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Saving Private Ryan - DTS Customer Reviews (31 - 33 of 37 Reviews)
Unforgettable. The best war film ever made.
Some people advise others to close their eyes during the loooong opening scene of Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan. That would be a mistake. Yes, it's carnage, it's horrible, it's relentless, it's bloody, it's random death, it's a portrayal of fear and courage and raw coincidence. But it's also one of the most powerful pieces of cinematography ever filmed.
There are many other scenes that have stayed with me during the years since I last saw this unforgettable film, perhaps Spielberg's best ever. Perhaps the most poignant one that comes immediately to mind is the woman whose sons are all away at war. She's on a remote farm, washing dishes, and thru her window she sees the dust of approaching cars. She goes outside to meet the visitors, tenses as she sees military brass and a chaplain step from the cars, then crumples wordlessly to the worn boards of her front porch as she tries to take in the news: all her boys have been killed, except for one: Private Ryan.
Another related scene, the one that came just before this one, is equally gut-wrenching (and in both scenes, there is no dialogue, just heart-stabbing visuals that are more powerful than any words could have been) as a woman charged with sending out letters of the We Regret to Inform You variety realizes that she's seen three letters with the same address within the past few days, and she takes this terrible proof to her supervisor - and thus is born the search for the surviving son, to bring him home to his momma.
Tom Hanks, with his own persona of morality and honesty, is perfectly cast as the good Captain Miller, a soldier's soldier charged with this onerous task, and of course there is terrible cost.
Saving Private Ryan is the film Spielberg HAD to make. Outstanding, in every possible way.
Horrible
Dopey World War II movie with Friday the 13th style special effects, (...) and inaccurate weapons information.
Try banging a 60mm mortar round's primer(base) on something, your hand will be blown off.
The Needs Of The One
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 The film opens with the historic D-Day invasion of World War II. The constantly noving camera during the first half hour, 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.
The sound on the current DTS DVD edition is just amazing. The DTS track for the film is among the best I have heard--with or without--a home theater system. There are 2 theatrical trailers, 1 for its initial release, the other for its reissue around Oscar voting time. Steven Spielberg offers a "special message" about what the film means for him and his push for a WW II memorial. Production notes and cast/crew biographies complete the extras on the disc. Even though, I would have liked for more extensive extras, the film is, still a masterpiece. ***** stars and Highly Recommended, if there is anyone left out there, who has yet to see this film.
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