Real soldiers don't like "Over There"

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Sad point is 95% of the sheeple that watch it without the THR keen-eye present here will think this is a great show - and - "Oh my - how terrible it must be Over There"
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Umm ... as I recall ... it actually is pretty terrible over there for most folks who have to go ...

At the risk of thread hijack, I will (guiltily) admit I used to enjoy JAG, even though it had little to do with the Navy I've come to appreciate over the last many years ... Because -- it portrayed most military personnel as intelligent, motivated, conscientious humans who usually tried to do the right thing ... which actually is true to a surprising extent ...
 
TV, for the most part tries to entertain and isn't interested in getting it right. I could probably count on one hand the number of shows that accurately portrayed something that I know about.
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True, but misses a couple key points on this one.

-There are plenty of good war movies out these days, the bar has been raised. Sure, artistic license is taken but most of the more recent war movies have at least been true to life in a more general sense and respectful of the "soldiers" depicted. This show looks like some weird combo of gung-ho 50's war movies and 70's cynical anti-war war movies and the soldiers are all either incompetent or too much of a bad ###.

-In addition to the above recent history, many Americans have served in the military and know at least what the military is like (any Army guys think the constant "sir", "private I'm a sargeant, I fight for a living" crap between the sgt and one of the guys was a bit over done, aren't most people over calling sargeants "sir" by the 2nd day of BCT). While not a large percentage have been in Iraq, many do get the military. You'd think they'd at least have a technical advisor or two who were in the Army, and then that the producers would listen since they don't want this to be an unintended comedy.

-Sometimes you expect Hollywood to go the "entertainment" route and ignore history/facts. However, they usually don't lead you to think they are going the "real" route when they are going purely unrealistic. No one expected realism from MASH and despite the politics it was a funny show. On this one Steven Bochco was touting how true to life it was and how he avoided politics. The day it premered or the night before I saw him on either Fox or MSNBC talking about how all the soldiers who have pre-screened the show loved it and were telling him how he got it right, and how non-political it is. If you make a "typical" BS war movie/show with a definate agenda don't set up expectations of it being a "Band of Brothers" quality show that is neutral in its agenda.
 
The best part of the show was, imho, the shooting. I just like guns going boom.

Other than that, I could have done without the stereotypes and other stupidity.

I'll watch the next episode to see what happens, and then I'm turning off the soap opera.
 
aren't most people over calling sargeants "sir" by the 2nd day of BCT
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That ws one of the hardest things for me to remember in basic. I finally told my DI, "My mother hit me more often and a LOT harder than you have. I'll try to remember, but I won't guarantee it." :neener: :D

Pops
 
My Dad was a sargeant when he was in the Reserves. He didn't have any problem making my brother and I call him sir. :)
 
Old Dog..................I mis-stated my point

Quote:
Sad point is 95% of the sheeple that watch it without the THR keen-eye present here will think this is a great show - and - "Oh my - how terrible it must be Over There"
Umm ... as I recall ... it actually is pretty terrible over there for most folks who have to go ...



Terrible is probably an understatement - I have complete respect for their work............I meant to convey how most people here will take the show as fact in all forms-(Hollywood hype and all)--------------no intent on my part to belittle the efforts of our military.
 
New title for the show...

"Over, there." As in it's over, there now, are you happy? :p
 
I loved the little flags to mark the IED! If only...
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IED training has vastly improved since I first joined the Army. At first, they did want you to mark the mine or IED at much closer distance. Now it's move the heck away from it a certain minimum distance or more if it's a larger explosive. Oh yea, and calling it in is generally a good idea.

Exploding it in place with a fifty is strongly discouraged. ;)


Troublesome: dissention in the ranks, sarge to grunts to LT to captain. Hello can you say "the fragging episode" or "the mutiny". it's NOT a democracy.
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Heh, I can't count the numbers of times I "disobeyed" an order. Last one was impressive, even by my standards.

"Move out to the following grid and set up a OE-254." (a radio antenna)
"I don't think so, Sir."
"Uh... What?"
"Sir, that grid coordinate is in the middle of a lake, and it's deeper than the OE-254 is tall."
"Uh... Yea. That might be a problem."

:D
 
Well at least I won't waste anymore time watching it. Worst small unit tactics since "Starship Troopers". :barf:
 
"We Where Soldiers" was the worst modern movie I've seen with regards to this particluar genre. Sure son, wear that plastic baby-ID bracelet in the bush, Charlie's hard of hearing. and isn't it amazing how he throws his hands in the air, screams, and dives to one side after we shoot him...

Bad tactics, bad acting, bad directing, laughable combat. Were the real Colonel to have employed such total disregard for his men he'd still be behind bars.
 
Did I mention the commercials in Over There??
God I wish there were that many commercials right in the middle of a firefight in real life!
 
"What do we do about the women?"

Ohhhh plleeease :rolleyes: That line just got spoken.

Anyway, I'm late to this party, but I'm just now seeing the pilot episode tonight, right now actually.

This film is junk. I could see my husband sitting her with me, knowing exactly what he'd be saying about each and every idiotic line and scene.

But, there are plenty of people who would believe this trash.

I haven't flipped the channel yet. Some of it is the whole 'can't turn away from watching a train wreck'.
 
I was in best buy on monday, and was surprised to see the pilot on DVD within a week after the show! Someone really wants to push their message. It kinda puts the lie to the fact that this was just another apolitical show, Huh?
Kj
 
He's probably hired a couple of mall-ninjas who've operated for the past six years on covert ops in Iraq and Afghanistan as "techinal advisors".
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Word. Too bad, I was hoping that it was gonna be a good (realistic) series - probably won't watch now.
 
Did anyone have the stomach to watch the second installment to see if it got any better? I thought about it but decided I had better things to do. If it improves I might be willing to watch it now and again.

Have I mentioned that I don't own a television and don't really miss having one?
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I can't wait until I'm ready for that. I do plan to be TVless (well, no cable or antenna, I'll keep the TV hooked to a DVD player for occasional movies) within a year or two.
 
Having a little experience in acting and some limited technical advising, I have come to the realization that being a tech advisor only goes so far. I have heard directors and writers take the info from the tech advisor and just say "No, that won't work. Let's just ..."
So we can't completely blame the tech advisor. I personally think the whole crew should be sent to one of several Iraq preparation training facilities just to see how soldiers are really preparing to go "over there".
 
Hollywood

Haven't seen a move or show yet that comes close to capturing the initial confusion, sound, fear or stress of warfighting. Also have yet to see the cameraderie, dedication or professional attitude of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines accurately portrayed.
 
Haven't seen a move or show yet that comes close to capturing the initial confusion, sound, fear or stress of warfighting. Also have yet to see the cameraderie, dedication or professional attitude of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines accurately portrayed.
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How about Band of Brothers?


And not without some flaws, the dramatic version of Memphis Belle, not to be confused with the documentary.
 
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