I just recently bought it on DVD and started watching it. From what I have seen so far it is a great show and it has really opened my eyes to what our military faces in hostile places. Also I have heard of another show/documentary, that was actually filmed by National Guardsmen. Has anyone heard about this or when and if it is out on DVD?
2006-07-07 15:59:30 · 7 answers · asked by Jester 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
not sure if you called me a f'ing idoit greg, but if you did i have no idea why
2006-07-07 16:14:40 · update #1
"Over There" was so laughably inaccurate I didn't watch past the first episode, and I hadn't even been "over there" yet, which btw is where I am right now.
Bochco took a cliche Hollywood Vietnam-film idea and forced the Iraq war into it's mold. If he actually had any military advisers look over the script, they were either a) never in Iraq, b) woefully inattentive to what was going on around them, or c) ignored because the reality of the situation would not have made a good miniseries. I think C is most likely.
We are talking basic, basic facts here. For example, all the characters of the show start out getting a call and not knowing each other at all. Wrong. No unit goes to war without having trained together for a substantial amount of time. There may be a couple soldiers straight out of AIT, but the main unit already knows each other. Surely there are writers talented enough to figure out other ways to spend most of an hour learning nicknames.
What made me laugh the hardest was that ridiculous battle at the end of the first episode where the Iraqis were "charging" the Americans. The Iraqis were actually walking, uncovered over the desert directly at the Americans, who were behind sanddunes. The distance was maybe 100-150 meters. This was supposed to be the epic battlescene in the episode. In reality, even with basic training recruits in week 7 (out of 9), this battle would have been over in about 5 seconds.
Don't even get me started about a truck driver driving off the hardball onto the dirt shoulder *for no reason* only to hit an IED that is labelled with a little flag. The reaction of the soldiers afterward is completely backward: helmets comming off, uninjured soldiers screaming and vomiting. Sorry, Steve, maybe later after everything is over and they are back on the FOB, but not when the adrenaline and training kicks in and some soldiers treat the casualties, while others take security positions to guard against a followup attack, and others coordinate the medivac and extraction.
Please do not make the mistake of believing this is an accurate depiction of either Iraq or the American military. Unless, of course, you are a terrorist; in that case, by all means assume we are that incompetant.
As for the film by the National Guard members, I have not seen it, but some in my platoon have. They say that it is pretty bad as well, although that is probably more due to their inexperience in filming, and they probably sought out Hollywood types to advise them
2006-07-07 17:13:55 · answer #1 · answered by groovechild2 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Gunner Palace is based on 2-3 FA stationed out of Geissen Germany, I have a few buddies that were in that unit, they are a part of the 1st AD....not National Guard.
Over there as far as I'm concerned is not very accurate, It just emphasizes all the cliche's of the Army which I find VERY annoying. If you ever get a chance to watch gunner palace, that's probably the best depiction of what it's like "over there"...no pun intended.
Also, what's with the nicknames...jesus....how about sticking with the last name of the soldiers they are adressing, and if it's an NCO or officer calling them by their rank. Try that crap in the unit that I went "over there" with and you'd be burning **** for weeks.
2006-07-08 00:36:36 · answer #2 · answered by Spartan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a good show, but not entirely accurate. I think the film your talking about is Gunner Palace.
By the way.. Directed by
Chris Gerolmo
Greg Yaitanes
(more)
Writing credits
Peter Egan (writer)
Joel Fields (writer)
(more)
Photos, News, & More
Add to MyMovies Photos IMDbPro Details
Genre: Action / Drama / War (more)
Plot Outline: A dramatized take on war in Iraq.
Seasons: 1 (more)
User Comments: A great show!!! (more)
User Rating: 7.5/10 (126 votes)
Series Credited cast:
Josh Henderson .... Pfc. Bo Rider
Luke MacFarlane .... Pvt. Frank 'Dim' Dumphy
Erik Palladino .... Sgt. Chris "Scream" Silas
Keith Robinson .... Pvt. Avery "Angel" King
Sticky Fingaz .... Maurice "Smoke" Williams (as Kirk 'Sticky' Jones)
Lizette Carrion .... Pfc. Esmeralda "Doublewide" Del Rio
Jimmy 'Jax' Pinchak .... Eddy
Nicki Aycox .... Brenda "Mrs. B." Mitchell
Omid Abtahi .... Tariq Nassiri
Brigid Brannagh .... Vanessa Dunphy
Sprague Grayden .... Terry Ryder
Lombardo Boyar .... Sergio Del Rio
So I guess your wrong. F'ing idiot. Not you, the person who answered the question below me. Sorry, mate.
2006-07-07 23:03:11 · answer #3 · answered by gregheartsyou 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's a good show... i agree that it's actors but and they are in the army but the person who trained them in military ways and supervised was a Sgt. in the Marines. but as for the other dvd i'm not sure
2006-07-07 23:21:44 · answer #4 · answered by manda 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
2nd answer is totally wrong. The Sgt in there is from the show ER. It was great show but sure the Liberal cry babies didn't like the US being protrayed as helpers.
2006-07-07 23:12:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
over there is not actors, it is a real national guard unit from arkansas. a very good show.
****mistake********* the show i was thinking is called "Off to War".
2006-07-07 23:04:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, quite entertaining.
2006-07-07 23:13:35 · answer #7 · answered by Amphibious Nature 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋