The Pacific

The Pacific reminds me of tropical tranquility. I'm talking about sandy beaches, clear skies, palm trees and exotic flora, cool waves, scenic landscapes and islands  and of course, the ocean breeze teasing your skin as it passes by. This is the Pacific we know today. Tranquil, peaceful, absolutely beautiful. But it was far different from the Pacific the veterans of the US Marine Corps had experienced. From 1941-1945, to them, it was hell on earth. The sandy beaches were once littered with corpses of young marines, the islands were ablaze and littered with bomb craters, floating bodies and metallic parts from destroyed ships were scattered throughout its waters. Those are the appropriate words to describe the war-torn Pacific of the 40's. It's a good thing that HBO has presented WWII junkies, like me, with another groundbreaking miniseries that can certainly picture out the drama and trauma experienced by US Marines, as they battled their way through the beaches and jungles of the Pacific isles, served in key battles that defined the gruesome reality of the Pacific theater and endured the unendurable elements that no ordinary man could ever bear.

The Pacific premiered on HBO on Saturday, April 3, on 9:00 PM, and I was blown away by it's first two episodes, as if I was shot by a bazooka in point blank range. Produced by the same guys who brought Band of Brothers (Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks), The Pacific chronicles the many ordeals faced by three US Marines who went on service in the Pacific Theater of World War II. From their perspectives, they pictured out the many challenges they and their fellow marines had experienced, as they fought an unfamiliar enemy in important battles, from Guadalcanal to Okinawa. Unlike Band of Brothers, where it sympathized the exploits of the 101st Airborne Division as they parachuted throughout Europe, The Pacific shows a detailed account on how the USMC fought their battles in East Asia. It's the marines I'm talking about, and most of the fighting is seen on beaches , so expect a lot of  amphibious landings and tropical action.

The Pacific is a well-crafted in-your-face war story about the emotional turmoil that had been haunting these marines as they wade through the turbulent jungles and harsh climate of the East. It's a remarkable take, as a matter of fact. WWII junkies like me shouldn't worry about the issue of WWII realism. Like it's predecessors, Band of Brothers and Saving Private Ryan, this new miniseries event is not short of realistic combat scenes and historical accuracy.

All in all, I'm deeply overwhelmed by the first two episodes I've seen. I'd like to share what I saw on the first two episodes, but it's better if others would watch it for themselves and sink their minds into the whole storyline,  rather than having an eccentric spoil the whole series. From start to finish, The Pacific can blow the minds of WWII aficionados with the real score of real-time war and the drama that besets it.