"Band of Brothers or The Pacific?" Topic

Of the two HBO series, which do you prefer?

Band of Brothers

You get emotionally involved with the path of many figures in BoB, whereas Pacific is less linear with the same cast. They each have their merits and brutal reality checks, but I much preferred BoB.

Similar but very different shows, very much like the two theaters of war.

BoB.

Like them both but BoB hands down if forced to chose.

Band of Brothers.

"Pacific" is a different show that had the bad luck of following,and so being unfairly compared with, "BoB".

Band of Brothers was based on one book and unit, and The Pacific was based on three books and multiple units. There's no way it could compare to it's predecessor, even though I do like both a lot.

Band of Brothers

Phil

Band of Brothers.

Pacific just had too many poor decisions at the production level, for starters it left me wondering who was who for most of the series, the story was pedestrian but the casting was woeful – several of the 'main' characters looked and sounded the same. In BoB (and Pvt. Ryan) the characters were easily identified by eye and ear.

Bob was way better as it flowed episode to episode. I've seen it so many times it's not funny. Bastogne is my favorite with Night of Nights next. Pacific I have on tape but have only watched it twice. Both are first rate.

I have BoB on DVD, I've watched it several times.

I have Pacific on DVD, I haven't bothered to watch it yet.

Have both DVD Sets. Have enjoyed watching them. Both several times. Two different types of story lines told in two different ways.

Besides obvious similar production values I think it is pointless comparing the two

BoB is far superior. The issue with Pacific is that they had three different books/narratives and combined them into one movie which made it rather unfocused. In stark contrast is BoB which is one narrative/book and is there for a much more focused series.

Mike

BoB by far.
Pacific doesn't even come close.

Band of Brothers.

As others have said, Pacific suffered from a fairly disjointed presentation but there is quality there as well.

My preference is BOB, but enjoyed Pacific too.

Pacific

Easy choice – Band of Brothers, characters are much more engaging and likeable.

Not even close: Band of Brothers.

Which show is more entertaining to watch? For me it is Band of Brothers.

I liked BOB better, but both were excellent.

As others have said BoB is the better of the two but Snaffu almost makes up for that. Really, he and Basilone are the only characters that stand out on the first couple of viewing.

Pacific should have been Guadalcanal only.

Japanese air superiority early, undergoing battleship bombardments… it would have been a good series. Characters, Basilone, Red Mike Edson, General Kawaguchi, Col Ichiki

I didn't see The Pacific so BoB for me.

BoB works better for story-telling. Pacific had too harge a time-line and theatre. Better comparison would be BoB and the Thin Red Line movie.

Band of brother

Band of Brothers

I think they are both great and can't really be compared. They stand on their own merits as entertaining film representations of their theater and units portrayed.

I like the characters in BoB but didn't really think there were all that many great combat scenes. I watched it a lot the first few years after it was out but I've seen it enough now that it's only really two episodes I like all that much.

Whereas the Pacific I didn't really latch onto many of the characters initially but was awed by the way it portrayed the brutality and spectacle of the theatre. I found with multiple viewings that I came to really like the characters and found them to be deeper than you catch the first few times around. The transformation of Sledge is heartbreaking and gripping and the death of their captain is felt.

I like both, honestly and I feel their comparison unnecessary, though understandable. I noticed my wife couldn't give BoB a second glance but enjoyed the two episodes of the Pacific we watched together. YMMV.

I completely agree with PizzaGrenadier.
I liked them both for different reasons.
IF I had to pick my favourite BOB.

BoB. No question.

I also like them both for different reasons. If I had to choose only one to have with me in some remote place, it would be Band of Brothers. But I'd rather take both.

They are both good but Band of Brothers definitely better.

Band of Brothers, mainly because it follows the same characters.

Band of Brothers.

Pacific!

Eugene Sledge is a character/person that speaks to me in a way none of the bob characters do.

And from an entertainment veiw the battles are more exciting in the Pacific.

Absolutely BoB by far.
Marco

BoB. I've watched BoB several times. It just hangs together better.

I managed to wade through The Pacfic once.

BoB all the way.

I missed 'Pacific' on TV, read the book, and bought the DVD set way later.
The strands they chose to keep were way too 'samey' and the whole thing was far too 'one-note' all the way through.
Understandable why they decided not to go with the naval aviation and POW/guerilla stories, but I'd have loved to have seen them.
That being the case, it's hard to see why they didn't ditch any connection to 'The Pacific' and just go with an adaptation of 'Helmet for My Pillow' instead.
Visually impressive, but here's the thing – today, we have the happy (?) situation where any show can be made to look good visually. It's enjoyable, but quickly becoming redundant as a measure of quality.

I liked them both and am looking forward to the 8th Air Force series.

I bought The Pacific on Blu-ray on the strength of Band of Brothers.

I'd almost have to watch them both again to decide conclusively. Otherwise, "The Pacific" wins by a hair, at least for me.

BoB for me too, for a lot of the reasons discussed above. I think a more focused Pacific would have been better. The bulk of BoB covers a year, Pacific was about three and covered three main characters.

BOB, the soundtracks for both are amazing as well

"Better comparison would be BoB and the Thin Red Line movie."

Those two pieces of work don't belong in the same universe, much less the same sentence! Thin Red Line was an awful mess, filled with terribly pretentious film making, indecipherable (or nonexistent) establishing shots, and virtually no coherent storyline. The book was great, though.

I liked them both …

BOB. But I liked them both. The format of BOB is more coherent for a mini-series format, you get to know the characters for the entire length. But both were excellent. I would have liked to have seen Pacific in a format similar to BOB.

BOB. No question.

BoB.

BoB has the advantage of a continuing narrative that keeps you wanting to follow the same characters from week to week. The Pacific lacks that continuity, and I think that hurts it.

Given its episodic nature, I would have thought that The pacific would win out for best single episode, but I would give that award to "Crossroads" in BoB.

Band of Brothers is massively better!

The Pacific has the feel of a series made to let the poor guys who fought there feel better about themselves.
I have the greatest respect for the 'forgotten' armies that fought the Japanese, they always seemed less in the public eye than the war in Europe, and fought as well, and as bravely.

Not even close its Band of Brothers.