Saving Private Ryan Blu-ray Tom Hanks

Search DVDBeaver

S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

directed by Steven Spielberg

USA 1998

I have here a very old letter, written to a Mrs. Bixby in Boston.

"Dear Madam,

I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant-General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle. I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering to you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save. I pray that our heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.

Yours very sincerely and respectfully,

Abraham Lincoln."

****

Spielberg's meticulous period detail effectively re-creates the war-torn countryside of occupied France. The American soldiers visit two bombed-out towns where all that remains standing are the half-shattered husks of once-impressive structures. Many of the weapons that appear in Saving Private Ryan are authentic period pieces, bought from collectors. And, following the successful landing at Normandy, we are treated to a spectacular panorama of the beach, with a variety of mighty ships anchored offshore and the sky thick with blimps. Even though the Omaha Beach sequences were filmed in Ireland, they nevertheless offer a sense of verisimilitude that those familiar with the actual place on the English Channel shore will find hard to dispel.

With Saving Private Ryan set alongside Schindler's List, Steven Spielberg, once known as a purveyor of well-crafted-but-lightweight feel-good fare, has given us two of the decade's most gripping, disturbing, and powerful motion pictures. I consider Schindler's List to be one of the most amazing movies I have ever experienced, and, in many ways, Saving Private Ryan is its equal. Although both films take place during the same time period, they focus on different ideas. Schindler's List personifies good (Schindler) and evil (Amon Goeth), and plays out the struggle against a tragic backdrop. In Saving Private Ryan, there are no human villains, and the enemy isn't so much the Germans as it is the implacable, destructive specter of war. The film's central question (When is one life more important than another?) is never really answered. For those who are willing to brave the movie's shocking and unforgettable images, Saving Private Ryan offers a singular motion picture experience. I will be surprised if another film tops it for the best of 1998.

Excerpt from James Berardinelli at ReelViews.com found HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: July 24th, 1998 - USA

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

Comparison:

Dreamworks - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Umvd/Dreamworks (2 disc - D-Day 60th Anniversary edition) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Paramount (2-disc) - Region FREE - Blu-ray

1) Dreamworks - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT

2) Umvd/Dreamworks (D-Day 60th Anniversary edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE

3) Paramount - Region FREE Blu-ray - LEFT

DVD Box Covers

Distribution	Dreamworks Region 1 - NTSC	Umvd/ Dreamworks Region 1 - NTSC	Paramount Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime	2:49:10	2:49:10	2:49:04.175
Video	1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 5.36 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 5.81 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	Disc Size: 45,968,973,501 bytes Feature Size: 45,416,466,432 bytes Average Bitrate: 27.52 Mbps Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video 1080P
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes
Bitrate: Dreamworks
Bitrate: Dreamworks (60 D-Day Anniversary)
Bitrate: Blu-ray
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)	English (DTS 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), DUB: French (Dolby Digital 5.1)	DTS-HD Master Audio English 4198 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 4198 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) Dolby Digital Audio French 640 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps / DN -4dB Dolby Digital Audio Portuguese 640 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps / DN -4dB Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 640 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps / DN -4dB
Subtitles	English, and none	English, Spanish and none	English, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish and none
Features	Release Information: Production Company: Dreamworks Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1 Edition Details: • Production notes • Theatrical trailer • High-Quality Digital Telecine Transfer: Utilizing C-Reality, a state-of-the-art digital transferring process. • Director's Message: Steven Spielberg discusses the significance of D-Day and the National D-Day Museum. (2:28) • Behind-The-Scenes Featurette: A segment titled Into The Breach (24:54) offers an insightful look behind-the-scenes of the production. • Parental Lock DVD Release Date: November 2, 1999 Keep Case Chapters 20	Release Information: Studio: Umvd/Dreamworks Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1 Edition Details: • An Introduction By Steven Spielberg (2:34) • Looking In To The Past: The Research, the Screenplay and the Vision (4:40) • The Making of the Platoon (8:24) • Boot Camp for the Cast (7:36) • Making Private Ryan (22:04) • Re-creating D-Day: Omaha Beach • Music And Sound • Parting Words and more • Number of discs: 2 NOTE: Disc 2 Extras are also subtitled in English, French and Spanish DVD Release Date: May 25, 2004 Bookcase style cardboard box with plastic inserts (resembles footlocker) Case Chapters: 20	Release Information: Studio: Paramount Disc Size: 45,968,973,501 bytes Feature Size: 45,416,466,432 bytes Average Bitrate: 27.52 Mbps Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video 1080P Edition Details: • An Introduction By Steven Spielberg (2:34) • Looking In To The Past: The Research, the Screenplay and the Vision (4:40) • Miller and his Platoon (8:24) • Boot Camp for the Cast (7:36) • Making Saving Private Ryan (22:04) • Re-creating D-Day: Omaha Beach (17:58) • Music And Sound • Parting Thoughts • Into the Breach: Saving Private Ryan • Theatrical Trailer (in HD!) • Re-release trailer (in HD!) • Shooting War (1:28:05 in SD) • Number of Blu-ray discs: 2 NOTE: Disc 2 Extras are also subtitled in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish Blu-ray Release Date: May 4th, 2010 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters: 20

Comments:

NOTE: ADDITION: Paramount - Region FREE Blu-ray - April 2010: This Blu-ray transfer seems prime for debate in the Forums on whether it is more accurate to theatrical... or manipulated. I believe the former. Well, I checked it on two systems doing two sets of captures - as well as toggling back and forth on my HDTV between two players (DVD and Blu-ray). In certain scenes the new 1080P rendering appears to have lighter, and probably more accurate contrast. Like many, I saw this in the theater but my memory is not so precise in regards to the numerous cinematographic techniques utilized in the film. There is heavy grain in spots, flared brightness, damned colors, intentional speckles to vérité war photography and other parts are pristinely sharp and crisp. I think this Paramount Blu-ray is the most accurate and the DVDs look boosted by comparison (actually the two SD-DVDs are the exact same transfer). I can only say that my presentation was astounding - the film in this new rendering impacted me more than ever before. I was filled with emotion. You can see the high degree of detail in some of the additional screen captures posted at the bottom of this review. The first disc - almost 46 Gig worth, is entirely devoted to the feature - sharing it with no supplements. It is supported with a solid bitrate for the almost 3-hour film. We will do more investigation but as for now I am very satisfied - I see, absolutely, no DNR and suggest that this is the way the filmmakers wanted Saving Private Ryan to look. It's incredibly impressive at times.

Audio is a rousing DTS-HD Master 5.1 anchored with strong 4198 kbps. Bullets careen against metal, bomb bursts explode with dominant bass and the John Williams majestic score never sounded so compelling. More drama and 'shell-shocked' intent is produced by the lossless audio rending. It has incidents of subtle intent and verbose grandeur. This mix is dynamic and buoyant - with moments as aggressive as I have heard in a while. Bravo! There are optional subtitles for the feature and all 2nd disc extras and my Momitsu has identified it as being a region FREE disc playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide.

NOTE:
HOLLYWOOD, CA (May 12, 2010) - Paramount Home Entertainment today announced that it is recalling the Sapphire Series Blu-ray edition of Saving Private Ryan recently released in North America, the United Kingdom and the Benelux countries due to an audio synch error that occurred during Technicolor’s authoring process. Although Technicolor employs comprehensive quality control measures, in this instance the issue was not detected prior to replication.

“Technicolor has been a valuable partner to Paramount Home Entertainment, and both Paramount and Technicolor are committed to providing the highest quality product to consumers,” said Dennis Maguire, President, Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment Worldwide. “Our Sapphire Series was created to present our greatest films with the finest picture and sound quality available. Saving Private Ryan is a five time Academy Award® winning film including Best Director from one of America’s most acclaimed filmmakers so we are recalling this edition to ensure that every Blu-ray disc honors Steven Spielberg’s vision.”

Technicolor has set up the following toll-free numbers for consumers who have already purchased the Saving Private Ryan Sapphire Series Blu-ray, which provides details on how they can receive a replacement copy — US and Canada: 888-370-8621, UK: 08000-852-613. Consumers can also return the Blu-ray to the stores where they purchased the product to receive a replacement. Technicolor expects to have replacement discs available at retail no later than Tuesday, May 18.

Extras, all housed on a second Blu-ray disc, have all that the 60th Anniversary D-Day DVD package contains (hour's worth of production featurettes) and add Shooting War - a 1.5 hour 2000 documentary by Richard Schickel. Tom Hanks narrates (Spielberg produces) this film on WW II combat photographers in the Pacific and Europe. It gives great historical context to the feature film. Very much worth watching but is only in SD.

The package is HUGE in my opinion. I have come to appreciate this film in a much greater manner than ever before. "A recruiting film'? Sure - but, if so, the best I've ever seen. The Blu-ray has our highest recommendation.

- Gary W. Tooze

ON THE DVD: Looking at the bitrate graph, I would guess that the only addition to the audio/video in the new edition is the French DUB and Spanish subtitles. Of course there is a whole second disc of Extra Features but my Bonus Disc is flawed (huge pixilation in the title menu and then freezes up). So my recommendation is not to upgrade if you have the first DVD (remember there were actually 2 - a DTS disc as well). I thought some improved compression might have been included, but it hasn't. There is a big debate about Edge Enhancement and this disc - yes it still has some - VERY minor though (see very bottom). Nothing to get excited over - but I find it a bit of a rip-off that they haven't improved the image at all. Great contrast and deep blacks. The film was shot with so many techniques that it can appear grainy and overly bright at times - purposely. The audio in the new edition is magnificent. Truly demo-quality. Remember purchasing this DVD is in no way acknowledging D-Day - you can do that in private. This is just a slick marketing ploy to sell more DVDs and they didn't even bother to improve the image. I think very little effort was put into this new DVD. $26 is a lot to pay for some Extras, especially if the disc is flawed (like mine)!

- Gary W. Tooze

DVD Menus

(Dreamworks - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. vs. Umvd/Dreamworks (D-Day 60th Anniversary edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT))