I found this series amazing. It's not intended to provoke a particular feeling or espouse a message about right or wrong. There aren't any real villains or heroes, though there are antagonistic actions. There's almost no exposition or worldbuilding beyond the day to day experiences of the men as they try to accomplish an often vague and ever-changing mission. The show is about an experience. It's not about pointing fingers or editorializing. We get to ride along as the Marines experience hours of tense tedium, interrupted on rare occasions by brief moments of terror. We see them coping with stress differently, from the black, sarcastic humor of Ray, to the panicked paranoia of "Captain America." We see the frustrations of men carrying out orders without the context or perspective to understand them. We see lapses in judgement and cronyism that sometimes paints mid level officers as questionably competent or unprofessional. We see how frustration and frayed nerves makes them lash out at each other. This show isn't about whether the war was justified, or about painting the men involved as virtuous patriots. They're people, with flaws and fears, strengths and aspirations. Its about giving a glimpse of men going to war, and all the frustrating, stressful, confusing, terrifying experiences that go along with it.
Actually - no. Show very much does espouse messages about right or wrong, there ARE villains and heroes, and it IS very much "pro-troops" and thus indirectly "pro-war" propaganda - a common trick when direct propaganda can't be sold to the audience on account of making "us" come off as "the baddies". And "our troops" can't be the baddies! American Service-Members' Protection Act made sure about that, enshrining into law that an "United States military personnel and other elected and appointed officials of the United States government [are protected] against criminal prosecution by an international criminal court". So that whole thing about the Geneva Convention... fuck the Geneva Convention. US Congress sure did. Back in 2002. Just in time for a bit of the old "all is fair in war and war". Like torture of prisoners. The show still needing its villains they are recruited from the ranks of distant officers, bureaucracy, incompetent lower-ranked leaders, POGs and "the madness of it all". Even god. But not the troops, never the troops. When Trombley shoots and almost kills a child, our boys nearly stage a mutiny to get that child medical attention, standing up to their officers - Trombley is praised for being a stone cold killer for making that shot. Tragedy to comedy and our boys can do no wrong. By the end, even stupid cosmetic orders about grooming standards are shown to be wise and benevolent, keeping soldiers' hands from going idle. Meanwhile, Iceman having an obvious nervous breakdown is shrugged off and then celebrated with cans of Chef Boyardee and porn. Pee Tea aSs whom? Conspicuously absent are political or even directly military reasons for "the madness of it all". Or the parts of the book where "our boys" go off script - like praising socialism or pissing on the floors of Iraqi offices while trashing the office furniture and equipment. American soldiers can't act like animals. Or socialists. Or child molesters like Sixta. And those are the bits that made it through, after publisher's editing and the personal editorializing done by Evan Wright while writing. In comparison, his "Scenes from My Life in Porn" paints and image of men in said industry who are either monsters, morons or mindless zombies and women who are at best victims, but also idiotic and rather dehumanized sex objects. He makes a lot about personal failure to connect emotionally with actresses and even his girlfriend - all being infected by "the madness of it all", leaving him dazed and traumatized. Which makes you kinda wonder where's the similar shock when overexposed to death and war to that he felt when overexposed to porn. "Embedding journalists" was a propaganda technique designed to achieve exactly what it did - make you hate the game, but not the player. I.e. Hate the "madness of war" if necessary - but support the troops. Unquestionably. Cause as long as you do support the troops the war can go on just fine. And it did.
Well said. People are people. Easy to say, "They're all heroes," and put their image up on a news network -or Walmart. But they are human after all. Marines. But still just humans, like you or me.
One of many best lines in the series: Reporter is unhitching his wagon and going home. He stops by Godfather eating chow, and sits down for a goodbye: "So reporter. What did you see!" smirks the Lt.Colonel. Then they both smile a bit and shrug of the enormity of it all. Superb series, a rapid procession of character and scene each one of which could have been expanded into its own play, but were better for being discarded almost without thought.
I fought in Iraq during the same time as this series. I lost any interest in writing a memior after watching Generation Kill because it captures exactly what the experience was like. My time there was exactly this with only the details differing.
The best show ever put to screen showing what the military is like. Army infantry myself but I use this show as a prime example of what war is like and what its like being in the military. It's my go to when people ask what it's like being in the military.
That’s awesome this was one of the shows that got me to join the military and I came in late I was 35 and didn’t think I would make the marines so I went Army and did so well and finished basic in 05 n was boots on the ground 06 in Sadr city talk about culture shock
I feel that, hech I even had a writer trying to interview me for the book he was writing as well (Lethal Warriors:when the new band of brothers came home) about the trauma ptsd aspect.Yet each person still has their own stories to share and as we saw with past story tellers their is always a tale to tell.
05-09 here. Absolutely the same, tasteless jokes and all. It's a good representation while also being a "you had to have been there" moment. I still watch this from time to time to reflect.
Yup I was in 05 - 11 deployed 06 - 07 for the surge. This show is just so spot on. I think his selection of the turning the Iraqis back was a perfect representation of that type of a situation. A morally questionable scenario, bringing up the issue, and some young LT having to enforce whatever the stupid order from a BC was and then you dropping it and moving on. No one likes it but that's life in the military. Youre not a robot and no one ever expected you to be, unless you were a cherry private you were free to ask questions and even question an order, and then you went and did your job. That was a really well done scene.
One thing that has always fascinated me about this show is all the things that we aren't privy too. for example in the episode Combat Jack, when alpha detaches and we have no idea what really happened there. Your explanations about the Realist style of filming helps me understand how these moments are intriguing and compelling rather than lazy and dissatisfactory, excellent video!
@@brentsacks Thanks for your work, the heart and comment/question. Use an underscore before and after the words and punctuation you intend to italicize. _Like this!_
One of the most memorable quotes I ever heard was when Fick said, "Observe everything, admire nothing," over the radio as his Marines roll into hostile territory. No greater piece of advice, no matter the situation.
The biggest thing I took away from this show(as well as the book) was why the Iraq War was unpopular. In both we see the daily routine of what the Marines were doing in Iraq, and from that both forms of media trust the audience to form their own opinion on the situation.
I'm not a military veteran, but I'm a paramedic, and one thing my time has taught me is that the answer to the question "is it a horrific tragedy, or is it funny?" can always be, "It's both!"
I've watched this series several times, and only just now realised that their goggle covers are socks with the ends cut off. I believe the young officer at one point says "Marines make do".
This was extremely common as the fine sand (referred to as moondust) would get everywhere and the last place you want fine particulate is inside your goggles
I had just gotten back from Iraq when this came out. I was amazed how much they got right - PARTICULARY with the troops basic attitude / sense of humor. You get numb and dark - but you are ALWAYS looking for a chuckle. That was my experience.
This is a really good take. I have always liked the series for the accuracy of the portrayal of the Military experience, but have never really thought about how the series generates that outside of the dialogue. It is cool to have someone that understands cinematography break down why it also "feels" so real.
Okaaaaaaay like HOW have you not blown up!? I watched this in its entirety, closed it and then opened it thinking "oh when I get the time this weekend I'll watch some more of his work" and then I see the number of likes and my mind is blown. This deserves WAY more views! I really enjoyed this video! These are things about realism in film I never knew and is an aspect of Generation Kill I had not heard of before! So thanks and keep up the good work!
Agreed. If more civilians saw Generation Kill then maybe this mess in Afghanistan would make more sense. Iceman is always trying to help the locals and the few times he ever complains is about the stupidity by U.S. that is going to lose the war.
One kid got some jerky in a care package. Heard crunching in the night... God damn camel spider was chowing down on the bag. That was a fucking saga, boys.
And even if you didn't like it yourself, it was so popular with everyone else that having it was like having a $50 bill to buy something off the other guys with.
I was an interpreter for USMC and US Army during a joint exercise in my country. That was when I realized that GK is a very realistic portrayal of US military.
I was in from 07-11, and I was impressed with Generation Kill because of how accurate its portrayal of us as Marines was. There are almost no other movies or shows that I know of that get it as right as this one. The dynamic and banter between the Marines was so spot on that I remember it making us wonder if the cast were actual Marines themselves. The terrible higher ups, the decent platoon-level leadership, the comradery between the junior Marines - it was all spot on. Every time someone asks me what's the best portrayal of the Marines, the answer is GK.
@@username12120 and some of the other Marines served as advisors and played bit parts even as professional actors played them on screen! Like Sgt Kocher
Another part of the show that supports this (very well put) analysis is Johnny Cash’s “when the man comes around” as the soundtrack over the final scene of marines watching the video recordings and then closing credits. For all the singalongs in the Humvees throughout I think it’s the first piece of music the audience hears and the song itself describes the last judgment and the futility of moral subjectivity as if to say “judge this if you want, but it doesn’t matter anyway”. As the lyrics go: “Whoever is unjust let him be unjust still Whoever is righteous let him be righteous still Whoever is filthy let him be filthy still Listen to the words long written down When the man comes around”
@@brentsacks yes my friend. Great video and thanks for posting. I'm very proud of this show and all my dear friends who worked on it with me. All the cast and crew are still close friends.
@@danthestuntman this is remarkable. I’m so stoked you watched this, and thank you for leaving a comment. GK is near and dear to my heart, so I’m glad the cast and crew keep in touch. This series was lightning in a bottle.
Well, I’m glad this somehow made its way into a film class. I loved this series, watched it after deployments. It kind of captures a little of everything from the experience. What always got me was the noise from the SINCGARS radios.. That sound is etched into my brain forever.
1:19 perfect song to use! Ain’t no rest First thing that caught my eye was the bag of skittles in the Humvee during the fast paced introduction scene (training exercise) fucking love this show it’s so good. It gets more interesting the more i rewatch it he whole series
Lieutenant Fick wrote a book after the war called “One Bullet Away” and it tells this same story from the Marine POV instead of a reporters POV. Reading both books gives you an AMAZING insight into what it was like to be the tip of the spear of the US Invasion of Iraq. These guys pulled off one of the single greatest military invasions of a major power in the history of the world. Their stories are stuff of legend.
The subtext in this show is just soooo great and you present perfectly how it's done. Pure cinema gold and some of the best realistic storytelling there is, IMHO. 🥰
I am a military history nerd and "Generation Kill" is up there with the very best of movies about war. 10:30 Corporal Person, man... he is just unbelievable. I just loved the guy for every hilarious line he had: "Man, I am so high from not sleeping." 🤣🤣🤣 Your entire sequence from the time stamp onwards is just GOLDEN. 😯😃👌
Yeah, it about sums up how we Marines were in Iraq. The series is often played by me cause I lost my innocence there. In the Combat zone, we don't have time to connect with our inner child etc. We were in the moment, minutes felt like hours. I got my brother's back and he had mine.
The reporter that wrote the book, got imprisoned for a short while after his book came out, in a post 9/11 scared America. he had no issues with the show being made by his book, but he didn't want to help with it, and they asked him to come aboard.
If you are talking about Evan Wright, the Author of the book, the only reference I can find was this from an interview from Godspydotcom: "On October 6th, I went down to Camp Pendleton, to see some of the wives and friends of the Recon Marines I wrote about. The guys I wrote about were returning from Iraq, and they invited me to the homecoming. I went there and checked in to the base. I identified myself as a reporter, no problem. I go on the base, and a Marine from First Recon who worked in the supply unit, he actually had a couple of marines grab me, put me in handcuffs, twist my hands behind my back, and they threw me in the back of a car. But since I hadn’t done anything wrong they couldn’t arrest me. I asked him why he was doing this and he said “We don’t like what you wrote. We don’t like your book. We don’t like what you said about our officers.” He was out of control. You can’t do that to people. That was the only negative reaction. But what was funny was that a week later the base newspaper did a story about the book and called it a cool book." So either you are confusing it with someone else or you are misconstruing what happened.
Being a Marine veteran myself, the one thing the narrator failed to understand is how Marines treat other Marines. This is probably the most integral part of the film. Having a few Marines who were actually in this recon unit work as actors in the film probably helped this dynamic immensely. If you've never been there, you'll never know. Semper Fi, brothers.
Not a Jarhead myself (Put me out of my misery if I ever become one.), but I find this part of the series the best. The banter, the language, the feeling of brotherhood etc. are all traits that the series and the actors nailed perfectly and which makes this series realistic as hell. They really feel like the guys of a military unit.
@@065Tim yeah the marines is literally the Army but with boats and having to wrar class a and b uniforms more often 😂 their DIs lied to them about them being special
A very good synopsis of a great under appreciated series, not an American and served two generations ago with the British Army and yet this was all totally familiar particularly the absolute refusal to take it all too seriously even though this was life and death and in your face, but it was also the little details like scrounging for stuff that wasn't either provided or not enough was ever given out the deliberate emphasis on the unimportant.
I don't have any amazing credentials but as someone that had mandatory military, the military culture is on point. The cussing, jokes, singing. Top tier series
@@brentsacks Austrian military, I was imbedded in a surveillence/fighter jet squadron as a military aircraft mechanic (assistant because we were mandatory recruits and aren't enlisted by contract). Great analysis btw and amazing video keep it up 🤙
great breakdown, from a film maker's perspective. I was looking for a breakdown of the history, but this video covers a whole new topic I wasn't expecting. I've seen this series many times, but it's nice to get a fresh new look on it. Great video
Another thing this series got going for it in terms of selling the realism is the fact that the actors are loaded up with what looks to be real equipment. You can see the weight in the way they move.
I’m watching this for the first time based on the recommendation of vets who say it’s one of the most realistic war portrayals. This, along with Platoon and Band of Brothers, has completely changed my views on war as a civilian. As I’ve recently turned 30 I’ve went from an idealistic liberal to… idk what. I’m starting to understand what Col. Kurtz meant when he said you must make a friend of horror and terror. This stuff is so important for the average person to see. We can’t keep sticking our heads in the sand.
Generation Kill may do the best job of any war time media of “showing” as opposed the “telling”. Generation kill doesn’t tell a story, it shows a story. It isn’t trying to make some greater point about the war or the actions taken by first recon or the first marine division as a whole. Another detail is that Nate Fick is shown as extremely competent and much more intelligent than other officers in the battalion. That’s because he was. He was a Dartmouth graduate and if he stayed in after his tour in Iraq, he probably would a brigadier general right now.
💯 I reread the book a few years ago, and I forgot that _tons_ of the officers in the battalion didn’t go through/didn’t have to go through the basic reconnaissance course that all the enlisted do, which is part of why so many of them were grossly out of their depth. Traditionally, reconnaissance battalion didn’t deploy as a whole command, but in small teams where the officers weren’t required
This was really insightful. I watched GK and wasn't really sure I liked it because of the very style you bring attention to. I think I'd like it better on a second viewing.
What I love about the show is how much it reveals incompetent officers. That was so stressful to watch, and I admire these warriors just for their patience alone in not shooting their incompetent officers.
The rank-and-file soldier is always going to bitch that the officers are stupid usually because they don't have the same information. From what I understand is that the show is a bit hard on the officer's competency. The entire company was thrown together for that invasion, The Captain "Enicino Man" wasn't a combat officer but worked in intelligence so he wasn't really trained for the role he was in.
@@jasonscottjenkins this is correct. Usually the officers in the recon units are a mix of recon-trained officers and regular ones. And the battalions typically didn’t deploy as battalions with the whole staff of officers; normally they would deploy small teams to augment other units. So like you said, it was pretty thrown together and a lot of people were out of their depth
@@brentsacks They kinda let on that "Encino Man" was actually more capable/charismatic when they showed him with the men playing football at the end of the series. I think the Sgt. that hit him was mad that he didn't act like that out in the field but I don't know.
@@jasonscottjenkins That’s a very interesting perspective I hadn’t thought about. I always figured he hit him because he was acting like a tool. But like you said, he was also being aggressive and competent, which is good when you’re in combat
GK is one of my favorite HBO series. The portrayal of the officers like Captain America and Encino Man I believe may be over exaggerated for dramatic effect because it doesn't seem possible that a marine battalion with recon platoons and support selected specifically to penetrate deep behind enemy lines ahead of the main invasion force would have officers who at times seem to he mentally impaired.
So I re-read the book a couple years ago, and they noted that the selection process for Recon Officers was not a prerequisite for getting assigned to the unit. So the really squared away guys like Fick and Captain Patterson had been through the Recon training, while some of the messed up guys were just picked up from wherever
The is not based on fiction. It is the written experience of the author, he was imbedded for Rolling Stones. He stands by his portrayal of all personnel in his book. And he has to, he was threaten to be sued by a couple of the actual officers. His stance; “well, I have the notes, the photos and the AUDIO TAPES”. The problem, back at Camp Pendleton, a majority of the officers did not participate in any active reconnaissance training after initial selection/assignment to recon btn. It was the SNCO’s that conducted training exercises and skill set improvements for the enlisted. Unfortunately for these Marines, the officers (and enlisted) portrayal in the film, is accurate as can be for a film. Can’t remember the author, but Google the title. There is a lot of information on the post effects of the book and movie. In a nutshell, the USMC officer corps found this portrayal disturbing, but also as a learning experience that they used going forward (supposedly). Also a lot of the enlisted got shitted on by USMC based on the book and movie. Careers were ended prematurely.
The other thing that was going on, based on Nate Fick's book, is that in years past First Recon Battalion had never deployed as a unit. It was always parcelled out as attachments to other units: a squad here, a squad there. (This makes a lot of sense when you remember that their mission is reconnaissance: you don't need a battalion to do sneaky scouty stuff, you need a few guys to do the scouting and then a bunch of other forces to use that information.) So the companies and the battalion were basically administrative formations, not combat units. Your company commanders needed to organize training exercises, deal with personnel issues, all that sort of thing... but they weren't expected or expecting to be combat leaders. And above the platoon level, they weren't necessarily selected to an elite standard. Captain America, whose "uncle is a colonel at CENTCOM," probably got sent there because it seemed like a cool assignment that would carry a little shine, but which he couldn't screw up too badly because he'd never be within ten miles of combat. But then for some reason the whole battalion was sent out in one package to drive humvees into Iraq, which turns into just as much of a shitshow as you'd expect.
I couldn't help but notice that the director took inspiration from Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket. Off topic, as a son of a Gulf War era non-combat Army veteran and brother of GWoT combat veteran Marine veteran I notice that they have an added level of understand with one another in way that is different than what I have with either. And I have observed this outside of family as well. Though, the veterans were still connected to me.
Generation Kill leaves you not knowing how to feel or what to think. That’s why it’s not popular it gives you a much different feeling than anything else by the end.
Having rolled north in OIF 1, this was strikingly accurate. I even had the sandbag stacks while rocking no doors on my 1097a2...thinking back it was unreal
This was a very well done video. Insightful. I always pinned this series as one to watch. Excellent show. Very well done explanation on the film making.
As a GWOT vet.. this is by far the closest thing I’ve seen to what it was actually like. Whole thing was a shit show, and as young men it was easy to “stay flexible”
Fun fact: the producers David Simon and Ed Burns wrote books "Homicide" and "the corner", two books very realistics of the life in the dangerous hoods of Baltimore. Later did "the wire" one of the most realistic shows on TV for HBO. They know a lot of realism.
@brentsacks I used "the corner" in work for the university two years ago. The book doesn't talk only about crime and drugs, talks about how the economy and the politics drive the city to this days.
I think I honestly preferred Jarhead but Gen Kill has its moments. I have a friend who was part of the Gulf War invasion back in the 90s and he said this and Jarhead were the most realistic movies he's ever seen about war. It's certainly an interesting way to look at things.
Generation Kill is absolutely fantastic, the best war series ever and one of my favorite shows of all time. I remember the first time I watched it, I started it back over again because it was that good. It’s a desert road trip with the boys that also has the invasion of Iraq in it.
I watched this show with my late father when it dropped in 07 if my memory serves. We both loved it then and i tend to find myself watching it about twice a year every year. LOL. There really is nothing else out there like Generation Kill.
Now I wished I were film major and watching this in class. But I'm theatre and reading anti-realism play instead. This series is a master piece! A lot of people don't understand how realistic it is!
It’s so realistic that it actually hinders many potential audiences from fully enjoying it! One thing I love about it is they never stop to explain things to the audience. For folks not familiar with the military, it might prove too much. But because of this creative choice, it has this unshakable quality to it, this uncompromising commitment to realistically portraying what happened. It’s magnificent
I remember first watching this show two years ago after seeing some of the more energetic clips and thinking, "Oh, this is gonna be a fun military action show." Oh Boy, by the end of the show, it completely changed my mind about the military (I grew up after the 03 invasion). Loved the video and think I'm going to rewatch this one to appreciate the film style due to this video.
They reeled you in! 😂 I’m glad you watched it though, and thank you for watching and commenting! Once you know what the signs of realism are, you’ll see them all through the series 👍🏻
@@brentsacks I'm the exact kind of motherfucker that experiences a lot of movies via video essay, wrote this comment before I saw the scene in the video lol.
I just want to mention to no one in particular how much I laughed when, at the end of it all, when Encino-man has created many sleepless nights and made all of his platoon leaders lives infinitely more difficult and murky than was required, when resentment towards him is at its peak and people are finally willing to let it all fade away with a good old game of American Football... Then, Encino Man reveals the one thing that he really is highly competent, intelligent, optimistic, and motivated about: Tackling the shit out of people and landing touchdowns. This reveal that he is what we all imagined, a football jock who became a CO due to some trumped up scholarship at a decent university, and that all of his skillsets are openly used against his own men on the football field, is the final nail in the coffin for many of the other NCO's and soldiers. The deeply woven irony of that situation still makes me laugh to this day.
I'm a navy vet that was in way after the invasion, never saw combat everything i did was miles out to sea supporting the guys in country. Yet I can still relate to this show way more then any other. The camaraderie and bullshit is spot on. Even the bs with incompetent officers and senior NCOs being similar to what I experienced on the boat. Show is quite possibly the most realistic showing of real military life wether you be a Grunt or a P.O.G.
Nice video man thanks. I took a film theory class in college too; I really enjoyed it. I love this series so much, just started watching it again actually. If y'all haven't check out Nathaniel Fick's book "One Bullet Away" (he's the LT in the show).
That is cool af. I always appreciated the little wink they give to the audience at the end of the show that seems to indicate he’s in on the joke, so to speak.
Google/Amazon/alphabet is pushing GK real hard at me for some reason. This channel randomly shows up in my feed two days after watching half of episode 1. I didnt care for it. And tbf i didnt watch your video, but hopefully this helps both our algorithms. Even with vets, not everybody likes the same stuff.
Haha sorry you didn’t like episode one. My guess is if you gave up halfway in, it probably wasn’t for you. But if you do watch my video at some point, it may give you an interesting perspective on how the show is made! I’ve had a few comments recently of people saying they want to watch it again with a new perspective, and they may end up liking it more. Maybe worth a shot!
My two favorite things about this series are: 1. How realistic it fealt and 2. How a lot of civilians complained because they didn't like the dialogue and thought it was unrealistic
Legendary series and a great video. One thing I always wondered about the show, and I guess the real life story itself, is how much that "neutral buoyancy/not taking any perspective/present but somewhat detached" element is really balanced on a knife edge and only possible by the fact that none of the Marines (that we see) were killed. Yes they see some dead bodies and occasionally they get a little bit agitated, but there are no deaths among the faces in the names that we know, and they know. if one of their buddies had gotten shot do you think that would have changed the tone, do you think there would have been a lot more anger and resentment and and a much more personal or moral element entering into the calculus? If your friends are dying can you truly afford to ignore the questions as to why you were there and what you were doing and the other questions that that leads to?
It’s a very interesting question and observation. I wonder if there’s a difference between the Marines being detached and objective vs. the author or showrunners being detached/objective. Because I would wager the Marines all have their perspectives on everything, and that would be true whether or not they had buddies get killed. But would it change the authors of the book/series and how they presented it? Could be!
DUDE. That is incredible. Also, kind of hilarious. There’s two kinds of people in this world: those who watch Generation Kill and say, “Nah.” And those who watch and say, “Hell yeah!” A special breed.
I think GK illustrated that war is a messy business. When they pop rounds as warning (ie 40mm) and they had unintented consequences they just showed it happening and moved on. No cathartic story around it. Life isn't a movie. It makes you get a better sense of the totality of the event.
I didn't know until recently that this was suppose to be an actual series but it was canceled due to ratings. Also then ending, alot to be interpreted.
Very well done and i hope your video has inspired people to watch the series over the years. Generation Kill manages to be both anti-war and a love letter to Marines at the same time. (Realism. Lol) Evan Wright is a real one for seeing it thru and having the integrity to tell the truth because that's all any Marine could ask for; an honest depiction. Cuz most of us aren't actually psychos like Trombley it just works to our benefit that the rest of the world believes we are. 😉 Semper Fi
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I found this series amazing. It's not intended to provoke a particular feeling or espouse a message about right or wrong. There aren't any real villains or heroes, though there are antagonistic actions. There's almost no exposition or worldbuilding beyond the day to day experiences of the men as they try to accomplish an often vague and ever-changing mission.
The show is about an experience. It's not about pointing fingers or editorializing.
We get to ride along as the Marines experience hours of tense tedium, interrupted on rare occasions by brief moments of terror.
We see them coping with stress differently, from the black, sarcastic humor of Ray, to the panicked paranoia of "Captain America."
We see the frustrations of men carrying out orders without the context or perspective to understand them. We see lapses in judgement and cronyism that sometimes paints mid level officers as questionably competent or unprofessional.
We see how frustration and frayed nerves makes them lash out at each other.
This show isn't about whether the war was justified, or about painting the men involved as virtuous patriots. They're people, with flaws and fears, strengths and aspirations. Its about giving a glimpse of men going to war, and all the frustrating, stressful, confusing, terrifying experiences that go along with it.
This comment belongs in a museum
But I guess a pinned comment will have to suffice
Actually - no. Show very much does espouse messages about right or wrong, there ARE villains and heroes, and it IS very much "pro-troops" and thus indirectly "pro-war" propaganda - a common trick when direct propaganda can't be sold to the audience on account of making "us" come off as "the baddies". And "our troops" can't be the baddies!
American Service-Members' Protection Act made sure about that, enshrining into law that an "United States military personnel and other elected and appointed officials of the United States government [are protected] against criminal prosecution by an international criminal court". So that whole thing about the Geneva Convention... fuck the Geneva Convention.
US Congress sure did. Back in 2002. Just in time for a bit of the old "all is fair in war and war". Like torture of prisoners.
The show still needing its villains they are recruited from the ranks of distant officers, bureaucracy, incompetent lower-ranked leaders, POGs and "the madness of it all". Even god.
But not the troops, never the troops.
When Trombley shoots and almost kills a child, our boys nearly stage a mutiny to get that child medical attention, standing up to their officers - Trombley is praised for being a stone cold killer for making that shot. Tragedy to comedy and our boys can do no wrong.
By the end, even stupid cosmetic orders about grooming standards are shown to be wise and benevolent, keeping soldiers' hands from going idle.
Meanwhile, Iceman having an obvious nervous breakdown is shrugged off and then celebrated with cans of Chef Boyardee and porn. Pee Tea aSs whom?
Conspicuously absent are political or even directly military reasons for "the madness of it all".
Or the parts of the book where "our boys" go off script - like praising socialism or pissing on the floors of Iraqi offices while trashing the office furniture and equipment.
American soldiers can't act like animals. Or socialists. Or child molesters like Sixta.
And those are the bits that made it through, after publisher's editing and the personal editorializing done by Evan Wright while writing.
In comparison, his "Scenes from My Life in Porn" paints and image of men in said industry who are either monsters, morons or mindless zombies and women who are at best victims, but also idiotic and rather dehumanized sex objects.
He makes a lot about personal failure to connect emotionally with actresses and even his girlfriend - all being infected by "the madness of it all", leaving him dazed and traumatized.
Which makes you kinda wonder where's the similar shock when overexposed to death and war to that he felt when overexposed to porn.
"Embedding journalists" was a propaganda technique designed to achieve exactly what it did - make you hate the game, but not the player.
I.e. Hate the "madness of war" if necessary - but support the troops. Unquestionably.
Cause as long as you do support the troops the war can go on just fine.
And it did.
@@d3nza482 L take
Well said. People are people. Easy to say, "They're all heroes," and put their image up on a news network -or Walmart.
But they are human after all. Marines. But still just humans, like you or me.
One of many best lines in the series: Reporter is unhitching his wagon and going home. He stops by Godfather eating chow, and sits down for a goodbye: "So reporter. What did you see!" smirks the Lt.Colonel. Then they both smile a bit and shrug of the enormity of it all. Superb series, a rapid procession of character and scene each one of which could have been expanded into its own play, but were better for being discarded almost without thought.
Absolutely. So rich with meaning and subtext without floating it to the surface
You a smoker, sir?
Nah, just lucky I guess.
I fought in Iraq during the same time as this series. I lost any interest in writing a memior after watching Generation Kill because it captures exactly what the experience was like. My time there was exactly this with only the details differing.
The best show ever put to screen showing what the military is like. Army infantry myself but I use this show as a prime example of what war is like and what its like being in the military. It's my go to when people ask what it's like being in the military.
just the radio chatter alone makes the series worth watching.
That’s awesome this was one of the shows that got me to join the military and I came in late I was 35 and didn’t think I would make the marines so I went Army and did so well and finished basic in 05 n was boots on the ground 06 in Sadr city talk about culture shock
We're grateful for your service, trooper.
I feel that, hech I even had a writer trying to interview me for the book he was writing as well (Lethal Warriors:when the new band of brothers came home) about the trauma ptsd aspect.Yet each person still has their own stories to share and as we saw with past story tellers their is always a tale to tell.
The show is actually a musical road trip.
No lies detected 😂
@@brentsacks keep making vids man. This one is great - you're gonna make it big time. The ending is amazing...true to the show.
@@diekemperd omg thank you 😭
Would the show have to pay any royalties for just singing the songs acapella and not having the music?
Without music life would be a mistake.
I was in from 2004 through 09. Generation Kill is the military I remember. The culture, jokes and mentality are perfect
when people ask what it was like being in the military, I tell them to watch this
05-09 here. Absolutely the same, tasteless jokes and all. It's a good representation while also being a "you had to have been there" moment.
I still watch this from time to time to reflect.
Yup I was in 05 - 11 deployed 06 - 07 for the surge. This show is just so spot on. I think his selection of the turning the Iraqis back was a perfect representation of that type of a situation. A morally questionable scenario, bringing up the issue, and some young LT having to enforce whatever the stupid order from a BC was and then you dropping it and moving on. No one likes it but that's life in the military. Youre not a robot and no one ever expected you to be, unless you were a cherry private you were free to ask questions and even question an order, and then you went and did your job. That was a really well done scene.
08-12 here. I caught the tail end of this era in the military. Army started changing right as I got my DD214. Haven't looked back.
One thing that has always fascinated me about this show is all the things that we aren't privy too. for example in the episode Combat Jack, when alpha detaches and we have no idea what really happened there. Your explanations about the Realist style of filming helps me understand how these moments are intriguing and compelling rather than lazy and dissatisfactory, excellent video!
I'm very happy to hear it! Thank you for commenting!
The ending cements this as the realest realism that ever _reeled._ It's hard to explain 'the impossibility of reason' and GK nails it.
100%
Also what? How did you italicize that??
@@brentsacks Thanks for your work, the heart and comment/question. Use an underscore before and after the words and punctuation you intend to italicize. _Like this!_
I am not worthy
We're you in Iraq? We're you a marine too?
@@AndrewDangerously if that is directed at me, no, not a Marine and never got to deploy to the Middle East. At least, not yet.
One of the most memorable quotes I ever heard was when Fick said, "Observe everything, admire nothing," over the radio as his Marines roll into hostile territory.
No greater piece of advice, no matter the situation.
It could pass as an article of stoic life philosophy if seen in that way.
The biggest thing I took away from this show(as well as the book) was why the Iraq War was unpopular. In both we see the daily routine of what the Marines were doing in Iraq, and from that both forms of media trust the audience to form their own opinion on the situation.
I'm not a military veteran, but I'm a paramedic, and one thing my time has taught me is that the answer to the question "is it a horrific tragedy, or is it funny?" can always be, "It's both!"
This ☝🏻
I've watched this series several times, and only just now realised that their goggle covers are socks with the ends cut off.
I believe the young officer at one point says "Marines make do".
Wait I’ve never noticed that 😂 holy smokes that is amazing
😂
This was extremely common as the fine sand (referred to as moondust) would get everywhere and the last place you want fine particulate is inside your goggles
I had just gotten back from Iraq when this came out. I was amazed how much they got right - PARTICULARY with the troops basic attitude / sense of humor. You get numb and dark - but you are ALWAYS looking for a chuckle. That was my experience.
Some things never change
This is a really good take. I have always liked the series for the accuracy of the portrayal of the Military experience, but have never really thought about how the series generates that outside of the dialogue. It is cool to have someone that understands cinematography break down why it also "feels" so real.
Okaaaaaaay like HOW have you not blown up!?
I watched this in its entirety, closed it and then opened it thinking "oh when I get the time this weekend I'll watch some more of his work" and then I see the number of likes and my mind is blown.
This deserves WAY more views!
I really enjoyed this video! These are things about realism in film I never knew and is an aspect of Generation Kill I had not heard of before!
So thanks and keep up the good work!
Agreed. If more civilians saw Generation Kill then maybe this mess in Afghanistan would make more sense.
Iceman is always trying to help the locals and the few times he ever complains is about the stupidity by U.S. that is going to lose the war.
no ied how blow up
He's not a civilian driving toward a coalition convoy in Iraq so he doesn't blow up yet.
The Saga of the Jalapeno Cheese is very real y'all. Used to hoard the stuff like a dragon with gold lol.
😂
Stuff was dope. The bread was abysmal, but with some of thay queso? Almost edible. Just don't be surprised when ya get the Hershey squirts.
One kid got some jerky in a care package.
Heard crunching in the night...
God damn camel spider was chowing down on the bag.
That was a fucking saga, boys.
@@KrusherMike I hate this
And even if you didn't like it yourself, it was so popular with everyone else that having it was like having a $50 bill to buy something off the other guys with.
I was an interpreter for USMC and US Army during a joint exercise in my country. That was when I realized that GK is a very realistic portrayal of US military.
Did you translate everything as very thankful to be liberated?
I was in from 07-11, and I was impressed with Generation Kill because of how accurate its portrayal of us as Marines was. There are almost no other movies or shows that I know of that get it as right as this one. The dynamic and banter between the Marines was so spot on that I remember it making us wonder if the cast were actual Marines themselves. The terrible higher ups, the decent platoon-level leadership, the comradery between the junior Marines - it was all spot on. Every time someone asks me what's the best portrayal of the Marines, the answer is GK.
@@CrowDawg11 without a doubt!!
As I understand "Fruity" Rudy Reyes played himself, so at least one of the cast was. :^)
@@username12120 and some of the other Marines served as advisors and played bit parts even as professional actors played them on screen! Like Sgt Kocher
@@username12120 I'd forgotten all about that, but you're right!
Another part of the show that supports this (very well put) analysis is Johnny Cash’s “when the man comes around” as the soundtrack over the final scene of marines watching the video recordings and then closing credits.
For all the singalongs in the Humvees throughout I think it’s the first piece of music the audience hears and the song itself describes the last judgment and the futility of moral subjectivity as if to say “judge this if you want, but it doesn’t matter anyway”.
As the lyrics go:
“Whoever is unjust let him be unjust still
Whoever is righteous let him be righteous still
Whoever is filthy let him be filthy still
Listen to the words long written down
When the man comes around”
I’ve never paid close attention to the lyrics, but of COURSE this was a perfectly chosen song!!
Watching the skill of the writers,cast and directors whilst Stunt Coordinating this show was one of the best times of my life.
Um, WHAT 😳😳😳
@@brentsacks yes my friend. Great video and thanks for posting. I'm very proud of this show and all my dear friends who worked on it with me. All the cast and crew are still close friends.
@@danthestuntman this is remarkable. I’m so stoked you watched this, and thank you for leaving a comment. GK is near and dear to my heart, so I’m glad the cast and crew keep in touch. This series was lightning in a bottle.
@@brentsacks I would do it all over again tomorrow. I look forward to watching more of your videos. Dan
Well, I’m glad this somehow made its way into a film class. I loved this series, watched it after deployments. It kind of captures a little of everything from the experience. What always got me was the noise from the SINCGARS radios.. That sound is etched into my brain forever.
Did someone show my video in a film class??
If anyone is interested, LT. Fick wrote a book called “One Bullet Away” that is excellent.
It is quite good
1:19 perfect song to use! Ain’t no rest First thing that caught my eye was the bag of skittles in the Humvee during the fast paced introduction scene (training exercise) fucking love this show it’s so good. It gets more interesting the more i rewatch it he whole series
I’ve seen it all the way through probably 8 times and read the book twice. I still pick up on things every time I watch it
Lieutenant Fick wrote a book after the war called “One Bullet Away” and it tells this same story from the Marine POV instead of a reporters POV. Reading both books gives you an AMAZING insight into what it was like to be the tip of the spear of the US Invasion of Iraq.
These guys pulled off one of the single greatest military invasions of a major power in the history of the world. Their stories are stuff of legend.
💯
keep at it dude. With this level of video you will make it on youtube for sure
The subtext in this show is just soooo great and you present perfectly how it's done.
Pure cinema gold and some of the best realistic storytelling there is, IMHO. 🥰
Thank you 🙏🏻 I appreciate this!
One of my favourite shows ever. Seen twice, read once.
Agreed. Seen a lot of times, read twice 😂
I am a military history nerd and "Generation Kill" is up there with the very best of movies about war.
10:30 Corporal Person, man... he is just unbelievable. I just loved the guy for every hilarious line he had: "Man, I am so high from not sleeping." 🤣🤣🤣
Your entire sequence from the time stamp onwards is just GOLDEN. 😯😃👌
It passes the time, brother! 🤣
just came across this. Great job. this is our Band Of Brothers.
Thank you 🙏🏻
ray is def my fav character in this series he perfectly portrays the kind of people i grew up around
Yeah, it about sums up how we Marines were in Iraq. The series is often played by me cause I lost my innocence there. In the Combat zone, we don't have time to connect with our inner child etc. We were in the moment, minutes felt like hours. I got my brother's back and he had mine.
Rah
Glad someone finally went in depth on this series. Good job. Very well done.
The reporter that wrote the book, got imprisoned for a short while after his book came out, in a post 9/11 scared America. he had no issues with the show being made by his book, but he didn't want to help with it, and they asked him to come aboard.
If you are talking about Evan Wright, the Author of the book, the only reference I can find was this from an interview from Godspydotcom:
"On October 6th, I went down to Camp Pendleton, to see some of the wives and friends of the Recon Marines I wrote about. The guys I wrote about were returning from Iraq, and they invited me to the homecoming. I went there and checked in to the base. I identified myself as a reporter, no problem. I go on the base, and a Marine from First Recon who worked in the supply unit, he actually had a couple of marines grab me, put me in handcuffs, twist my hands behind my back, and they threw me in the back of a car. But since I hadn’t done anything wrong they couldn’t arrest me. I asked him why he was doing this and he said “We don’t like what you wrote. We don’t like your book. We don’t like what you said about our officers.” He was out of control. You can’t do that to people. That was the only negative reaction. But what was funny was that a week later the base newspaper did a story about the book and called it a cool book."
So either you are confusing it with someone else or you are misconstruing what happened.
@@leonardwei3914
If true it was probably that officer he made look like an idiot 😂
@@whatabouttheearth The real Sgt Espera said he got kick out of the core cause they thought he was a militant racist
@Dawn Soap White man's gotta rule the world, dawg
@@bulma12345678910 interesting choice of words
Being a Marine veteran myself, the one thing the narrator failed to understand is how Marines treat other Marines. This is probably the most integral part of the film. Having a few Marines who were actually in this recon unit work as actors in the film probably helped this dynamic immensely. If you've never been there, you'll never know. Semper Fi, brothers.
Not a Jarhead myself (Put me out of my misery if I ever become one.), but I find this part of the series the best. The banter, the language, the feeling of brotherhood etc. are all traits that the series and the actors nailed perfectly and which makes this series realistic as hell. They really feel like the guys of a military unit.
What Marines fail to understand is that any experience they have in service isn't exclusive to the Marine Corps.
@@065Tim yeah the marines is literally the Army but with boats and having to wrar class a and b uniforms more often 😂 their DIs lied to them about them being special
I was in the army, and most of this miniseries was 90% accurate for us
@@CubeInspector being in the army myself, i'm honestly surprised the marines have the money to afford boats lmao
A very good synopsis of a great under appreciated series, not an American and served two generations ago with the British Army and yet this was all totally familiar particularly the absolute refusal to take it all too seriously even though this was life and death and in your face, but it was also the little details like scrounging for stuff that wasn't either provided or not enough was ever given out the deliberate emphasis on the unimportant.
Thank you for the kind words! And thank you for serving across the pond. Always appreciate the UK 🇬🇧
amazing series, watched it twice in a month which is something i've never done.
Helps that it’s short 😄
@@brentsacks fair point 😄
I don't have any amazing credentials but as someone that had mandatory military, the military culture is on point. The cussing, jokes, singing. Top tier series
Spot on 💯 Where did you serve?
@@brentsacks Austrian military, I was imbedded in a surveillence/fighter jet squadron as a military aircraft mechanic (assistant because we were mandatory recruits and aren't enlisted by contract). Great analysis btw and amazing video keep it up 🤙
@@c.robtoz love to hear it, and thank you!
great breakdown, from a film maker's perspective. I was looking for a breakdown of the history, but this video covers a whole new topic I wasn't expecting. I've seen this series many times, but it's nice to get a fresh new look on it. Great video
Thank you!! I appreciate it!
Another thing this series got going for it in terms of selling the realism is the fact that the actors are loaded up with what looks to be real equipment. You can see the weight in the way they move.
Absolutely
I’m watching this for the first time based on the recommendation of vets who say it’s one of the most realistic war portrayals. This, along with Platoon and Band of Brothers, has completely changed my views on war as a civilian.
As I’ve recently turned 30 I’ve went from an idealistic liberal to… idk what. I’m starting to understand what Col. Kurtz meant when he said you must make a friend of horror and terror.
This stuff is so important for the average person to see. We can’t keep sticking our heads in the sand.
100%. I'd be curious to hear more about this!
What a great analysis. Generation kill does a wonderful job of capturing that time. I highly recommend a watch.
Thank you 🙏🏻
Watched this series after coming across a short video. So glad i did. Truly great.
@@Bakarost I’m glad you did too! I obviously really like it 😅
The best depiction of real life combat PEIROD full stop
Nah
Your videos deserve more watches and your channel deserves more subscribers.
Generation Kill may do the best job of any war time media of “showing” as opposed the “telling”. Generation kill doesn’t tell a story, it shows a story. It isn’t trying to make some greater point about the war or the actions taken by first recon or the first marine division as a whole. Another detail is that Nate Fick is shown as extremely competent and much more intelligent than other officers in the battalion. That’s because he was. He was a Dartmouth graduate and if he stayed in after his tour in Iraq, he probably would a brigadier general right now.
💯 I reread the book a few years ago, and I forgot that _tons_ of the officers in the battalion didn’t go through/didn’t have to go through the basic reconnaissance course that all the enlisted do, which is part of why so many of them were grossly out of their depth. Traditionally, reconnaissance battalion didn’t deploy as a whole command, but in small teams where the officers weren’t required
(But Fick did go through it, as did Capt Patterson, hence their reliability!)
This Show really stayed with me over the years!
Really Great Vid and points you make Brent!
Thank you so much! Glad you’ve enjoyed my stuff!
This was really insightful. I watched GK and wasn't really sure I liked it because of the very style you bring attention to. I think I'd like it better on a second viewing.
I’m glad you thought so! Hopefully a second viewing would be good!
Dude this is an incredible video essay!
Omg thank you 😭
What I love about the show is how much it reveals incompetent officers. That was so stressful to watch, and I admire these warriors just for their patience alone in not shooting their incompetent officers.
Definitely a crazy cadre of officers
The rank-and-file soldier is always going to bitch that the officers are stupid usually because they don't have the same information. From what I understand is that the show is a bit hard on the officer's competency. The entire company was thrown together for that invasion, The Captain "Enicino Man" wasn't a combat officer but worked in intelligence so he wasn't really trained for the role he was in.
@@jasonscottjenkins this is correct. Usually the officers in the recon units are a mix of recon-trained officers and regular ones. And the battalions typically didn’t deploy as battalions with the whole staff of officers; normally they would deploy small teams to augment other units. So like you said, it was pretty thrown together and a lot of people were out of their depth
@@brentsacks They kinda let on that "Encino Man" was actually more capable/charismatic when they showed him with the men playing football at the end of the series. I think the Sgt. that hit him was mad that he didn't act like that out in the field but I don't know.
@@jasonscottjenkins That’s a very interesting perspective I hadn’t thought about. I always figured he hit him because he was acting like a tool. But like you said, he was also being aggressive and competent, which is good when you’re in combat
GK is one of my favorite HBO series. The portrayal of the officers like Captain America and Encino Man I believe may be over exaggerated for dramatic effect because it doesn't seem possible that a marine battalion with recon platoons and support selected specifically to penetrate deep behind enemy lines ahead of the main invasion force would have officers who at times seem to he mentally impaired.
So I re-read the book a couple years ago, and they noted that the selection process for Recon Officers was not a prerequisite for getting assigned to the unit. So the really squared away guys like Fick and Captain Patterson had been through the Recon training, while some of the messed up guys were just picked up from wherever
The is not based on fiction. It is the written experience of the author, he was imbedded for Rolling Stones. He stands by his portrayal of all personnel in his book. And he has to, he was threaten to be sued by a couple of the actual officers. His stance; “well, I have the notes, the photos and the AUDIO TAPES”.
The problem, back at Camp Pendleton, a majority of the officers did not participate in any active reconnaissance training after initial selection/assignment to recon btn. It was the SNCO’s that conducted training exercises and skill set improvements for the enlisted. Unfortunately for these Marines, the officers (and enlisted) portrayal in the film, is accurate as can be for a film. Can’t remember the author, but Google the title. There is a lot of information on the post effects of the book and movie. In a nutshell, the USMC officer corps found this portrayal disturbing, but also as a learning experience that they used going forward (supposedly). Also a lot of the enlisted got shitted on by USMC based on the book and movie. Careers were ended prematurely.
The other thing that was going on, based on Nate Fick's book, is that in years past First Recon Battalion had never deployed as a unit. It was always parcelled out as attachments to other units: a squad here, a squad there. (This makes a lot of sense when you remember that their mission is reconnaissance: you don't need a battalion to do sneaky scouty stuff, you need a few guys to do the scouting and then a bunch of other forces to use that information.) So the companies and the battalion were basically administrative formations, not combat units. Your company commanders needed to organize training exercises, deal with personnel issues, all that sort of thing... but they weren't expected or expecting to be combat leaders. And above the platoon level, they weren't necessarily selected to an elite standard. Captain America, whose "uncle is a colonel at CENTCOM," probably got sent there because it seemed like a cool assignment that would carry a little shine, but which he couldn't screw up too badly because he'd never be within ten miles of combat.
But then for some reason the whole battalion was sent out in one package to drive humvees into Iraq, which turns into just as much of a shitshow as you'd expect.
Excellent commentary on one of the best shows made in my lifetime.
THANK YOU 🙏🏻 I agree; for my money, one of the best things ever put to camera.
I couldn't help but notice that the director took inspiration from Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket.
Off topic, as a son of a Gulf War era non-combat Army veteran and brother of GWoT combat veteran Marine veteran I notice that they have an added level of understand with one another in way that is different than what I have with either.
And I have observed this outside of family as well. Though, the veterans were still connected to me.
Definitely. You form bonds easily even with total strangers being a veteran
Generation Kill leaves you not knowing how to feel or what to think. That’s why it’s not popular it gives you a much different feeling than anything else by the end.
☝🏻 💯
Solid analysis. Shows like this are needed now, more than ever, in the current world today.
Thank you, and agreed! Love it when a show isn’t moralizing
Having rolled north in OIF 1, this was strikingly accurate. I even had the sandbag stacks while rocking no doors on my 1097a2...thinking back it was unreal
Crazy times!
This was a very well done video. Insightful. I always pinned this series as one to watch. Excellent show. Very well done explanation on the film making.
Thank you very much for this comment!!
its a great series and isn't GWOT propaganda. it shows how we ruined a country for no good reason at all
Definitely not propaganda!!
As a GWOT vet.. this is by far the closest thing I’ve seen to what it was actually like. Whole thing was a shit show, and as young men it was easy to “stay flexible”
I read Ficks book "One Bullet Away," years ago, so hearing his name in this video has me all the more excited to give Generation Kill a watch.
Great book
Great analysis! I told my son this series feels like a documentary.
Thank you! It’s true-hopefully now you have the vocabulary to articulate why that is 😁
One of the coolest things going in this series is the actor who plays doc... he was the main voice actor in ARMA CWA
Late to the party but just wanted to say, exceptionally well done...thanks for reminding me why this was such a great show.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!
Fun fact: the producers David Simon and Ed Burns wrote books "Homicide" and "the corner", two books very realistics of the life in the dangerous hoods of Baltimore. Later did "the wire" one of the most realistic shows on TV for HBO. They know a lot of realism.
I didn’t know they’d written books!
@brentsacks I used "the corner" in work for the university two years ago. The book doesn't talk only about crime and drugs, talks about how the economy and the politics drive the city to this days.
I think I honestly preferred Jarhead but Gen Kill has its moments. I have a friend who was part of the Gulf War invasion back in the 90s and he said this and Jarhead were the most realistic movies he's ever seen about war. It's certainly an interesting way to look at things.
Generation Kill is absolutely fantastic, the best war series ever and one of my favorite shows of all time. I remember the first time I watched it, I started it back over again because it was that good. It’s a desert road trip with the boys that also has the invasion of Iraq in it.
I love this. I was just telling my brother yesterday that it’s a roadtrip comedy. He still hasn’t watched it 😔
I watched this show with my late father when it dropped in 07 if my memory serves. We both loved it then and i tend to find myself watching it about twice a year every year. LOL. There really is nothing else out there like Generation Kill.
One of a kind. People compare it to Band of Brothers, which is one sense is similar, but the shows themselves are so different.
@@brentsacks Ive seen this comparison too. Tonally it couldnt be more different.
@@lonestarpiper4917 yep! And stylistically too
Now I wished I were film major and watching this in class. But I'm theatre and reading anti-realism play instead. This series is a master piece! A lot of people don't understand how realistic it is!
It’s so realistic that it actually hinders many potential audiences from fully enjoying it! One thing I love about it is they never stop to explain things to the audience. For folks not familiar with the military, it might prove too much. But because of this creative choice, it has this unshakable quality to it, this uncompromising commitment to realistically portraying what happened. It’s magnificent
this is under rated because it was too real and showed the world the truth and America dont like the truth . #11bravo
I remember first watching this show two years ago after seeing some of the more energetic clips and thinking, "Oh, this is gonna be a fun military action show." Oh Boy, by the end of the show, it completely changed my mind about the military (I grew up after the 03 invasion). Loved the video and think I'm going to rewatch this one to appreciate the film style due to this video.
They reeled you in! 😂 I’m glad you watched it though, and thank you for watching and commenting! Once you know what the signs of realism are, you’ll see them all through the series 👍🏻
NEVER JOIN
Observe Everything, Admire Nothing has been my way of life for a bit now but you put it very poetically.
I’m glad I could copy it from the Recon Marines and impart it to you 🙏🏻
@@brentsacks I'm the exact kind of motherfucker that experiences a lot of movies via video essay, wrote this comment before I saw the scene in the video lol.
Haha!! Fantastic
One of my favorite pieces of media set in the war on terror.
Are you a podracer?
@@brentsacks used to be. I don't talk about those days though...
I just want to mention to no one in particular how much I laughed when, at the end of it all, when Encino-man has created many sleepless nights and made all of his platoon leaders lives infinitely more difficult and murky than was required, when resentment towards him is at its peak and people are finally willing to let it all fade away with a good old game of American Football... Then, Encino Man reveals the one thing that he really is highly competent, intelligent, optimistic, and motivated about: Tackling the shit out of people and landing touchdowns. This reveal that he is what we all imagined, a football jock who became a CO due to some trumped up scholarship at a decent university, and that all of his skillsets are openly used against his own men on the football field, is the final nail in the coffin for many of the other NCO's and soldiers. The deeply woven irony of that situation still makes me laugh to this day.
That is genuinely brilliant 😂 don’t know if I should laugh or cry
I'm a navy vet that was in way after the invasion, never saw combat everything i did was miles out to sea supporting the guys in country. Yet I can still relate to this show way more then any other. The camaraderie and bullshit is spot on. Even the bs with incompetent officers and senior NCOs being similar to what I experienced on the boat. Show is quite possibly the most realistic showing of real military life wether you be a Grunt or a P.O.G.
💯 What did you do when you were in?
@@brentsacks I was a ABH on a carrier. Basically a fancy way of saying I moved Jets around the deck and pushed a broom lol
@@Krieg-ch8ot I’m a fellow navy man myself 👊🏻
Nice video man thanks. I took a film theory class in college too; I really enjoyed it.
I love this series so much, just started watching it again actually.
If y'all haven't check out Nathaniel Fick's book "One Bullet Away" (he's the LT in the show).
Great book! I forget if I read it once or twice 🤔
SGM Sixta was a Gunny when I knew him. He was one of my HALO instructors. He wasn’t a bad guy at the time,
That is cool af. I always appreciated the little wink they give to the audience at the end of the show that seems to indicate he’s in on the joke, so to speak.
Dude you deserve way more subs than you have. I would totally like to see you upload more.
Tell your friends 😂 I need to make some more videos. Not enough hours in the day!
I always thought this was a lot like Come and See. With the reporter being the childlike innocent, the virgin.
Never heard of this before, but looking at it, it looks good!
Damn, dude. Solid video. Thanks for putting it out there.
Thank you for watching!
Shit mate this is really well put, how are you not a bigger channel cus this is amazing, you really know what your on about
Google/Amazon/alphabet is pushing GK real hard at me for some reason. This channel randomly shows up in my feed two days after watching half of episode 1. I didnt care for it. And tbf i didnt watch your video, but hopefully this helps both our algorithms. Even with vets, not everybody likes the same stuff.
Haha sorry you didn’t like episode one. My guess is if you gave up halfway in, it probably wasn’t for you. But if you do watch my video at some point, it may give you an interesting perspective on how the show is made! I’ve had a few comments recently of people saying they want to watch it again with a new perspective, and they may end up liking it more. Maybe worth a shot!
My two favorite things about this series are: 1. How realistic it fealt and 2. How a lot of civilians complained because they didn't like the dialogue and thought it was unrealistic
I’ve actually never heard a civilian complain that it’s unrealistic, but I definitely know people think it’s boring (because it’s TOO realistic!!)
A friend of mine, in the Marine Corps, said that this was the most realistic way to state that this is how it was overseas, during his deployment.
Many such cases!
Everyone share Generation Kill to everyone.
Loved the end bit 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Thank you!! 🙏🏻
They should remaster GK.
Just having a show that doesn't spoon-feed everything would be refreshing.
Remaster like release in 4K?
Cpl. Ray Person is on the Nevada Missouri Walmart “wall of heros”.
Fuck yeah dude this show is so underrated it’s so good
I can’t get any of my friends to watch it! 😂
@@brentsacks luckily a buddy of mine just so happened to have stumbled across it this year so I get like fresh eyes to talk to abt it
Legendary series and a great video. One thing I always wondered about the show, and I guess the real life story itself, is how much that "neutral buoyancy/not taking any perspective/present but somewhat detached" element is really balanced on a knife edge and only possible by the fact that none of the Marines (that we see) were killed.
Yes they see some dead bodies and occasionally they get a little bit agitated, but there are no deaths among the faces in the names that we know, and they know. if one of their buddies had gotten shot do you think that would have changed the tone, do you think there would have been a lot more anger and resentment and and a much more personal or moral element entering into the calculus? If your friends are dying can you truly afford to ignore the questions as to why you were there and what you were doing and the other questions that that leads to?
It’s a very interesting question and observation. I wonder if there’s a difference between the Marines being detached and objective vs. the author or showrunners being detached/objective. Because I would wager the Marines all have their perspectives on everything, and that would be true whether or not they had buddies get killed. But would it change the authors of the book/series and how they presented it? Could be!
In highschool, I rented the entire series from a video rental store.
Ended up joining the Marine Corps shortly after
DUDE. That is incredible. Also, kind of hilarious. There’s two kinds of people in this world: those who watch Generation Kill and say, “Nah.” And those who watch and say, “Hell yeah!” A special breed.
Wait what? I read the book in high school.
Oh yeah that’s right I’m old as f u ck
I think GK illustrated that war is a messy business. When they pop rounds as warning (ie 40mm) and they had unintented consequences they just showed it happening and moved on. No cathartic story around it. Life isn't a movie. It makes you get a better sense of the totality of the event.
Absolutely
9:56 yes, they would throw in a laugh to drive home the hypocritic, insane, and tragic aspects. A laugh does that quite well
I suppose!
Good job Brent. Keep the good work.
I didn't know until recently that this was suppose to be an actual series but it was canceled due to ratings. Also then ending, alot to be interpreted.
I would be curious to see a source for that claim, because the show covers the whole book.
The reason it's such an excellent tv show is that it very rarely deviates from its source material. Evan Wright's book, Generation Kill.
Phenomenal book
@@brentsacks Certainly is. If you are able to access the BBC documentary Once Upon A Time In Iraq, you really should.
@@alanconway94 never heard of it, but I’ll look into it!
@@brentsacks It might be available on your PBS, or you might be able to get a version of the BBC iPlayer, to see it.
I disobeyed TWO lawful orders. I never got in trouble for it. J/S, being a man of principle isn't hard if it's truly how you feel.
Very well done and i hope your video has inspired people to watch the series over the years. Generation Kill manages to be both anti-war and a love letter to Marines at the same time. (Realism. Lol) Evan Wright is a real one for seeing it thru and having the integrity to tell the truth because that's all any Marine could ask for; an honest depiction. Cuz most of us aren't actually psychos like Trombley it just works to our benefit that the rest of the world believes we are. 😉
Semper Fi
RAH
Were you guys singing "King of the Road" without me?
😂
Time to watch it again.
Same honestly
Awesome video man, subscribed, keep them coming!
Such a great series!
So good!!
You did so great on this. Please do a review of 7500! I think its filmmaking is in a quite similar vein to Gen Kill
Great video man. Hope to see more from you