Observe Everything, Admire Nothing: Realism in Generation Kill

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  • čas přidán 28. 01. 2021
  • In this video essay, I examine how Generation Kill embodies the uncommon film style of Realism.
  • Krátké a kreslené filmy

Komentáře • 322

  • @driftertank
    @driftertank Před měsícem +107

    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.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před měsícem +6

      This comment belongs in a museum

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před měsícem +7

      But I guess a pinned comment will have to suffice

    • @d3nza482
      @d3nza482 Před měsícem +4

      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.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před měsícem +7

      @@d3nza482 L take

    • @cameronmcguire1599
      @cameronmcguire1599 Před 20 dny +2

      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.

  • @Wittgenquine
    @Wittgenquine Před 2 lety +737

    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.

    • @johnusas2870
      @johnusas2870 Před rokem +43

      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.

    • @cityslacker6221
      @cityslacker6221 Před rokem +55

      just the radio chatter alone makes the series worth watching.

    • @earljohnson2676
      @earljohnson2676 Před rokem +15

      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

    • @villeandersson1487
      @villeandersson1487 Před rokem +3

      We're grateful for your service, trooper.

    • @borregoayudando1481
      @borregoayudando1481 Před 5 měsíci +12

      write it for your family at least. it would be a shame for your personal experiences to go to the grave because 1RecBn took your story.

  • @diekemperd
    @diekemperd Před rokem +234

    The show is actually a musical road trip.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před rokem +13

      No lies detected 😂

    • @diekemperd
      @diekemperd Před rokem +6

      @@brentsacks keep making vids man. This one is great - you're gonna make it big time. The ending is amazing...true to the show.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před rokem +6

      @@diekemperd omg thank you 😭

  • @davidrendall7195
    @davidrendall7195 Před 2 měsíci +128

    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.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před 2 měsíci +11

      Absolutely. So rich with meaning and subtext without floating it to the surface

  • @MrCadet08
    @MrCadet08 Před 2 lety +138

    I was in from 2004 through 09. Generation Kill is the military I remember. The culture, jokes and mentality are perfect

    • @johnusas2870
      @johnusas2870 Před rokem +13

      when people ask what it was like being in the military, I tell them to watch this

    • @KamikazeSOF2
      @KamikazeSOF2 Před rokem +12

      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.

    • @CubeInspector
      @CubeInspector Před 2 měsíci +4

      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.

    • @placebo5466
      @placebo5466 Před měsícem

      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.

  • @jungamcgrunga4583
    @jungamcgrunga4583 Před rokem +157

    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
      @brentsacks  Před rokem +4

      I'm very happy to hear it! Thank you for commenting!

  • @hateferlife
    @hateferlife Před 2 měsíci +63

    The ending cements this as the realest realism that ever _reeled._ It's hard to explain 'the impossibility of reason' and GK nails it.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před 2 měsíci +3

      100%
      Also what? How did you italicize that??

    • @hateferlife
      @hateferlife Před 2 měsíci +6

      @@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!_

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před 2 měsíci +5

      I am not worthy

    • @AndrewDangerously
      @AndrewDangerously Před 2 měsíci +1

      We're you in Iraq? We're you a marine too?

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před 2 měsíci +1

      @@AndrewDangerously if that is directed at me, no, not a Marine and never got to deploy to the Middle East. At least, not yet.

  • @cameronmcguire1599
    @cameronmcguire1599 Před 2 lety +177

    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.

    • @herptek
      @herptek Před 11 dny

      It could pass as an article of stoic life philosophy if seen in that way.

  • @miguelzurita3216
    @miguelzurita3216 Před rokem +78

    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.

  • @fratercontenduntocculta8161
    @fratercontenduntocculta8161 Před 2 měsíci +27

    The Saga of the Jalapeno Cheese is very real y'all. Used to hoard the stuff like a dragon with gold lol.

  • @chriserkelenz5968
    @chriserkelenz5968 Před 2 lety +43

    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.

  • @grimmriffer
    @grimmriffer Před měsícem +9

    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".

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před měsícem +1

      Wait I’ve never noticed that 😂 holy smokes that is amazing

  • @red99Baron
    @red99Baron Před 3 lety +80

    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!

    • @cameronmcguire1599
      @cameronmcguire1599 Před 2 lety +3

      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.

    • @candle_eatist
      @candle_eatist Před 2 lety

      no ied how blow up

  • @sitbone3
    @sitbone3 Před 9 měsíci +88

    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.

    • @Pikkabuu
      @Pikkabuu Před 7 měsíci +11

      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
      @065Tim Před 2 měsíci +18

      What Marines fail to understand is that any experience they have in service isn't exclusive to the Marine Corps.

    • @CubeInspector
      @CubeInspector Před 2 měsíci +7

      ​​@@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

    • @MrCadet08
      @MrCadet08 Před 2 měsíci +3

      I was in the army, and most of this miniseries was 90% accurate for us

    • @atpyro7920
      @atpyro7920 Před 2 měsíci

      @@CubeInspector being in the army myself, i'm honestly surprised the marines have the money to afford boats lmao

  • @tristankeech4070
    @tristankeech4070 Před 3 lety +40

    keep at it dude. With this level of video you will make it on youtube for sure

  • @thomaskositzki9424
    @thomaskositzki9424 Před měsícem +4

    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. 🥰

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před měsícem

      Thank you 🙏🏻 I appreciate this!

  • @pin6722
    @pin6722 Před měsícem +6

    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.

    • @barber5937
      @barber5937 Před měsícem +2

      Did you translate everything as very thankful to be liberated?

  • @oriamir8994
    @oriamir8994 Před 3 lety +87

    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.

    • @leonardwei3914
      @leonardwei3914 Před 2 lety +15

      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.

    • @whatabouttheearth
      @whatabouttheearth Před 2 lety +2

      @@leonardwei3914
      If true it was probably that officer he made look like an idiot 😂

    • @Autobotmatt428
      @Autobotmatt428 Před 2 lety +8

      @@whatabouttheearth The real Sgt Espera said he got kick out of the core cause they thought he was a militant racist

    • @bulma12345678910
      @bulma12345678910 Před 2 lety +17

      @Dawn Soap White man's gotta rule the world, dawg

    • @Aden_III
      @Aden_III Před 2 lety

      @@bulma12345678910 interesting choice of words

  • @Techplayerlive
    @Techplayerlive Před měsícem +4

    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
      @brentsacks  Před měsícem

      I’ve never paid close attention to the lyrics, but of COURSE this was a perfectly chosen song!!

  • @wattsnottaken1
    @wattsnottaken1 Před 2 lety +29

    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

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před 2 lety +3

      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

  • @jasch5847
    @jasch5847 Před rokem +3

    Glad someone finally went in depth on this series. Good job. Very well done.

  • @plethoraofpinatas.
    @plethoraofpinatas. Před 2 měsíci +14

    just came across this. Great job. this is our Band Of Brothers.

  • @watlinsd
    @watlinsd Před rokem +8

    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.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před rokem

      Did someone show my video in a film class??

  • @danthestuntman
    @danthestuntman Před rokem +14

    Watching the skill of the writers,cast and directors whilst Stunt Coordinating this show was one of the best times of my life.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před rokem +2

      Um, WHAT 😳😳😳

    • @danthestuntman
      @danthestuntman Před rokem +3

      @@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.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před rokem +4

      @@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.

    • @danthestuntman
      @danthestuntman Před rokem +2

      @@brentsacks I would do it all over again tomorrow. I look forward to watching more of your videos. Dan

  • @thomaskositzki9424
    @thomaskositzki9424 Před měsícem +3

    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. 😯😃👌

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před měsícem +2

      It passes the time, brother! 🤣

  • @dariosmoviereviewchannel7555

    This Show really stayed with me over the years!
    Really Great Vid and points you make Brent!

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před rokem

      Thank you so much! Glad you’ve enjoyed my stuff!

  • @JohnnyWishbone85
    @JohnnyWishbone85 Před měsícem +3

    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!"

  • @kylew7930
    @kylew7930 Před měsícem +4

    If anyone is interested, LT. Fick wrote a book called “One Bullet Away” that is excellent.

  • @pjrebordao
    @pjrebordao Před měsícem +3

    One of my favourite shows ever. Seen twice, read once.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před měsícem

      Agreed. Seen a lot of times, read twice 😂

  • @zenarion
    @zenarion Před 3 lety +8

    Your videos deserve more watches and your channel deserves more subscribers.

  • @therandomdickhead5744
    @therandomdickhead5744 Před 3 lety +9

    Exactly what I was looking for. Great video.
    As underrated and impartial as the show

  • @HotQahwe
    @HotQahwe Před měsícem

    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

  • @darkisland
    @darkisland Před 3 měsíci +1

    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.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před 3 měsíci +1

      Thank you very much for this comment!!

  • @jjcastleberry3662
    @jjcastleberry3662 Před rokem +13

    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.

  • @hairypossum1086
    @hairypossum1086 Před 2 měsíci +1

    ray is def my fav character in this series he perfectly portrays the kind of people i grew up around

  • @Graf0982
    @Graf0982 Před 2 měsíci

    Damn, dude. Solid video. Thanks for putting it out there.

  • @acerock013
    @acerock013 Před 2 měsíci +31

    its a great series and isn't GWOT propaganda. it shows how we ruined a country for no good reason at all

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před 2 měsíci +8

      Definitely not propaganda!!

    • @janosaideron7371
      @janosaideron7371 Před 2 měsíci +16

      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”

  • @sainterasmus4545
    @sainterasmus4545 Před 3 lety

    Awesome video man, subscribed, keep them coming!

  • @smerrill9426
    @smerrill9426 Před 2 lety +13

    The best depiction of real life combat PEIROD full stop

  • @johnlucas6683
    @johnlucas6683 Před 19 dny +1

    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.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před 19 dny

      Definitely a crazy cadre of officers

  • @alanburke1893
    @alanburke1893 Před 11 měsíci +1

    Excellent commentary on one of the best shows made in my lifetime.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před 11 měsíci

      THANK YOU 🙏🏻 I agree; for my money, one of the best things ever put to camera.

  • @7y2oN
    @7y2oN Před dnem

    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.

  • @sheafromME
    @sheafromME Před měsícem +2

    Dude this is an incredible video essay!

  • @dylanleddy8693
    @dylanleddy8693 Před 2 lety

    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

  • @nilolle3230
    @nilolle3230 Před 2 lety +1

    Good job Brent. Keep the good work.

  • @nhazul8164
    @nhazul8164 Před 3 lety

    Great video man. Hope to see more from you

  • @culshie
    @culshie Před 2 měsíci +1

    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.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před 2 měsíci

      Thank you for the kind words! And thank you for serving across the pond. Always appreciate the UK 🇬🇧

  • @guyhandy
    @guyhandy Před 2 měsíci

    What a great analysis. Generation kill does a wonderful job of capturing that time. I highly recommend a watch.

  • @dreameater2372
    @dreameater2372 Před 2 měsíci

    Solid analysis. Shows like this are needed now, more than ever, in the current world today.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před 2 měsíci +1

      Thank you, and agreed! Love it when a show isn’t moralizing

  • @totorocatbus
    @totorocatbus Před 2 lety

    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

  • @superkang7448
    @superkang7448 Před 8 dny

    Late to the party but just wanted to say, exceptionally well done...thanks for reminding me why this was such a great show.

  • @JR-jn8jp
    @JR-jn8jp Před 10 dny

    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

  • @chucknorrisevolved
    @chucknorrisevolved Před 14 dny

    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.

  • @jimyoung9262
    @jimyoung9262 Před měsícem

    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.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před měsícem

      I’m glad you thought so! Hopefully a second viewing would be good!

  • @chaps7976
    @chaps7976 Před 2 měsíci

    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.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před 2 měsíci

      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 👍🏻

    • @Fractured_Unity
      @Fractured_Unity Před měsícem

      NEVER JOIN

  • @hossahunter22
    @hossahunter22 Před 2 lety +1

    One of the coolest things going in this series is the actor who plays doc... he was the main voice actor in ARMA CWA

  • @noahtravis8472
    @noahtravis8472 Před 2 lety +9

    Dude you deserve way more subs than you have. I would totally like to see you upload more.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před 2 lety +1

      Tell your friends 😂 I need to make some more videos. Not enough hours in the day!

  • @EmoScreamoForever
    @EmoScreamoForever Před měsícem +1

    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.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před měsícem

      100%. I'd be curious to hear more about this!

  • @PlatinumPuzyCat
    @PlatinumPuzyCat Před 4 měsíci +1

    Loved the end bit 🔥🔥🔥🔥

  • @jed-henrywitkowski6470
    @jed-henrywitkowski6470 Před 2 měsíci

    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.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před 2 měsíci

      Definitely. You form bonds easily even with total strangers being a veteran

  • @tonyochiha9798
    @tonyochiha9798 Před 3 měsíci +2

    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.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před 3 měsíci +4

      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

    • @JohnSmith-gb5vg
      @JohnSmith-gb5vg Před 2 měsíci +4

      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.

    • @trioptimum9027
      @trioptimum9027 Před měsícem +1

      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.

  • @milesgardner9918
    @milesgardner9918 Před 29 dny

    Such a great series!

  • @clamum9648
    @clamum9648 Před 2 měsíci

    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).

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před 2 měsíci

      Great book! I forget if I read it once or twice 🤔

  • @Shamino1
    @Shamino1 Před 3 dny

    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.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před 3 dny

      That is genuinely brilliant 😂 don’t know if I should laugh or cry

  • @bobsbuurgers3714
    @bobsbuurgers3714 Před měsícem

    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

  • @Krieg-ch8ot
    @Krieg-ch8ot Před 13 dny

    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.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před 13 dny

      💯 What did you do when you were in?

    • @Krieg-ch8ot
      @Krieg-ch8ot Před 13 dny

      @@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

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před 13 dny +1

      @@Krieg-ch8ot I’m a fellow navy man myself 👊🏻

  • @GamerModz123
    @GamerModz123 Před 13 dny

    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

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před 13 dny

      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!!)

  • @c.robtoz7252
    @c.robtoz7252 Před 7 dny

    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
      @brentsacks  Před 7 dny +1

      Spot on 💯 Where did you serve?

    • @c.robtoz7252
      @c.robtoz7252 Před 4 dny

      ​@@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 🤙

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před 3 dny +1

      @@c.robtoz7252 love to hear it, and thank you!

  • @rf2958
    @rf2958 Před 3 měsíci +1

    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
      @brentsacks  Před 3 měsíci +1

      I didn’t know they’d written books!

    • @rf2958
      @rf2958 Před 3 měsíci

      @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.

  • @codyandrex152
    @codyandrex152 Před 8 měsíci

    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!

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před 8 měsíci +1

      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

  • @Quadrenaro
    @Quadrenaro Před rokem +1

    One of my favorite pieces of media set in the war on terror.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před rokem

      Are you a podracer?

    • @Quadrenaro
      @Quadrenaro Před rokem

      @@brentsacks used to be. I don't talk about those days though...

  • @lonestarpiper4917
    @lonestarpiper4917 Před měsícem

    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.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před měsícem +1

      One of a kind. People compare it to Band of Brothers, which is one sense is similar, but the shows themselves are so different.

    • @lonestarpiper4917
      @lonestarpiper4917 Před měsícem

      @@brentsacks Ive seen this comparison too. Tonally it couldnt be more different.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před měsícem

      @@lonestarpiper4917 yep! And stylistically too

  • @belluh-1huey102
    @belluh-1huey102 Před 2 lety +8

    Everyone share Generation Kill to everyone.

  • @BAGELMENSK
    @BAGELMENSK Před 2 měsíci

    Observe Everything, Admire Nothing has been my way of life for a bit now but you put it very poetically.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před 2 měsíci +1

      I’m glad I could copy it from the Recon Marines and impart it to you 🙏🏻

    • @BAGELMENSK
      @BAGELMENSK Před 2 měsíci

      @@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.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před 2 měsíci

      Haha!! Fantastic

  • @Edimonde
    @Edimonde Před 2 měsíci

    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.

  • @indianajones4321
    @indianajones4321 Před měsícem

    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.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před měsícem +1

      I love this. I was just telling my brother yesterday that it’s a roadtrip comedy. He still hasn’t watched it 😔

  • @kylew7930
    @kylew7930 Před měsícem

    Cpl. Ray Person is on the Nevada Missouri Walmart “wall of heros”.

  • @f00g3n7
    @f00g3n7 Před 2 měsíci

    You should check out the movie Peterloo it is the most realistic movie I've ever seen. Also criminally underappreciated. Nice video though def subbed

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před 2 měsíci +1

      Thank you!! I don’t think I’ve heard of that one. I’ll add it to the list!

  • @roys.1889
    @roys.1889 Před rokem +5

    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.

  • @ThisFinalHandle
    @ThisFinalHandle Před 2 lety +14

    Frankly, gentlemen, I'm not hearing the aggressiveness I'd like.

  • @jailbreakoverlander
    @jailbreakoverlander Před 2 měsíci +1

    this is under rated because it was too real and showed the world the truth and America dont like the truth . #11bravo

  • @KGSpradleyAuthor
    @KGSpradleyAuthor Před 2 měsíci +1

    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,

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před 2 měsíci +1

      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.

  • @Dinant010
    @Dinant010 Před 13 dny

    Time to watch it again.

  • @LemonCamel
    @LemonCamel Před 8 dny

    9:56 yes, they would throw in a laugh to drive home the hypocritic, insane, and tragic aspects. A laugh does that quite well

  • @villeandersson1487
    @villeandersson1487 Před rokem

    1:46. This song is awesome! What's the name of the song? I want to know!

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před rokem +1

      Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked by Cage the Elephant!

    • @villeandersson1487
      @villeandersson1487 Před rokem

      @@brentsacks Thanks, dude! I appreciate it!

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před rokem

      @@villeandersson1487 of course! Enjoy it! Great album of theirs.

  • @MrKbtor2
    @MrKbtor2 Před dnem

    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.

  • @bsheaves
    @bsheaves Před 12 dny

    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.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před 12 dny

      💯 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

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před 12 dny

      (But Fick did go through it, as did Capt Patterson, hence their reliability!)

  • @user-cv8qe9ru8c
    @user-cv8qe9ru8c Před 2 měsíci

    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.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před 2 měsíci +1

      I would be curious to see a source for that claim, because the show covers the whole book.

  • @natelavallee4034
    @natelavallee4034 Před 2 měsíci +1

    Fuck yeah dude this show is so underrated it’s so good

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před 2 měsíci +1

      I can’t get any of my friends to watch it! 😂

    • @natelavallee4034
      @natelavallee4034 Před 2 měsíci

      @@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

  • @notgoddhoward5972
    @notgoddhoward5972 Před 2 lety

    Underrated channel

  • @allanjarnagin3540
    @allanjarnagin3540 Před měsícem

    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.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před měsícem

      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!

  • @CompleteRenewalOfMankind

    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.

  • @065Tim
    @065Tim Před 2 měsíci

    They should remaster GK.
    Just having a show that doesn't spoon-feed everything would be refreshing.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před 2 měsíci +1

      Remaster like release in 4K?

  • @Wag-ue
    @Wag-ue Před 2 lety

    Some background music would make you video 100x better. I really appreciate your analysis either way. Especially the rpg editor part

  • @Nordy941
    @Nordy941 Před 8 dny

    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.

  • @LikeTheBuffalo
    @LikeTheBuffalo Před 25 dny

    Were you guys singing "King of the Road" without me?

  • @Typing.._
    @Typing.._ Před měsícem +1

    If your offended , you can’t stomach the hell of war 😂

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před měsícem

      To be fair, most people can’t 😂

  • @sirnuggetsboi9758
    @sirnuggetsboi9758 Před 3 lety

    dam this is really great!

  • @katamarankatamaranovich9986
    @katamarankatamaranovich9986 Před 2 měsíci

    It was not restricted before, why is it restricted now?

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před 2 měsíci

      I’m not sure I understand what you mean

  • @alanconway94
    @alanconway94 Před měsícem

    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.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před měsícem +1

      Phenomenal book

    • @alanconway94
      @alanconway94 Před měsícem

      @@brentsacks Certainly is. If you are able to access the BBC documentary Once Upon A Time In Iraq, you really should.

    • @brentsacks
      @brentsacks  Před měsícem +1

      @@alanconway94 never heard of it, but I’ll look into it!

    • @alanconway94
      @alanconway94 Před měsícem

      @@brentsacks It might be available on your PBS, or you might be able to get a version of the BBC iPlayer, to see it.