There such a thing as TOO realistic?
589446
Steven Spielberg I always find is better when he does heartwarming stores(Close Encounters, E.T) or action type stuff(Jurassic Park, Minority Report) but now and then he wants to go ultra-realistic and while Schindler's List is a very nicely done film, it feels its length. Saving Private Ryan is 15 or so mins shy of 3 hours but never did it feel like it.

Inspired by a true story(although modified slightly), Private James Ryan is 1 of 4 brothers who are in war. 3 of them die however and to relieve the grief of the mother slightly, and maybe some good PR, they decide to send in a Captain to retrieve him and bring him home. Pretty simple story set against the backdrop of World War II and in particular the Invasion of Normandy.

Speaking of which, that scene is probably one of the most realistic war scenes ever filmed. Shot largely handheld the camera is always moving and zipping around and even going underwear than surfacing. One shot I didn't like although maybe it adds to the realism is when a soldier either through bullet hits or an explosion but his stomach is slashed so he's literally holding his guts. It shows the horrors of war yes but it felt a bit too over the top, especially with the guy screaming out. It's like they're trying to make you cry and disturbed when other scenes do it naturally.

The war scenes are violent and graphic yes. Soldiers are blown apart or severed in half, one gets his head blown off. It's extremely bloody but that adds to the realism, unlike Michael Bay's Pearl Harbor which was really tame considering the event, even the "director's cut" wasn't that bloody.

As for performances, they're likable without them being too overbearing. Tom Hanks plays that kind of steadfast captain who admits now and then he's done some wrongs. Everyone else is likable too, even Vin Diesel who to me has only done 2 good performances: this and Pitch Black. The kind of breakthrough though is Jeremy Davis playing Corporal Upham, a translator/map maker taken into war and is just scared ****less about what's going on.

The look of the film is interesting too cause the filmmakers color saturated the film to make it look the way it does and also cinematographer Kaminski is kinda famous for this grainy look, the film kind of looks ugly. But he did win for Best Cinematography so who am I to talk?

I don't find this film to be one of those re-watch over and over like I do with Aliens or Seven but now and then it's nice to pop it in and be entertained(or is that horrified and grossed out?)
1606353
Very realistic.  It's the kinda town you wanna live in.  Alaska seems so far away but thier neighborhoods are just like the ones in the lower 48
276613
Such a strange one!  The way in which it was written (emails, voicemails, letters used to tell the story) is the main reason I am calling it strange.  It is realistic fiction, but the end took a turn I thought was unrealistic.  It is enjoyable and light overall.
2848777
I have this book, it is a read in process.  if you want something fanciful and easy to read, this may not be for you. if you really want to question your reality of experience, this book might be for you.
It is an enjoyable read. but take it serious.
4615035
It was intertaining, acting was great. Almost too realistic.
1054523
Supersized doses of suspension of disbelief are needed for this one. If you aren't bothered by extraordinarily improbable situations, then you may like it. In my case, blaming outer space aliens for the murders was almost as believable. And there is the not usual inexplicable behavior by the main character at the very end just to jazz up the excitement level. ("What's the dumbest thing I could possibly do? Ok, that's what I'll do.)
4358701
This is a good book on straw bale.  It is quite realistic and written by somebody who obviously has a great deal of experience.  Alas, it was realistic enough to talk me out of straw bale building.  Well worth reading to assess if straw bale is right for you.  Not a rose coloured glasses view on straw bale.
3405994
Are we sure this book is fiction? because it felt far to real at times.

I mostly read to escape life, but I also like a little realism in my stories. This one almost had too much realism for me. This could easily of been fact rather than fiction. From the start my heart went out to Jeremy. He was so endearing. Learning more about his life left me shuddering. I was on tender hooks watching this one play out. I thought I was prepared for things to go down hill for poor Jeremy before seeing him get his HEA. What I wasn't prepared for was the turmoil I felt reading about his case. The tension when it all fell apart for him was so real. Too often kids are given back to parents purely because of the blood relation. Blood does not make you the best person to care for a child and it's so aggravating when courts refuse to see that.

I was a little worried when Dwayne came into play, but my fear was unfounded as I soon came to realise. I was also a bit mad at Thomas for letting 6 months go by without going to see his boy. He claimed over and over that Jeremy was his son, yet he allowed himself to mope and sulk when he should of at least been by to see for himself that Jeremy was doing OK.

Thankfully this story managed to get to a place I was more than happy with. Jeremy was such a sweetheart, I loved him to pieces. I wish there were more men like Thomas and Randy. I hope one day we can join up with these two again.

Overall despite the tears and nervous tension this book is a keeper and one I will re read. A must for anyone looking for a gritty real read about kids in need.

I also want to say well done for Miss Ann. There certainly need to be more carers like her, willing to stop and get help when she realises things are not right.

If I had any niggles it would probably be the way Dwayne was encouraged to call Thomas dad. I don't think a boy that old that had loved his parents would of called anyone else mum or dad, at least not for a few years. But thats just my thoughts.
3515708
Difficult because it comes across as realistic but not so graphic that it can't be watched.
3747780
A more serious book than I usually choose.  Good story, the characters feel realistic (for the most part). Probably won't read it again.
1707953
A little far-fetched, or, maybe it isn't !!!!!

Makes you think and wonder.
519179
The subject may be very serious, but not handled in a maudlin fashion. The characters are believable and interesting in a very human way, not super heroes like in fantasies.
1970184
Sometimes this genre is unrealistic hero worship. This book and hopefully the series continues with its more realist path

Although not many of my friends that were 15yrs plus service with a family would have 100k to layout.
4458910
A wonderful book of a future gone wrong, with an imagination run wild yet coherent . A future not too far from today, and not impossible to imagine so that the fear that this could actually take place is very real and gripping. The odd realities and odder creatures are strange but bizarrely not farfetched. It makes one wonder what laboratories are cooking up, what science can do if in the wrong hands, and how we would all react. We can feel ourselves as an additional "snowman" confused, losing it, but with no choice but to live on. The novel is a warning, and also a deep investigation into human psychology, into civilisation, into purity (the crakers....) and the lack of it (us).
2724986
This book was fun enough to read, but it's really at the limit of believability. I mean if this stuff actually happened the world would be ridiculous, but it is fiction. Some of the technical details seem remarkably off for Tom Clancy as well. Perhaps this is a staff written book with less oversight.
472638
Maybe not that realistic but a hell of a lot of fun.
2937467
A little to real, great story line. I enjoy reading this type of fiction, but this one feels like it might become reality.