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A few words about...™ Saving Private Ryan -- in Blu-ray

post #1 of 61
4/23/10 at 7:42am
Thread Starter 
With Paramount's Sapphire Series getting off to a bit of a rocky start with digital cleansing problems in Gladiator, which may have been caused by Universal elements, it's nice to see quality back with their release of Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan.

I've a feeling that anything with Mr. Spielberg's name attached to it is going to go through a bit more serious QC path than some other productions, and if that's the case it shows here.

I screened the new Blu-ray last night for a friend, and he made an interesting comment.  With the overall dynamism, layers of audio and pure volume, dialogue during the opening landing, as well as all other sequences that play high on the db scale, is all clear. 

While I would believe that some of this is due to the decoding of one's receiver, speaker setup, etc., the audio must clearly be there in the uncompressed tracks before it can be delivered into one's home theater environment. 

The audio on this disc, full, rich, loud and always crisp and clean is a testament to not only the sound effects, dialogue recording and mixing work performed on this huge production, but also of the fact that the DTS-HD Master Audio system delivers what it promises.

Image is perfect, with rich blacks, accurate color and densities.

Saving Private Ryan is a great, and important film, and has  been delivered with perfection via Paramount on the Blu-ray format.  As the winner of five Academy Awards inclusive of Best Director, (Shakespeare in Love took Best Picture), it deserves a place in any serious Blu-ray collection.  As an aside, SPR also won Best Editing, Sound and Sound Effects Editing, so what you're hearing should come as no surprise.  Anyone serious about cinema should stop for a moment and imagine what was entailed in creating these tracks.  The job must have been immense.

A perfect Blu-ray.

Highly Recommended.

RAH
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post #2 of 61
4/23/10 at 7:53am
 And also an Oscar for Best Cinematography :)

Easily the best war-film ever made (along side its mini-series counterpart Band of Brothers), and one of the most important films of the last half century in my opinion. 

Hopefully, Cameron's Titanic finds its way to BD soon in the Sapphire Series, done correctly of course.
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post #3 of 61
4/23/10 at 7:54am
Can't wait to hear this in Lossless.  This is one of those films where it will be really terrific to compare against what has come before it, due to the extensive effort that went into the theatrical production.
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post #4 of 61
4/23/10 at 8:22am
Till this day, I think this film was robbed of the Best Picture Oscar. 

Great to hear the positive feedback on the AV presentation of this BR release.





Crawdaddy
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post #5 of 61
4/23/10 at 8:44am
Can't wait to pick this up - a must have. Now what about A.I.?
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post #6 of 61
4/23/10 at 9:20am
I agree....even though I do like "Shakespeare In Love" as well, it really has no place alongside this film.  Look forward to picking this one up.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Crawford View Post

Till this day, I think this film was robbed of the Best Picture Oscar.
 
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post #7 of 61
4/23/10 at 11:49am
IMO this movie is a fairly run-of-the-mill war flick with a classic opening sequence and a very good final battle (and spectacular production values).  Of course, when the DTS DVD came out, I watched that opening sequence over and over -- that's as awesome as film sound gets.  (See, this isn't a thread fart. :) ) 

(Taken as a whole, IMO Shakespeare in Love was a better movie. And it may not be fair to compare a 2-hour movie to a 10-hour series, but I much prefer Band of Brothers.)
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post #8 of 61
4/23/10 at 11:54am
this is due in my postbox very soon, and I am very excited!!

its a film that is difficult to watch due to the brutality of the battle scenes - specifically the beach landing and final battle in the town / bridge

cannot wait to see this again, but in HD, I would imagine its even more harrowing!


I've been thoroughly enjoying "The Pacific" mini-series (up to ep. 6 so far), and also cannot wait to own that on HD-Blu-Ray

buying Band of Brothers on Blu-Ray was easily my best HD purchase, the difference in the viewing experience between the HD and my SD-DVD set was simply, stunning!!
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post #9 of 61
4/23/10 at 4:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aaron Silverman View Post

 

(Taken as a whole, IMO Shakespeare in Love was a better movie. And it may not be fair to compare a 2-hour movie to a 10-hour series, but I much prefer Band of Brothers.)

 

You're right, it's not fair to compare a 2 hour movie to a 10 hour series.





Crawdaddy
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post #10 of 61
4/23/10 at 7:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aaron Silverman View Post

IMO this movie is a fairly run-of-the-mill war flick with a classic opening sequence and a very good final battle (and spectacular production values).  
 

Agreed. I will give this rent at some point just to hear the lossess during the opening sequence but there's no way I could sit through the entire film again.
 
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post #11 of 61
4/23/10 at 8:07pm
Quote:
 
Till this day, I think this film was robbed of the Best Picture Oscar. 
Yeah, that still pisses me off.

Quote:
 Easily the best war-film ever made

Interesting how you call SPR "easily" the best war film ever made, but your avatar is a picture of Kilgore
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post #12 of 61
4/24/10 at 12:32am
SPR is a great film. As far as best war film, I would be inclined to say "All Quiet on The Western Front".
Edited by Edwin-S - 4/24/10 at 3:21am
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post #13 of 61
4/24/10 at 2:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron-P View Post

Agreed. I will give this rent at some point just to hear the lossess during the opening sequence but there's no way I could sit through the entire film again. 
That's my position too.

The idea that Saving Private Ryan is better than, for example, The Bridge On The River Kwai, Lawrence Of Arabia, Zulu, Zulu Dawn and Patton I find astonishing.
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post #14 of 61
4/24/10 at 5:10am
I find Saving Private Ryan an entertaining war movie, build on a spectacular premise, almost always inhabiting Spielbergs scheme of storytelling. The first 45 minutes, acts as a study in stunning cinematography combined with the most important moment in Europe the last 100 years. The historic impact of such magnitude, none of us will ever truly comprehend. For that, I thank Spielberg and for that long intro sequence alone, combined with the moment at the end on the graveyard, where we truly understand the term "the greatest generation".

As a whole though, Spielberg doesn't succeed in bringing Saving Private Ryan to a higher level. The 90 minuttes in between are purely Band of Brothers excerpts, that doesn't possess the Spielberg touch, just ordinary filmmaking.

I treasure this, as a great intermission act, for the upcoming Thin Red Line, only compromised by a cast of too many movie stars.
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post #15 of 61
4/24/10 at 5:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin9 View Post

That's my position too.

The idea that Saving Private Ryan is better than, for example, The Bridge On The River Kwai, Lawrence Of Arabia, Zulu, Zulu Dawn and Patton I find astonishing.
 

Why do you find it astonishing?  Film appreciation is very subjective which is why I value film opinions different than mine because not everybody thinks the same way in regard to any particular film.




Crawdaddy
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post #16 of 61
4/24/10 at 6:00am
As much as I love Band of Brothers, if it wasn't for Saving Private Ryan, there would be no Band of Brothers.

I don't think SPR is *better* than the other classic war films mentioned in this thread - including the unmentioned Paths of Glory - in the same way that I don't think any individual "top" war film is better than the others on that kind of list.  But I think SPR does deserve a spot on that list.

The opening and closing sequences seem to overshadow many "moments" in the middle third that I personally treasure.  Whether it's the arrival of the chaplain to deliver bad news to a mother in that wonderfully framed tableau, the silent and purely visual scene where a secretary discovers an important piece of information and brings it to her superiors, the scene in the church, or the wait before the final confrontation in the village with the haunting refrains of music echoing through the streets, or even Hanks' emotional collapse as the stress becomes too unbearable, I just find this film exceptional on all levels.

Great to read that the Blu-ray will add another level of excellence to this experience.
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post #17 of 61
4/25/10 at 2:49am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Crawford View Post

Why do you find it astonishing?  Film appreciation is very subjective which is why I value film opinions different than mine because not everybody thinks the same way in regard to any particular film.
 
Because I had never come across that idea before!

I am well aware that "film appreciation is very subjective" but that is hardly the point as I was not suggesting that other contributors should not express their opinions. I was exercising my right to express my opinion.

I can sit here and speculate that some eccentric somewhere will believe that Plan 9 From Outer Space is a better movie than Citizen Kane but that won't stop me being astonished if the idea is ever put to me.
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post #18 of 61
4/25/10 at 5:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin9 View Post

Because I had never come across that idea before!

I am well aware that "film appreciation is very subjective" but that is hardly the point as I was not suggesting that other contributors should not express their opinions. I was exercising my right to express my opinion.

I can sit here and speculate that some eccentric somewhere will believe that Plan 9 From Outer Space is a better movie than Citizen Kane but that won't stop me being astonished if the idea is ever put to me.

 

Nobody is suggesting that any member can't express their opinion because expressed opinions is what this forum is all about.  However, I do find your last analogy in your bolded comment interesting because I hope you're not trying to compare Saving Private Ryan to the film quality of Plan 9 From Outer Space?  Film appreciation is subjective as you have acknowledged and everyone is welcome to their own opinion, but stated opinions can run counter to a generally accepted consensus of any film.





Crawdaddy
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post #19 of 61
4/25/10 at 11:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Edwin-S View Post

SPR is a great film. As far as best war film, I would be inclined to say "All Quiet on The Western Front".

May I also add a vote for "A midnight clear"? Anyone?
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post #20 of 61
4/25/10 at 9:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Crawford View Post
However, I do find your last analogy in your bolded comment interesting because I hope you're not trying to compare Saving Private Ryan to the film quality of Plan 9 From Outer Space?  
 

No, of course not. I was using an extreme hypothesis to make the point that a reasonably open-minded person can still be startled by an opinion that contradicts everything he has come to believe and accept.
 

I don't think Saving Private Ryan is a bad movie. I just don't think it is a truly great one. I agree with the consensus that it has near the begining an exceptionally good battle sequence incorporating demonstration quality use of directional sound, and that everything that follows is a bit of a let-down and is not especially thought-provoking, moving or exciting.

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post #21 of 61
4/25/10 at 10:37pm
I can't wait to see this on Blu-Ray.  I missed it in the theater and I haven't watched it on dvd since I picked up my HD tv set a couple years ago.  Watching it now should almost be as good as in the theater.  With my surround setup, I'm expecting to be "blown away"......literally.
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post #22 of 61
4/26/10 at 2:01am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin9 View Post


No, of course not. I was using an extreme hypothesis to make the point that a reasonably open-minded person can still be startled by an opinion that contradicts everything he has come to believe and accept.
 

I don't think Saving Private Ryan is a bad movie. I just don't think it is a truly great one. I agree with the consensus that it has near the begining an exceptionally good battle sequence incorporating demonstration quality use of directional sound, and that everything that follows is a bit of a let-down and is not especially thought-provoking, moving or exciting.


 

The general consensus is that Saving Private Ryan is a great movie whether you agree with that opinion or not.  As far as thought-provoking, I will never forget walking out of a sold-out movie theater after watching Saving Private Ryan for the first time.  It was the first time, I observed a sold out audience leaving the theater in dead silence and you could tell by the looks on their faces that most of us were still digesting what we've observed over the last 2.5 hours.  Afterwards, I talked with several friends about this film and their reaction was that Saving Private Ryan really struck a chord with them about the horror of war and the ultimate sacrifice that many soldiers gave to their country.

Personally, I wouldn't call Saving Private Ryan the greatest "war" film ever made, but it's in the top 10-15 in my opinion.  It's impact on the film industry gave us Band of Brothers and The Pacific while it will most likely continue to influence future film-making of "war" films for many more years to come.





Crawdaddy
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post #23 of 61
4/26/10 at 2:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin9 View Post

That's my position too.

The idea that Saving Private Ryan is better than, for example, The Bridge On The River Kwai, Lawrence Of Arabia, Zulu, Zulu Dawn and Patton I find astonishing.

I don't know if its better than those films, but it is surely right up there with them. And a much better film than Patton in my own opinion.

Doug
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post #24 of 61
4/26/10 at 2:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin9 View Post


No, of course not. I was using an extreme hypothesis to make the point that a reasonably open-minded person can still be startled by an opinion that contradicts everything he has come to believe and accept.
 

I don't think Saving Private Ryan is a bad movie. I just don't think it is a truly great one. I agree with the consensus that it has near the begining an exceptionally good battle sequence incorporating demonstration quality use of directional sound, and that everything that follows is a bit of a let-down and is not especially thought-provoking, moving or exciting.


I think that Saving Private Ryan is a truly great film. Is it the greatest war film ever made? I have no idea. However I found it extremely though provoking.

Yes the plot is a fairly standard "squad" film where you get to know each of the men, but it is told with such virtuosity as to rise above its basic "movie formula" plot in to a truly great film.

I saw this film in a theater with a small group of World War 2 vets. It was a very moving experience for me, and clearly was for them. My group went to a coffee shop after words and ended up talking about the film till 3am. For me this is one of the best films of the last 20 years, if not the best.

Doug
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post #25 of 61
4/26/10 at 4:32am
Its funny what you take away from a film. I remember watching SPR and thinking to myself I didn't want to watch it again as it really bothered me on an emotional level. One scene in particular scared the hell out of me and that was when the Tiger tank is advancing on the teams position and all you hear in the background is the sound of its engine and mechanical clank of its track. The feeling of impending doom just overtook me and I almost left the theater. I went with a close friend and, like Crawdaddy experienced, you could hear a pin drop at the end. Nobody said a thing to one another as we were leaving.

I have watched about every war film made and none of them had this type of emotional impact on me. I really can't pinpoint what scene caused this emotion or that feeling but for me what SPR brought to bear was a feeling of being there in the moment and not just watching a dramatization (even though it was) of a piece of our history. 
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post #26 of 61
4/26/10 at 6:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fritz Nilsen View Post




May I also add a vote for "A midnight clear"? Anyone?
An excellent film that I would buy on BD in a heartbeat.

As for Saving Private Ryan, unfortunately, I had a horrible screening experience at the cinema.  Sitting next to me was a young couple (about 20 years old) and the girl had her hands over her eyes for the entire opening sequence (and much of the rest of the film).  That was not especially bothersome in and of itself, but it had a nasty consequence.  Her boyfriend spent the entire time describing, quite loudly, every detail she was not watching ("and now, there's a guy with his arm blown off standing around looking for it" and "there's a guy puking over the side of the boat" and so on).  Despite my (and other) protestations, he refused to shut up or tone down his voice.  By the time an usher could make his way to us (centre row in a huge, packed cinema), the sequence was ruined--and the usher was too cowardly to do anything about it.  

My complaint to management got me a refund, but it did nothing to undo the ruined impact of the opening sequence.  I've seen it subsequently several times, of course, but it is impossible to create the same powerful impression as a proper first viewing does.  
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post #27 of 61
4/26/10 at 10:21am
Too bad, Paul, that that's the memory with which you're left. 

People are stupid.
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post #28 of 61
4/26/10 at 10:52am
I think Saving Private Ryan is one of the best war movies ever.  There is only one war movie(I have seen) that I feel is much better....Platoon.  Vietnam has always fascinated me for some odd reason. Platoon on Blu-Ray would be most welcome.
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post #29 of 61
4/26/10 at 12:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Crawford View Post

You're right, it's not fair to compare a 2 hour movie to a 10 hour series.

Crawdaddy

Let me rephrase:  IMO at least 7-8 episodes of Band of Brothers are individually superior to SPR. :)  I found them riveting for reasons beyond the battle sequences and production values.

This conversation comes up all the time because so many people consider SPR to be one of the greatest war films of all time.  Like Robin, I would not put it in the class of films like River Kwai or Lawrence.  (Patton or Zulu -- maybe. :) )
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post #30 of 61
4/26/10 at 12:51pm
Very much looking forward to this one's release. I always enjoy this when I watch it although there are still bits that have me so tense I bite my fingernails.

On a side note, I wonder how long it will be after the release before somebody starts complaining on a forum somewhere that the vaunted Blu-Ray high definition is OBVIOUSLY not worth the money, because there are streaks and smears in places on the screen during the opening sequence. :)
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