TheAgitator.com
Gen Kill
Sunday, July 13th, 2008A blogger at “Libertas,” which I gather is some sort of conservative film site, is trashing the HBO series Generation Kill before viewing the first episode, having determined from a 47-second trailer that the series is little more than “troop bashing.” He then links to my interview with co-creator Ed Burns, calling Burns an “enabler of evil.”
Actually, as this Washington Post article illustrates, the series will be quite critical of Marine and military commanders, but went out of its way to paint an accurate, even sympathetic portrayal of the troops on the ground. Burns and co-producer David Simon hired Sgt. Eric Kocher, one of the 1st Recon battalion Marines featured in both the book and the miniseries, as a consultant. Sgt. Rudy Reyes, also from 1st Recon, plays himself in the series. Lt. Nathaniel Fick, also portrayed in the series, has has written his own book about 1st Recon’s early days in Iraq that jibes with the Evan Wright book the series is based upon. Ed Burns himself was an infantryman in Vietnam.
For many war supporters, opposition to Republican war policy is unequivocally “troop bashing.” Burns isn’t fond of this war. The 47-second trailer depicts Marines saying some unflattering things. Therefore, the entire seven-hour series must be a Hollywood troop hating extravaganza (the poster adds in the comments section that he has “no intention” of watching the actual series — apparently, the trailer alone was enough to convince him). Never mind that the series seems to have been based largely on–you know–reality. Never mind that many of the troops portrayed in the series consulted in its production. This Libertas blogger apparently knows more about what happened over there than they do. As we learned in the 2004 presidential campaign, “nuance” is a now dirty word. You either support the war or you hate the troops. There’s nothing in between. Truth is what the White House and Sean Hannity it is.
(Never mind, also, that the well-being of the troops doesn’t seem to be a particularly high priority for the administration waging this war.)
Incidentally, the protagonist in Generation Kill is 1st Recon Sgt. Brad Colbert, a fan of reason magazine. In fact, if you watch closely, there’s a chance you may see a few issues of the magazine in his Humvee. Can’t say for sure, but I know the producers requested copies of the magazine during filming for that purpose, and that we sent them over.
Plus the guy who played Chet in the television series version of Weird Science is in this. He has a lot of experience with realistic portrayal of Marines.
Never mind that the series seems to have been based largely on–you know–reality.
That would the problem. Republican war mongers (is that repetitive?) have no interest in reality.
I had just added a TiVo Season Pass for Generation Kill before reading this. I’m looking forward to it.
Nothing is funnier than “This movie/film is awful. How do I know? Because I refuse to watch it!”
Oh man, I’m glad you posted this today because it had completely slipped my mind that this premiered tonight. I just set the reminder on Comcast just in case I forget again.
Really looking forward to this one.
I see that Glenn Reynolds, who also has not seen the mini-series, is also spreading the meme that it is anti-American and anti-military. And he does so in his typical passive-aggressive style.
Glad you reminded me of this, looks like a good program to watch. If anyone thought the hippies hated the Viet Nam war you should have been in my unit. “Masters of War” by Bob Dylan was one of the white soldiers favorites. That song can still take me back.
Rad, thanks for posting, gonna check it out
Haven’t seen this yet, but I have been a fan of Simon’s work since he wrote “Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets” (which, of course, was turned into a series on NBC; one of the few police dramas I took seriously). Ed Burns (former Baltimore City Homicide Detective and public school teacher) has been collaborating with Simon for some time now, most notably on “The Wire,” which is a great police procedural and a damning critique of the drug war. These guys have done some brave work, so I expect “Generation Kill” to follow suit.
Lt Nathaniel Fick wrote a marvelous book, ‘ One Bullet Away, The Making of a Marine Officer’ and if you have not read it, you will want to after you view ‘Generation Kill’. I had the opportunity to hear Nathaniel Fick speak about his book, two years after he left the Marines. He is impressive’
Amazon:
http://tinyurl.com/5jc7hm
A few of his words:
” I left the Corps because I had become a reluctant warrior. Many Marines reminded me of gladiators. They had that mysterious quality that allows some men to strap on greaves and a breastplate and wade into the gore. I respected, admired and emulated them, but I could never be like them. I could kill when killing was called for, and I got hooked on the rush of combat as much as any man did. But I couldn’t make the conscious choice to put myself in that position again and again throughout my professional life. Great Marine commanders, like all great warriors, are able to kill that which they love most-their men. It’s a fundamental law of warfare. Twice I had cheated it. I couldn’t tempt fate again.”
[...] see too much new fuel for the political debate around the show. Most of that seemed sparked by the trailer, which definitely had a bit of selection bias towards soundbites that would attract an anti-war [...]
What would actual troops know about, you know, war? Where do they get off commenting negatively about war!?
Everyone knows the only opinions that are valid in regards to the war are those held by the 101st Chairborne and the 82nd Fightin’ Keyboarders.
Excuse my snark people, but I take issue with those who have never donned a uniform, yet have no problem hiding behind others that have donned said uniforms in an effort to deflect any criticism of their “expertise”.
I’m not sure whose side Brown Acid is taking, but I definitely agree with this, ” I take issue with those who have never donned a uniform, yet have no problem hiding behind others that have donned said uniforms in an effort to deflect any criticism of their “expertise”.”
Much of the problem with the chicken-hawk right is that the fail to understand the difference between the soldier and command, both military and civilian. They see the whole structure as “the troops”, even though they are very distinct entities.
By actions alone, one can see that Republican party loves weapon systems and warfighting, but must surely hate the warfighter. They use the troops as nothing but cover, be it physical and political, and pretty much every Republican follower I’ve ever met eats it right up.
Scared stiff, are you current or former military? If yes, please specify Army, Marines, or other.
Excellent first show. HBO & Ed Burns did an excellent job.
Generation Kill has a VERY realistic protrayal of Marines in the field and Marine attitudes in general.
The one thing that stood out was how quickly they showed the Marines could switch from ‘Kill’ to ‘Help’ when dealing with those unarmed Iraqis.
Can’t wait to see how the Perpetual Outrage and Chickenhawk groups react to the show.
I was tempted to leave a comment over at libertas, but decided that registering there was probably more effort than the fun I could get from posting (and subsequent banning).
No, Alex. In the immortal words of Dick Cheney: “I have better things to do.” You know, like trolling message boards.
“Much of the problem with the chicken-hawk right is that the fail to understand the difference between the soldier and command, both military and civilian. They see the whole structure as “the troops”, even though they are very distinct entities.”
How did you come by this special knowledge that is unavailable to the “chickenhawks?”
As a former Marine who served from ’90-’94, the first episode resonated with me like no other show or movie I’ve seen. Ever.
The dialogue, actions, irreverance, bitching, moaning, cockiness, vulgarness, etc… were all spot on from my experience.
This isn’t an anti-military show. The Marines bitched and complained? BIG DEAL. That’s what Marines do. Constantly.
We had a saying… “A bitching Marine is a happy Marine.” Sounds strange? Yeah, but if a Marine is bitching, that means his mind is occupied. It’s when they get quiet, is when you need to worry.
This show is from the POV of the common soldier, and not from a crappy POV like “Over There” (That show was a piece of shit).
This one is spot on.