any fighters or bombers?

RE: any fighters or bombers?

I’d agree that Band of Brothers is an excellent series,but I also agree with Nielly’s point about the lack of Typhoons,and lack of aeroplanes in general.
This is something I also noticed with Saving Private Ryan.The skies were absolutely empty,and there was a serious lack of tactical air support.I’m sure the column of German armour that appears in the closing sequences of Ryan would never have got through in real life. They’d call up air support and have them blasted out of existence on thier approach into town,rather than battling hand to hand with them in a built up area.The Mustangs would have appeared a little earlier than they did!
Despite this,I still think that both Ryan and BofB are impressive pieces of film making.

RE: any fighters or bombers?

Having just read, Day of the Typhoon, by John Golley. It would seem that the Typhoon should have been represented on many occasions,especially at Mortain & The Battle of the Bulge (even though they would have been animated!).
BoB was an excellent series, in my view anyway (I’ve not seen the last episode, yet).

Neilly

RE: any fighters or bombers?

just saw the last one.

they captured hitler’s mountain hide out then spent the rest of the episode doing nothing really while they waited, then VJ day came and it preety muc finished.

in conclusion a F’ing great seris that i would recomend to the lot of you and if you haven’t seen it then i dunno ???

rabie :9

RE: any fighters or bombers?

Very interesting topic!

In answer to Sadsacks comment about something being missing when compared to Saving Private Ryan, I think it might be the sense of purpose. In Saving Pte Ryan the whole concept and theme of the film, following the D-Day sequences, was the mission to rescue Ryan. In BoB, the last ten months of the war is seen through the eyes of both Easy Company and the individual soldiers involved. For them, as for everyone else, the war was fought as a series of individual actions, each one often as confusing as the next. In one firefight, when asked what he was shooting at a soldier replied that he had no idea. I assume all wars are fought this way, periods of intense action followed by periods of relative inactivity, anyway I hope I never find out!

As to the question of realism, if survivors like Indiana Tony’s father are both moved and satisfied then I think that’s good enough for me. Many of us remember programs from the 70’s where the hero takes off in a 747, is seen over the Atlantic in a DC-8 and lands in a Learjet. If Mustangs, Spitfires and Dakotas have to be computer generated that’s fine. It does nothing to detract from what I’ve found to be one of the most emotional, heart-wrenching and thoroughly enjoyable programs I’ve ever had the privelege to see.

kev35

RE: any fighters or bombers?

1) last episode tonight on 2 at 9pm

2) re the above comments my grandad who was in north africa, italy and austria on the ground, landings at slaerno, etc. he said it was the most realistic so far and my dad told me my grandad saw similar sites as episode 8 and won’t talk about – it defintely is a pretty bad site and i think it would tramurtize anyone

rabie :9

RE: any fighters or bombers?

I have to agree with the comments made so far about Band of Brothers being more accurate than many people appreciate.

Thankfully, I’ve never had fire directed at me, although I have carried out a few live fire exercises where live rounds were going from our fire support section onto the “enemy” position which we were assaulting. Quite how the makers of Band of Brothers have managed to exactly replicate the sound made by rounds passing close by, is beyond me. Unless they actually used live rounds themselves?

The other thing that seems uncannily accurate to me is the utter confusion which reigns in any combat situation, regardless of whether it’s live or exercise. We learned an apt quote at RMAS; “No plan ever survives contact with the enemy”.

On a slightly different note, I’m very pleased to hear from Tony that his father found it very realistic – I’m a firm believer that very few people today have any concept of the true horrors of war, and if Band of Brothers acts as an accurate portrayal, in my mind that’s not a bad thing at all.

RE: any fighters or bombers?

How authentic is BoB?

I asked my father, he said it was the most authentic portrayal, of men at war, since the original “All quiet on the Western Front”

How does Dad know?

My father came ashore on D-Day+30 , with Irish Guards Armoured, he fought during Operation Goodwood,and the Arnhem Bridge attempt, then into Belgium. The winter of 1944, was terrible, and yes, the Germans were using “airburst” rounds, to try to penetrate the forest foliage.

The episode, which involved fighting in the village, or Fibua (Fighting in built up areas) from my own experience, are tremendously accurate, you don’t kick a door down and wait, you hurl yourself at it, your oppo will do the shooting. Likewise, the Tank sequences, with the British officer, who has to “Look at the Tiger” to believe it. Dad said the sound of Tigers in BoB, took him right back, when Tigers, and Michael Wittman were the “Bogeymen” in France, and you were always sure you could hear a Maybach in the middle of the night!
The attack to capture the guns, is an almost textbook demonstration, of how to do it…. Establish covering Firebase, then Fire and manouvere onto the target.. except, that’s how the British do it!But still, a very very effective piece of film.

My father says, it brings memories flooding back, and for once, he’s not sitting there, thinking,”They got that wrong” The air armadas , for D-Day, and the Arnhem drop, had to be seen to be believed.

Someone commented on the “Thunderbirds” effects I think? When the Guards were waiting to go, the airroutes via Nijmegen and onto the Rhine, were an absolute curtain of Flak. DC3 crews, braved an absolute storm of fire, to try and deliver their cargos to the drop zone. This particular sequence, did affect my father very deeply.

He still can’t bring himself, to talk about Episode 8. Some of you, may have seen the famous Black and White newsreel film, of British Soldiers liberating one camp. Dad says the only touch of authenticity missing, was the German civilians getting roughhoused by irate upset and angry soldiers, it did happen. In fact, one British actor of note, now dead, as an officer, had to be physically restrained, from his threat to shoot the local Burgermeister, after witnessing the terrible scenes.

The only things he does criticise, (with a tongue in cheek grumble)is the lack of British Soldiers, it doesn’t rain nearly enough, and they get trucks to ride around in…..

But as he says, it was a very long time ago….. but sometimes, it’s good to remember the good parts

Tony

RE: any fighters or bombers?

I have to disagree with you on BoB. I think it is possibly the best representation of a unit at war I have seen on the screen. Even if some of the aircraft are computer generated there is so much attention to detail in other things. The AFVs, artillery, small arms, and transport are all well researched and a lot of time hs been taken to obtain the genuine artical or else create convincing and accurate mock-ups. I almost fell off my the sofa when they had an 88 pounding away in the second episode concerning Bastone. It also brilliantly portrays battle. The use of a chop frame technique gives a good impression of how your individual time clock alters when in action so that things seem to happen oddly s l o w l y . Its a wierd feeling. Another thing is how it brings out the awful randomness of wounding or death. The fighting scenes are truly amazing, even down to the sound effects.
I work in the biz and so I know what goes on behind the scenes and how much effort goes into making movies like this. The pyros in he battle scenes are positively dangerous and I’m heartily glad I didn’t have to manage it all. Great stuff!

RE: any fighters or bombers?

I thought there was a P-47 in one of the episodes. Also, the tins might have been meant to be Bostons?

RE: any fighters or bombers?

I’ve just watched Friday nights episode & like you say, Rabie, very chilling & emotional.
I think the difference between Private Ryan & BoB is the time frame. P.Ryan is obviously a shorter film, but also covers only a small part of the War. I think they are both excellent in their own right.
I agree with Ant, over the use of real & animated aeroplanes. The only major disappointment in BoB was the animated Dakotas in the parachute drop scenes (looked like something out of pre Thunderbirds!). I’ve also had a look at the ‘Mosquitoes’ flying over scene & I’m sure that’s what they’re supposed to be!

Regards,
Neilly

RE: any fighters or bombers?

9 – the repeat of 8 will be at 10:30pm on wednesday on bbc1 and the last episode will be friday 9:00pm on bbc2

episode 8 was really chilling they found a concentration cam – sh!t scarry – really makes you all emotional like schindler’s list

rabie :9

RE: any fighters or bombers?

I didnt see the 2nd episode. I find BOBs disapointing as while its superbly made its just got somthing missing and i cant work out what. It just hasnt got the gripping pace of Saving Private Ryan.

How many more episodes are there?

RE: any fighters or bombers?

The computer generated Mustangs in the opening sequence appeared in the second episode,along with a pair of rather poorly computer generated Spit XIV’s (14’s) later in the same episode.
In a later episode,there was also a formation of fairly non descript aircraft that I think were meant to be Mosquitos,but they were in the background of the shots and so were not well defined.
As you can probably guess,i’m not really in favour of using special effects instead of the real thing,except perhaps where they can’t get hold of a real one,or to enhance formation shots.It would certainly be beneficial to us in the warbird scene if they used the real ones, not to mention the improvement you’d see on the screen.