I like you anticipated this film since its announcement, and finally got the DVD and watched it myself.
Although it was a good movie I also found it a disappointment, I am now awaiting "Letters".
One thing that I really didn't like was the Speilburg approach to combat scenes to "Saving Private Ryan" like (well almost exactly like it) at least the "love" portion didn't get as involved as they usually do in movies of this type

Overall I would probably watch it again, it is a great story to tell.