Those already into Blu-ray will have a specific title and a particular scene up their sleeves to show off the benefits of Hi-Def home entertainment to the uninitiated. Here's a true great to add to the armoury (so to speak)--the first 20 minutes of action in Saving Private Ryan [Blu-ray] are as good a demonstration as you'll ever need to make someone say "wow". The true terror of the D-Day landings in World War II is brought to startling life in this high definition release--with the explosions jumping out of the screen and bullets zipping around your ears, you're brought as close to the front line as you can get without leaving the safety of your sofa--you will need reminding to breathe once that brutal, gut-wrenching opener is over. And it doesn't stop there. The rest of the film benefits from the Blu-ray clean up, it's looking brighter and sounding more crisp than ever before (as you would expect). One of the greatest war films ever made has been expertly enhanced and it's now an even more wonderful movie experience--the transfer to 1080p is exemplary.

The extras are bountiful too, with over three hours of special features. The only criticism of the entire package is that only a couple of the extras are in Hi-Def, the rest are in standard definition. However, fans of the film won't be disappointed as extras from previous DVD releases are collated, including a great insight into Steven Spielberg's mind as he talks about his interest in World War II and how it led to him making this film. The notable addition to this version's extras being an extensive and fascinating documentary Shooting War, hosted by Tom Hanks, which follows the brave soldiers tasked with chronicling the war and all the horrors that came with it. It's a great account it's own right, so owners of this copy are given plenty to pore over. Make no mistake, the scene-stealer is the opener--it grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go for 20 agonising minutes--and if you're looking to enhance your collection, then look no further than this landmark release.--Tom Lawrance



Special Features

2-disc Blu-ray edition. Disc 1: Feature Film.

Disc 2: Special Features:

• An Introduction - 2:33

• Looking into the Past - 4:38

• Miller and his Platoon - 8:22

• Boot Camp - 7:35

• Making Saving Private Ryan - 22:01

• Re-Creating Omaha Beach - 17:55

• Music and Sound - 15:56

• Parting Thoughts - 3:41

• Into the Breach: Saving Private Ryan - 25:03

• Theatrical Trailer HD - 2:18

• Re-Release Trailer HD - 2:08

• Shooting War - 88:04