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Saving Private Ryan (DTS) [DVD] [1998]
 
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Saving Private Ryan (DTS) [DVD] [1998]

DVD ~ Tom Hanks
4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (148 customer reviews)

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Saving Private Ryan (DTS) [DVD] [1998]
55% buy the item featured on this page:
Saving Private Ryan (DTS) [DVD] [1998] 4.3 out of 5 stars (148)
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Product details

  • Actors: Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Barry Pepper
  • Directors: Steven Spielberg
  • Writers: Robert Rodat
  • Producers: Allison Lyon Segan, Bonnie Curtis, Gary Levinsohn, Ian Bryce, Kevin De La Noy
  • Format: PAL
  • Language Czech, English, French, German
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: 15
  • Studio: Paramount Home Entertainment
  • DVD Release Date: 1 Sep 2003
  • Run Time: 162 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (148 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B0000A5BTC
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 49,463 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

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Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Since its release in 1998, Steven Spielberg's D-Day drama Saving Private Ryan has become hugely influential: everything from the opening sequence of Gladiator ("Saving Marcus Aurelius") to the marvellous 10-hour TV series Band of Brothers has been made in its shadow. There have been many previous attempts to recreate the D-Day landings on screen (notably, the epic The Longest Day), but thanks to Spielberg's freewheeling hand-held camerawork, Ryan was the first time an audience really felt like they were there, storming up Omaha Beach in the face of withering enemy fire.

After the indelible opening sequence, however, the film is not without problems. The story, though based on an American Civil War incident, feels like it was concocted simply to fuel Spielberg's sentimental streak. In standard Hollywood fashion the Germans remain a faceless foe (with the exception of one charmless character who turns out to be both a coward and a turncoat); and the platoon, led by Tom Hanks, consists of far too many stereotypes: the doughty sergeant; the thick-necked private; the southern-man religious sniper; the cowardly corporal. Matt Damon seems improbably clean cut as the titular private in need of rescue (though that may well be the point); and why do they all run straight up that hill towards an enemy machine-gun post anyway?

Some non-US critics have complained that Ryan portrays only the American D-Day experience, but it is an American film made and financed by Americans after all. Accepting both its relatively narrow remit and its lachrymose inclinations, Saving Private Ryan deserves its place in the pantheon of great war pictures.

On the DVD: This DTS edition of Saving Private Ryan presents the movie with astonishingly vivid surround sound that is audibly superior to the standard Dolby Digital version. With a wider dynamic range and a more spacious soundfield, the battles really do spill over into your living room. There are new animated menus but because the DTS data stream requires greater space on the disc, the 30-minute behind-the-scenes documentary included on the previous release is omitted. --Mark Walker

Special Features
English
Region 2
DTS English
DTS


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Customer Reviews

148 Reviews
5 star:
 (99)
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 (20)
3 star:
 (11)
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 (9)
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Average Customer Review
4.3 out of 5 stars (148 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Saving Private Ryan, 9 Jun 2005
By John Corbett - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Saving Private Ryan 60th Anniversary [DVD] [1998] (DVD)
Saving Private Ryan finally gets the treatment it deserves with this superior DVD release, now complete with a DTS soundtrack. The special features on the discs are minimal, with only a few trailers and some notes; but there is an interesting, if not fascinating documentary on the making of the film which includes interviews with D-Day veterans.

However, you probably wouldn't buy a film like this for the features. You would buy it for the intense, unrivalled and spellbinding combat sequences - most notably the acclaimed D-Day landing recreation. But it doesn't stop there. Spielberg takes us into a debate about the war through the eyes of eight stereotypical soldiers (although nonetheless powerful or resonating for it). The soldiers lay the different views, reasons and arguments before the audience about the war that were shared by so many at the time.

The film climaxes in what can only be described as a brilliant battle between the platoon in peril and Nazi tanks and infantry. The film is improved with the DTS soundtrack, which completely immerses you into the experience. This is a great transfer onto DVD of a great film.

The extras too on this 2-disc release are good, documenting well each aspect of the making of the film. Altogether, a worthy treatment of what has been often called the greatest war film ever made!

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47 of 49 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A new approach to war films, honest and realsistic., 14 Nov 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: Saving Private Ryan [VHS] [1998] (VHS Tape)
Spielberg has broken from the norm with this film and has the courage to depict war as it really is. Previous war films have been heavily sanitised to 'protect' the viewer, and Saving Private Ryan acts as a wake up call to the public, especially to myself and the younger generation, who have never experienced a major conflict in our lifetime. This film acts as an antidote to the traditional John Wayne style war movie. War is not fun, and this film removes the myth that when a soldier is shot, they fall to the floor quietly and lie still. Some of the injuries suffered by the soldiers are truly horrific but the level of violence is not gratuitous and is necessary as it adds to the level of realism.

Many people have argued that this film only portrays the American side of D-Day, neglecting the contribution of the troops from other Allied nations. Whilst this is true, Omaha beach and the areas featured in this film were areas attacked by predominantly American troops, and to feature the entire Normandy area of operations would overly complicate the story. The scene showing Omaha beach after the battle, with the sea flowing red with all the blood spilt, is particularly poignant and brings a lump to the throat of everyone who sees it.

I recently watched this film with my grandfather, who landed on the British 'Gold' beach in one of the first waves ashore on June 6th 1944. He watched the first 20 minutes of the film, which depicts the D-Day landings, with tears in his eyes as the memories of that day flooded back. While he got through that day unharmed, a number of his friends and comrades were not so fortunate. The film transported him back 57 years, and he said that this is the closest you can get to the reality of the landings without actually being in a landing craft and coming under fire.

Saving Private Ryan aptly demonstrates the horror and chaos of battle. After watching this film I found myself with a new found sense of respect for those young men who were thrust into the Hell of World War 2 and still carry those memories as pensioners. Stunning, moving, compelling, and deserving of all the accolades it gets.

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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!, 10 Sep 2005
By P. Ruffle "foulplay" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Of all the DVDs in my collection this is only one I have actually re-run and played the same movie twice in one sitting! Perhaps a little extreme, but no other film has ever prompted me to do that. If you accept that this film was made by Americans for Americans, that the storyline is fictious, that even the true events portrayed are anecdotal, then this film really works.

Tremendous escapist entertainment that Steven Spielberg does so well, this film captures the essence of what it would have felt like to have taken part in D Day, whichever country you were fighting for.

For the record, Monty's strategy at Caen was to divert crack German units away from the path of the American advance, the so-called Falaise gap. He had his own way of doing things, and was probably more realistic than anyone about how much still needed to be done to achieve total victory. He annoyed the Americans and of course it reflects in this film.

Accept that the film does have limitations, but buy it anyway. You will never regret it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars saving private ryan
The opening 20 minutes or so of the film are quite graphic, and depict the landings at Omaha beech by American forces. Read more
Published 25 days ago by Mrs. C. J. Graham

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best war movies
Saving Private Ryan is one of the best war movies I have ever seen. I like it so much that I'd only put this second to the likes of epics like Schindler's List or Forrest Gump... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Anand Dixit

5.0 out of 5 stars WORTH IT FOR THE OPENING SCENE!!
I have never been a Tom Hanks fan but in this and The Green Mile he is brillant. This film again is a very good war film which just sits behind Black Hawk Down for me for action... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jason Thorne

5.0 out of 5 stars Best world war two film!
Saving Private Ryan is a fast pace war film, not for one single second was bored. The acting is great and realistic for most of the film, but does slip sometimes. Read more
Published 2 months ago by R. Wright

5.0 out of 5 stars Arguably the greatest war movie ever made.
Arguably the greatest war movie ever made. Much criticised on release for its entirely American view of the Normandy landings. Read more
Published 4 months ago by M. Wagstaff

1.0 out of 5 stars the lost patrol
unlike private ryan.he was delivered to his mother,this dvd must be lost in france.i havent got it.
Published 4 months ago by D. Sheppard

5.0 out of 5 stars A very realistic account of D-Day
When I first saw this film I was shocked by just how gruesome the opening beach scene is. It made me want to watch the rest of the film with intent. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Ciaran Diston

4.0 out of 5 stars brutal beach landing
the first 20 minutes of this film is mind blowing with the d-day beach landings where the soldiers just run into artillery fire and bombs it's so realistic it's frightning... Read more
Published 9 months ago by BUBS.

5.0 out of 5 stars SAVING Private Ryan
Whatever you think of the story, the fact that one man is seen as so important that a relatively dangerous rescue mission is undertaken , involving ultimate sacrifice, the giving... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Andrew Moules

2.0 out of 5 stars Entertainment
Entertaining first 20 minutes, well, on the Big Screen anyway, as on a TV screen sins the surround sound its merely ok!
And viewing it again - YAWN! Read more
Published 10 months ago by Ibraar Hussain

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