Bridge Of Spies on Blu-ray and Digital HD 2/2/2016

Disney and Dreamworks invite you to take a step back into an era of espionage and Cold War. Steven Spielberg directs a dramatic thriller set against the backdrop of a series of historic events, Bridge of Spies tells the story of James Donovan (Tom Hanks), a Brooklyn lawyer who finds himself thrust into the center of the Cold War when the CIA sends him on a near impossible mission to negotiate the release of a captured American U-2 pilot. Bring home this high stakes suspense story, that was nominated for 6 Academy Awards, on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and Digital HD February 2, 2016.

As soon as I saw the trailers for this movie I knew I wanted to see it.  I’m enthralled with historical movies, especially ones that take place in the era of Bridge of Spies, since my Grandparents and Mom actually escaped from East Germany, plus I’m a big fan of Tom Hanks.

We saw it in theaters when it was playing and I found it was produced extremely well.  As always Tom Hanks puts out a great performance and the rest of the cast (Tom Hanks as James Donovan, Mark Rylance as Rudolf Abel, Amy Ryan as Mary Donovan, Sebastian Koch as Wolfgang Vogel, Alan Alda as Thomas Watters, Austin Stowell, Mikhail Gorevoy as Ivan Schischkin and Will Rogers as Frederic Pryor) rounds out the story so you feel like you have literally gone back in time.  It shows the backbone of America during a time where tensions were high, and a man who was not willing to let politics play into his character.

I was eager to see it again on Blu-ray because of all the bonus features that are on the disc.  They really enhance the content of the movie as you put the acting into a real historical perspective.

A CASE OF THE COLD WAR: BRIDGE OF SPIES  – The story of James Donovan, Francis Gary Powers and Rudolf Abel encapsulates the Cold War era—a tense political climate shrouded in propaganda, espionage and the threat of nuclear war.  This piece explores the characters and the real-life people they’re based on, ordinary men in extraordinary circumstances. Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks share personal stories of the Cold War, describing how experiences from their youth were part of the attraction to the script, how this influenced the way they approached the film and why the history behind Bride Of Spies resonates across generations and is relevant in today’s political climate.

U-2 SPY PLANE: BEALE AIR FORCE BASE – Showcases spectacular footage shot at the Beale Air Force Base of the U-2 plane and the scene where Powers and other pilots are instructed about their spying mission, including a cameo appearance in the film by Francis Gary Powers son, Gary Powers Jr. and discussion with the Air Force liaison about the significance of the scene and why they got behind the film 

SPY SWAP: LOOKING BACK ON THE FINAL ACT – Steven Spielberg and his team stage the pivotal scene of the film at Glienicke Bridge, the very same location where the historic exchange of Soviet spy Rudolf Abel and U-2 spy plane pilot Francis Gary Powers took place. Gary Powers Jr. shares his memories of his father’s experience with voiceover recordings from Francis Gary Powers, as filmmakers and the cast recreate a page of Cold War history while filming in the presence of Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel. 

BERLIN 1961: RECREATING THE DIVIDE – A mix of behind-the-scenes footage with iconic archival imagery transports viewers to another place and time as the filmmakers construct the Berlin Wall, envision what it was like to cross through Checkpoint Charlie, and recreate the divide. On set in Berlin just days after the 25th anniversary celebration of the fall of the Berlin Wall, a historian who lived through the experience describes what being there means to her. In Poland, where the Wall was recreated for the film, tanks, hundreds of extras and powerful sequences make the setting feel epic and surreal. 

* Digital bonus offerings may vary by retailer

History buffs will surely enjoy this movie and if you are one, Bridge of Spies DVD  is one you need to get.  For parents of high school aged homeschoolers, this is a fantastic DVD to watch as a supplement to a history unit.

You can learn more about Bridge of Spies on their website and social media channels:

Like BRIDGE OF SPIES on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BridgeOfSpies
Follow BRIDGE OF SPIES on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BridgeofSpies
Visit the official BRIDGE OF SPIES website: https://www.bridgeofspies.com/

 I received a copy of this movie for review purposes. All opinions are 100% my own and honest.