= HBO's "Generation Kill" gives realistic look at war Review by Tesa Nauman After five years, polls show that Americans are tired of the war in Iraq. So are they ready to watch a miniseries about it? HBO is banking that they are. "Generation Kill" is a seven-part miniseries from Ed Burns and David Simon, who gave us the HBO series "The Wire." It follows the members of Bravo Company of the Marine Corps' First Reconnaissance Battalion through the first weeks of the war in Iraq. The first episode "Get Some" introduces us to the Marines and to Evan Wright, a.k.a. "Scribe," a writer from Rolling Stone magazine embedded with the First. "Kill" is based on the best-selling book by Wright, played in the miniseries by Lee Tergesen (probably best known for his role as Tobias Beecher in the HBO series "Oz"). Even though Wright is there to document the war, we don't see the war from his perspective (as is done with most films of this kind), although we often see his open-mouthed reaction to it -- and share his shock at what goes on. But for the most part,  he -- like the audience -- is just another character along for the hellish ride. And that's a good thing. In "Kill," you're allowed to see the action (and the boredom, too) through your own eyes. From the series' opening close-up shots, you feel as though you're there along with the soldiers. Although the subject matter is not my cup of tea, the miniseries is excellently made. If it has any fault, it's that it's too good at simulating reality. As I said, I'm not into war films, and I'd certainly never go in to the military voluntarily, thus on a personal level "Kill" leaves me thinking, "So it's a good film. So what?" But on another level, it's so compelling and realistic that I found myself getting sucked in to the action and feeling as if I'm right there with the First. Another fault of the series' uncompromising reality is its use of military jargon. There's so much that in its press kit, HBO includes a glossary of terms and slang. They also include a list of the characters, because trying to keep up with who's who and who's riding in which humvee can be confusing, especially if you're trying to remember on a week-by-week basis. I saw the first five episodes in one weekend and still felt confused at times. For me, the production's biggest problem is that I don't like any of the soldiers in the film. This is one area where being realistic doesn't do anything to help the series. The Marines are the typical more-testosterone-than-brains type. In any film, I need at least one character I can relate to, or at least like a little. I might have been able to relate to "Scribe," but we hardly know anything about him nor get to see enough of him to form an opinion. Flawlessly acted (fans of "The Wire" will note several of its actors are cast in "Kill"), well directed and produced, those who like war films probably will like "Kill" because it has a lot of action and is extremely realistic. Those tired of the war probably won't like "Kill" because it has a lot of action and is extremely realistic. I give it 3.5 machine guns out of 5. What:   "Generation Kill" When:  miniseries premier 9 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, July 13 Where:  HBO For more about "Generation Kill," go to http://www.hbo.com.