Video:
Though shot in color, the 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen image was drained of bright hues to simulate the “by-gone era” feel of Saving Private Ryan. Eastwood also used a variety of visual tools to obtain a grainy, raw picture. As such, the movie seems to be in perpetual “sunset”. However, this is a visual style, not an indication of visual defects. The video transfer appears to be free of print defects and compression problems.

Audio:
As to be expected from a war movie, the Dolby Digital 5.1 English track is thunderous and enveloping when appropriate. The spare music score--composed by Eastwood--is given a wide berth across the front soundstage. The rear channels are fairly active throughout the whole movie, either for zinging bullets and distant explosions during the war scenes or for ambient noises during the non-combat sequences.

You can also watch the movie with DD 2.0 surround English and DD 5.1 French tracks.

Optional English and Spanish subtitles as well as optional English closed captions support the audio.

Extras:
Upon loading, the DVD plays trailers for Letters From Iwo Jima (a companion piece to Flags of Our Fathers) and Babel. The menu system is so spartan that all you can do is play the movie or select languages, though you can skip chapters while watching the movie. (I was initially afraid that Eastwood wanted the movie encoded without chapters.)

--Miscellaneous--
I did not find any inserts inside the keepcase.

 - David McCoy