Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg have teamed up with HBO once again for a sequel to Band of Brothers, their legendary HBO mini-series. It’s called The Pacific and the trailer looks awesome.
The Pacific reportedly cost $200 million to make, which clearly makes it the most expensive mini-series ever. One would think that the production cost should pay off because the original has been watched by millions on DVD and continues to sell very well. One would have to think that The Pacific would do the same thing for HBO.
Why Band of Brothers Is Great
Band of Brothers, compared to network series, is great for a multitude of reasons. But, in the scope of modern-day television, one of the biggest is because many of the main characters were killed. It made every single moment of the series matter and the arcs of the characters became much more interesting. (This principle is something The Sopranos used effectively, but one very few other TV shows have the balls to implore.)
More importantly, Band of Brothers makes war – the relationships, the strategy and the severe mental strains – more comprehensible for those who haven’t experienced it and the show reminds those who had experienced battle exactly what it was like.
It is my opinion that as the media look back to the great television the 2000s, Band of Brothers will forever land at the top of the list of the best television programs of the decade.
I don’t know if The Pacific can possibly be as good, but I hope it comes close.
