Do Women prefer The Pacific to Band of Brothers?
In an interview Dale Dye, a military advisor for many war movies, was asked why The Pacific had many female viewers and here is his explanation for that fact.
“By telling a story that reflects the thousands of whirlwind wartime romances that happened during World War II. There’s this great desperation element—I might get killed in the next six weeks, we’ve got to get married now—and females really identify with that. They get it.” (Dale Dye in The Atlantic)
He also believes that the love story between the two soldiers John Basilone and Lena Riggi made women like it.
Aha? So it is only the romance that makes women appreciate The Pacific? Could it not be that it has more to do with the fact that there are simply more women in The Pacific than in Band of Brothers?And that there is a whole psychological dimension in The Pacific, with all its tales of post-traumatic stress, that might appeal to women?
I would love some comments. Do women like The Pacific? Do they prefer it to Band of Brothers? Or did they even like both?
warmoviebuff said,
September 24, 2010 at 3:47 am
My wive agrees with Dye’s analysis. I watched both and think the reason most men prefer BOB could be the same reason most women prefer Pacific. If you take out the fact that Pacific has more female characters and some romance, BOB would actually seem to be more female-friendly. The characters are like a family and the progression is more linear. (Also, the actors are cuter) The combat is more “civilized” and there is no racist theme. I do not think there is any doubt that the producers of Pacific made a conscious effort to find a story that appealed more to women. I have no problem with this considering Pacific is based on true stories and the main romance does not end happily.
allaboutwarmovies said,
September 24, 2010 at 5:34 am
It’s a bit difficult for me to find out as not so may people have seen The Pacific over here. I know quite a few women who love Band of Brothers. I was hoping for comments from female readers… But you know how it is with comments in general…
Charlie said,
September 19, 2011 at 1:26 pm
Hell no. Not a chance old chaps. i am a woman and so is my best mate. We are bothe world war two reenacters and we definately prefer Band of Brothers to The Pacific, no competition!!!! The Pacific is a good series and i enjoyed it but no chance that i like it more than Band of Brothers. Heigh Ho Silver!!!
Miss Charlie xx
allaboutwarmovies said,
September 19, 2011 at 5:12 pm
Thanks for your comment, Miss Charlie. I had my doubts, decidedly regarding the romance aspect but wasn’t sure. It’s such a cliché. I know a lot of men who will never watch war movies and like romances.
It’s alos often said that women do not like war movies because there are not enough women in the movies.
It’s a bit of an old school view.
allaboutwarmovies said,
September 19, 2011 at 5:16 pm
Miss Charlie, I just had a look at your site. It’s quite fascinating.
philip mason said,
November 25, 2011 at 12:42 am
I Hate both series and i am a bloke. both are macho crappo bullshit.
allaboutwarmovies said,
November 25, 2011 at 6:14 am
Thanks for your input. I’m aware that it’s a cliché that all men like war movies, same as assuming all women hate them. There are a lot of men who do not like war movies in general.
Britt Miscast said,
January 19, 2012 at 7:49 am
I have not seen The Pacific yet, but I have seen Band of Brothers… I am a female that has a strange interest in war movies. I am well versed with the very old and the very new… If its a romantic, it has to be a romantic war movie. Not into any of those “chick flick” sorts.
That aside, I am completely infatuated with Band of Brothers. I can identify with them, I guess… and for me, the story of holding together for a greater cause than themselves, makes for a very touching movie.
allaboutwarmovies said,
January 19, 2012 at 8:37 am
I agree with you. I must say, as good as The Pacific is in parts, I haven’t heard many people, men or women saying they actually preferred it to Band of Brothers.
Band of Brothers lives from this feeling of belonging together, forming a tight-knit group.
I belive it is a total cliché saying women prefer The Pacific because of the love stories. It may very well have been a publicity trick. The Pacific is far more gruesome, why would women prefer that as this is the major problem most have with war movies and not the absence of love stories.
Ida Sahlberg said,
January 30, 2012 at 9:21 pm
I actually prefer Band of Brothers to the Pacific, even though I’m all for the cute love stories and get all giggly and warm inside (and even though James Badge Dale playing Robert Leckie is just plain YUMMY).
What I love about BOB is all the real-life personal history going on. The interviews in the beginning with the real men and that everybody are based on real people. I feel much more connected that way and really get the feeling that all of it was real and has happened. BOB just have so much more history than the Pacific to me.
allaboutwarmovies said,
January 31, 2012 at 7:15 am
Thanks for your comment, Ida. There are men who prefer The Pacific and women who like BOB it seems. That just shows you how we can not generalize.
While I thought The Pacific was quite good, it didn’t move me. Band of Brithers has a far more emotional dimension and, being a European, the history was slightly more interesting for me.