UK R2 released!

The uk r2 is framed 4:3 but it does seem like it was shot this way as you never get the impression of missing details even during some of the epic battle sequences.The film is presented dubbed or original language with English subtitles.As stated image is 4/3 but a slight annoyance is during the action scenes flecks of dirt are often present on the lens and it`s difficult not to start following them around.Maybe this was intentional but it`s bloody annoying!If you`ve got surround sound I have to say that the 5.1 remix is absolutely superb with plenty of things happening in the rear speakers.Certainly one of the best remix jobs considering original sound was probably mono.Curiously after an hour and 10 minutes the film "ends" and then part 2 starts.I wonder if all prints are like this, such as the original theatrical cut or the tv version-seems a bit unnecessary to me having an intermission in a 2 hour film.

The film is a pleasant change from Western war films with vivid imagery as the soldier is rescued over a pitted landscape by a very young medic,the burning wheatfields as the Russians retreat and a young boy waving to the soldiers as they leave for the front.Some of the scenes in the hospital and the old lady berating the soldier for retreating are quite powerful.Battle scenes are often epic with planes, tanks and hundreds of extras on screen at any one moment although I do agree with a reviewer who stated that the Germans seem content to march in loose formation without any battlefield nous.The landscape looks stunning and looking on I.M.D. for any locations, it helpfully says filmed in Russia!