I never got around to buying it. I kept putting it off, and then it went out of print. Have you read what James Agee wrote about it? He considered it the only fictional film made during the war about the war worth the label "great". He considered it a masterpiece. His review in The Nation contains some of his best writing. I imagine it's on line, but probably behind a paywall.
Essential reading: Agee on Film. I learned so much from his insights.
Agee on Film was the first book on film criticism I read when I was in my early teens. Recently, I bought the Library of America edition, which includes all the Time magazine pieces that were left out initially. The last few months I've been reading it again. Coincidentally, the day I read his review of STORY OF G.I. JOE for the first time in more than 50 years, and wanted to see it again, was also the day Ignite announced the Blu-Ray.
I should search for the Library of America edition.
I'm in the middle of watching this Ignite Blu-ray and so far, it looks great and is far superior to that 2000 DVD. Also, I received a poster. More to come when I finish with my first viewing.I can finally retire this 2000 Image DVD:
Right now, I'm watching the Blu-ray again with Alan K. Rode's audio commentary. I'm very pleased with this Blu-ray release especially considering the film elements they had to work with. No OCN while using 3 and 4th generation elements for the most part. Hell, they had to use 16mm footage for the key ending scene. There is a short featurette talking about the work they did to present this fine film on Blu-ray. Below is the back of the Blu-ray case that lists the bonus material.
