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 - Over There DVDThis is a brilliant drama which lets us walk in our soldiers shoes in Iraq. The story avoids political issues and focuses on the tribulations that our soldiers face both abroad and at home. I highly recommend this series to anyone who claims to support our troops and especially to those who are ambivalent. The series is never preachy, yet it contains profound examples of virtue and human failing. This is one of the best series I have watched, yet it seems very few people are aware of it's existence. Rating: - Mind BlowingI am upset that this show was taken off the air. It leaves you wanting so much more and wondering where the characters are off to next. This is one of the best current war series that I have seen on television. Thank you FX! Rating: - Over There # 2As previously stated the pilot and season were purchased for my son-in-law who is currently serving in Iraq. He asked for them and was told they were an accurate account of the war from soldiers' points of view. Rating: - amazingly good, a shame it is off the airI found out about this series only just recently. I briefly remember hearing about it back when, but never did see it. I just saw it for the first time and all I can say is, what a shame that we won't have other seasons of this series. Incredibly powerful and moving. I would not necessarily call this "realistic", but more like "gripping" and "dramatic". Let's face it, the primary purpose of this series is drama and they have to exaggerate some things in order to create an artistic product. Some things will have you groaning if you are a military realist. For instance, using mortars to blow up speeding cars. Yeah, right. The episode where the fat guy from Band of Brothers plays an intel spook (who later turns out to be a military intelligence colonel) started off very badly, but managed to redeem itself by the end. All of the story lines were believable, if only by a thread. There is an overall sad and somber tone to the series. And other than a character who loses his leg early (Bo), the rest of the cast stays intact for the entire first season. They do throw away a couple of lieutenants, but nobody that you're supposed to care about. I found that this did manage to capture and portray enough of the nuances of military life that I found myself suspending disbelief enough to really, really enjoy the series. Some military folks have been quoted as hating this series. Others have said they liked it. I think you have to take it from the perspective that this is fictionalized drama, not a documentary. I never deployed to Iraq, but I have served as both an NCO in the Army and an Officer in the Navy. So, if they did a good enough job for me, they probably have done a good enough job for anybody willing to give this a chance. Some moments are very memorable. The death of a little boy, the bronze star that one character receives. (I'm trying not to put too many spoilers in this review.) By the end, the only negative emotion I felt was frustration that the story ended where it did. I really wanted to know what became of the soldiers. Where did they go? Did they get through their tours? I thought the characters were compelling, and that was the best part of the series. As a separate note, currently, this is available for $28. I am honestly considering buying 10 or 20 copies to give out as gifts. For 13 episodes, I can't imagine a better bargain. Strongly recommended at any price, but especially at THIS price. For those who love military movies, this will not disappoint. Rating: - A High Quality TV Series About the War In Iraq Produced Before America Was ReadyAn absolutely fine production that attempted to show what it might have been like to fight in Iraq during the early days of the anti-occupation insurgency. There was some concern from veterans of the Iraq war that elements of the plot lines, or specific aspects of the depiction of the fighting, were not accurate and I am hardly able to comment on those concerns. All I can say is that the thrust of the show seemed to bring home what was generally consistent with news reports in 2003-2005. The actors who play the key roles are very good and the arc of the story line over the 13 episodes kept me coming back. I don't think the intent of the producer or director was a polemical one--it's not "pro" or "anti" the US invasion, though some of the episodes are hard edged and difficult to watch, but then any accurate depiction of war is hard to watch. Good production values. Fine characters portrayed by great actors in nuanced performances. Solid screenplays. Realistic interactions among the soldiers in the platoon, between the "grunts" and their officers, between the soldiers and their families at home--and the human beings (Americans and Iraqi civilians) caught in an impossible situation. I think it only made it through one season because the country wasn't yet ready to see some version of the war played out each week on its TVs--it can be painful to watch but it is an honest attempt to portray how "war is hell", a lesson that each generation needs to learn in its own way.
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