‘I BELIEVE IN AMMUNITION’
06.22.09
(my daydream at the post office)
Back in March, I had the early promo trailer for “The Pacific,” HBO’s $200 million, ten-part miniseries about Marines fighting the Japanese in World War II. Produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, the story is based on the memoirs Helmet for My Pillow and With the Old Breed as well as the life of John Basilone, one of the greatest heroes in Marine Corps history. And now that the first real trailer has hit the Internet (see video below), I can confirm that this looks as good as “Band of Brothers,” but with more sex and flamethrowers. And “more sex and flamethrowers” is all I ever ask of life.
In case you’re skeptical, let me do the math for you: HBO + awesome military book + smart producer = badass miniseries. See also: “Band of Brothers,” “Generation Kill.” If you say something bad about this I will fight you. With a flamethrower.
(via /film)
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Just hope the Seabees make an apperance. Marines and Seabees go hand in hand. Even if its backround sutff we were there. Any haters, the last movie with Seabees WAS the Fighting Seabees.
John Basilone is a total fucking badass, and I am not saying that because he’s from about the next town over and I went out with one of his descendants
I believe Under Siege with Steven Seagal equals 10 Saving Private Ryan’s.
Has anyone ever done more for “fat guy karate” than Seagal?
@LatinePhile
So what, nobody loves the Navy enough? I don’t think that’s it. I think the issue is why do the Navy stories get stuck with shitty writers/directors/producers.
You never know what you can do until you get up as high as you can go!
Seriously, when you’re a kid, did anyone ever pretend that they were a sailor? Hell no. Well, maybe some people. But those folks aren’t legally allowed in the military.
Pshhh. Just go watch Top Gun and A Few Good Men a few more times.
@ Ed- yeah, and the coast guard and what would become the air force beat everybody when you run a percentage game. Everybody except for USN sub guys, one freaking third of whom where killed in action. A third. Think about that.
They were expendable? Really? Great movie, but it was made before the war was freaking over. Sort of dated. Which is the problem with all those films- the last non-fiction one was made in what, early 1970′s?
U-571? Really? Did you puke a little in your mouth when you typed that? I did. It is almost as bad as Pearl Harbor.
I don’t think these films in any way diminish the Navy. I think they are great, and I’m stoked to see them. BoB was terrific and Generation Kill wasted hours of my life in flight school.
33% of all US submarines put to sea in WW2 where lost with all, or nearly all hands. ~25% of all naval aviators in the carrier wings were lost in every engagement with the Japanese before midway. But somehow, no director or producer in decades has thought this would make a good story. It blows my mind.
If Spielberg were involved with this, no one would ever die in any of the battles.
That fucker ruined “War of the Worlds” with that shit. “Oh, the son didn’t die like he thought? And the mom is OK, too? And, what’s this? We didn’t even know there was a Grandma and Grandpa in the family, but they’re OK too?”
They’re fictional characters, Steve. You’re not going to go to hell for killing them off.
WWII casualties (killed/missing/wounded) per service as compared to total # number in those services.
US Army: 7.8%
US Navy: 2.4%
USMC: 13.8%
Like it or not, there was a much greater chance of injury or death in the USMC. Its a moot point anyway, the dead and wounded all kicked ass for our country. Any story that can get published to point that out should.
John Wayne was a pussy
And what was the shit pie that Michael Bay made ? The one with Cuba Gooding Jr manning the 50 Cal because he thought the Japs were bombing Pearl Bailey ?
@ No Navy Films:
Down Periscope, McHales Navy, Operation Petticoat
@LatinaPhile
BoB and Private Ryan worked so well because they focused on the smaller units. The backdrop was epic but to be able to tell such a powerful human story you have to have a narrow enough focus that the personal intricacies can be explored without being overwhelmed by all of the moving parts. Plus, its probably easier story telling when your sets can change.
Could the Spielberg/Hanks team translate this to a ship’s crew? Sure. But I don’t know how you could look at this series as a slight to the Navy.
The Army and Marine units didn’t move without the Navy. (Yeah, don’t forget the Army either) The impregnable island fortresses would’ve cost countless more lives without shore bombardments and control of the Sea and Air.
At the end of the day, this is very good source material. They’re highlighting a complete badass in John Basilone and I’m sure this series will be another critical and commercial success.
@ LatinaPhile
Off the top of my head:
Midway, Run Silent Run Deep, The Fighting Seabees, They were expendable, Victory at Sea, Convoy, PT 109, U 571, Operation Pacific.
And of course South Pacific.
@LatinaPhile
(The Marine Corps) have a propaganda machine that is almost equal to Stalin’s.
We can’t help it that we know how to utilize the Media. I’m pretty sure that from now on the definitive stories about American wars are going to focus on Marines.
Gulf War = Jarhead
Invasion of Iraq = Generation Kill
Occupation of Iraq = (probably “No True Glory”
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/stevecoll/2009/06/the-future-of-soldiering.html
Wasn’t there a another whole service in WW2? Or did the Marines swim from island to island?
When is the movie about the Battle of the Philippines sea come out? Or any other Navy scrap in the Pacific? They call this ‘The Pacific’ but I’m getting the impression it will gloss over how the Navy lost 3x as many men as the Marine Corps in that theatre. It’s like we weren’t even freaking there.
They should just cross Marines, and dinosaurs. But cool ones like T-Rex or Oooh No! Sabre Tooth Tigers! I saw this thing on the “Chiller” Channel or whatever it was where they crossed werewolves, and Nazis. Kinda cool I guess.
There’s got to be a photoshop of flame-throwing velociraptor, somewhere.
It’s in the future, my friend. Thanks for the idea.
@Matt
There’s got to be a photoshop of flame-throwing velociraptor, somewhere.
This. Looks. So. Awesome.
-hoping the flame tank makes an appearance
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flame_tank
@Coach – Read some of the history of the tactical force on force actions since WWII. America’s military still kicks some serious ass. The tactictal badassery of our military was probably never on better display then in Vietnam.
“Tom, you are a fake World War II AND Vietnam war vet, and as such, I have tremendous imaginary respect for you.”
Or dinosaurs. Actually, Marines versus dinosaurs would be a fuckin’ SWEET miniseries.
So in other words, Jurassic Park with appropriate security measures
If Spielberg is involved with this, I imagine that Japanese will be replaced by aliens.
Or dinosaurs. Actually, Marines versus dinosaurs would be a fuckin’ SWEET miniseries.
If Spielberg is involved with this, I imagine that Japanese will be replaced by aliens.
Outfuckingstanding.
@ Coach
Perhaps when we have an actual declared war against a first world industrial power we rise to the occasion? And I think plenty of Vietnam vets would take issue with how hardcore they were.
It’s amazing how fucking baller we used to be. Every war since WW2 has basically just been pussy hissyfits in comparison. Even in Vietnam we weren’t nearly as hardcore.
Could you imagine if we had firebombed Baghdaad like we did Dresden or Tokyo? Shit would have gotten real.
I need a bucket to capture the amount of drool created by this news. But 2010?! Oh HBO, why must you torture me so???
I believe this can be summed up in merely two words:
Fucking. A.
is there an email for link submissions?
hit me up at “mattufford” of the Google mail type of address.
I’m sold. But I’ll pass on Spielberg’s re-release in 15 years when the flame-throwers are replaced with walkie-talkies.
(someone needs to make an adaption of Going After Cacciato, if it’s even possible)
Hey Matt, is there an email for link submissions?
Manila John!
I’m looking forward to this. It will probably get me all motivated and gungy.
“Band of Brothers” was beyond awesome. It’s hard to believe those were, or are actual real people that really did that stuff. There’s no way I’d even consider making fun of these guys.
Meanwhile, I cried this morning when I skinned my knee.