The Pacific - B+

On HBO Sunday Night

There hadn't been a "real" war in over 2 decades when Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan and Terence Malick's The Thin Red Line were released within 6 months of each other in 1998. Not only were the first class directors in top form, they were complete, perfect opposites with one going for the guts and one going for the head. War movies haven't been as popular since 9/11 with audiences more in the mood for the fantasy worlds and escapist superhero movies. This may explain the muted response to the HBO miniseries The Pacific, which has attempted to merge elements of Saving Private Ryan and The Thin Red Line. There's just so much horror in the real world that no one needs any more of it from the TV . . .

The series follows the stories of 3 specific marines as they fight from Guadalcanal to Okinawa. First is John Basilone (Jon Seda), the Medal of Honor receiving hero of Guadalcanal who's sent home to raise money for the war effort before training troops and returning to Iwo Jima. Next is Robert Leckie (The Departed's James Badge Dale), a novelist and poet, observing and reporting (and fighting). Last is Eugene Sledge (Jurassic Park's Joseph Mazzello), another author who we follow from boot camp to Iwo Jima. The choice for 3 (at least) stories to follow (that never merge) gives some separation between the characters and thus the audience. Things were different in Band of Brothers where we bonded better with the characters as they bonded with each other. Maybe that's the point, but it leaves things scattered and detached.

If you haven't watched the first 8 episodes, you've missed some startling, fierce battle scenes, great acting, and the occasional insightful remark from the characters. There are also important history lessons that should be known by all, not just History Channel freaks. Basilone is rightly celebrated and nobly portrayed, even more interesting in some ways when he has to deal with his newfound celebrity. Leckie's sad, quiet eyes allow the viewer to reflect and gauge how they would respond. Sledge's descent from wide-eyed patriot to distraught, battle-hardened veteran is something to behold. I can't wait for the last 2 episodes but I can't say the first 8 were always pleasant, with brutal violence, suicides, evidence of castrations, and men clinging onto their souls. If you've made it this far, you'll see it through. If you're interested in history and challenging TV, you'll seek it out. If you've got too much stuff going on in your life right now, you're not alone. I'll take the bitter horse pill of reality over the ice cream headache of Iron Man 2 every single day of the year. B+