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Amazon.co.uk Review
A genuinely epic achievement, the 10-part World War II drama Band of Brothers is a television series that makes big-screen Hollywood war movies look small in comparison. Based on the book by historian Stephen Ambrose, the series follows the US 101st Airborne Division's "Easy" E-Company from initial training through D-Day and across Holland, Belgium, Germany and Austria until the end of the war. Coproduced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, the series take its initial inspiration from Saving Private Ryan and borrows that film's visceral visual approach to combat scenes using hand-held camerawork and de-saturated photography. But where Band of Brothers excels is in its scrupulous attention to the realities of military life (retired US Marine Captain Dale Dye, who also co-stars, is the man to credit).
After the high drama of the parachute drop on D-Day, Easy's greatest trial comes during the Battle of the Bulge, when they are besieged at Bastogne in the depths of winter. In one of the most harrowing and credible depictions of war ever committed to film we see the men enduring the repeated artillery attacks of the German forces and experience, if only vicariously, some of the sheer terror of the assault, while being humbled by the soldiers' courage and determination. Such feelings are enhanced by the series' masterstroke--bookend interviews with the surviving members of Easy Company, who talk with barely suppressed emotion of the experiences we see recreated. The endorsement of these veterans elevates Band of Brothers beyond any mere "war film"--its extraordinary achievement is that it shows the horror and savagery of war without gloss or jingoism, and yet celebrates the fraternal bonds and dogged heroism of the men who fought.
On the DVD: Band of Brothers arrives handsomely packaged in a six-disc box set with two episodes on each of the first five discs. Sound (Dolby 5.1) and picture (1.78:1 widescreen) only enhance the series' epic credentials. Disc 6 contains all the extras, the meatiest of which is the marvellous 80-minute documentary "We Stand Alone Together" about the real men of Easy Company. There's also a first-rate, genuinely interesting 30-minute "making of" feature about actor boot camp, visual effects and blowing up fake trees among many other things. This is complemented by actor Ron Livingston's revealing Video Diaries of boot camp. Additionally there's a "Who's Who" section and footage of the HBO premiere at Utah Beach, plus a TV spot for car company Jeep. --Mark Walker
DVD Description
This 10-part HBO television miniseries focuses on Easy Company, a group of American soldiers in World War II, tracking their experiences from the beginning of boot camp to the end of the war. Anchored by actors Damian Lewis and Ron Livingston, the series gives detailed attention to their experiences as a group, as well as the way that each of them develops individually. Based on historian Stephen E. Ambrose's book of real-life accounts, BAND OF BROTHERS was executive produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, who worked together on SAVING PRIVATE RYAN. Hanks also directed one episode, featuring his son, Colin Hanks.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
41 of 42 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
Band of Brothers is the true story of Easy Company, one of the most active and important companies in the US Army during the liberation of France and the eventual invasion of Germany. It traces the various characters from beginnings in boot camp (look out for a brilliant David Schwimmer in the first feature length episode), through their time in England waiting for the big push, the terrifying brutality of D-Day, the subsequent chaos of the liberation of Normandy and the ongoing campaign in Europe. The characters remain consistent throughout, though their appearances and importance to the story ebbs and flows, sometimes waiting in the background and occasionally coming to the fore, as the series explores the multi-faceted war machine and the personal stories set within the context of this huge operation over 10 episodes lasting at least an hour each.
Band of Brothers comes from the same people that made Saving Private Ryan, and it exemplifies the same approach to production values. There have been no compromises made in terms of the effects, with explosions and gore pounding the camera in very visceral scenes that do not pull any punches, and are not suitable for youngsters.
Equally, the visual or aural fidelity is outstanding in this bluray reproduction. There is occasional graininess to the pictures, particularly in some of the darker scenes, but these add to the gritty realism rather than detract from the polish. Overall, the bluray picture is outstanding. Of even greater note is the sound. When listened to in 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound this is an amazing experience, as bullets whizz past your ears and explosions rock your sofa. There is an option to have the full, uncompressed Master HD Soundtrack whic must sound unbelievable, but unfortunately my system is not capable of playing it back, which is a shame.
This is an amazing box set, and represents great value for money for what is one of the most important pieces of TV cinematography ever, in my view. The intimate stories it tells, set against such an epic and tragic background, are extremely moving, while the action set pieces are filmed with such flair that your heart rate will soar. Of particular note are early sequences in Normandy where Easy Company storm an anti-air battery, and a later sequence in which soldiers are under siege in a snowy forest, as trees literally start exploding around them. Such scenes are likely to stick in your mind for many years, as well they should.
Band of Brothers comes from the same people that made Saving Private Ryan, and it exemplifies the same approach to production values. There have been no compromises made in terms of the effects, with explosions and gore pounding the camera in very visceral scenes that do not pull any punches, and are not suitable for youngsters.
Equally, the visual or aural fidelity is outstanding in this bluray reproduction. There is occasional graininess to the pictures, particularly in some of the darker scenes, but these add to the gritty realism rather than detract from the polish. Overall, the bluray picture is outstanding. Of even greater note is the sound. When listened to in 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound this is an amazing experience, as bullets whizz past your ears and explosions rock your sofa. There is an option to have the full, uncompressed Master HD Soundtrack whic must sound unbelievable, but unfortunately my system is not capable of playing it back, which is a shame.
This is an amazing box set, and represents great value for money for what is one of the most important pieces of TV cinematography ever, in my view. The intimate stories it tells, set against such an epic and tragic background, are extremely moving, while the action set pieces are filmed with such flair that your heart rate will soar. Of particular note are early sequences in Normandy where Easy Company storm an anti-air battery, and a later sequence in which soldiers are under siege in a snowy forest, as trees literally start exploding around them. Such scenes are likely to stick in your mind for many years, as well they should.
37 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is an absolutely superb series. Delivered brilliantly, its very difficult to know where to start. The visuals are awesome, the writing is outstanding, acting is superb and the entire series is gripping. Set in WW2 following easy company through various scenarios/missions and settings. Its clear that massive effort has gone into this series producing a truly world class end product. There is a range of scenery, each shot brilliantly. There is not, in my opinion, an over reliance on CGI and it feels unbelievably real. This box set is a snip at £35 and would make anyone interested in this type of genre a very happy individual. I would imagine that most dads in particular would find this a welcome addition to the DVD rack. Buy it as it is money well spent.
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I really cant stress quite how amazing this series is... Its completely and utterly flawless; Everything from the casting, down to the post production. Hanks and Spielberg truly out do themselves, making every single episode appear like a high budget film, sucking you in and making you endure every single ricochet bullet and exploding artillery shell.
Im personally sick of seeing films and programs consistently portraying World War II being won by the Yanks, but this is one exception. Not only does it feel uniquely like the story its coming straight from veteran's mouths, but a large amount of the cast are British!
Lovely jubbley
Im personally sick of seeing films and programs consistently portraying World War II being won by the Yanks, but this is one exception. Not only does it feel uniquely like the story its coming straight from veteran's mouths, but a large amount of the cast are British!
Lovely jubbley
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent series
I don't know how accurate this series is (reports claim quite high accuracy, with only a few errors). But seems very realistic to me. Read more
Published 1 day ago by isvana
Brilliant Series
Received the DVDs in a beautifully packaged tin box. Was able to view in HD quality on my PS3. Excellent series.
Published 2 days ago by Lui
Best Series Ever Made
Band of Brothers is without a doubt the best series ever made - every episode is gripping yet different, and shows so much variance in different characters. Worth every minute!
Published 28 days ago by CD
Simply Brilliant!
You will have read other reviews about the story, what happens etc.
This is quite simply the best piece of television ever made. Read more
This is quite simply the best piece of television ever made. Read more
Published 1 month ago by BibbleMyWibble
Simply Fantastic
i just simply cannot explain how amazing this series is. It is thought provoking, moving, filled with plenty of action and includes characters in which the viewer is able to relate... Read more
Published 1 month ago by mikey229
Great Show
Band of Brothers is amazing and even better on Bluray. I got this on sale and it works in my American Bluray player.
Published 1 month ago by G. Walker
Bom topado!
Gostei do box.Veio com legenda PTB e em uma embalagem muito foda!
Indico a galera Brazuca, pois eh um ítem de colecionador e vale cada centavo. Read more
Indico a galera Brazuca, pois eh um ítem de colecionador e vale cada centavo. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jailton Rocha
Great Price!!!
I found the same thing for 75 USD. This was a great buy as advertised and a must have for any true WWII history buff.
Published 2 months ago by Ron
Great Set of movies, got to the States fast.
I figured that these movies would take a while to get to Western Nebraska. I was pleasantly surprised to come home just a week and a half after ordering them and finding the... Read more
Published 2 months ago by L. Snyder
Excellent Sound and Video Quality
Loved this miniseries when it first came on HBO and had been meaning to watch it again for a long time. I am glad I waited until I got it on BluRay. Such Excellent quality. Read more
Published 2 months ago by BigRiverJames
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