Generation Kill - Channel 4 07 Oct

Bob_Harris

Generation Kill starts on the Wednesday 07 October on Channel 4 at 11:20pm.

It's a 7 part mini series with each episode just over an hour long (without ad breaks) following the marines of the First Recon Battalion through the invasion of Iraq.

I've watched in on DVD and it really is brilliant, up there with Band of Brothers in terms of quality.

The first episode can be a bit disorienting, from the lingo used to trying to figure who is who and what the command structure is. But if you stick with it you'll grow to love it.

Check out the official site below to get a grip of the command structure.
http://www.hbo.com/generationkill/

robby^5

Hah what bad timing, just ordered the boxset of this and it should be arriving today/tommorrow!

From the same people that made The Wire so it should be quality.

L31mr0d

robby^5 wrote: »

it should be quality.

It is.

Surprised more people haven't given it a thumbs up in the "Recommend a show" thread. Caught my eye only recently because Eric from True Blood is the lead in it and I'm glad it did, it's astounding.

Production quality and acting is on par with the best war movies.

missingtime

This is a brilliant show, very very good. Enjoyed every minute of it and, while probably exagerated for entertainment purposes, I was amazed at the stupid officer decisions that the grunts had to deal with.

The banter between the squads was hilarious.

"Stay Frosty"

Coriolanus

It's absolutely brilliant. Like the OP I've seen it straight though on DVD.
Very authentic, according to the talkover thingies. The marine company itself seems to be happy enough with it's portrayal, didn't think it was overplayed too much just to make better tv.

Jip

L31mr0d wrote: »

Caught my eye only recently because Eric from True Blood is the lead in it

I would never have thought that was him. I even had to check IMDB as I was doubting you.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

eric from malcolm in the middle is also in it, lol'd hard when i copped who it was

Cina

And Ziggy from The Wire (Season 2)

Noffles

Watched the last one this weekend, good stuff it is too..

Bob_Harris

We're Oscar Mike in 5 Mikes.

Jip

Cina wrote: »

And Ziggy from The Wire (Season 2)

There's a few from the Wire in it, the cop with the dodgy haircut, Colicchio, the one that's shaved around the back and side with it left a little longer on the top, is also in it.

Yeah, Eric is Captain America !

L31mr0d

Yeah a lot of the cast have gone onto other things. The guy under Cpt. America is in The Mentalist, and at least two of the other guys have been in Fringe.

What I loved about this show, compared to Band of Brothers, is that nobody thought what they where doing was right or wrong. It was like it was just their day job, and they had to put up with the career hungry men above them.

It tried to show that war isn't about liberating people and doing what is just, but, for the men on the ground, it's their day job. They are the grunts in the cubicles while the managers above them create jobs so as to keep looking busy for the people above them.

MOH

L31mr0d wrote: »

It is.

Surprised more people haven't given it a thumbs up in the "Recommend a show" thread. Caught my eye only recently because Eric from True Blood is the lead in it and I'm glad it did, it's astounding.

Production quality and acting is on par with the best war movies.

Watched GKill a few months ago, only catching up on True Blood now. Knew I recognised Eric from somewhere, took me ages to work it out.

GKill is excellent, if scary to realise the the same middle management bull present in every other business seems to exist in the military too.

bucks73

Heard this being highly recommended on The Last Word a while ago so have the Sky+ set to record.

Nice to see plenty on recommendations here too.

Neamhshuntasach

Only watched this over 2 days on Saturday/Sunday. Really great mini series. I'm always hesitant to watch things to do with the US in Iraq though. Even when i like a show/film and it's actors there is always the feeling of my political views in the back of my head. GK gave a fair enough balance of both sides of the political spectrum though.

Harpy

woo this is starting now..

JIZZLORD

generation kill rocks. pity it's only a 1 season jobby

podge018

Missed it. Is it repeated before next Wednesday?

JIZZLORD

podge018 wrote: »

Missed it. Is it repeated before next Wednesday?

Dunno, but it's on 4 on demand

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/generation-kill/4od#2972500

lukin

Thought it was pretty good but if you've seen The Wire then you'll find a lot of familiar themes (the dissatisfaction of the grunts with working conditions and bureaucracy from their superiors, banter between the characters).
Ziggy from The Wire was exactly like, well, Ziggy from The Wire: an annoying motormouth. I was hoping he would be taken out by a sniper when he was blathering on while driving the Humvee.
I'll still probably watch it next week but will record it as it is on way too late.

Hrududu

I really want to see this but its on past my bed time. Why would they have it on so late? Is there really no place for it in a nice 10pm slot?

laoisforliam

watched this a few monts ago.. its excellent.. brad from sabrina the teenage witch is in it also

the_syco

The series is top notch. Recommend it to all.

Rjd2

Hrududu wrote: »

I really want to see this but its on past my bed time. Why would they have it on so late? Is there really no place for it in a nice 10pm slot?

I assume True Blood would get better ratings at 10 than generation Kill. You can watch it on the link posted above if you want.

NedTermo

laoisforliam wrote: »

watched this a few monts ago.. its excellent.. brad from sabrina the teenage witch is in it also

Yep, thats what swung it for me too :pac:

Borneo Fnctn

Generation Kill is absolutely top class. Another home run for HBO.

tech77

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

eric from malcolm in the middle is also in it, lol'd hard when i copped who it was

Lee Tergeson (Tobias Beecher from Oz aka military-mad Chett from Weird science) is the journalist.
He's a great actor.

MOH

tech77 wrote: »

Lee Tergeson (Tobias Beecher from Oz aka military-mad Chett from Weird science) is the journalist.
He's a great actor.

Watched Wayne's World again a few weeks ago - he's one of the other guys in the band, though took me a while to recognise him through the hair.

Burgo

MOH wrote: »

Watched Wayne's World again a few weeks ago - he's one of the other guys in the band, though took me a while to recognise him through the hair.

hes also in point break !

Kolya

Seen it on FX, top notch show.

tech77

MOH wrote: »

Watched Wayne's World again a few weeks ago - he's one of the other guys in the band, though took me a while to recognise him through the hair.

Yeah, i remember him headbanging in the back of the car to Bohemian Rhapsody alright.

jiggawigga

Super show, seen the series and have just read the book.
I imagine the book is pretty spot on and the show follows the book closely.

Obviously there's going to be some embellishment. There's a good interview with the main characters on the Generation Kill website.

http://www.hbo.com/generationkill/ -> Videos -> Extras -> Third Vid.