I have just watched the first episode of the Steven Spielberg/Tom Hanks colaboration, BAND OF BROTHERS, and I must say it's very impressive. There are 10 hour-long parts which will be broadcast over the next few months. Made for an astronomical budget of $120,000,000, it seems they spared no expense, and can see every cent of the budget put to good use. There is great care in every detail, and the producers obviously wanted the series to look as authentic as possible. I think they have achieved that. The acting is top notch, and the decision to cast mostly unknown actors (there is a few big names, David Schwimmer as a sadistic Lieutenant is a highlight, and Donnie Wahlberg) but in large, the cast is unknown. Damian Lewis, who plays Winters, is particularly impressive. The series basically follows the saga of Easy Company, the 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division of the US army. The first epsiode takes us through the training regimen, then over to the fighting in Europe, then I suppose things will only get tougher from there.... I am interested in watching almost any well done film, tv program, or documentary about the second world war, and Band of Brothers manages to combine all three. If you are a fan of Saving Private Ryan, or Thin Red Line, you will most definately want to check this series out. Even if you aren't, a fan of War Films, and you just want to kick back, and be entertained by a great story, and good writing, this might be for you as well...
Review of Band of Brothers
