Here are some customer reviews of
Saving Private Ryan (D-Day 60th Anniversary Commemorative Edition)
: Notice, my friends, that "Shakespeare in Love" is not one of the three greatest films of all time, but rather "Taxi Driver", "The Deer Hunter", and this film are. In my humble opinion, that is, of course. The photography, the sound, everything about the way the film is made, not to mention the acting (but I guess I did anyway, EH) are terrific. Should be the modern day "Citizen Kane" war film, in that it should inspire just as many directors. At least, I'd like to see that happen.
There is a tradeoff, the DTS versions of some of the movies dont have all the little extras, but if they sound as good as the DTS version of Private Ryan, IT IS WORTH IT, incredible sound, I have both version, dolby digital and the DTS, DTS blows the dolby digital away, no contest, if you have an amp that will decode the DTS, this is a must have, and get ready to duck and cover, next on your buying list is the DTS version of the Allman Brothers Fillmore East or Moody Blues, PLEASE SAY THIS IS THE FUTURE!
I cannot believe that the Academy chose that garbage piece of crap "Shakespeare in Love" movie as Best Picture. "Saving Private Ryan" is the greatest and most realistic war movie ever made and it deserved the award for Best Picture. At least the voters for Best Director weren't drunk. Spielberg got the award he deserved but his movie was overlooked because the Academy voters were too busy drinking their whiskey.
 First, let me say that Spielberg did an outstanding job and this is an important film with great acting. It is up there among great war films, but ones such as Das Boot, Apocalypse Now, Catch-22, and Full Metal Jacket still stand out as the tops. I urge you to check those out first before or in addition to Saving Private Ryan. I would say that Saving Private Ryan had impeccable and more realism in the D-Day and battle scenes. Yet in a way it detracted from the real suspense and horror of war by just handing the viewer graphical depictions -- limbs on a silver platter, if you will. The other movies I mentioned show the real face of war -- it's atrocities and absurdities. While the plot of Saving Private Ryan dances around those things also, I believe it gets buried in the audio and video technological wizardry. It becomes a case of "less is more" in my opinion.
Spielberg has reached a level through this film that none will top. The harsh and "kill or be killed" attitude of war is brought to life through excellent cinematography and stunning visuals. The Academy Awards and Oscars presented for this film will leave you feeling let down, wondering why more were not given. In almost three short hours, the watcher is pulled mercilessly through the trenches of the D-Day invasion of World War II. Toes are stepped on and political correction flies out the window to bring the viewer a closer look at the blood that was shed to give us the freedom we so often abuse. Helpless to resist, you are witness to a gut-wrenching portrayal of the search for one solitary soldier amidst the pangs of war. This special mision, led by Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks), is shockingly realistic and may easily cause one to wonder if those they see are actors at all. It is often easy to deny the reality of the price that was paid for our freedom but the "in your face" scenes seem to burn such reality directly into your mind. Any video collection without SAVING PRIVATE RYAN is not a collection at all. To share any more about the film would compromise the pleasure of the next audience to lose themselves and find a heart within them that has, perhaps, remained dormant.
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