In 2001, a World War II-themed mini-series produced by HBO, with a strong production lineup, excellent story level, high shooting costs, and several Hollywood gods Spielberg, Tom Hanks and George. Lucas's unprecedented sincere cooperation, once broadcast, immediately became a global phenomenon of World War II-themed film and television works, and gained both artistic reputation and commercial interests. That's right, this American drama with only ten episodes, but each episode can be called a movie is "Band of Brothers".
The idea of adapting and filming the TV series "Band of Brothers" originated from another award-winning film by Spielberg, "Saving Private Ryan."
In fact, the beginning of the story in Saving Private Ryan and the core Matt Damon played by Ryan's brothers both died in the war. The prototype of the story is derived from the World War II documentary "Band of Brothers" written by Stephen E. Ambrose.
It's just that the book says: American soldier Scott Fritz Nyland was serving in France when he received news of his brother's death in Normandy. Fritz hitchhiked to meet another brother and found Prey Ston was also killed on June 7, after his third brother Edward was also confirmed dead in the China-Burma-India battle, and his mother received three telegrams in a day notifying him of his death. The real story is that Franz was quickly found by the chaplain of his unit and sent home safely.
In order to make the story more appealing and make the plot appear undulating enough to frame the spiritual connotation of the film, Spielberg obviously made a big change.
We can see that in "Saving Private Ryan", the commander of the US military dispatched a team led by the US military officer played by Tom Hanks in order to bring back Ryan, who lost several brothers and whose mother was still alone at home. Rescue the team, and the story of the movie expands accordingly.
As Spielberg's second World War II film since "Schindler's List," "Saving Private Ryan" brought Spielberg to another level in his career. After the film was released, it quickly became the focus of attention of the global audience and the film and television industry, and eventually became the final winner of the annual Oscar.
Of course, the acclaim the film received doesn't hide the problem with the film's plot itself: distortion.
Especially after the Normandy D-Day, the depiction of soldiers and battlefields is too exaggerated. The practice of sacrificing a bunch and saving one, although it sings the greatness of human nature and is full of reflections on war, cannot convince senior military fans and rational film critics.
Therefore, not long after the movie was released, after close conversations with Stephen Ambrose, the original author of "Band of Brothers", and Richard Winters, the commander of E Company, one of the protagonists of "Band of Brothers", Spielberg And Tom Hanks finally decided to make another unprecedented adaptation.
The first episode of "Band of Brothers" was released on September 9, 2001, and attracted approximately 10 million viewers. Even two days later, it is the date of the world-famous "9.11" incident. But when the second episode aired, the series still drew about 7.3 million simultaneous viewers.
In 2002, CCTV 8 set of CCTV purchased the copyright from HBO TV in an unprecedented way in view of the value of promoting justice and victory in the anti-fascist war and the anti-war significance of the plot, and put "Band of Brothers" on CCTV On the big screen, the original ten episodes were compiled into fourteen episodes.
As a result, "Band of Brothers" gained another wave of ratings and praise in a foreign country in China. It was the enlightenment work of American dramas for countless people in that era.
After many years, in 2010, in order to end his father's desire to make a film about "World War II Pacific Battlefield", and to satisfy the long-cherished wish of those World War II veterans, Spielberg finally re-directed and joined hands with HBO TV station for the world. Brings another masterpiece of war: "The Pacific War".
If the production cost of "Band of Brothers" was as high as 125 million US dollars that year was already jaw-dropping, the final production cost of "Pacific War" of 225 million US dollars can basically be said to be breathtaking.
What concept? Let's compare it with the Hollywood blockbuster "Avatar" of the same period. The production cost of "Avatar", which created the world's No. 1 box office, is 237 million US dollars. The production cost of TV drama works is basically the same as that of "Avatar", reaching 225 million US dollars.
The president of HBO once clearly stated in an interview that they never thought about the commercial benefits and film and television achievements this TV series could bring to them. People's patriotism can continue the life-and-death brotherhood in "Band of Brothers".
Having said that, after the TV series was broadcast, it was indeed not able to obtain the same ratings as "Band of Brothers", and it was not as good as "Band of Brothers" in word of mouth. Some people even pointed out that this TV series is a failed adaptation that wastes money and feelings.
Is this really the case?
In all fairness, "Band of Brothers" is adapted from a literary work composed of the memories of more than a dozen World War II veterans in E Company. The completeness and fullness of the story are naturally higher than those based only on the memoirs and some interviews of three people. Adapted from "The Pacific War".
However, in terms of the depth of the story, compared to the previous work "Band of Brothers", "Pacific War" can be said to have shot the core of the thought that Spielberg, who is over fifty years old, really wants to express: what is war? What is the meaning of war?
If the first three episodes of the series use complicated and constantly changing story characters, the audience will be more or less confused, and the portrayals of several protagonists are a little flat and not clear enough at this time. Then when it came to the fourth episode, it pushed the series to its first climax.
One of the protagonists, Robert Legene, fought in the rainforest for a long time, eventually suffering from enuresis, and was able to be transferred to a calm war zone hospital to recuperate. But under the good living conditions and the quiet and comfortable life, there is an enemy more terrifying than the artillery fire in front: the collapse of humanity.
Through the perspective of the protagonist in the play, we can clearly see that a group of good young people who are full of patriotic passion and set foot on the battlefield without hesitation, gradually become another kind of person in the endless haze of war and the wicked power of the fierce enemy. .
The situation is extremely bad, such as being in the same room with Lecky in the fourth episode, a former comrade-in-arms with strong post-traumatic symptoms. The situation is slightly better, but just like the other protagonist in the play, Eugene Sledge, after the war, he has transformed from a young man full of enthusiasm for the future into a lost and a contemplative, The shadow of war will always be left in my heart.
At the end of the play, through the dialogue between Eugene's parents, through Eugene and his father out hunting, but suddenly burst into tears, the audience learns that Eugene would still spend a lot of time at night after the war. wake up, cry...
"Who has had an experience like him? Let him go." This is what Eugene's father said to his mother at the end of "War in the Pacific", and it is also the last line of the whole play.
Of course, some people have won their own love with their dedication in the war after a long war.
One of the protagonists, Robert Leckie, appeared from the first episode to the last episode, and his role should be the most. However, in the character creation of the series, Robert Leckie is the one who fails among the three protagonists. The transformation of the whole character and the plot display make him even a little neurotic.
But in the final episode of the play, his reunion with his favorite girl, Vera, made this character very moving in an instant.
On the date, Vera asked why he hadn't sent her those letters that were written to her?
"I thought it didn't matter if I didn't live long anyway," Leckie said.
Vera continued to ask him what was in the letter, and Leckie said affectionately: "The most beautiful words in my life..."
After talking about the two ordinary soldiers in the play who survived the war, it is time to say that the film has created the best protagonist image. John Basilone, an ordinary non-commissioned officer who was fortunate to be packaged as a "war hero" after obtaining military exploits, returned to the country to sell war bonds to the military.
In the early days of the TV series, we can see that while the other two protagonists are fighting in full swing on the front lines, John Basilone goes around the country as a hero to sell war bonds for the military, play golf in his spare time, and Famous actress flirting with...
However, when one day he could no longer choose to ignore the war, he chose to return to the training base, chose to return to the battlefield, and also met the love of his life in the training base. After a short love and honeymoon, John Basilone finally got his wish and returned to the battlefield with the recruits he had trained.
And the final death in battle seems to be destined, and it also makes him truly do what he should do as a war hero, although it is also doomed that he and his new wife will be separated forever.
In "War in the Pacific", most of the other two protagonists are narrated from the perspective of criticizing and reflecting on the war. Only John Basilone, the TV series continues the tradition of the heroic and heroic deeds of Acura soldiers in "Band of Brothers". Positively expressed the righteous thoughts on the victory of this war.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that the TV series continues and inherits the charcoal drawing and powerful background music of the title of "Band of Brothers".
Invisibly, the charcoal seems to symbolize the souls of ordinary soldiers who fought bloody battles and died. In the fire of war, the souls of all soldiers were broken like charcoal, and at the end of the opening song, the charcoal wandered in the shreds, which is an abbreviation for the soldiers whose souls have been wounded and want to mend their souls .
In this long and cruel war, when all the comrades they once knew fell down one by one, all the soldiers could do was to firmly believe that they would survive, and that living was the only belief.
In their own eyes, they who have survived the war are not so-called heroes, but they have fought side by side with heroes.
When the war is over, the chapters of history are quietly turned over, and those souls that have passed away have drifted away in people's memory... The only gratifying thing is that the soldiers who survived wrote the war with their pens, and told the story in their own way. This war worth remembering, and from this to tell future generations, the importance of peace.
The author of this article said that the article was first published on the WeChat public account "Cinema Life". It is recommended for DC, Marvel, sci-fi, fantasy, Europe and the United States, classic movies, and in-depth analysis of popular blockbusters. Just pay attention to "Cinema Life".
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