SummaryNot for the faint-hearted, this seven-hour scripted mini-series spotlights Marines fighting in the Iraq war during the early onset of the conflict. This is an adaptation of Rolling Stone's contributing editor Evan Wright's book of the same name.
SummaryNot for the faint-hearted, this seven-hour scripted mini-series spotlights Marines fighting in the Iraq war during the early onset of the conflict. This is an adaptation of Rolling Stone's contributing editor Evan Wright's book of the same name.
Wright says. "After the Vietnam War ended, the onus of shame largely fell on the veterans. This time around, if shame is to be had when the Iraq conflict ends--and all indications are there will be plenty of it--the veterans are the last people in America to deserve it." Generation Kill makes that point so powerfully as to stand among the truest and most trenchant war movies of all time.
Kill pays both you and its subjects two solid compliments: It doesn't scream ''Take heed: This is a work of art!'' And it lets you form your own opinions about what its social commentary is.
War as it is, not how it should be or we want it to be. Real marines, real conflict. Painstakingly authentic. People say cliched... but have they met any real soldiers or marines? I have, and organizations breed such familiarity. Brilliant show. Must watch.
As a former soldier I can say that it doesn't get more authentic than this. Best war-series of al time bar none. No prejudice, no convenient agenda, just a reconstruction of what these marines experienced. A refreshingly honest show.
Generation Kill tends to play as a series of discrete events. I suppose an argument might be made that this mirrors the way that the constant threat of extinction, and subject always to a sudden change in (rarely explained) orders, makes one live in the moment. I don't think that was what the producers intended, but it works well enough for watching it.
Did you just finish The Wire or the latest True Blood episode and now have withdrawal symptoms so bad that even a seasoned meth-head would feel the need to get you a cool washrag to dab your forehead? Well, I have the methadone to your addiction in Generation Kill.
Created by The Wire's David Simon and starring Eric, er, Alexander Skarsgard, Generation Kill follows a marine battalion as they attempt to make it through their tour in the Iraq War despite the United States government failing to get them the supplies and assistance they actually need, **** that sounds familiar to me... you too? Weird. The performances and writing are exactly what you would expect from the creator of the best show that ever graced television. The writers provide an unflinching look at the war and never once wave the flag or let the eagles cry.
Generation Kill is a tribute to the working class type of soldier that only wants to support his family in the way they his father tried to do before him. The actors and situations in the miniseries capture the brotherhood and the total culture that is classically characteristic of the armed services. The writers do an amazing job of bringing the audience in to feel part of the culture. With the nuanced attitudes and jargon that is so unapologetic at times, the series actually comes with a glossary. Whiskey Tango, anyone? The way in which this show gives the audience such complete story and character development out of such a complex multi-leveled topic in only seven episodes is astounding.
Generation Kill is so well written and smart that I actually made it through the entire series without even once feeling like I was watching a bunch of frat boys make up for their small **** by shooting massive explosives at innocent people. This is the Apocalypse Now! of the the Iraq War generation. Take it up now because people will use this to reference the newest era of injustice from the U.S. in twenty years, just as Apocalypse Now! is the go-to reference for the Vietnam era. To read more of my reviews go to: ****
It absolutely blows me away when idiots on here say that GK is "exaggerated" or "unrealistic". The show is based on a book about REAL LIFE EVENTS, and stays extremely close, even toning down some events! Go read Generation Kill by Evan Wright or One Bullet Away by Nathaniel Fick, they BOTH corroborate with the story from the show. KeithA's review is even more amazing, saying that the show is made by people to make troops like bad. ONCE AGAIN, IT IS A TRUE STORY. Same thing applies to BaroL's review, perhaps moreso. All that aside, Generation Kill is an amazing show and kept me hooked for the short season of only 7 episodes. It's amazing how close they kept to the real story, and in my opinion, that's what makes it great. HIGHLY recommend the show, and it also encouraged me to start watching The Wire, another fantastic show by the same people.
Have just finished viewing this here in Australia. I am not particularly drawn to military films but this was just brilliant. Once you realised this was not a Hollywood drama which would have the key characters shot for drama sake - you could just sit back and absorb and be mesmerised by (as based on real events and characters) a true and fascinating depiction of the reality of modern day US war . It is clear by reading the reviews that people either "got it" or they didn't. I am now also a fan of Alexander Skargard who played Sgt Brad Colbert. I can't wait to see him in other productions.
Bland, boring and unexciting. Those word are seldom used to describe a series about a war but are exactly the words I would use to describe this show. Overall nothing really exciting happened and there were no interesting characters for me to get attached to. The show never went anywhere and it didn’t really have a story worth telling. it might be realistic, but it's boring nevertheless. Some parts gave a new perspective about the war, which is good, but those were few and far between, therefore it was overall a show full of disappointment and is not something I would recommend to others.,