Projects on the same scale as The Pacific require extensive research, and in terms of the stories told, they've killed three birds with the same stone. Three memoirs provide the backbones for the key players, although one of the memoirs wasn't actually written by the third key player. Though we get to spend some time with several Marines, The Pacific largely focuses on three: Robert Leckie, Eugene Sledge, and John Basilone. Leckie's Helmet for my Pillow and Sledge's With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa obviously gave the writers plenty to work with in terms of character development, as they are realized beautifully -- and more importantly, realistically. Chuck Tatum's Red Blood, Black Sand no doubt helped the production team realize the legendary John Basilone's last moments on Iwo Jima.
The Pacific covers all the main bases when it comes to the conflict in the Pacific Ocean: Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, Peleliu, Okinawa, and Iwo Jima. These places are recreated as living hells of mud, decay, rain, disease, and pure human misery. When the soldiers are out on duty, every minute is intense, in part due to the menace presented by the outside world. One Marine looks at the jungle as an enemy equal to any Japanese soldier. And he's right to do so: the jungle bristles with hostility at every turn. Malaria wracks the bodies of some, while jungle rot corrupts the feet of others. As far as the carnage goes, it's photographed in a manner similar to other modern war films. You can rarely tell exactly what's going on, and that's the way it's supposed to be. It confuses as much as it terrifies, which goes a long way in helping you empathize with the Marines -- who undoubtedly felt the exact same way, but to an infinitely greater degree. Without spoiling anything, the moments between firefights often provide the miniseries with its most shocking and uncomfortable moments.
One of The Pacific's strengths is in its willingness to venture outside the actual conflict. In the beginning of the series, we meet Eugene Sledge, whose best buddy Sid has just shipped off for Guadalcanal. Gene's doctor father is adamantly against his wish to enlist, because he detects a heart murmur in his son's chest. Later on, the 1st Marines go on liberty in Melbourne, Australia after the carnage of Guadalcanal. We get to watch Leckie work his magic on a Aussie cutie of Greek descent, and her parents fall in love with the guy as well. This leads to a peaceful intermission that feels as unburdening for the viewer as it undoubtedly does for Bob. And finally, there's John Basilone, who, after a stunning display of heroism on Guadalcanal, is promply spirited back home to win the Medal of Honor. Basilone would just as soon rejoin his fellow Marines on the front line, but the government must exploit his celebrity status for desperately-needed wartime fundage. So, he goes on a war bonds tour, despite the fact that he clearly isn't pleased with his new role. Part Ten of The Pacific takes place almost entirely on the homeland. This is a respectful gesture on the parts of the producers and screenwriters, as the war never really ended for some of these men. It's a poignant way to finish off a great story.
The Pacific honors the sacrifices made by the Marines who risked and laid down their lives on islands they'd never heard of, but it does so with a reasonable outlook. This isn't a jingoistic tale of right versus wrong. This is the story of men doing their duty by any means necessary. Of course, when their duty involves going up against an enemy who takes bushido (death before dishonor) as his creed, their exploits take them into moral quandaries. Eugene Sledge is at first appalled when he sees fellow soldier Merriell "Snafu" Shelton carving gold teeth out of the mouths of dead soldiers. However, the more he sees the unspeakable cruelty of Japanese battle tactics, the more he struggles to recognize his enemies as fellow human beings. The Pacific doesn't preach, and it's all the better for it. Instead, it merely makes the observation and leaves the reaction entirely up to the viewer.
The storytelling wouldn't carry nearly as much weight if the performances weren't as good as they are. Robert Badge Dale (Rubicon, The Departed) is instantly endearing as the roguish and charming Leckie. You'll be cheering him on at every step. However, The Pacific's key performance just might belong to Joe Mazzello (Jurassic Park, Simon Birch). He takes Eugene Sledge from God-fearing wide-eyed recruit to jaded warrior, and he does so with plenty of nuance and heartbreaking grace. And then there's Jon Seda (Homicide: Life on the Street) as John Basilone, one of the most celebrated Marines in our nation's history. His performance is equally intense and admirable, as he successfully imprints upon the viewer the kind of person John Basilone was: a duty-bound American patriot whose place was with his brothers in arms.
The Pacific's standout features are exclusive to this Blu-ray set. Enhanced Viewing is a picture-in-picture mode that acts as a digital tour guide of the entire experience. When key players and places show up, information boxes pop up at the bottom of the screen without intruding on too much of the action. Other times, a veteran may appear in a small frame and discuss his personal experience with whatever is being portrayed at the moment. It's available for all ten parts of the miniseries. The second Blu-ray exclusive feature, the Field Guide, offers a more condensed version of the Enhanced Viewing mode, allowing you to jump between the story's key events for more detailed insight.
The Pacific's sixth disc contains a small helping of special features, including the obligatory "Making Of" featurette. It's a good look behind the scenes that features some insight from the producers and actors, but it doesn't distinguish itself from the myriad of other similar featurettes. There are also six ten-minute veteran profiles that feature interviews from family, friends, and in a few cases, the veterans themselves. One of these profiles brings joyful closure to a very minor plotline only hinted at in Part Ten. Finally, Anatomy of the Pacific War is a commentary-laden feature on the cultural stigmas that affected everyone's opinions during the war.
If you've got a loved one who is interested in World War II, I can't think of a better Christmas gift than The Pacific. There's a ton of content here that invites repeat viewings, and it's all top-notch stuff. More importantly, it delivers a new approach to a conflict that has, by comparison and with a few exceptions, been overlooked for too long. The Pacific is not all guns and guts. It's got a sharp brain and a big heart.
