Rating: 
Summary: Earn this?
Review: I'm not going to waste time on a comprehensive essay, because SPR has already been analyzed to death on both technical and artistic grounds. Something like the Omaha Beach landing (or the breaching of Rommel's Atlantic Wall in general) is such a monumental event, it's hard to go wrong with a realistic portrayal because it speaks for itself. Taken as a dramatic whole, SPR embodies all that is noble and all that is annoying about Spielberg, a man who earnestly brings all the awesome powers of filmmaking to bear on historical projects of fundamental significance yet falls short when it comes to trusting his audience and transcending cliché. Despite his undeniable talent and unquestionable sincerity, Spielberg all too often epitomizes American heavy-handedness.[SPOILERS follow...] There's one major story element that makes little sense and has always bothered me: Consider Private Ryan. The guy loses all three of his brothers, refuses an opportunity to go home in the face of a deadly threat, then stays behind to fight in a horribly pitched battle in which many fellow soldiers die while successfully defending a vital river crossing. After all that, we're told, he's supposed to return home, invent a better lightbulb, and live like a saint in order to "earn" their sacrifice and give it meaning. Theatrically effective, maybe, but my reaction was "Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot?" Miller's company gave their lives ELECTIVELY to hold an important bridgehead which might well have been lost otherwise, so it's not as though they died in vain. And Ryan himself has just shown great dedication to duty while enduring hellish combat and great personal loss--you'd think that might suffice to settle his account! Hanks should've looked straight into the camera when he delivered that famous line, because WE are the ones who have to earn our soldiers' sacrifices whenever we send them off to die. (That's just as applicable today, incidentally.) Combat veterans like the Pvt. Ryan depicted in this film have more than paid their dues, and they don't owe anyone a damn thing.
Rating: 
Summary: A Tribute to Hero¿s
Review: I was compelled to write this review based on some of the incredibly ignorant, self-serving reviews listed below. It always strikes me how some viewers will see a movie and then are appalled when it isn't 100% historically accurate. In the movie "Field of Dreams" Joe Jackson is depicted as a right handed hitter, so I guess this movie should be considered a bomb, after all Shoeless Joe was a Lefty. Perhaps if you cynical viewers out there lightened up a little and came down off your high pedestals you might actually add a little enjoyment and enrichment to your lives. It's funny, I don't ever recall Mr. Spielberg, or Mr. Hanks or anyone else associated with this film spouting on about how Saving Private Ryan was intended to be 100% historically accurate. Yet people are peeved when an incorrect tank, half- track or weapon is used in a battle sequence. Gee the movie stinks because the sky was a bit too sunny during the landing sequence on Omaha beach. It's a movie folks not some history class at Harvard, get over yourselves already. The movie recreates the landing on Omaha beach in a horrifying manner. It does a very good job conveying to the viewer the many mishaps the men encountered. Despite all the planning, preparation, war games, etc., the landings were in many ways haphazard. Unfortunately Omaha was a very heavily fortified beach head in Normandy and the Americans landing there where cut down by the thousands. Men landed in the wrong sectors, equipment didn't work, lines where crossed. Ultimately the Americans finally did get off Omaha beach but not without a tremendous cost. The movie is loosely based on a factual occurrence. During WW II an American soldier was pulled off the line in the Normandy theater and sent home because three of his brothers where killed in action. The movie takes the liberty to build off this to allow the viewer to enter the world of the WW II combat army ranger. Going forward a small unit of army rangers embarks on a mission to find a 101st airborne solder (Matt Damon) who has lost 3 brothers (KIA). The orders are that he be found and then sent home to the states so that his family will not have to endure the loss of another son. As the movie progresses the viewer is drawn into various combat encounters culminating with an intense battle which takes place in a small French village. The battle scenes are outstanding, especially the last epic WW II battle in the village. I thought the acting was very well done. Tom Hanks as usual was excellent, as was Ed Burns, and Tom Sizemore. Matt Damon also was excellent in his supporting role. The message here is plain and simple. This movie was meant as a tribute to a generation of brave men who put their lives on the line for all of us. Men who's lives were interrupted and taken away at much too young an age. The film does an excellent job conveying the horror and hell these men encountered. For me, this is the films message, and I think it more than accomplished its goal. I've seen some people pan this film because it too clearly defines the lines between good and evil, or that it glorifies war. Sorry, that notion is nothing more than a bunch of bunk. I just don't see anyone running to sign up for the Army or Marines after watching the first 20 minutes of this film. The fact is, there has never been a time in the history of the world where the lines between good and evil where more clearly defined than in WW II. The estimated death toll in WW II (military & civilian) is listed at "48,231,700". Almost 50 million lives lost; let that number sink in a little before you blowhards out there write another one of your ignorant reviews about how over blown the notion between good vs. evil is depicted in this film. The films focus is on a small American Army Ranger unit, it wasn't intended to be a modern day version of "The Longest Day" or a comprehensive narration of D Day. The direction the film takes should in no way be perceived as a slight toward the other brave allies who fought to rid the world of Nazi tyranny. A collective fighting will was needed to prevail, and we must never forget the great sacrifices all of the allies made to defend our freedoms. This film offers the viewer a lasting image of the level of sacrifice that was made. Thank you to the WW II Generation.
Rating:
Summary: THANK YOU
Review: "Saving Private Ryan" was gold, Steven Spielberg's best work ever. Anybody who walks away from this 1998 account of America saving the world on D-Day, without a glowing respect for what we sacrificed, is an idiot or a "useful idiot." STEVEN TRAVERS
AUTHOR OF "BARRY BONDS: BASEBALL'S SUPERMAN"
STWRITES@AOL.COM
Rating:
Summary: "This time the mission is a Man!"
Review: Many people have seen this film and had different reactions. Most good some not. The story begins with the D-Day Invasion at Omaha beach. Capt John Miller (Tom Hanks) along with Sgt. Mike Horvath (Tom Sizemore) lead a squad of Rangers onto the beach of Omaha at Normandy. The next 20-25 mintues are the most intense and realistic I have ever seen. The battle never slows down and does not cover up any realism. Blood, guts, shooting, explosions, men praying and calling out. It is all shown and should be. Some people may quesion why would anyone want to see this. Those of us that have served in the military want those who have not to see what it is like to serve in the military. Not for people to feel sorry for those who have, but to understand a different way of life. After the invasion, Miller is given an order that he and his squad must go behind German lines locate and bring back a Pvt. James Ryan (Matt Damon) from Iowa. It is no secret that his three brothers are now KIA! Some people complained that the characters where not real enough, or stereotypes. Isn't everyone given this? Before you meet them or after? Each platoon or squad in the military is like this, some nice men, others not! Plain and simple. Along for this mission is a new man to the group Cpl. Upham (Jeremy Davies) a interpreter. Men that had landed with Miller are the backbone of the film. Pvt. Reiben (Ed Burns) who likes black humor and has a quick temper, Pvt. Caparzo (Vin Diesel) a large well hearted man. Many viewers have to look twice to realize that this is Diesel in an early role. His acting abilites are strongest in this film. A man deeply religious Pvt. Jackson (Barry Pepper) and Pvt. Mellish (Adam Goldberg) a Jew who toys with German prisoners about his religion. In the rear is Wade (Giovanni Ribisi) a medic who is caught in the wind of the war without a rifle. His job is simple yet could be anything but-save lifes.
As they go with this mission they begin to argue why are they trying to find one man when there are so many of them. What is so special about Pvt. Ryan? They have mothers too.
When they finally find him Ryan refuses to go since all his brothers are dead. He will not leave the ones he has left. Capt. Miller who has kept the squad together the best he can runs into a road block, stay and help defend the bridge or take Pvt. Ryan against his will and go. The final battle is no less brutal. It takes your breath away and won't let you go. It makes you appricitate freedom. People around the world need to understand that this is a film about Americans in WWII. Were not saying we won the war ourself. We didn't. That a squad would not walk so close in the open and talk. Used to keep the movie going, thats it. Battle scene's too brutal. People also need to see what it is like for those who serve there country in the military so they may live free! Winner of 5 Academy Awards. Best Director Spielberg, also won for cinematography, editing, sound and sound effects editing. Best film and most important one I have ever seen.
Grade:A+
Rating: 
Summary: All-American Entertainment
Review: This film is presented by Dreamworks and produced by Amblin Entertainment. It is fairly entertaining, but not exactly a dream work. If I were an American I would feel deeply ashamed and embarrassed to see my country and my army, its people and moral values, presented to the rest of the world in this manner. Fortunately I'm not an American, but merely a member of an insignificant nation which never lost its cool, led in WWII by a fellow called Monty, an overrated general who never screwed things up, never did anything stupid, and whose only battle setback was at Arnhem. Fortunately, as proved by the numerous perceptive comments on this website, there are many Americans who feel as I do. They just don't work in the Hollywood movie industry.
Rating: 
Summary: newer version
Review: No Doubt this is a great WWII movie. However, one reviewer had wrote it(the new 60th anniversary edition) has a DTS soundtrack , this information is incorrect. (Dolby Digital only). I bought a somewhat rare DTS version of the previous DVD version. In my opinion DTS is superior to Dolby Digital. You gotta hear it to know what I'm talking about. This version is superior in terms of the new added content(2 Discs), but until they release a version like this one that has a DTS soundtrack I won't upgrade mine.
Rating:
Summary: True Fiction
Review: The story line is good, the action is realistic -- the D-Day scene will awe you with respect for those who actually faced those bloody beaches. What a generation, the greatest generation who really saved a great deal of the world from absolute tyrany. No doubt about it. We owe them our respect, movies like this resound with that truth.
Rating:
Summary: Great combat...not a great movie....
Review: This film is kind of like the CD you buy for two or three good songs. The combat scenes are fantastic, but the story is devoid of any sort of character development. The characters are a bunch of cliches (the tough kid from Brooklyn (where else?), the Sniper with a southern accent, the "tough as nails" Sergeant with a heart of gold (hmmm, maybe Whoopi could have played that role...), the philosophical soldier, and the Jewish kid fighting the Nazis. The "bookends" of this film (the Matt Damon character at the cemetary) is pretty heavy-handed as well, I found it hard not to laugh when the old guy went through the whole "tell me I'm a good man" thing. The staging of the combat scenes is amazing and worth the price of admission, but don't expect a great story. At least not one as good as the real thing. Stick with "Band of Brothers" for a better narrative.
Rating:
Summary: "We are going to get him the hell...out of there."
Review: "Saving Private Ryan" is Director Steven Spielberg's acclaimed movie about finding the last surviving brother (one of four) who was part of the Normandy invasion of World War II. Steeped in sentimentallty as Spielberg movies often are, you do feel a genuine sympathy for the characters. There is no getting around the fact that it is a sad movie - as the designated mission accomplishes its goal at great cost. Perhaps most-notable for its intensely graphic 20-minute opening scene of ther assault of the beach, the movie raises some points about sacrificing for a cause and the standing up for your principles. The movie boasts an impressive cast including Tom Hanks as the captain leading Tom Sizemore, Barry Pepper, and Vin Diesel, among others, to find Matt Damon. For some of the members, it is just an assignment, for others it is a waste of time, for others it it a noble cause. The central third of the movie drags a bit, and I had a problem with one of the wimpy characters who almost screws up the mission. His character was a huge, obvious cliche. The DVD has good a good picture and sound. The extras include a short "A special message from Steven Spielberg" which is mostly an ad for the D-Day museum, and "Into the Breach", a good behind the scenes featurette. Also included are cast/crew detail and a couple trailers.
Rating:
Summary: Spielberg and Hanks shine in this well mad movie.
Review: Hanks doesa great job acting, and Spielbhgerg does a fantastic job of directing this great movie! World War movie is the best one ever made.
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