Rating: 
Summary: Wow
Review: I am not a war story person. I easily dismissed this when it came out as another war story. I was wrong. This movie really made you stop and think, and remember what people went through. Well worth the time. Yeah, it has gore. But only to the point of showing you what they saw every day. Minus 1 star for length - almost 3 hrs. I thought it could have been trimmed a bit.
Rating: 
Summary: As real as it gets
Review: Steven Spielburg did an outragous job with this DVD making it reach out to the people. It made those of us who were not in WWII realize how scary and bloody it got. Every War has its casualties, but if your not there to witness it first hand you never know how bad it got. This movie is as close as you get to the truth. Gettysburg and Saving Private Ryan are the only movies I've ever seen that could even compare to the real thing. I can only imagine what it must have been like. A must see for every American.
Rating:
Summary: One of the greatest WW2 films of all time
Review: A very moving epic about a group of American Rangers sent on a mission to rescue one man who's brothers had been killed earlier in combat. A movie that analyses the horrors of war, and the ordinary men who fought in it. This movie sets the ground for anyone interested in WW2 history and the men involved. A great performance by Sizemore, Hanks and Matt Daemond, just an excellent film.
Rating:
Summary: Compelling and Sad
Review: Words cannot express my feelings the first time I saw this film. I have studied history extensively, but was still unprepared for the visual effects of the D-Day invasion. The story in this movie is almost secondary to the up-close history lesson we receive about the horrors of wars that are fought by everyday people. This movie should be required viewing for all, so people can see first-hand the patriotism these boys had for their country. This is one of the most moving films of our time.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent in every way.
Review: This film is a horrific vision of World War II. The movie involves one mans mission to retrieve a soldier from combat. The soldier's name is Private John F. Ryan. Private Ryan has three other brothers who are also in combat, unfortunately they were killed in action. Since Private Ryan is the only one left of the four brothers, the General orders that he is retrieved off the front line and brought home to his family. This is surprising, because usually the Army will not go out of the way to retrieve one single man. One soldier is chosen to lead six men into battle to retrieve Private Ryan. At the beginning of the film, director Steven Speilberg takes us to the front line. The first twenty minutes of the film consists of the Americans invading Omaha Beach at Normandy. As we watch this part of the movie, we are almost thrown into the battle with the help of up close and personal camera shots and movement. This part of the movie, as well as the rest of the movie, is notorious for its ultra realism. In World War II, that means some serious violence. We are forced to watch people die. There are some quick shots of death, but we are also forced to watch some very painful shots. Most movies would show a quick painful death. Speilberg does something more, he makes us watch characters we love and grow to know, die slowly, painfully, and with emphasis on realism. Showing this gives movie patrons a shell shock of realism and emotion, and it's hard to find a movie that can do that to us. If one can make it through the first twenty minutes of the film, he or she is on an emotional journey that will never be forgotten. After the last of Private Ryan's three brothers dies at Omaha Beach, the search for Private Ryan begins. We are now given the opportunity to meat the team that is sent off to save Private Ryan. Led by actor Tom Hanks, the team sets out with a controversial mission to save someone they don't even know. The reason this is controversial is because in war, soldiers are resources, and risking the life of seven men to save one, is illogical. The movie puts that aside and brings a glimmer of morals into the war. Although some of the team disagrees on the purpose of this mission, they know that they have a mission to do and must follow it. When asked "How do you choose between the mission and the man", Tom Hanks replies, "This time the mission is a man." This movie has excellent character development. The team of six people is introduced to us well, and the characters are written wonderfully. Everyone on the team has an original personality. As the movie progresses, we grow to like a single character one at a time. Just when we start to like the character and want to know more about him, he is killed in action. Since we are forced to watch a slow, painful, and gruesome death, this is a great loss to us, and an emotional shock. Since this is war, we can't expect everyone to live. But still, we are hurt when they die. Then about two thirds through the movie, we meet Private Ryan. At first, Private Ryan is reluctant to go with the team. Later, he realizes what the team has gone through to bring him back and decides to go with them. This movie is a serious roller coaster ride for mature audiences. For three hours, we watch war, people die, and the bond between soldiers. By the end of the movie, the people in the audience who aren't crying, are speechless. No other war movie has been so realistic. People who say the movie is too realistic are scared of the truth, or an oxymoron. Something is either realistic or not, without realism people are disillusioned. Censorship is a bad thing. War is war, if your scared of the truth, don't see it. This movie just dodged an NC-17 rating for just violence and realism. Speilberg is a wonderful director for taking us on such a journey without compromise.
Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding picture and sound quality....but.....
Review: Talk about overhype! The DTS DVD has outstanding reference picture and sound quality but the story? I found the premise so weak and was bored after 15 minutes. For a decent war movie try: The Thin Red Line, Full Metal Jacket or Stalingrad (which I think is the finest).
Rating:
Summary: A WWII film for the ages
Review: I am a child of the 70's, grew up in the 80's, and matured in the 90's (supposedly). I'll admit that there are surely some war flick gems I have never laid eyes on. To be honest, almost all of the war movies I have seen were made after the time of my birth ('72). I have seen Apocolypse Now, Platoon, Full Metal Jacket, Born on the 4th of July, Hamburger Hill, The Thin Red Line, etc, etc. Each of those I found to be good, if not great movies. But for my dollar, Saving Private Ryan captures the most of what I think a war flick should. The story itself is not overly complex: the mission to save one man. Of course, there is much more to it than that, but that is the basics. I have to admit that the two battle scenes at the beginning and at the end are what set this movie apart from the others. Normally I am into the more poignant and artistic war films (Born on the 4th, The Thin Red Line), but my values have changed. Simply put, no other war movie has left me with a feeling of loss and pain. The time Spielberg and crew spent on making the battle scenes look and feel as realistic as possible is not to be overlooked. The camerawork was perfect. The way the marines worked the way up too the beach on the shaky camerawork was brilliant. The muted coloration helped inspire the gloom and terror of these battle scenes. Yes, I'll admit the characters weren't developed as much as they could have been, and yes, this was a United States flagwaving, patriotic movie to the core. But I don't see how people from all over the world can't find this movie absolutely moving. And I would love to see a movie made about WWII as told by another contributing army. But until that day comes, people should stop complaining about how flipping typically American this is and enjoy it for what it is. If you don't leave this movie without feeling a profound statement was made for not just the U.S. but the world then maybe you might need to be a bit more open-minded.
Rating: 
Summary: This movie showed only half of war
Review: Saving Private Ryan, in my opinion, displayed only half of war. This movie was a bloodbath. The beginning shows what physical hardships a soldier is subjected to. However, I don't remember any point in the movie in which I could really see how a character is changed psycologically. The beginning of SPR takes your breath away. I was glued to my seat during that part of the film. It was powerful and dramatic- it showed how brutal war really is. I was disappointed with the middle of the movie. It was stupid and had nothing to do with the movie (then again, neither did the beginning). The middle had neither the physical brutality of the beach landing in the beginning, nor did it have any psycological change of the soldiers. It was just junk filler to keep us busy while we wait for the end. The ending was good, but not as good as the beginning. It was just an action extravaganza. They didn't show any extreme physical hardship of the soldiers. Nevertheless, it was entertaining. Overall, Saving Private Ryan is not a great war movie. It has only a bloodbath- then nothing else, except for filler and some action at the end. Bottom line: if you're looking for some good action, watch the first 30 minutes and then skip to the last 30 minutes. If you want to see a good portrayal of war, however, I recommend that you skip this one.
Rating:
Summary: The ultimate (anti-)war film
Review: There's no doubt in my mind, that anyone who has seen such films as "The Dirty Dozen", "Where Eagles Dare" and "Kelly's Heroes", have been lead to think, that World War II was an exciting and funny adventure. For example: When Lee Marvin leads his 'dirty dozen' into enemy land, it makes you think of Robin Hood and his merry men. And it's a well-known fact, that when you're watching earlier war films, you're often supposed to clap your hands or even laugh, when a hand grenade or machine gun kills a bad German soldier or officer. But is war really just a lot of fun and excitement? I don't think so! The first 20 minutes of "Saving Private Ryan" gives you an idea about, what war is really about. It's hard to describe, what makes the opening battle scene in "Saving Private Ryan" totally different from the battle scenes in all other war films. Perhaps it's the hand-held cameraes, which gives everything a documentary look, or the close-ups of kaptajn John Miller, played by Tom Hanks. He's filmed in slow motion, and looks around like he's thinking "What are we all doing here? Why are we doing this do each other?" Or perhaps this battle scene is different, because nothing here is funny or exciting! And how COULD it be funny? Slaughtering, mutilation, blood, dead, or in short: The loss of human life. Or perhaps it's all these things put together. Young Private Ryan has lost all of his brothers in the war. Kaptajn John Miller and his men are sent out to get him home, because some officers in the American army think, it would be too big a tragedy, if Mrs. Ryan lost her last son, too. That's the plot of "Saving Private Ryan". But underneath this simple story, you'll find another story, a story about what a war does to people. "Saving Private Ryan" is not a pleasant experience, but a necessary one. I've never really liked war films, because most of them have romanticized and glorified war. This one shows us the horror of war and bloodshed, and does it without any raised fingers. It's that really possible? Yes, it is, if your name is Steven Spielberg. I don't want to see more war films after "Saving Private Ryan", because now I've seen the ultimate anti-war film.
Rating:
Summary: Home Theater Perfection! Buy the DVD!
Review: When I first bought this DVD, I was very impressed with the quality of the picture and the sound from my stereo TV. Well, I just bought a home theater system and WOW! This is the demonstration DVD to show people who aren't sure if they want one! The battle sequences are just phenominal as the bullets and blasts fly by your head from every possible angle. It's an excellent film no matter what, but the home theater experience will amaze you! Excellent direction, of course!.. Excellent acting, of course! Excellent cinematography, of course. You'll feel the texture of the grains of sands falling againsy you as the explosion propels the beach into your face. This film is what dvd is all about... the total experience! Wnat you've heard is true.. buy the dvd. I don't even have the DTS version... all I can tell you is the dolby digital does the job and then some! Incredible 5 speaker separation of sound! What you've heard is true... this is not just a movie, it's an experience!
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