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July 04, 2008
"Generation Kill" HBO Mini Series
"Generation Kill " launches on Sunday, July 13th at 9 P.M. ET/PT—only on HBO
It is a seven part mini series.
"Generation Kill" follows the highly trained Marines of Recon Battalion through the first 40 days of the Iraq war. Mini series taken from the book and written for the series by executive produced by "The Wire" creators David Simon and Ed Burns.
Website for " Generation Kill".
Based on Evan Wright's acclaimed 2004 non-fiction book of the same name, Generation Kill is a seven-part miniseries that focuses on the first 40 days of the Iraq war, a.k.a. "Operation Iraqi Freedom," through the eyes and actions of a group of elite U.S. First Recon Marines.
While offering vivid and unvarnished portraits of the actual Marines who rode alongside Wright (an embedded journalist working for Rolling Stone magazine) for two months starting in March 2003, Generation Kill provides a gritty, uncompromising account of the collective forces that guided these highly-trained Marines across a barren landscape, and against an unknowable enemy, in a military initiative designed to liberate the Iraqi populace from Saddam Hussein.
Bringing a candid, highly realiztic look at the details of modern warfare and the men who wage it, the miniseries depicts the War in Iraq with an immediacy, humor and humanity never before depicted on film.
In between scenes of intense combat, from Marines in under-protected Humvees blasting through hostile cities, the soldiers' raw and frequently hilarious dialog is infused with an abundance of cultural references – from gossipy rumors of J-Lo's death, to disparaging retorts to schoolchildrens' letters of support, to on-the-road choral renditions of pop anthems like "Tainted Love" and "Loving You" (complete with falsettos).
People are already talking about this highly anticipated miniseries.
Based on the book of the same name by Evan Wright, a Marine chronicles his experiences during the first wave of the American-led assault on Baghdad in 2003. Written by David Simon and Ed Burns ("The Wire"). Cast includes: Lee Tergesen, Kellan Lutz, and Alexander Skarsgård and James Ransone.
A review of the mini series:
By Michael Samstag for Knoxville Films
"I was very fortunate to be treated to an advance screening of the first two episode's of "Generation Kill" last week at the Nashville Screenwriters Conference. The seven part mini-series is based on the book "Generation Kill" written by Rolling Stone journalist Evan Wright chronicling his experience as an embedded reporter with the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion during the first 40-days of the US led invasion of Iraq.Right away, "Generation Kill" is different than any other show attempting to convey what it's like to be at war. The series has more of a documentary feel--relying on the sounds of battle to heighten the tension rather than the use of traditional musical scores. The dialogue was gritty, sometimes vulgar, funny, and there were whole scenes that felt like they were recorded directly in the heat of battle. The production was enhanced further by the military technical consulting services of Sgt. Erik Kocher and Cpl. Jeffrey Carisalez who ensured that at no point did you feel you were watching actors playing Marines.
Yeah, the series is a sort of narrative-documentary hybrid--imagine The War Tapes meets the best parts of We Were Soldiers Once--but is it entertaining or simply another condemning look at the War in Iraq?
Well, it's not that easy to summarize but I can tell you that I was expecting to get caught up in the technical aspects of the show and not get swept away by the story. It was a hell of a ride! I felt like I was riding along with the Marines. Pictures I remember from photogs in Iraq came to life before my eyes. The horrors I worked hard to drink away were alive again with an unapologizing, unflinching reality I would not have thought possible outside the documentary genre.
As for whether it's a condemning portrayal of war, that's not for me to say. What it is is an honest portrayal of what it must have been like being embedded with the Marines. It took a very frank look at the problems the marines faces with the Rules of Engagement and problems within their own ranks with command and control. This is not Hollywood's version of war, though it's just as riveting as the action movies Hollywood can produce. Bravo to Evan Wright, the cast and crew of "Generation Kill" and smart people at HBO who brought this series to the public."
Posted by Wild Thing at July 4, 2008 04:47 AM
Comments
Being a Devil pup, I will watch this. Marines are not only the best, but the funniest as well. You have to have some sort of sense of humor just to get through boot camp! Semper fi!
Posted by: Lynn at July 4, 2008 05:33 AM
OOHRAH and Semper Fi Leathernecks that carry on the heroric traditions of Devil Dogs past from Tripoli to Iwo Jima, and from Afghanistan THROUGH Babylon!
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at July 4, 2008 05:35 AM
I would love to see a sequel to this mini series. "Generation Kill - The Homefront" following the first 40 days of the U.S. Congress war where the people of the nation finally had enough and took back their government.
Posted by: Les at July 4, 2008 11:55 AM
Lynn I am praying for your relatives serving now every day. I agree about having a sense of humor.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 5, 2008 12:02 AM
Darth a big ole Amen and ditto to that.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 5, 2008 12:05 AM
Les, if the left, the communists/socialists keep pushing their agenda there may be a battle. Maybe not in our lifetime but it could happen.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 5, 2008 12:17 AM
