Betsy Relishs Movies
less picky than the pickle

Short Takes Sliding Doors Yes. Engaging, thought provoking. Saving Private Ryan Maybe. Very emotional and realistic battle scenes. Not a date movie. Secondhand review.	From the week of August 2, 1998 Sliding Doors Andre and I saw this one at the dollar theater and were pleasantly surprised at the engaging plot and effective presentation (I also liked the music). Gwyneth Paltrow was much better than I expected her to be. The basic plot explores how one minor incident (catching or missing a particular subway) might affect an entire life. The mechanism used to switch back and forth between the two alternate realities (the one where she caught the subway and the one where she missed it) are very effective. Okay date movie, but be aware that it deals a lot with issues of fidelity and has some brief sex scenes (no nudity).
	Secondhand Reviews
	Saving Private Ryan The first 20 minutes contain an extremely realistic portrayal of the horrors of war that is not for everyone. Although there are episodes of dark humor for relief, there are several moments of extreme emotion that may be uncomfortable in a crowded theater. Not suitable for a first date. I've also heard one report of audience members getting physically ill at the violence. The Single Guy recommends (and intends) to see it again on video (in the privacy of home) to fully appreciate it. The plot is engaging and not overly predictable.