Band of Brothers (TV Mini Series) Day of Days (2001) User Reviews

Pretty Damn Good!

[RyanEberhart · 10/10 · 8 December 2013]

In the second episode of Band of Brothers, Day of Days, we are shown what Easy Company went through when they did their first jump into Normandy on June 6th. The whole episode is well done from beginning to end. There are a few bits that were slow but if it weren't for them it would have been wall to wall shooting and it wasn't always like that.

All of the actors that had a part in this episode did a phenomenal job portraying their respective characters.

Since I already shared how well I liked Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, and all the others job in creating this exceptional series, I won't do so again. You'll just have to read the previous episodes review. What I will do is give you the scenes I liked over all the rest.

The first scene I liked was when Lieutenant Winters (Damian Lewis) hit the ground and realized he didn't have his weapon or some of his other equipment. Another paratrooper, Private John Hall (Andrew Scott), hits the ground near him. After introducing themselves to each other they realize that either one or both of them are in the wrong landing zone. Later they meet up with Carwood Lipton (Donnie Wahlberg) and two paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne, further displaying that the paratroopers of several outfits are in the wrong landing zone.

Several minutes later, at least in the episode, Winters, Hall and Lipton have picked up Don Malarkey (Scott Grimes), Bill Guarnere (Frank John Hughes) and a few others. On their way to the rallying point the group comes across several German soldiers. Winters gives the order to wait for his command to fire, Guarnere disregards this order and fires when he wants to. He does this because before the jump he gets news that his brother had been killed at Monte Casino in Italy and he wants revenge.

The third scene I like is when Winters meets up with Buck Compton (Neal McDonough) at the rallying point and receives orders from Lt. Colonel Sink (Dale Dye) to take out a nest of German 105 heavy guns at Brécourt, a nearby French estate. The guns are aimed directly at Causeway #1 at Utah Beach and are inflicting heavy casualties. Winters gathers two squads, one led by himself, the other by Compton. The Battle of Brécourt Manor follows and Winters proves himself an excellent tactician, using a small force to take out a larger one in a heavily fortified position. During the fight, Popeye Wynn (Nicholas Aaron) is wounded and is forced to leave the battle. Winters himself destroys three of the guns, using TNT and German "potato masher" grenades on the guns' barrels. Private Hall is killed in the trenches by a booby trap. Several of the men prove their valor in battle and Winters plans to recommend them for commendations. Lt. Speirs (Matthew Settle) takes out the fourth gun himself and the platoon retreats.

I'm gonna give you a fourth favorite scene. It's a small scene but I think it is a very important scene. Right before they arrive at the rallying point, they come across several captured German officers, one of whom is part of the "volksdeutsche" effort; German-Americans who returned to their ancestral homeland to join the German army. Malarkey himself is quite astonished that the man he meets is from his home state of Oregon. After Malarkey rejoins his company, he sees 1st Lt. Speirs of D company pass by. Malarkey hears heavy gunfire as Speirs (apparently) executes the captured German soldiers.

The episode gets 10 stars out of 10. The story is very well portrayed. The acting is great and the action is awesome.

Misdrop to Machineguns

[galen-robinson · 9/10 · 19 March 2009]

Though one may not have seen the first episode in the series, it's still easy to appreciate from the limited introduction the mood of the story, and get into the plot, as the story explains itself throughout, all the while maintaining a fast pace and intensity. I was also struck by the lack of soundtrack or musical accompaniment that prevails in many action scenes in other movies or series. Despite this, and possibly because of this, the realism is increased if anything. The audience isn't spared the blood and carnage that has become a theme in recent war films, which, contrary to older ones that decreased graphic content and upped the heroics, goes to show the true nature of war as apposed to the "dulce et decorum est pro patria mori" view shown in John Wayne-esquire films. Rather than an inappropriate element that should be censored or taken down a notch, this should be incorporated into other films of the genre lest there be any false notions of the true nature of war-especially on a man-to-man level.

Great second episode

[snoozejonc · 10/10 · 2 February 2022]

Easy Company jumps in to Normandy.

This is an exceptional episode of television that is highly compelling, well acted and (by Hollywood standards) contains a decent level of historical accuracy.

Opening interviews are very impactful before the episode starts. When you see a soldier become emotional when briefly referencing the loss of life it is more powerful than anything movie artistry can create.

The plot is impressively told from the perspective of Lieutenant Winters and although condensed for pacing, it mostly reflects historical records and claims.

Having not served in the military I am not qualified to comment how realistic the battle scenes are, but as a viewer they do put an audience in what feels like a brutal and chaotic situation. The jump scenes are terrifying to watch and the Brécourt Manor Assault is a great piece of technical filmmaking.

The cinematography, sound effects, editing, colour grading, costumes, props, music and special effects all come together to attack your senses.

Damian Lewis leads it wonderfully and is supported well by other cast members.

Band of Brothers tells an important story that hopefully prompts those who are unfamiliar with the events to find out more.

"Day of Days" provides action without sacrificing character

[TheDearHunter1878 · 9/10 · 21 April 2018]

In the second episode of the Hanks and Spielberg series Band of Brothers, D-Day has arrived, and all Hell is breaking loose. Explosions knock down Allied planes, gunfire blankets the night sky, and men are being killed off one by one in every direction - both in the air and on the ground. The opening to "Day of Days" is an unforgettable sequence that will stick with you; men are cremated as their planes catch fire and plummet to the earth, while the brave soldiers of Easy Company parachute to the ground, hoping to avoid certain death. The panicked faces of the men of Easy Company with Richard "Dick" Winters' calm and calculated demeanor, complement each other in a very interesting manner. Winters is someone who, under pressure, manages - or at least tries - to stay sane and in control, despite being terrified.

The episode does not focus entirely on the Normandy landings. Soldiers are scattered across the region, and we see familiar faces try to make it to their designated rendezvous points; then, there is a very well-executed scene which takes place during the day, involving some of the men taking part in an attack on a German stronghold.

"Day of Days" truly has it all. The only minor complaint that I have, is that this episode could have built upon several of its smaller character moments immediately following the dropping of Easy Company, whether for additional development or for pacing purposes, as the script does jump between men ineffectively. Things never get truly fleshed out properly among the characters, leaving room only for disorientation and a sense of misplacement. One could argue that this structure adds a necessary layer to the unfolding events, but the narrative is quite clear from the chaotic nature of the episode's opening moments. The characters we do see are subject to brief encounters with their companions that contribute very little to not just the story, but to the overarching themes of the entire series. There are much better examples of character interactions within this show, particularly in the next episode, "Carentan," between the traumatized Albert Blithe and a screaming Winters. "Day of Days" could have been stronger on this front towards the beginning, but this is the smallest of complaints.

Overall, "Day of Days" is a very impressive episode that has withstood the test of time, particularly in terms of its special effects. The visuals are slowly being outdone, both in film and television, but there's never a point in time where something looks unbelievable. Instead, we get a story told with heart alongside bold, well-orchestrated action sequences.

An intense combat sequence you can almost feel

[LittleStorpingInTheSwuff · 9/10 · 27 December 2018]

The scene when Winters and his small force of men take out the German artillery emplacements was so intense you can practically feel the bullets whizzing by your head. The use of a non-stationary camera makes it even more real for the viewer, like a first-person experience with more realism and tension than the stationary cameras typically used in past war movies and TV shows. I think the opening combat scene of the Normandy Beach action of "Saving Private Ryan" equals (or maybe surpasses) the battle scene in "Day of Days".

Similar Atmosphere to Saving Private Ryan, More Depth

[doctorwaffle · 10/10 · 19 March 2009]

The episode begins with interviews with American veterans of World War II, which lets the viewer know that the following program is as close to the true story as a reenactment can be. Like Saving Private Ryan, it opens with a graphic, disturbing scene as the US paratroopers prepare to jump into Normandy. Planes burst into flames, men are shot. The cinematography is beautiful, which helps immerse the viewer, who feels the same fear as the soldiers themselves. The cast is mostly character actors, with few familiar names, even to a film buff like me. This is good, as it prevents the viewer from having any preconceptions about the characters. The set pieces are masterfully designed, noting the cows chewing cud in the background while soldiers are talking. It doesn't look like a Hollywood film set; it looks like a once-inhabited village. This is the first episode of Band of Brothers I have seen. I will most definitely watch all the other episodes.

Thrilling and intense combat!

[and_mikkelsen · 10/10 · 27 November 2023]

This episode kicks off the invasion with promise of intense and brutal action!

I really enjoyed the episode as it putts you right in the middle of everything and proves how war is chaotic, unpredictable and shows no mercy! It was almost claustrophobic as you can hear the bullets pass by your ear and almost feel the explosions with dirt all over the screen!

This also sees how our characters respond to war and we get even more attached to them as a person show who they really are in these situations! The last of spu dtrack also allows you to completely emerse yourself in the situations!

Direction and production is once again top notch and just as good as some of the best war movies!

Difficult to watch, more difficult to look away

[rarmock · 10/10 · 24 November 2019]

I must have watched this episode a dozen times over the years, and it is still equal parts terrifying and mesmerizing.

The start of combat

[anselmdaniel · 8/10 · 3 October 2020]

This review contains spoilers for the second episode of Band of Brothers entitled "Day of Days".

Day of Days starts with the D-Day para-drops. Easy Company has been loaded into C-47s and is en-route to France. The company is dropped into France amidst anti-aircraft fire and Germans occupying France. Easy Company is scattered and must locate other parts of the company and form a cohesive fighting force.

Day of Days is a great start into why some people watch war movies: the action. The episode highlights Richard Winters played by Damian Lewis. He organizes what men he could find to begin establishing a front against the Germans. He finds others in boot-camp and they try to fight the Germans. The series shows the tactics that Easy Company used especially in the last scene with the paratrooper assault on the 8.8 centimeter German artillery guns. This scene and the scene leading up to it are great.

The series high production values is shown here with the great costumes, props, and sets. The viewers feels like they are in France.

The second episode of Band of Brothers is highly recommended.

Grade: A

Band of Brothers: Day of Days

[bkauth · 10/10 · 30 October 2017]

Band Of Brothers Day Of Day's September 9th 2001, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg aired their second installment of the Band of Brothers mini series, "Day of Days", and it was nothing short of amazing. There are times throughout the episode, let alone the entire series, you feel you are right there in the fight with the men of Easy Company. From the landing in occupied Normandy France, to the men's first real mission of taking out a German artillery battery preventing the D-Day invasion. The true brutality, fear and comradeship, of war are seen throughout. Having watched the entire series multiple times, I strongly believe that what Hanks and Spielberg have created is by far the most accurate depiction of World War Two to this day. Many great movies like Saving Private Ryan or the series The Pacific have come close but neither was able to portray the art of war like Band of Brothers Plot This episode revolves around Operation Overlord, which took place on the 6th h of June 1944. This was the military code name for the Battle of Normandy, which famously included the vast D-Day beach landings. Easy's job, along with that of many other paratrooper companies, was to land behind enemy lines and secure the causeway leading off the beach. At the episode's beginning, as the armada of aircraft encounter intense enemy fire and other planes begin exploding around them, nervous flight crews flew off course and also let their men jump out early. This resulted in the men of Easy Company being scattered all across Normandy, often miles from their objectives. In one early stand-out sequence, the camera follows Dick Winters (Damien Lewis) as he jumps out of his plane amidst the raging carnage before following him down through the gunfire and into the eerie calm of the French countryside, allowing us to witness the crashing planes and explosions just as he does. Throughout these scenes you really get a sense of the confusion that reigned on that night back in 1944 as soldiers landed across the vast French countryside, often losing their equipment in the process and winding up miles from their comrades and simply joining up with whoever they could find. The final big showpiece of the episode sees Winters and a squad of men take out a set of German guns. This sequence cements Winters' position as a great military tactician and demonstrates why his men respect him so highly. The visceral action and kinetic camera work do a great job of putting the viewer into the heat of combat and this assault serves as a small precursor to what will follow in later episodes. Such was the effectiveness of Winters' assault, we are informed at the episode's end that the taking of these guns is still used in military training at West Point military academy when teaching an assault on a fixed position.

Cast 4/4 This episode's focus was again largely Dick Winters played by Damien Lewis and it is he who becomes the sole leader of Easy Company once 1st Lieutenant Meehan is killed during the jump. In this episode however, you begin to pick out a few of the recognizable characters that will rise in prominence over the series. The likes Carwood Lipton (Donnie Wahlberg), Buck Compton (Neal McDonough), Donald Malarkey (Scott Grimes) and Bill Guarnere (Frank John Hughes), to name but a few. It can upon first watch be hard to keep up with who's who in a cast as large as this one, especially when the men are sometimes referred to by nickname and are frequently ducking out of the way of gunfire. However there are undoubtedly key sets of ten or fifteen characters you slowly begin to recognize by name. These men are the big characters of the Company who will ultimately play a large part in keeping it together in fraught times.

Historical Accuracy 4/4

Throughout the episode you encounter different military lingo such as operation or battle names, several different key characters, and many aspects of the military that an ordinary person might not be familiar with. Doing some very careful research I have concluded that just about every aspect in this episode is historically accurate. The uniform that the paratroopers wore were identical to the real life thing. The weapons that were used throughout the episode were specially manufactured to look just like the real thing. However most of the rifles and machine guns that were used in the series were much lighter. The major battle depicted in the episode (Operation Overlord) was accurate. Even the assault on the German guns lead by Dick Winters was on point.

Rating 4/4

After careful consideration and spending numerous hours with this episode I would give it a rating of 4/4. The effort put into this episode by the producers and the cast I believe will never be redone. Making a film about one of the most gruesome wars to date is tricky. Make too many mistakes, and the film is ruined. Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg have expertly portrayed what the actual men of Easy Company went through.

Day of Days

[mm-39 · 9/10 · 7 March 2020]

We seen why Sobel can not lead, and why the men protest and getting Sobel moved is good when Day of Days shows the fog of war. The commanding officer is killed, and new leader is born as Winkler takes command during the D day landing. The mistakes, lost troops and a man who is too afraid is with Winkler draws in the viewer watching Easy Company getting back on track is a great ture story as it un folds. There is a mission to take out big German guns which has a memorable conclusion which stands out for the series. The fighting, mixed with the big budgets of tons of troops tanks and the gritty combat ending is fantastic. Great directing on big sets makes Day of Days a trend setter for modern t v. 9 stars. But the show gets better.

Good Storyline

[claudio_carvalho · 7/10 · 30 July 2017]

On the D-Day, the allied paratroopers jump behind the German lines and the Easy Company is scattered in Normandy and many of the survivors have lost their weapons. Sgt. Richard D. Winters gathers a couple of soldiers and they head to the Battalion. The squad is assigned to destroy three German cannons in their first war experience. Will they succeed?

"Band of Brothers" wannabe "Combat!" but there is a great difference between the shows. "Combat!" was created by Robert Altman and released seventeen years after the end of World War II, in a time that there was no CGI. Therefore the fight scenes are extremely realistic and believable. Further, the characters are well developed and with human attitudes. "Band of Brothers" has the usual exaggeration of recent films, with excessive use of CGIs, and so far a poor character development.

"Day of Days" has a storyline in general good, but the scene where the American soldier executes the German POWs is a stupid and not necessary war crime. If the viewer consider that the crime was nearby the Battalion, the soldier should at least go to Martial Court, which was usual in those years. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Day of Days"

Rewatch, 9.65/10

[dcdude-26988 · 10/10 · 16 July 2023]

This was just an amazing episode on Rewatch. I love almost everything about this episode. My favorite things about this episode were the action, the ending, and the Protagonists. My favorite characters were Marlakey and Winters. This whole show lives up to the hype, and should be believed in. I would definitely recommend this short mini-series to anyone, including my friends, family, and teachers. I would nevrr understand how someone could not like this amazing episode, nor this whole tv show in general. I am definitely rating alot of these episodes 9's or 10's, because this is still a must-watch show.

Brécourt

[v-56289 · 8/10 · 10 April 2020]

Second part has much more action. The paratroops form and start a mission to destroy howitzers that are complicating the disembarkation. It seems that the show goes into the direction to "satisfy the viewer" rather than trying to get as close to the reality as possible.. However it was still a really good episode!

Exciting

[amindostiari · 10/10 · 10 July 2021]

This episode was really a bomb !! It was really exciting. A pure thrill. And I really enjoyed it.

Let us not live through wars... Live. In. Peace. Ladies and gentlemen!..

[hamidullahgenc · 10/10 · 8 January 2017]

This is a war... Therefore it has necessarily no winners.

Lt. Richard D. Winters has these abilities we call "leadership" as he and his "Easy Company" could take out nearly 20 Germans along with their machine guns.

The truth is, he never likes any of it whatsoever. That is shooting, bombing or slaying... His "humanity" won't let it. In today's world, troops not only kill "the enemies" but rape their daughters and wives, let alone have compassion for them... So, that special thanks goes to Lt. Richard D. Winters from our hearts, too.

(Mr. Damian Lewis succeeded in giving the character authenticity the war themed series or movies seem to skip sometimes...)

The characters reflect the severity and unforgiving nature of war by their bitter looks and sharp discipline...

The plans as well as the tactical maneuvers are so well-directed that we can follow them easily and decide on their success (Good for both the story and the director.)

The ping, the bombs, the noisy clamor... They were all of a war that surpassed the innocence, one again!.. The killers must be defeated but in Europe!

Not all was acceptable as Lt. Speirs executed the prisoners of war... One should either kill the enemy right off; or after routing them, one should bind a bond firmly on them, then set them free, either by grace or ransom, when the war lays down its loads... So, that was also authentic as not all of the warriors behave "ethically."

Lastly; there is a situation down in the Mesopotamian Lands that can be turned into a good show after the calamity has stricken them off...

At the center of everything, the good people of Aleppo live through a war worse than this every day!.. We feel you, Aleppo. (Do we?..)

(I give this episode a "9,3". Yes!

"...Except for those who seek refuge with a people between whom and you there is a covenant, or those who approach you because their hearts forbid them to make war on you or make war on their own folk. Had Allah willed, He would have given them power over you, and then certainly they would have fought you. If they withdraw from you, and do not fight you, and offer you peace, then Allah alloweth you no way against them."

(4th Chapter called The Women, 90th Verse.)

We have seen the take of the Gracious Koran on the matter. Amen.

This is the episode we find out that German army = stormtroopers

[interestingstuff · 8 November 2022]

This episode shows our heroes experiencing hardships as their landing doesn't go as planned and we have soldiers scattered around the place, lost, half of them without any guns or ammo. It looks like they won't make it and they will either get killed, captured or completely lost before they can reach their objective of taking over a whole town with less than 20 soldiers.

There is one thing that is working for our heroes though. In this episode we find out that the entire German army fighting in World War 2 were actually stormtroopers (from Star Wars). They shoot tens thousands of bullets without hitting anyone while our team of 20 or so American soldiers destroy half of German army without suffering a single casualty (except for one guy who takes a bullet on his bum but he's fine too).

Good thing German army back then consisted entirely of stormtroopers who couldn't shoot straight, otherwise it would have been very difficult to win WW2. Luckily they had a hit rate of 1/100000 bullets so our soldiers were able to beat Germans without suffering a single casualty. If only we had 20 more soldiers, we could have conquered the entire world without suffering a single casualty.