Generation Kill - what to expect?

[Nielsb90]

I'm cutting down on my BD spending.. Have only ordered 2 movies this month, and plan to keep it that way.. One is Watchmen (already shipped ) and the other is Generation Kill.. Both are blind buys! What should I expect from Generation Kill? Absolutely LOVE Band of Brothers and they are both HBO so I guess I have big expectations.. I have heard it doesnt have that much action, which is fine with me as long as it's captivating.. I know the reviewer loves it, but is it easy to get into and does it keep you interested? Final question: what is the packaging like? Size, material so on...

Thanks for your inputs! - this isn't the best site for nothing

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Nielsb90

I'm cutting down on my BD spending.. Have only ordered 2 movies this month, and plan to keep it that way.. One is Watchmen (already shipped ) and the other is Generation Kill.. Both are blind buys! What should I expect from Generation Kill? Absolutely LOVE Band of Brothers and they are both HBO so I guess I have big expectations.. I have heard it doesnt have that much action, which is fine with me as long as it's captivating.. I know the reviewer loves it, but is it easy to get into and does it keep you interested? Final question: what is the packaging like? Size, material so on...

Thanks for your inputs! - this isn't the best site for nothing

I cant tell you about the packaging because I rented it. Its a lot different than BoB. I didnt care for it, which surprised me. Most people here DID like it though.

[Jwilly019]

I rented it as well so no comments about the packaging. I've watched the first three episodes now and it is quite good. That said, don't expect to see BoB set in the middle east. There isn't as much action, but I thought it was pretty captivating.

I say give it a rental and decide yourself.

[SDon1969]

I would compare Generation Kill to Over There before I would draw any comparisons with Band of Brothers...they are somewhat similar IMO.

http://www.amazon.com/Over-There-Epi...7072180&sr=1-1

Packaging is similar to John Adams or True Blood, if you've seen either of those...

[Nielsb90]

Originally Posted by SDon1969

I would compare Generation Kill to Over There before I would draw any comparisons with Band of Brothers...they are somewhat similar IMO.

http://www.amazon.com/Over-There-Epi...7072180&sr=1-1

Packaging is similar to John Adams or True Blood, if you've seen either of those...

No I haven't.. Is it the same height as a regular case?

[aggienader08]

Originally Posted by SDon1969

I would compare Generation Kill to Over There before I would draw any comparisons with Band of Brothers...they are somewhat similar IMO.

Why on earth would you compare Gen. Kill to Over There? Did you watch either of them? Over There = FAIL!! Please tell me what the similarities are other than Iraq and limited action... The thing that is key and without a doubt incomparable in Generation Kill is the character development and their struggles.

[H00D4M4N]

'Generation Kill' is a fantastic series. It's the same high-quality as 'Band of Brothers,' but is a much more raw experience.

It comes in a package similar to 'True Blood' that's very nice. But then again HBO always puts out top notch stuff.

You can see my review here.

[septic death]

Buy it !!

[aggienader08]

Originally Posted by SDon1969

I watched both of 'em, smart alec. Why would I comment if I hadn't?

Amazon's take on Over There:

"Over There: Season One is simply a revelation, a new way to look at a drama about a new kind of American war. Told over 13 superb episodes, in which a handful of soldiers go through a great many changes to arrive at their own flawed, beautiful humanity, this series by prolific producer Steven Bochco (NYPD Blue) has nothing to do with the politics or decreasing popularity of the Iraq war. The show is consumed, instead, by the logistics of U.S. troops staying alive from hour to hour against a campaign of masked insurgents, roadside bombs, and clever lures into unforeseen dangers. Many of Over There's most gripping moments are concerned with the fallibility of soldiers trying to decipher the sometimes inscrutable actions of men, women, and children who may or may not be the enemy. It's hard to tell, for example, if the Iraqi man who stepped out of his house to kick a soccer ball with his son is, in fact, grabbing a moment of happiness with his child or trying to deceive the Americans with a false veneer of normalcy. There isn't always a way to be sure of intentions, and the show's major characters are often forced to make split-second judgments fraught with moral ambivalence and potential tragedy. "

Now doesn't that sound comparable to Generation Kill? Gen Kill has way more in common with Over There than it does with Band of Bros. And I refuse to insert a little whipping smiley here...

I'm saying that you shouldn't compare them because Gen. Kill is based off of Rolling Stone writer Evan Wright's experiences with the Recon division, which were published. Over There was meant to be a network TV show with either a longer season or more than one season, not just one short season; instead it was canceled before the final episodes could air due to low ratings. I was actually thrilled when they were going to premiere Over There, but it wasn't engaging enough. Poor character development and really bad acting IMO. You have a different opinion, but don't falsely compare something that was a success to something that was a failure because the premises are the same.

I'm not trying to be a smart "alec" (??what are you like 60??). I'm just stating that Over There was a network TV failure. And the whipping smiley was meant to be humorous. Don't be bothered so much by a difference of opinion. I asked you to give me a good reason to compare them and you did in your opinion.

[onyxx]

I loved it so much that I saw all 7 episodes and all of the extras in two days time. I was taken by the realism of the series and loved the dialog between the men. This is a dialog driven series so don't expect action sequence after action sequence. This comment by Kenneth Brown sums it all up for me:

Generation Kill's effectiveness and eventual resonance lies not in its depiction of battle, but in the quiet moments of personal distress the various Marines face between engagements. Encounters with enemy combatants comprise a surprisingly short amount of screentime: the majority of the miniseries is devoted to both the affable and adversarial relationships forged during the soldiers' downtime.

I liked "Generation Kill" even more than I did "Band of Brothers", T'ts the best thing I have seen in 2009 and for me a must own!

[aggienader08]

You should expect nothing short of a great experience watching this min-series. You'll learn things about Operation Iraqi Freedom that you never thought you could. As you already know, the action is limited, but still engaging whenever it hits throughout the series. For me, the most astonishing and surprising aspects about the mini series were the inside and domestic influences that the recon marines struggled with, and all the while trying to fight in a war. The only problem that I had with the whole thing is that the acting and representation of some of the officers at some points tends to seem a little overblown, which it may or may not be, hopefully it is! I can't say too much more without ruining it, so I'll leave the rest up to you to judge for yourself. I blind purchased this as well and am not sorry I did.