Morrow: Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg return with stunning 'Pacific'

Photo by Andrew Cooper/HBO

Tom Budge, James Badge Dale and Joshua Helman star in "The Pacific."

Photo by Andrew Cooper/HBO

Tom Budge, James Badge Dale and Joshua Helman star in "The Pacific."

"The Pacific" isn't as vast as you might think.

The 10-part miniseries, from executive producers Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, is a more personalized follow-up to "Band of Brothers," which chronicled War World II in Europe through a close-knit group of American soldiers. On the other side of the world, "The Pacific" (debuting 9 p.m. Sunday, HBO) looks at the Pacific Theater through the perspective of three Marines.

With the same stunning visuals that highlighted "Brothers," this new miniseries features huge beach battle scenes and historical accuracy that informs and entertains. The story starts with the first big battle at Guadelcanal against the Japanese then moves to Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

The story unfolds the real-life experiences of Robert Leckie (James Badge Dale), Eugene Sledge (Joe Mazzello) and John Basilone (Jon Seda), all of whom wrote books about their time in war.

With the shock and anger over the bombing of Pearl Harbor still fresh, the Marines were eager to get into battle. "The Japanese are in the process of taking half the world, and they mean to keep it," the Marines are told before being deployed.

These men would be going to "tiny specks of turf that we've never heard of."

As epic as "The Pacific" must be, the story also maintains a humanity that brings the events and the people down to Earth. The story is able to veer off from the gruesomeness of the battle front with much-needed diversions. Episode 3 is a fine showcase for Dale as Leckie takes up with an Australian family while he and his fellow Marines are on a brief leave.

And just as Episode 3 is moving, romantic and less graphic, "The Pacific" never forgets that war is horror. In one scene, a Japanese mother is blown to pieces while trying to save her child at the battle of Okinawa. The visual is one of the most haunting moments on television in years.

"The Pacific" is the perfect way to tell a war story - it gets down in the trenches, rarely holds back on the terror of battle and still manages to peel away the men in uniform to show us their heart.

Other highlights for the week of March 14 to 20 (all times Eastern; listings subject to change; check local listings):

SUNDAY

"The Celebrity Apprentice" (9 p.m. NBC). Cyndi Lauper and Sharon Osbourne are among this season's contestants working for Donald Trump's approval and their favorite charities.

"Sons of Tucson" (9:30 p.m. Fox). A family of boys get a slacker to substitute for their father, who is in prison.

MONDAY

"Jessica Simpson's The Price of Beauty" (10 p.m. VH1). Simpson returns to reality TV as she and her friends examine what constitutes "beauty" around the world.

WEDNESDAY

"South Park" (10 p.m. Comedy Central). The students who need their mouths washed out with soap are back for another season of political satire.

"Ugly Americans" (10:30 p.m. Comedy Central). In this animated comedy, the world is populated by vampires, werewolves and other creatures living very human lives in the big city.

FRIDAY

"The Best of Breaking Bad" (8 p.m. AMC). A marathon recaps hallmark episodes to usher in the new season.

Terry Morrow may be reached at morrowt@knoxville.com or 865-342-6445. His blog can be found at http://blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/telebuddy/.

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