose, is a little unfair: BoB is arguably the best thing ever made, so nothing will stand up to that comparison! I think if The Pacific had come first it would likely be heralded as brilliant.

I think that's why I found it better the 2nd time around - you don't compare it to BoB quite so much as you know what's going to happen. The unavoidable comparison is more apparent the first time you see it.

I think The Pacific is more of an account of a battle/battles as opposed to the genius that is Band of Brothers that somehow managed to merge all that history with some extremely impressive characterisation. That's not easy to do, so I don't think it's fair to mark The Pacific down on that. I think The Pacific does what it needs to do very well. A solid 8/10 from me.

 

[MARKakaJIM]

The thing i found surprising with BoB and The Pacific, although BoB had many more characters i felt i knew a lot more about most of them than i did anyone in The Pacific even though there are far fewer characters. You'd have thought there would be more detail in The Pacific considering there were less people to cover but i didn't think it ended up that way, maybe its just because i've watched BoB so many times.

 

[Langers]

The thing i found surprising with BoB and The Pacific, although BoB had many more characters i felt i knew a lot more about most of them than i did anyone in The Pacific even though there are far fewer characters. You'd have thought there would be more detail in The Pacific considering there were less people to cover but i didn't think it ended up that way, maybe its just because i've watched BoB so many times.

The characters in BoB ARE better, but honestly - I enjoyed The Pacific far more the 2nd time I saw it. Eugene Sledge and John Basilone in particular are interesting characters, Joseph Mazello is actually pretty bloody good in it.

 

[SSB]

With regards to The Pacific I found the two books as series was based on better than the actual series. Would recommend anybody who has watched The Pacific reads them.

 

[Langers]

With regards to The Pacific I found the two books as series was based on better than the actual series. Would recommend anybody who has watched The Pacific reads them.

Do you mean the ones written by Leckie and Sledge? I must get hold of them.

 

[Toon Wolf]

The thing i found surprising with BoB and The Pacific, although BoB had many more characters i felt i knew a lot more about most of them than i did anyone in The Pacific even though there are far fewer characters. You'd have thought there would be more detail in The Pacific considering there were less people to cover but i didn't think it ended up that way, maybe its just because i've watched BoB so many times.

I think this comes down to the first episode in BoB, the training one Currahee. That sets you up perfectly with all the characters for the rest of the series, and it's something that The Pacific didn't (and probably couldn't) do. In that episode you straight away have an empathy with so many of the characters in BoB, and they engage you from the start. It really, really helped with your identification with Easy Company and its men and made the rest of the series better for it. If The Pacific had done that though they'd have been accused of re-hashing BoB, so they had to shy away from that formula IMO.

 

[SSB]

Do you mean the ones written by Leckie and Sledge? I must get hold of them.

Yep. Eugene Sledge "With The Old Breed" & "China Marine" and "Helmet for My Pillow" by Robert Leckie.

 

[MARKakaJIM]

Good point Toon, i also liked the accounts from the 'real life' people at the start of the episodes and then when it revealed who was who on the last episode tied everything together nicely.

 

[Jinky]

I have a load to get through on my planner.

The season finale of Boardwalk.
The latest Six Feet Under.
The most recent Bored to Death (with the amazingly cool Jason Schwartzman in it)
The entire series of The Sopranos (which I made a concious decision not to watch until I had a few to get through)
and The Pacific from Saturday.

I'm going to make a start on it now. Later. xx

 

[Toon Wolf]

Game of Thrones was very good. I'm not usually into that sort of stuff, I found Lord of the Rings nothing better than 'ok', so I'm surprised I liked it. I'll definitely watch again.

 

[Langers]

Really enjoyed Game of Thrones - never read any of the books but was nevertheless impressed. I shall continue watching it I think.

Might give up on Boardwalk Empire though, it's really not gripping me at all.

 

[The Bear]

How far are you into BE? Give it at least until episode 6-ish.

 

[Langers]

I've seen the first 3. I shall give it one more go then. Always willing to give something a chance.

I have to say that overall, I really have enjoyed Sky Atlantic. I think Treme, The Sopranos and (after 1 episode) Game of Thrones are all top pieces of telly.

 

[SSB]

Stick with Boardwalk Empire. I really enjoyed it and looking forward to the second season.

 

[Squeeze]

Game of Thrones was very good. I'm not usually into that sort of stuff, I found Lord of the Rings nothing better than 'ok', so I'm surprised I liked it. I'll definitely watch again.

I have read the first book and it was magnificent. I am somewhat gutted we don't have Sky Atlantic...now do any of you have it saved to hard drive? opcorn:

 

[The Bear]

I do.

Do a google search for "game.of.thrones.s01e01.720" and the world is your oyster....

 

[Jinky]

Might give up on Boardwalk Empire though, it's really not gripping me at all.

*Shakes head and walks away*

I think it's safe to say our tastes are a world apart. I still fucking love you though.

 

[Langers]

*Shakes head and walks away*

I think it's safe to say our tastes are a world apart. I still fucking love you though.

:icon_lol:

I don't think BE is bad, it's just not gripping me, that's all, Well written etc but I dunno - something just doesn't seem right for me.

We don't disagree on THAT much, anyway. Just The Inbetweeners.