Band of Brothers [Blu-ray]

     Studio: Hbo Home Video Release Date: 11/11/2008 Run time: 705 minutes Rating: Nr      An impressively rigorous, unsentimental, and harrowing look at combat during World War II, Band of Brothers follows a company of airborne infantry--Easy Company--from boot camp through the end of the war. The brutality of training takes the audience by increments to the even greater brutality of the war; Easy Company took part in some of the most difficult battles, including the D-Day invasion of Normandy, the failed invasion of Holland, and the Battle of the Bulge, as well as the liberation of a concentration camp and the capture of Hitler's Eagle's Nest. But what makes these episodes work is not their historical sweep but their emphasis on riveting details (such as the rattle of a plane as the paratroopers wait to leap, or a flower in the buttonhole of a German soldier) and procedures (from military tactics to the workings of bureaucratic hierarchies). The scope of this miniseries (10 episodes, plus an actual documentary filled with interviews with surviving veterans) allows not only a thoroughness impossible in a two-hour movie, but also captures the wide range of responses to the stress and trauma of war--fear, cynicism, cruelty, compassion, and all-encompassing confusion. The result is a realism that makes both simplistic judgments and jingoistic enthusiasm impossible; the things these soldiers had to do are both terrible and understandable, and the psychological price they paid is made clear. The writing, directing, and acting are superb throughout. The cast is largely unknown, emphasizing the team of actors as a whole unit, much like the regiment; Damian Lewis and Ron Livingston play the central roles of two officers with grit and intelligence. Band of Brothers turns a vast historical event into a series of potent personal experiences; it's a deeply engrossing and affecting accomplishment. --Bret Fetzer

Comment:
    This is absolutely the best blu ray title available and you get 6 discs for $50 or less. The video is amazing and will really show you what your TV can do, especially the black levels. If you watch this with at least a 5.1 sound system prepare to be mezmorized!If you aren't weeping by the end of the final chapter, you should check yourself for a pulse. Some of these episodes are better than others--but as an overall package this is one of the most sweeping war epics you'll ever see. By the end, you're so invested with "Easy Company" that the slight "twist" at the end will just leave you completely breathless. A lot of folks compare this to Saving Private Ryan. Well, OK. Some of the same people were involved and it has the same look. But because this has more range and flexibility I think it is by far a superior experience to Ryan. With all of the "super hero" movies (which I like) permeating the box office, it's nice to watch something with real life superheroes. And these guys were heroes.This product is a really great purchase. The TrueHD picture is absolutely gorgeous, along with lossless sound makes the perfect combination for your upgraded entertainment system. The only draw back to this series is the lack of any new or special extra features to take advantage of the dual-layer Blu-ray disks. There is a lot of space there to be had. Other than that, the series is so awesome that I couldn't stand to give it anything less than 5/5 stars.As far as the Bluray goes V.s the dvd version. The bluray is a better copy. But like all movies that were filmed before the HD storm kicked off. It has some parts that are still grainy at times. But there is a big improvement. I do not regret owning this series on both formats. It is an epic tell of courageous men who us Americans and all Europeans owe our lives. They were the Greatest generation thus far. Please thank one of them if you meet them while you still can.I'm not a big reviewer, so I'll just say that this series has definately captured my audience. I looked forward to seeing the next episode after each previous one that I finished. Very well done!