MovieChat Forums > Generation Kill (2008) Discussion > How is this not more well known + respec...

How is this not more well known + respected?

posted 10 years ago by GameofMoans
4 replies | jump to latest

I can't believe all the people who say this is a boring mini series. Even if it had no combat scenes it would still rank as one of the best just based on the characters and their journey.
I was actually suprised how much combat there actually is, I expected one or two battles but episode 5 is as good as any Band of Brothers episode. Problem with Band of Brothers is the sentiment and the "Hollywood" style voice overs and overdone music. Now don't get me wrong i enjoy that series for what it is but Generation Kill is much more in depth and real. These are real people, not seen through the rosey prism of "the greatest generation". I hate how Hollywood treats war films based on the "right" or "wrong" nature of the popular opinion. Hitler was a bad guy, no doubt, but because that war is seen as a just cause(compared to Vietnam or Iraq) the films and series depicting the Soliders who fought are more forgiving and sentimental than the war films about unpopular wars. This is wrong. War is war and Soliders are Soliders. No need to make anyone any more or less heroic than what actually happened. World War 2 was a war fought by brave men who died fighting for their country, same as any other war. Sure the stakes were higher but that shouldn't influence how these stories are told via film.

I can see how some might think this series is anti war based on the creative team behind the scenes, but that's too simplistic, and not at all true. It's not so much anti war as it is anti human. War is a by product of mankind and you can see similar themes and ideas in Ed Burns & David Simon's masterpiece, The Wire. They tell it like it is. Sure War is hell, but for the first time in a war film/series, they also show that War is exciting. The reporter and Godfathers last conversation in episode 7 and the look on the reporters face after his first combat experience highlight this. Then the poignant final scene with the video and Johnny Cash brings it all home. Everything from a month long invasion distilled in a 4 minute music video. As Soliders started leaving as the video was playing I thought "ok, whoever is the last person watching this video, is the person this show is really about". Trombley. The X-Box, MTV and silver plate generation. Generation Kill.

Full Metal Jacket and now Generation Kill rank as the best war stories ever told. I can't believe how underrated this series is and hopefully one day it will get a little more respect and recognition.
Get Some!

[–] RomeoQQ 10 years ago

Not enough magic or other life-escaping nonsense, just cold heart realities transferred into the stupid box. People usually don't like that, they need something "cool" that can't (and must not!) be explained.

Anything from David Simon is beyond greatness.

[–] mav100000 10 years ago

Different styles for different people. Remember that some people have seen wars with much more combat, including sustained battles. War is different for everyone, and this is one perspective (though a very well done perspective). People do need to watch this without any preconceived notions, though. Otherwise, you WILL be disappointed for a lack of combat. I recommend a second watch. It worked for me!

Cheers mate!

[–] donitononaire 10 years ago

I think that the time this came out, was during the worst period for American involvement. There was car bombs, IEDs, suicide bombers killing Americans everyday.

We had been an occupying force for over half a decade by this point, which was not part of the cards. And the popularity of the war was horrible. We wanted our troops to come home - and fast...

Moreover, during this time, there was all sorts of documentaries, stories, etc. about the war, and it was kind of played out. Like "oh, been there, seen that" already.

Also remember HBO has so many popular shows, and I think that most of HBO subscribers alrady had "their shows," and just didn't want to invest the time in another TV show. That's why there was such a low viewer count, and it wasn't brought on for another season... Also, I remember HBO didn't put a whole lot of marketing in it - it wasn't as heavily promoted and advertised between movies and shows on HBO.

So it was just one of those instances where a great TV show had a lot of variables working against it, and failed to make it past the first season... Thankfully it's available on HBO on demand, so all subscribers can watch it anytime.

[–] geezerbu 9 years ago

I completely agree with everything you said, it really is fantastic!