Blu-ray Movie Reviews

The seven-part series opens with a platoon of Marines on a training mission in Kuwait shortly before the start of the Iraq War doing what Marines do best—kicking ass and taking names—preparing for the most important event of their young lives. This is Bravo Company of the First Recon Marines, led by the bright but nave Lt. Fick (Stark Sands). Like most kids, these guys are a little unsure of themselves and act a lot tougher than they actually are. I had to remind myself that these young men aren't our best and brightest, but they do a job that most of us aren't willing to do. Is some of their dialog reprehensible? Yes. But given their circumstances, I'm willing to cut them some slack.

The series is based on the book of the same name by Evan Wright, an embedded journalist working for Rolling Stone who rode along with the Marines for 40 days in 2003 as they were the "tip of the spear" leading the coalition force into Baghdad. Wright is portrayed by Lee Tergesen and spends most of his time riding along in the Humvee driven by Corporal Ray Person (James Ransone), the most cynical and funniest man of the group. Accompanying them is Sergeant Brad "Iceman" Colbert (Alexander Skarsgard), a professional soldier who doesn't approve of some of the sophomoric humor of the troops but understands why they act the way they do—it's the only way to cope with the situation.

Like the men of Bravo Company, I was a bit leery of Wright when he's introduced to them. What was his purpose for being there? Was he going to report the truth or color it to imply "America is bad"? In the end, I think his story is a mostly true account of those first 40 days, but it isn't pretty—it's war. In war, people get killed, both civilian and military, but when bullets are flying toward you, you shoot first and ask questions later. Do civilians get hurt? You bet. But it's unrealistic to think that wouldn't happen given the circumstances.

HBO has delivered some outstanding video presentations on Blu-ray, and this is no exception. The dry desert landscape comes alive in 1080p, with heightened contrast to emphasize the extreme environment. Colors are well-saturated and deep, but don't expect a cornucopia of hues given that the majority of screen time is given to the camouflaged Marines. Detail is outstanding in both foregrounds and backgrounds, and nighttime shots feature bottomless blacks shrouded with some heavy grain and noise, but this only serves to highlight the gritty conditions.

The video is upstaged by the exceptional DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack. This nearly eight-hour miniseries is occupied with dialog most of the time, and it comes through clear and concise with natural tone and balance. Despite the emphasis on dialog, the soundstage is expansive with ample panning effects of vehicles moving from side to side and helicopters flying overhead. When all hell breaks loose, the LFE is intense, and when that first bullet pangs off the Humvee, I was ducking for cover—it's that realistic.

The supplements include a making-of featurette, a video diary from actor Eric Ladin, six episode-specific audio commentaries, and some deleted audio-only dialog sequences. The best of the bunch is "Generation Kill: A Conversation with 1st Recon Maries," a must-watch roundtable discussion with writer Evan Wright and the men depicted in the series. Interactive supplements include a "Military Glossary," a "Chain of Command Chart," and "Mission Maps," all available during the episodes by pushing the arrow buttons on the remote.

My only gripe with the series is how it portrays the officers—a bunch of incompetent maniacs who don't have their priorities straight. If it was just one or two of them, I could buy it. But when all are painted with such a broad brush, it smacks of "workers versus management" animosity more than true-life events. Granted, Wright did spend most of his time with the "grunts," so maybe some of their feelings and frustrations rubbed off. Regardless, this is a fantastic presentation and even better, an extraordinary show. David Vaughn

Release Date:June 16, 2009
Studio: HBO

Series: 8/10
Picture: 9/10
Sound: 10/10

Review System

Source
Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray player

Display
JVC DLA-RS1 projector
Stewart FireHawk screen (76.5" wide, 16:9)

Electronics
Onkyo Pro PR-SC885 pre/pro
Anthem PVA-7 power amplifier
Belkin PF60 power conditioner

Speakers
M&K S-150s (L, C, R)
M&K SS-150s (LS, RS, SBL, SBR)
SVS PC-Ultra subwoofer

Cables
Monoprice HDMI cables (source to pre/pro)
Best Deal analog-audio cables
PureLink HDC Fiber Optic HDMI Cable System (15 meters) from pre/pro to projector

Acoustical treatments from GIK Acoustics