Customer Reviews

Saving Private Ryan: Sapphire Series / Il Faut sauveur le soldat Ryan : Collection saphir (Bilingual) [Blu-ray]

5 star:		(775)
4 star:		(123)
3 star:		(87)
2 star:		(64)
1 star:		(81)

 

 

The first and last time I watched Saving Private Ryan was in the theatre when it was released. I remember it being quite the experience. But the passage of time had dulled some of the finer points of why this movie is so spectacular. Thankfully, Saving Private Ryan on Blu Ray does a fine point of recreating the movie experience of some years ago. Though the colours are meant to be somewhat muted to create the realism, this film looks superb. However, what really stands out in this Blu Ray is the sound. On my 5.1 surround system, in the battle scenes, the battles were brought right into my living room -- or rather -- my living room was taken out to battle. I could feel the explosions rocking the floor and bullets flying by my head. Battles aside (and they are some of the best ever put on film), this is an emotionally involving story that left a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes as the credits rolled at the end. Saving Private Ryan, along with The Deer Hunter, Platoon, and Apocalypse Now, is one of the great war films. Speilberg created a great piece of cinema and this blu ray showcases it in its full glory.

This blu ray edition makes a great movie even greater. The film is supposed to maintains the directors intened wash out look but I find it slighlty more colorful than previous dvd editions ( this is not a bad thing). The picture is crisp and detailed and the audio is superb. Definitely worth the upgrade if you are a fan.

Shocking even for an ex infantry man...the first 20 minutes on the beaches of Normandy had me on the edge of my sit with tears rolling down my face. I recall the anxiety I was feeling watching the soldiers get hammered on the French beach. It was a totally brilliant cinematic sequence which places you first person in the middle of a battle.
I truly beleive this is a must see for the younger generation who may not know what their grandparents/ great grandparents did to save the world from Nazi Germany 60+ years ago.
For the war movie fan you can't miss it.
One of the all time great war movies.

This movie while not historically correct is a great film.I don't understand those who are panning it and in particular someone called a customer who seems to pan every movie ever made.Just wondering.Have it as a dvd and blue ray and I consider it money well spent.Jon

Again Spielberg brought us a heart wrenching, exciting and well made movie. He has set the bar high and continues to raise it.

What to tell more?
It's a epic movie about WW2
Very graphic scenes. Not for the weak of heart.
From a historical point of view, it's flawless.
Must have in your collection.

Steven Spielberg's Oscar-winning film, Saving Private Ryan, is one movie that is so powerful, any words to describe it, seem hollow and over-used. To commemorate the 60th anniversary of D-Day, the film is re-released on DVD, this time, in a 2 disc set, complete with extras.

The film opens as the fateful D-Day invasion of World War II begins. Spielberg gives you very little time to prepare yourself for the images that you are about to see. The constantly moving camera during the first half hour of the film, creates a dizzying and gut-wrenching effect, not for the timid, combined with realistic sound and battle footage, it's quite an experience. My hats off to Spielberg and film editor, Michael Kahn, for what must have been a tough sequence to complete.

After the "battle on the beach", Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks in his best role since Philadephia-before and after) leads a small squad of men, behind enemy lines, to search for the only surrviving son of the Ryan family, Jim Ryan (Matt Damon). His other three brothers were killed in combat. Facing impossible odds, the members of the team, question why they are doing all of this to save one guy...It's up to Miller to keep everyone focused in order for the mission to be completed.

The rest of the squad is made up of some fine actors. Edward Burns Proves he can act outside of his own films. Then unknown, Vin Diesel, makes a lasting impression with his performance. Adam Goldberg, Barry Pepper, Giovanni Ribisi, and Jeremy Davies, all come together quite nicely under Spielberg's leadership. The script by Robert Rodat is powerful and only resonates louder because of the care that seemed to go into making the film. As usual, composer John Williams, puts the so-called "icing on the cake", with another powerhouse score for a Spielberg film.

As someone who already owns the the DTS version DVD, I was disappointed that, save for a few trailers, there were no other extras. For this edition, Spielberg documentarian Laurent Bouzereau, put together a 75 minute look at how the film made its way to the big screen (found on disc 2). Topics include-historical research, the screenplay, casting, how the cast trained for the rigors of shooting, recreating D-Day, the music and sound for the film, and finally a few parting words from the director. Most of the documentary, aside from the interviews with composer John Williams and sound designer Gary Rydstrom, seems to be stuff culled from other material--at the time of filming or its initial release. Despite the "dated" material though, it's still worth your time, to see how it all came together.

My only wish: When Spielberg's Schindler's List hit DVD, I said that to do the film justice, you needed both historical background and behind the scenes material. Schindler only had historical perspectives, in contrast, Ryan's extras only deal with the film itself. I would have liked to know more without having to look elsewhere.

Saving Private Ryan is a must have DVD for your collection in any form

The first time I watched SPR I was a blown away. I would have given it 5 stars. The next time 4 stars. Now that I watched it for the final time I give it 1 star. Why? Because once you get past the special effects and the great camera work you are left with a terrible script, childish cartoon characters, and a sloppy, unrealistic plot. Just take part of the movie (spoilers alert) where Tom Hanks and his GI's attack a german machine gun nest on the way to find Private Ryan.

1) Given the mission is find Pvt. Ryan why attack the machine gun nest? How did Tom Hanks know only 3-4 Germans were there and not 30? Why didn't TH just send his sniper to pick them off instead of doing a frontal assualt? Why was the medic charging the MG when he could have stayed behind? Why didn't the GI's kill the German out-of-hand if he resisted too long? Why argue about killing the POW when other Germans soldiers would have heard the gunfire?

2) And no WWII GI would argue with an officer over whether to attack or kill a POW.

3)Why not just tie-up the German and bring him along instead of letting him go?

4) Later the POW rejoins the Germans and kills Tom Hanks. What is Steven S saying? Germans are so evil they should have been killed out of hand? The only good German is a dead german?

Well, you get the idea. And this is just one scene.

The fight at the Bridge is even more silly. Why defend the bridge if you're going to blow it up? Why would the Germans walk into town like a flock of geese or send their tanks into town before it was cleared of infantry? Why would the southern GI go to the top of a tower to snipe - knowing once he opened he couldn't get down without being killed or captured.

And on and on. See it once, enjoy it but don't buy the DVD it doesn't hold up.

Saving provate ryan is an amazing film and if you havent already seen it i would highly rececomend it. It's storyline and cinematics are flawless one thing i do hope to see in the future is a Blu-ray version of the film. If you like military or war movies this movie is definately for you. This is one of those films that shall never be forgotten.

Maybe one of the bloodiest movies I've ever seen. Which is one of the cons for the movie because not all ages would know of serious impact of World War II.

It was a true story of Friendship and Loyality. Touching to the heart and true to the soul. Saving Private Ryan is one of the Best Movies I've ever seen in my life. It will stay with you forever. Even if you think Romance is the only way. Or if you like only comedies, this movie will amaze you in many ways.

I highly Reccommend.