Rating: 
Summary: Visually Stunning, Shocking, Tearful and Harrowing
Review: Coming from someone with a profound liberal political bias, one would never expect to see such a laudatory tribute to the men who defeated Nazi Germany during WW II. But here it is nonetheless, probably the best war movie (and most visually stunning anti-war movie) ever made. This is Spielberg's tribute to the GIs who took on the mighty Wehrmacht and defeated it. These were the schoolteachers, the inner city kids, the farm boys and the timid souls who met the "supermen" of Hitler's Aryan Army and defeated them. Why is this the finest war and anti-war ever made? Well, look at it. It is probably the closest one will ever see to the real thing. Arms and legs fly, men die horribly, painfully and screaming. There is no nobility in war and no glory, either. Spielberg, with the assistance of an outstanding cast, shows us that all too vividly. The reason for the mission of these eight US Army Rangers, is the rescue of one lone paratrooper, assigned to the 101st ABN Division, which had been dropped behind German lines on the night of 5 & 6 June as the remainder of the Allied Armada prepared to board landing craft to storm the beach of Hitler's "Festung Europa." PVT James F. Ryan is the sole surviving son of a family of 4 from the heartland of America. Raised on a farm with his brothers, all joined at the beginning of the war or as they came of age. When his three older brothers are killed in action within a week of each other, a wary Army staff is prompted to attempt a rescue of the last son from this Iowa family. In a memorable scene which is supposed to include General George C. Marshall, Chief of Staff of the Army in Washington, several officers argue for and against the attempted rescue of a single private behind enemy lines in Normandy. No one knows if he is alive and some argue that the rescue mission will most certainly kill most, if not all of the rescuers. The argument is a sound one, but it also shows the compassionate side of the huge and mostly unwieldy war machine of the United States of the time. The message is clear; despite the fact that the United States had more than 10 million men and women in uniform in 1944, the force was not that large that it could not look for, find and save one anonymous private, and all because he was the last living male member of his family. The rescuers are a polyglot crew. In size, their little team is nothing more than a short squad of riflemen. But they represent the best of the assault troops the Army has available, the Rangers who seized Pointe du Hoc and held it for the rest of the Americans storming ashore. They are led by Captain John Miller, someone we get to know as the movie progresses. He is older than the rest and later, we find that he was much older than the average company commander of the day. He is accompanied by the sturdy, career Sergeant, who has see service with him in every major battle in the European Theater of Operations. There is the smart-assed PVT Reiben, a stereotypical New Yorker who always has a smart remark and a complaint for whoever will listen. The lone Jew is also present. He is portrayed as alternately frightened and heroic. I was saddened when I saw what happened to him in the most personal battle scene in the movie. There is a scripture quoting sniper. Obviously, this was Spielberg's swipe at Southerners and their rifles. A fundamentalist sniper? How original and how cliched. Barry Pepper still did an outstanding job in the role and had I been in that situation on D-Day +1, I would have wanted someone like him along. Captain John Miller also takes along a young linguist, T-5 (Corporal) Upham. A rear echelon soldier, untrained for infantry combat, he is fluent in French and German. Later in the movie, he quotes Emerson to Captain Miller and during this interchange, we come to realize that there is much, much more to the heroic officer than meets the eye. As the movie progresses, we watch in horror as Cpl Upham comes unglued by the rigors and horrors of war up close and personal. In the scenes where Upham fails as a soldier and fails his fellow GIs, Spielberg allows the young actor, Jeremy Davies to realize an outstanding performance. It is just one of many in this incredible movie, but it is the most memorable. Tom Hanks was nominated for another Academy Award for his role as Captain Miller. It was an understated role, delivered with mastery and precision. I actually believed I was listening to this man and thought he would have made a fine infantry officer; as good as any I served with. Unfortunately, Hanks, a two-time Oscar winner was not the recipient of a third award. Like Spencer Tracy, who was also nominated more than twice (and won twice), the Oscar went elsewhere. Everything is accurate about this movie. The uniforms, the coloring, the insignia, the weaponry, the locales. As I watched the movie and all the carnage it portrayed, I developed a new respect for my father's generation. After all, these were the men who were there and brought home the victory. These were the men of "The Greatest Generation." If Steven Spielberg never makes another movie, then this one will be his tribute to his father and my father and all of the other men who fought, died and won WW II. These are the men who made the world relatively safe for the rest of us. Yes, this is a bloody and thought provoking movie. It is also a masterful tribute to a generation of men the likes of which America doesn't seem to be capable of producing any more. Now, we have greedy yuppies and Generation Xers who know everything about everything there is to know. From 1941-1945, we had everyday Americans who went out from their homes and defeated the best of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. They didn't ask for the war, but when the time came, they stood up and met the challenge before them. This is their movie and Steven Spielberg has done an eloquent job of telling their story. After seeing this movie, I have developed a much deeper respect for my father and men like him. I have personally thanked every WW II veteran I have met since seeing this movie (as I have with every Viet Nam vet I have met). To those who would take what freedoms we still possess for granted, I can only say one thing: Go watch SAVING PRIVATE RYAN.
Rating:
Summary: The Finest War Movie Ever Made
Review: I am no great Spielberg fan. I never liked E.T. I thought Jurassic Park was really dumb (although the sequel was OK). But he has made two movies that would both probably make my top five list: Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan. Saving Private Ryan is different from other war movies I've seen. Other such films are not typically very personal. This detracts from the power they are able to convey. Spielberg, for better or for worse, always manages to portray the human element in a situation, probably better than anyone else. The near-flawless realism of the battle sequences is not for gross-out factor but to tell the story like it is. A lot of people died in World War Two. Not many movies really portray that. This movie does. But what makes Saving Private Ryan a cut above all the other war movies is its story. It's not about how many people died in some great battle against the Nazis, it's about those who survived. This makes it all the more powerful. Combine all this with superb acting all around and a stirring yet unobtrusive score from the undisputed master John Williams, and you have a movie worth owning. I personally have the DVD and I can certainly reccomend it. Be warned: this is an intensely realistic movie; not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach.
Rating:
Summary: Breathtaking Spielberg Classic
Review: On Omaha Beach in France, a GI lurches about, desperately looking for something he has lost. He spots it and picks it up. It is his arm, blown off at the elbow by shrapnel. This is just one of the many images of horror glimpsed through the water, smoke and endless gunfire in the stunning D Day landing sequence that comes early on in director Steven Spielberg's masterful and moving movie about World War II, Saving Private Ryan. It is this extended (24 minutes) bloody battle sequence, in which handheld camera work contributes to a terrifying you-are-there feel, that sets the tone for the movie. Men are mowed down, the ocean turns red, and the noise and slaughter never stop. Trying to stay alive through all this madness is Capt. John Miller (Hanks) and his men. Those who survive D Day are handed another mission: Go behind enemy lines and find Private Ryan (Damon), whose three brothers have all been killed in combat. The orders are to get him out and send him home. "Where's the sense of risking the eight of us to save one guy?" grouses one of Hanks's men. His question is at the movie's core. Why fight at all? What does any one man owe another? And was it all worth it? Helped by a thoughtful script by Robert Rodat, Ryan raises all these issues. The answers the movie provides are never pat, jingoistic responses about country and duty but rather more complicated ones about friends, family and simple decency. After seeing Ryan, many of us will look at our aging fathers or grandfathers with a newfound respect. And ponder what we, as individuals and as a nation, are doing today to justify the sacrifices those men made on our behalf more than half a century ago.
Rating:
Summary: Saving Private Ryan-Hold onto your subwoofer!
Review: **This review covers the 5.1 surround version, NOT the DTS version** I was anxious to receive this DVD, since I heard amazing things about its sound quality. The DVD comes in an attractive case, with well-made graphic design on both the package and the disc itself. A small pamphlet comes inside the package, with an interesting read about Spielberg and the film. Not too impressive, but a good read overall. I popped the DVD into my player and was very impressed with the simple, yet beautiful menu design. Navigation is easy and the menu design couldn't be more simple, without lacking attractive graphical design. In the menu, you have the choice of picking certain scenes with a very impressive moving scene index, and you can choose to have English subtitles. The special features are put together very well. You have a special message from Steven Spielberg, a behind the scenes featurette titled "Into The Beach", the theatrical and re-release trailers, cast & crew info and production notes. (Into The Beach is NOT on the DTS version because of space limitations. DTS audio takes up much more disc space then other audio formats. If you prefer DTS audio and don't mind the lack of the "Into The Beach" featurette, then make sure you order the DTS version.) The audio choices you have are 5.1 digital surround and 2.0 Dolby surround. Whatever type of system you have, be prepared for an audio experience that will overwhelm the senses. Saving Private Ryan is an incredible film, a real tribute to those that put their lives on the line over 50 years ago. Spielberg has created a film with top notch production values. The cinematography and sound design, as well as the production design are incredible. The picture quality of this DVD is superb. It is very clean with beautiful detail and a look and style that is amazing, especially during the battle scenes. The cinematographer Janusz Kamisnki, who I had the pleasure of working with once, did an exceptional job of bringing the viewer right into the extreme chaos of war, and creating a visual experience unlike any previous war movie ever seen. The sound of this DVD is another story in itself. The sound design of this film is just about flawless. Incredibly realistic, unbelievably clean with beautifully recorded music and crisp, clear dialogue. If you have a surround system, the war sequences will be nothing less then spectacular. Even those with 2 speaker set-ups, the sound is amazing. On 5.1 systems, gunshots and bullets will surround your head with such clarity, you may find yourself ducking for cover. Sound design is ground-breaking, and the people responsible for it on this film should be applauded. Deep bass is well used throughout the battle scenes, so your subwoofer will have an extreme workout. The ambiance and atmospheric qualities of the entire film, along with the surround and effects elements, will give the viewer an unbelievable listening experience. Add this to an incredibly visual film, and you have the stage set for about 3 hours of DVD pleasure. I highly recommend this DVD to any fan of Spielberg, or to anyone who really wants to hear audio that is simply groundbreaking. In conclusion, Saving Private Ryan is an excellent, well produced film. A real tribute to those who risked their lives in World War II. This DVD is excellent....buy it and enjoy it...an amazing treat for the eyes and ears.
Rating:
Summary: Uplifting ,and,at the same time ,saddening, so saddening .
Review: I've tried for quite a while to find a tagline for this movie. The one I've found seems appropriate ,I believe it sums up the essence and the messages of this extraordinary movie. Yes, it's one of my favorite movies , I don't know anybody that hasn't seen and admired it . Well, it's for a reason. No movie (that I know) from the last decade conveys the horrors of war in that explicit, down to earth, realistic way. While seeing it for the first time my heart ached, I felt so much grief over all the men that'd died in World War II, and in all the wars, for that matter. In this particular case, this war was unavoidable, and these men were fighting for the most noble reasons . I felt throughout the film in great debt to all those soldiers that had fought the nazis, and helped shaping the world as we know it today .When Captain Miller'd said in the end "Earn this ,earn it " I felt like it was addressed directly to me, and that as a person that has earned the right to live thanks to the western victory ,should I transcend myself from all those pitiful everyday problems of mine to accomplish something good, real good in my life. I've thought a great deal about it in the couple of years since I've seen the movie . I have this notion in my mind, and I'll keep on trying. One cannot refer to "Saving Private Ryan" without praising the sublime soundtrack composed and conducted by John Williams. It's my all time favorite soundtrack, I've listened to it more than any other disc, never getting enough of it. Williams succeeded in seizing the entire diversity of emotions ,feeling and sentiments the movie had delivered in the best possible expression. I admire his creation as much as I admire the movie ; It's so touchy and delicate ,that in the first times I've listened to it ,I couldn't stop the tears out of dropping down my eyes . " Hymn to the Fallen " cannot be left unmentioned . It's the most intensive track ,the main theme ,if you may .I haven't heard anything that meaningful ,similar to this masterpiece ("Symphony of sorrowful songs" by Gorecki is an exception and has transcendency of another scale). I could actually hear the mothers cry with anguish and pain in the peak of this creation. If you haven't heard it yet, it's an imperative you won't stay indifferent to it's majestically crafted tune. Another genius part of the movie music ,unfortunately ,left out of the soundtrack ,is the song "Tu Es Partout" by Edith Piaf. The song integrates so harmonically with the progress of events in the movie ,that you can't help yourself from falling in love with it instantly, unquestionably. A true brilliant choice. Then ,coming downright to the essence of the movie ,you're left with the distinct feeling of sorrow and pain over all the dead, wherever they died .The scense of death is strong in this film ,the realism is the highest I've ever encountered. This is a great achievement of Spielberg, the director, and I think that he's accomplished his initial goals with this astounding film . In the end, owning this DVD is an obvious act ,and the first one to buy if starting a personal library. Every penni justies it's expense .
Rating:
Summary: The greatest war movie I've ever seen
Review: Saving Private Ryan is a magnificent movie.To me,it is the best movie on the subject of war ever.(at least out of the ones I've seen)It is extremely graphic,and although I wasn't there,I would say that it shows how war really was.It's got a first rate cast led by Tom Hanks,and I think it is Spielberg's best film.(with the possible exception of Schindler's List)Every time I watch it I get tears in my eyes thinking about all the men who fought and died for our country.I think this film is Spielberg's way of paying tribute to them,and he does a magnificent job.
Rating:
Summary: The Visual equal to Cornelius Ryan's D-Day
Review: If you would like to see how patriotic it was for young soldiers to jump out of an amphibious landing vehicle and 20 seconds later get shot to death and drown on the coast of France, watch this film. I give it 5 stars for its simple and blatant accuracy of how brutal and utterly stupid war really was, is and always will be. Field Marshall Montgomery and General Eisenhower and their blind, military cronies have now been permanently immortalized by this film due to their impassioned madness in glorifying butchery and population control in the name of 'patriotism'.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful
Review: I am not going to rate the movie... i am rating the DVD. it is five stars easy. there is no flicker, pause, or red blur. The picture quality is bar-none the most beautiful DVD i have seen. I love this DVD, and i watch it way too much. I have watched the whole thing a few times just to marvel at the picture quality.
Rating: 
Summary: A Great, But Flawed, War Movie
Review: This may well be one of the best--and most gruesome--war movies ever made. It remains a cut below Platoon, however, because--yet again--Spielberg just COULDN'T avoid weepy sentimentality. The framing device he uses--the old man whining at the head stone, adds nothing to the movie, and takes away much. As a final image, it needs to resonate with the rest of the movie, to emphasize what has come before it. Watching the old guy wimper to his wife about his having lived a good life is an utterly unearned emotion. The quality of his life, his character, after the period of the movie's narrative is never shown, so ALL we know about it is what he and his wife tell us. We are shown nothing, in other words, and so what is meant to be a moving moment remains flat...unearned emotion. We are being told how we ought to feel about this, without being given any detail to make that feeling genuine. It's a very brief moment in an otherwise excellent movie, but that it is the final image taints the experience of the whole movie--it is, after all, the final impression we are left with. This movie contains some of the most graphic, brutally honest battle scenes ever filmed, I think. Young men (and women) should watch this before enlisting! It might give them pause. This is Spielberg's best work since Jaws (which, in my opinion, is still his best movie).
Rating:
Summary: Spielberg Does it Again!
Review: What can I say, the man weaves story-lines like no one else in the film industry. This movie is probably the best representation of WWII ever produced, and is most definitely worth its 5 Academy Awards. Tom Hanks delivers a gripping performance that will have you on the edge of your seat...and you won't even realize how long the film is until it's over! The DVD format brings to the table amazing sound and picture clarity...a must have for any "home theater" collection!
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