Observe Everything, Admire Nothing: Realism in Generation Kill

In this video essay, I examine how Generation Kill embodies the uncommon film style of Realism.

[@driftertank]

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]

This comment belongs in a museum

[@brentsacks]

But I guess a pinned comment will have to suffice

[@d3nza482]

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]

@@d3nza482 L take

[@Wittgenquine]

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]

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]

just the radio chatter alone makes the series worth watching.

[@earljohnson2676]

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]

We're grateful for your service, trooper.

[@borregoayudando1481]

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]

The show is actually a musical road trip.

[@brentsacks]

No lies detected 😂

[@diekemperd]

@@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]

@@diekemperd omg thank you 😭

[@davidrendall7195]

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]

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

[@MrCadet08]

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

[@johnusas2870]

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

[@KamikazeSOF2]

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]

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]

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.

[@cameronmcguire1599]

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.

[@jungamcgrunga4583]

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]

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

[@hateferlife]

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]

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

[@hateferlife]

@@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]

I am not worthy

[@AndrewDangerously]

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

[@brentsacks]

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

[@miguelzurita3216]

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]

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

[@brentsacks]

😂

[@red99Baron]

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]

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]

no ied how blow up

[@thomaskositzki9424]

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]

It passes the time, brother! 🤣

[@thomaskositzki9424]

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]

Thank you 🙏🏻 I appreciate this!

[@chriserkelenz5968]

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.

[@oriamir8994]

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]

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]

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

[@Autobotmatt428]

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

[@bulma12345678910]

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

[@Aden_III]

@@bulma12345678910 interesting choice of words

[@pjrebordao]

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

[@brentsacks]

Agreed. Seen a lot of times, read twice 😂

[@wattsnottaken1]

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]

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

[@danthestuntman]

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

[@brentsacks]

Um, WHAT 😳😳😳

[@danthestuntman]

@@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]

@@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]

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

[@youallaresore]

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

[@brentsacks]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@Techplayerlive]

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]

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

[@tristankeech4070]

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

[@acerock013]

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

[@brentsacks]

Definitely not propaganda!!

[@janosaideron7371]

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”

[@sitbone3]

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]

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]

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

[@CubeInspector]

​​@@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]

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

[@atpyro7920]

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

[@jjcastleberry3662]

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.

[@theDaftmuse]

Rah

[@jasch5847]

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

[@watlinsd]

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]

Did someone show my video in a film class??

[@grimmriffer]

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]

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

[@pin6722]

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.

[@barber5stanford]

Did you translate everything as very thankful to be liberated?

[@zenarion]

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

[@dariosmoviereviewchannel7555]

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

[@brentsacks]

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

[@therandomdickhead5744]

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

[@HotQahwe]

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

[@brentsacks]

Thank you!! I appreciate it!

[@smerrill9426]

The best depiction of real life combat PEIROD full stop

[@patrickbateman312]

Nah

[@culshie]

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]

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

[@EmoScreamoForever]

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]

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

[@darkisland]

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]

Thank you very much for this comment!!

[@sheafromME]

Dude this is an incredible video essay!

[@brentsacks]

Omg thank you 😭

[@kylew7930]

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

[@brentsacks]

It is quite good

[@dylanleddy8693]

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

[@sainterasmus4545]

Awesome video man, subscribed, keep them coming!

[@indianajones4321]

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]

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

[@slyguythreeonetwonine3172]

"When I was in college I took a film theory class" is all I needed to hear to not want to be subject to your opinion on my life experience.

[@brentsacks]

So I assume that means you didn’t watch it? GK is one of the best shows ever made, and I’m in the Navy. I’m *probably* on your side

[@nilolle3230]

Good job Brent. Keep the good work.

[@Graf0982]

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

[@brentsacks]

Thank you for watching!

[@alanburke1893]

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

[@brentsacks]

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

[@nhazul8164]

Great video man. Hope to see more from you

[@hairypossum1086]

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

[@guyhandy]

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

[@brentsacks]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@dreameater2372]

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

[@brentsacks]

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

[@chaps7976]

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]

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]

NEVER JOIN

[@JohnnyWishbone85]

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!"

[@brentsacks]

This ☝🏻

[@PlatinumPuzyCat]

Loved the end bit 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@brentsacks]

Thank you!! 🙏🏻

[@jimyoung9262]

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]

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

[@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.

[@brentsacks]

Many such cases!

[@noahtravis8472]

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

[@brentsacks]

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

[@milesgardner9918]

Such a great series!

[@brentsacks]

So good!!

[@hossahunter22]

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

[@totorocatbus]

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

[@tonyochiha9798]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[@rf2958]

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]

I didn’t know they’d written books!

[@rf2958]

@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.

[@bobsbuurgers3714]

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

[@brentsacks]

RAH

[@lonestarpiper4917]

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]

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]

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

[@brentsacks]

@@lonestarpiper4917 yep! And stylistically too

[@clamum9648]

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]

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

[@Quadrenaro]

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

[@brentsacks]

Are you a podracer?

[@Quadrenaro]

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

[@codyandrex152]

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]

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

[@BAGELMENSK]

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

[@brentsacks]

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

[@BAGELMENSK]

@@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]

Haha!! Fantastic

[@kylew7930]

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

[@roys.1889]

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.

[@jed-henrywitkowski6470]

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]

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

[@belluh-1huey102]

Everyone share Generation Kill to everyone.

[@Edimonde]

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.

[@brentsacks]

Absolutely

[@KGSpradleyAuthor]

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]

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.

[@natelavallee4034]

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

[@brentsacks]

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

[@natelavallee4034]

@@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

[@f00g3n7]

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]

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

[@villeandersson1487]

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

[@brentsacks]

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

[@villeandersson1487]

@@brentsacks Thanks, dude! I appreciate it!

[@brentsacks]

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

[@alanconway94]

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]

Phenomenal book

[@alanconway94]

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

[@brentsacks]

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

[@alanconway94]

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

[@jailbreakoverlander]

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

[@065Tim]

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

[@brentsacks]

Remaster like release in 4K?

[@ThisFinalHandle]

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

[@cameronmcguire1599]

Fick is a solid leader. I'd follow him into battle.

[@notgoddhoward5972]

Underrated channel

[@allanjarnagin3540]

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]

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!

[@LikeTheBuffalo]

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

[@brentsacks]

😂

[@mosulmedic7048]

In highschool, I rented the entire series from a video rental store. Ended up joining the Marine Corps shortly after

[@brentsacks]

DUDE. That is incredible. Also, kind of hilarious. There’s two kinds of people in this world: those who watch Generation Kill and say, “Nah.” And those who watch and say, “Hell yeah!” A special breed.

[@suspicioustumbleweed4760]

Wait what? I read the book in high school. Oh yeah that’s right I’m old as f u ck

[@katamarankatamaranovich9986]

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

[@brentsacks]

I’m not sure I understand what you mean

[@user-cv8qe9ru8c]

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]

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

[@Typing.._]

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

[@brentsacks]

To be fair, most people can’t 😂

[@sirnuggetsboi9758]

dam this is really great!

[@marcodiaz9581]

Does anyone understand the ending scene with all of the marines walking away as the video plays?

[@brentsacks]

Like much of the rest of the series, I love that scene because it's not broadcasting a message to you. You can make what you want of it. Each Marine has his own thoughts and feelings about the video and walks away for his own reason. Some in disgust, some in admiration, some out of boredom.

[@bluelineclapper2523]

well done, sir

[@Wag-ue]

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

[@ethanmcfarland8240]

i always thought of it as Band Of Brothers in the Iraq War

[@brentsacks]

Pretty much!

[@0EvilLemons0]

just noticed homie was wearing a FOG hat at the end, respec

[@brentsacks]

A what?

[@0EvilLemons0]

@Brent Sacks Oh, sorry I typed that comment on the last video I watched and it autoplayed this video, disregard my last, great video though, really captured the nuance a lot of people miss or can't articulate about GK

[@brentsacks]

@@0EvilLemons0 Haha got it! Thank you!

[@samb4678]

1:20 👍

[@freshfrozen3035]

Vibe

[@johpfit760]

I love the shows the realities of war and how every American soldier was implicated in the crimes of this unjust war

[@magnusthered4973]

What does implicated mean

[@johpfit760]

@@magnusthered4973 involved

[@miguelzurita3216]

@@johpfit760 As far as 1st Recon goes they really didn't commit war crimes. The rules of engament were constantly changing, and these soldiers were usually going through their day without any sleep.

[@chromicm6686]

​@@miguelzurita3216Oh, they didnt get any sleep. Well thats ok then.

[@brianellinger6622]

i sae,..

[@jcanal0221]

What I find most interesting (and kind of funny) about this show is that, even while it is not meant as a criticism of the invasión, it still feels as such because of how stupid and unjustifiable it was

[@brentsacks]

The beauty of the show is it doesn’t really take a side on most of what’s portrayed, and it lets audiences see what they want to see

[@FunkBastid]

It’s fuggin notional.

[@brentsacks]

I feel like I’m disappointing you but…is that a quote from the show?

[@FunkBastid]

@@brentsacks no, it’s a quote from a different piece of marine corps required viewing: terminal boots. Their youtube channel was a bunch of skits about life in the marine corps.

[@agarlicsorbet6482]

it may not be driven purposefully by agenda - Evan formed enough rapport with the marines so he might say "here's the raw reality, I am delivering it without bias" etc. etc. but what the show sells, and the tragic goofing up of the US military itself helps to form an agenda. Not only the show chose what to tell and shaped the screenwriting based on it(i.e. politics of COs), but the scenes itself IS opinionated or otherwise helps to form opinions. If you see in this here scene, a dead girl with her legs blown off, and doesn't think it serves a purpose or is sending a message, then why bother watching it? It's basic literary theory. Vice Versa, shows like Generation Kill and anti-war movie like Full Metal Jacket is a very strong recruiting tool for USMC. Nothing, literally NOTHING is WITHOUT agenda. Except maybe watching white paint dry.

[@brentsacks]

I’m with you to a certain extent. I think basically everything has/is made with some sort of agenda. But what’s the agenda of a Mario Party game? To make a fun game and give people a good time. I think there’s different categories of agendas we can find in media, and you’re right, Generation Kill could have been 7 episodes of people eating in the chow hall and talking about Avril Lavigne. It’s not that, obviously, and in that sense it has an agenda. The thing is, I don’t think the agenda is to change anyone’s opinions about anything, which is why I think it’s refreshing. If it happens to change one’s opinion anyway, then more power to it. But I think it’s to their credit that the show is not shouting it at us through a megaphone.

[@miguelzurita3216]

I watched the show recently(and am still reading the book). It's a nuanced take on the Iraq War, compared to a lot of other war films/mini series. I agree though that there is an agenda, with the scenes playing out almost like a documentary, I get that show is telling me why the Iraq War was unpopular. As to why they showed a dead child, I really cant explain it other than it's these guys really saw in Iraq, and the joke at the end is showing us how some of these guys cope with seeing that. The show wanted to present itself as real (the events in the show really did happen after all) and children do die in wars. The show leaves it up to us how we think about that, compared to movies like Platoon or Full Metal Jacket where there is music and other techniques telling us how we are supposed to feel.

[@noobovsky420]

The show is an erotic journey from Kuwait to Baghdad

[@brentsacks]

™️

[@StarlightEater]

God damn and to think he just ended up trapped in Oz poor toby