A genuinely epic achievement, the 10-part World War II drama Band of Brothers is a television series that makes big-screen Hollywood war movies look small in comparison. Based on the book by historian Stephen Ambrose, the series follows the US 101st Airborne Division's "Easy" E-Company from initial training through D-Day and across Holland, Belgium, Germany and Austria until the end of the war. Coproduced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, the series take its initial inspiration from Saving Private Ryan and borrows that film's visceral visual approach to combat scenes using hand-held camerawork and de-saturated photography. But where Band of Brothers excels is in its scrupulous attention to the realities of military life (retired US Marine Captain Dale Dye, who also co-stars, is the man to credit).

After the high drama of the parachute drop on D-Day, Easy's greatest trial comes during the Battle of the Bulge, when they are besieged at Bastogne in the depths of winter. In one of the most harrowing and credible depictions of war ever committed to film we see the men enduring the repeated artillery attacks of the German forces and experience, if only vicariously, some of the sheer terror of the assault, while being humbled by the soldiers' courage and determination. Such feelings are enhanced by the series' masterstroke--bookend interviews with the surviving members of Easy Company, who talk with barely suppressed emotion of the experiences we see recreated. The endorsement of these veterans elevates Band of Brothers beyond any mere "war film"--its extraordinary achievement is that it shows the horror and savagery of war without gloss or jingoism, and yet celebrates the fraternal bonds and dogged heroism of the men who fought.

On the DVD: Band of Brothers arrives handsomely packaged in a six-disc box set with two episodes on each of the first five discs. Sound (Dolby 5.1) and picture (1.78:1 widescreen) only enhance the series' epic credentials. Disc 6 contains all the extras, the meatiest of which is the marvellous 80-minute documentary "We Stand Alone Together" about the real men of Easy Company. There's also a first-rate, genuinely interesting 30-minute "making of" feature about actor boot camp, visual effects and blowing up fake trees among many other things. This is complemented by actor Ron Livingston's revealing Video Diaries of boot camp. Additionally there's a "Who's Who" section and footage of the HBO premiere at Utah Beach, plus a TV spot for car company Jeep. --Mark Walker

As all have said, this is a magnificent series, and a wonderful companion piece to 'Saving Private Ryan', despite giving my son the impression that World War 2 started in 1944.

The only criticism I can make is of the snow in Episode 6. It is so clearly artificial. And because the episode is shot in a studio, it feels almost like Narnia. Some of the actors aren't even good at looking cold.

However the Bastogne story is totally redeemed by Episode 7, which can stand on its own as a lesson in appalling and great leadership. And they get the snow right too!

An astonishing series, much superior to the Saving Private Ryan movie. The Bastogne episodes are particularly mesmerising, and chilling. I would like to see similar series covering North Africa, the invasion of Italy and the Eastern Front, but I suspect that is just wishful thinking. In an era of particularly vapid television, this series stands out as something substantial.

Superb.....buy it now.

PS The surround sound is one of the best that I have heard.

A beautiful box edition with all ten episodes of the Band of Brothers mini series and a number of special features. The first thing you notice is the beautiful box itself which presents the dvd's wonderfully. So nice to see thought gone into making the box set so attractive - I wish other film were treated in this manner. The extras are ok - nothing to write home about. It is the actual ten hour lenght episodes that make this great.

The ten episodes are just simply brillant. This is the ultimate war mini series. The real life stories, the horror or war, the friendship between these men, the challenges they faced and the quality of acting and cinematography all combine to make this an unforgettable experience. Like with Saving Private Ryan this movie shows war as it is - not glorious but rather horrific and soul destroying whilst at the same time showing the strenght of the individual soul in the midst of horror.

Be warned - you will have to watch it through at least twice to truly enjoy the experience as each episode contains so much information and moves along at such a fast pace it is hard to keep up with it all. However this in turn means you will certainly get great value for your money as one viewing will not be enough.

I cannot begin to express my sheer amazement at the brilliance of this production. This is something special, very special. This has been produced with thought, compassion and a desire to tell it as it is. This is a truely wonderous series that I know will last the test of time. The poignancy created by the prelude to each episode by the easy company veterans themselves only serves to set this aside as one of the most accurate and self portraying series ever made to date. You are left with with a feeling of sheer admiration for the actors who took part but even greater respect for the veterans who endured it.
BOB, there's no need to rent it, Go and Buy it!