The Pacific DVD set, the new collection of discs containing the mini-series by HBO, is now available for fans to purchase for home viewing. The film was a collaboration by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, their third such undertaking. The story takes place in the 1940′s Pacific battleground, and it’s protagonists are 3 individual US Marine Corps infantrymen. Although they were all Marines, they did not fight together as they were assigned to different infantry companies. The Pacific was originally a book by author and history expert, Hugh Ambrose, whose father penned another HBO series’ inspiration, Band of Brothers. Although Ambrose is a historian, his goal was not to give his analysis of the events of the war, but to present it in the views of the 3 main characters.
One of the things that make this series so powerful is the incredible work done by Hanks and Spielberg. As mentioned above, the two film industry star producers have previously worked together to make some very successful World War II epics. Saving Private Ryan is still one of the best war films ever created, and is still highly regarded among film critics. This movie was not, however based on real characters, but does portray the war in France quite accurately. After their success with “Private Ryan,” Spielberg and Hanks got together again, but this time working with HBO to bring to life the book by Stephen Ambrose, titled Band of Brothers. This book and film chronicle the true accounts of a unit known as “Easy Company,” a part of the American 101st Airborne Division. The film follows “Easy” starting in their paratrooper training in Georgia, and continues to the combat jumps in Normandy and Holland, through to the end of the war and German surrender. Due to the great success of this series, it was only logical that HBO would go on to create a film that looks at the conflict in the Pacific against Japan.
The Pacific DVD set is the compilation that was originally released as a ten part miniseries on HBO in March of 2010. The three Marines on which the film was based are Eugene Sledge, John Basilone, and Robert Leckie, all actual American men who fought in the Pacific Theater in WWII. The first battle fought by these men is in the jungles of Guadalcanal. They then are assigned to participate in the Cape Gloucester campaign, which had the objective of taking over some of Japan’s military airstrips there. The assault on Peleliu is the next stop on their tour, followed by invasions in Iwo Jima and Okinawa, two of the most famous and bloody battles of the war. After the war’s end, the Marines struggle to reintegrate themselves into American society as civilians after the long, seemingly endless war.
The Pacific DVD set was released by HBO for home viewing in 2011, and has been a fantastic success. It includes 6 DVD’s, and also includes some additional documentary programming. The subject matter focuses on the making of the miniseries and historical programs profiling the war in the Pacific.