Iwo Jima (2 May 2010)

Frustrated with his bond selling tour, Basilone goes back to training troupes and after marrying a pretty marine sergeant, leads his men at Iwo Jima.

Directors:

David Nutter, Jeremy Podeswa

Writers:

Robert Schenkkan, Michelle Ashford,

Stars:

James Badge Dale, Joseph Mazzello, Jon Seda

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
James Badge Dale	...	PFC Robert Leckie
Joseph Mazzello	...	PFC Eugene Sledge
Jon Seda	...	Sgt. John Basilone
Dwight Braswell	...	PFC 'Steve' Evanson
Rami Malek	...	Cpl. Merriell 'Snafu' Shelton
Martin McCann	...	Cpl. R.V. Burgin
Annie Parisse	...	Sgt. Lena Basilone
Dylan Young	...	PFC Jay De L'eau
Ian Bliss	...	Capt. Le Francois
Ben Esler	...	PFC Charles Tatum
Lelia Goldoni	...	Dora Basilone
Les Hill	...	1st Lt. Ben Sohn
Stephen Leeder	...	Lt Gen. Alexander Vandegrift
Luigi Lucente	...	Carlo Basilone
Liam McIntyre	...	Lew

Storyline

The men have been relieved on Peleliu and return to Pavuvu where they are resting and awaiting their next assignment. Sledge sees something being thrown out in the trash and decides to keep it. Back in the USA, John Basilone requests re-assignment from his bond promotion duties and is transferred to Camp Pendleton as an instructor. There he meets Sgt. Lena Riggi, who is in charge of the mess hall. She's no pushover and it takes several attempts before she will even go out with him. Basilone's enlistment is up in a few months and he must decide if he is going to return to civilian life or sign up for another tour and accompany his men to Iwo Jima, their next assignment. He and Lena decide they are going to make the most of the time they have together.

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Plot Keywords:

iwo jima | marine sergeant | train | combat | war bonds | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | History | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Release Date:

2 May 2010 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

DreamWorks SKG, HBO Films, Playtone

Did You Know?

Goofs

Under the Iwo Jima attack, Bassilones squad moves through the trenches and encounters a machine gun nest fortified under an airplane wreck. When the bazooka guy of the squad fires on the MG nest, the dummy rocket in the bazooka stays there after the bazooka has been fired.

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Quotes

Merriell Shelton: Are my eyes yellow?

User Reviews

Another Letdown

Summary: 40 minutes of dating, followed by 10 minutes of incorrect history.

I come away nearly every week being disappointed with The Pacific.

Again this week we were treated to nearly 40 minutes of soppy scenes and conversation between man and woman, that would resemble anything you'd see on your day-time soap operas - with better acting, of course.

The Pacific for the most part makes World War II come across as an opportunity for men to fall in love with women, while almost treating the war as that of a secondary story line.

A few weeks ago we had an entire episode set in Australia, and again this week, we've been treated to another 40 minutes of conversation, which ends very abruptly, completely failing to give John Basilone enough credit for his bravery.

Specifically this week, my problem was with the ending.

That's right, the short 10 minute segment at the end, where you actually get to see the battle the entire episode was supposed to be about.

While watching, I looked up John Basilone on the internet and read about the facts of his achievements, and death.

History dictates that John Basilone single handedly charged forward and took out a Japanese stronghold, responsible for mowing down hundreds of Americans on Iwo Jima - helped a tank escape an artillery and mortar barrage and escape from the beach - and was then instantly killed by a mortar blast.

The Pacific depicted him as just another soldier running forward with the group, being shot through the chest - dying moments later in an uninspiring whimper.

Not to mention the "single handedly destroying a stronghold" - was actually depicted as a group of soldiers throwing grenades into a bunker in one scene.

The ending absolutely fails to stick to history, and does not give John Basilone enough credit for his bravery.

This week's episode again comprised of 40 minutes of talking/dating, and man trying to get off with woman.

There are now only 2 episodes left, and regardless of what the producers do in those 2 episodes, it is now too late for The Pacific.

After 8 episodes, we still barely know any of the characters.

None of them are particularly likable either, with the exception of Leckie, who we haven't even seen in 3 weeks.

But even he ends up in a military hospital every week, producing full episodes of talking - and not historical documentation.

I find it amazing to believe this episode was meant to be about Iwo Jima, when the battle is an afterthought - given a rushed 10 minute segment at the end of the episode.

I guess Americans can't handle watching themselves lose a battle for 50 minutes.

Another Letdown, and not even close to the quality Band of Brothers.

The battle scene at the end was not enough to save this episode.

4/10