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 enlarge | Director: Steven Spielberg
Actors: Tom Hanks, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Barry Pepper, Adam Goldberg
Studio: Dreamworks Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.99
Buy Used: $3.48
You Save: $11.51 (77%)
New (68) Used (78) Collectible (4) from $3.48
Avg. Customer Rating:  1683 reviews
Sales Rank: 387
Format: Ac-3, Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Limited Edition, Special Edition, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 169
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
DVD Layers: 2
DVD Sides: 1
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: 667068443325
ISBN: 0783233531
UPC: 667068443325
EAN: 9780783233536
ASIN: B00001ZWUS
Theatrical Release Date: 1999
Release Date: November 2, 1999
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: CDs come with their original Liner Notes and in a jewel case. Complete customer service.
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| Customer Reviews:
 A decent film but it annoys me November 14, 2007
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
For some reason this film annoys me. The film has a great cast and it has some spectacular parts which are really intense. For example, the opening invasion was great. I heard one vet remark. "The only thing missing was the smell." The knife fight between Mellish and the SS soldier was intense and even bothered some people. I even liked the interaction between the soldiers during lulls.
For me this could have been a better story if it was kept simple with the harsh realities of war. However, what started to annoy me was the layers of schmaltz that were added in. The premise sounds neat but I really doubt a veteran ranger unit would be sent to find one guy in the middle of a war zone. It's a waste of highly trained men.
Corpral Upham to me was an infuriating character. I suspect that it's Spielberg injecting himself into the story as some story tellers sometimes do. I am finding people either love him or hate him. He annoyed me to no end and never mind the fact he got a few men killed. Mellish, the paratrooper that was with him, and Captain Miller.
Steamboat Willie. This character became a blunder due to casting. Many people think that he and the man who stabbed Mellish are the same. They are not. One is SS and Willie I think is Luftwaffe. It gave the impression the Upham shot him for killing Mellish.
Private Ryan. Now I wish they left Matt Damon off the credits. The fact I suspected he was Ryan took away from a great scene where the find a Private Ryan, tell him his brothers are dead, and learn it's not him. It was really sad to hear him cry. The shock factor was lost since I knew it was not him.
One thing I noticed was wrong was the P-51 "tank busters" They really didn't do that often. That was usually the job of the P-47 Thunderbolts. The P-51 was an areal fighter and was not armored for that kind of duty. I read somewhere somebody looked up the unit from the insignia of the planes and said they didn't have P-51s at that time. They were still flying the P-47s.
The second DVD is a "watch it once" thing. It's interesting to see how they made the film but it's not something you will return to often. I thought they could have done more with information about the battle itself.
Overall, it's a good film. But as I said it annoys me due to the premise and the schmaltz factor.
 Best 20 minutes ever filmed November 3, 2007
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
First 20 minutes makes this one of the top 100 films ever made - JUST DON'T SHOW THE KIDS!
Great, just not the best.... October 31, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Powerful, moving, epic...the clichés go on; while it is all of these and more, it is also somewhat of a narrow view of the U.S. in WWII. Fictionalized and Americanized, Saving Private Ryan seems to be somewhat lacking in comparison to The Longest Day or Band of Brothers, though the former probably lacks the special effects, and the latter the all star cast to earn the same unquestioned respect.
Unlike The Longest Day, the film makes basically no mention of anyone else's contributions to D-Day besides the US. It also just a made up story within real events, despite the far more accurate Band of Brothers, along with other war films. It never really demonizes the Germans, but depicts them purely as unknown enemies and nothing else. Both The Longest Day and Tora! Tora! Tora! took the time to show the other side's part in the war, without turning too neutral or lopsided. Here they don't even bother with subtitles, further alienating audiences from any sort of understanding to what they are saying or thinking.
Though its gallons of gore and use of shaky camera work are important to combat scenes, they quickly lose their value after the opening half hour. Unfortunately, they seem to have inspired a sort of bloodier-than-thou standard by which to make war movies, most notably in Black Hawk Down, the school of thought being that louder and more violent somehow creates a better movie. Granted, since the end of the Vietnam War and into the 1980s, war films have always felt obligated to keep cranking up the violence, but Saving Private Ryan takes it to a new level, where we probably won't be returning from anytime soon.
Amid all this onscreen chaos most of the actors do a fine job and maintain a sort of order. Yes, they are all very strong stereotypes, a few almost intolerably so, plus Vin Diesel and Matt Damon seem out of place here, but nobody really detracts from the storytelling, and it leaves you wishing for more background. With these big stars and its director, the movie's success was never in question and it pays off in production values and the authenticity of equipment, weapons, uniforms, and sets.
Overdone in places (the opening shots of the American flag felt like a bad political ad), with too much emphasis on blood, guts, and the magic of Hollywood special effects, Saving Private Ryan nonetheless leaves viewers emotionally and physically drained. It is not an easy film to watch, regardless of the carnage, and its heavy emotions are not easy to forget. A strong war film throughout, it should be seen to gain some understanding of the US on D-Day.
Stunning depiction of men under fire but not the "masterpiece" many purport it to be October 28, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
What sets "Saving Private Ryan" apart from many other war films is its stunning portrayal of combat. The confusion, brutality, and noise of war are brilliantly realised by the director and cinematographer.
It's not perfect, however. The central premise is a bit too cute and the framing device of a veteran visiting a war cemetary is overly sentimental, especially right at the very end.
Spielberg's commentary on WWII is not the "masterpiece" that many purport it to be, but it is still a fine film.
Borderline Classic September 17, 2007
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
Awesome WWII movie. Very Graphic. Realistic images of WAR, including death, decapitation and amputation from munitions, so be careful about viewing this movie. Unique and heart-warming storyline. Mom has lost 2 of 3 sons and Tom Hanks unit is tasked with finding and getting the thrid (private Ryan) home alive. Very INTENSE. This movie will make you FEEL like you are right there on the battle field. A Speilberg movie, so the cinematography and techniques he uses are top of the line and add incredible drama to the story.
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