Rating: 
Summary: Some oft-missed criticisms (and praise)
Review: First, I agree with all that see this film as a technical masterpiece. The battle scenes, sound, hand-held camera work, and other special effects are incomparable. Many of the historical facts are astoundingly accurate as well. If you review the battle plan for Omaha you will see that the 2nd Ranger Battalion hit the beach at Dog Green Sector in the first wave and that they were "right where they were supposed to be but no-one else was" (all the other first wave groups landed at the wrong place). You will also see that the DD tanks at Omaha were supposed to land first but they all "foundered in the channel". It was also necessary for the engineers to blow the obstacles fast because the tide rises at one inch per minute in Normandy. Bangalore torpedoes WERE used to blow the wire behind the seawall. Dog-1 Exit IS right near Vierville. The details are almost all perfect. The character development I would call sparse. I have the film on DVD and having seen certain scenes many times so now I feel the character development is superb - but of course if you have to see it over and over then that is a problem! I do think that the impact of the film goes far beyond just the "tactical" elements of the plot and characters. As I watch it, I do feel a sense of awe and wonder that these men would do what they did on D-day (and all the battles of the war). While our British friends will no doubt be offended by this, there is something unique about the young Americans we see in the opening scene in the Higgins boats - men who have come from 5,000+ miles away to save people they do not even know from an evil that is far from their homes. The film presents this uniquely American mystery to us - not only in the opening scene, but in my opinion, throughout the entire 2.5 hours. I must comment on the "absurdity" of the plot. There were four brothers in WW2 that closely approximate the Ryan brothers' fictional scenario. The real life Niland brothers were all in the army - 2 died at Normandy, one died in Asia and one was in the airborne and was dropped behind lines on D-Day. The War Department pulled the fourth brother out when they learned this (this is an historical fact). I must also make a positive comment about John Williams' score, especially the final "Hymn for the Fallen". When I hear the voices of the Tanglewood Chorus rising over the final credits I think back to the doomed men of the Higgins boats about to be splattered by bullets and I get the feeling that this overwhelming choral sound is the sound of their souls rising up off of that beach like a shock wave to drive back the evil that had taken root in Europe. This is a fine piece of music that does honor to these men. Yet even these "perfect" men were shown to not be so perfect in the scenes of surrendering Germans being gunned down by angry American troops. I also can't omit the great and oft-overlooked performance of Tom Sizemore as Sargeant Mike Horvath. He merges into the background as a 'leader of grunts'. "We're in business! " I can't close without making one major criticism of this film. I feel the film is badly marred by the maudlin final scene. Its still an outstanding film and one that haunts me to this day. I have the soundtrack CD and its great. I also highly recommend Steven Ambrose's "D-day" book and General Omar Bradley's book "A Soldier's Story" if you really want to understand the details behind D-Day.
Rating:
Summary: Old memories on the silver screen
Review: I am a WWII veteran. I was not involved in the D-day invasion itself but arrived in France shortly after. I was wounded there. I did not see remarkable film in theaters, I did not feel up to it. However,I have only recently seen it on DVD. I was a gift from my grandson; a very meaningful gift. I must be honest, it took a great deal of courage to finally watch it. It was hard to at times, but I am glad I did. It also took courage for me to write this review. However, I feel that I must share with you how much this film meant to me. I did not see the kind action that these fictional solders did, but I can certainly relate to the movie itself. I give my salute to Mr. Spielberg on a job very well done
Rating:
Summary: thin red line looks like my toy soilders in comparison!
Review: First of all i would like to state I am a 12 year old boy. I saw this movie to kill some time before I could go to a party. I cried so much at the end that I used up all the tissue. I think about the solders every day now that I have seen this movie. My friends know me as the war freak. No offense to modern teenagers, but most of them couldn't give a great big sh#* about the sacrificing of the veterns in this war. This movie is a great movie to show teenagers what war is like. The first thirty minutes is hell. The plot-line fits right into it. The character development is great. The F/X are the best I have seen in all my life. If you want a great war movie to show you what war was like, I strongly suggest this masterpiece of Speilberg's adding to his hundreds of other masterpieces. Worth every dollar. Have we really earned the lives of those troops?
Rating:
Summary: Intense, haunting, incredible
Review: Spielberg eloquently explains in two hours why we owe so much to our combat veterans -- those who survived and those buried in fields throughout the world. The movie is graphic by necessity. Anything less would insult those who fought, as if by diminishing the horror we would diminish their sacrifice. The film provides a glimpse into the hell that is war. But, it not so much condemns war as exalts the men who fought, died, or survived only to be haunted by their experiences. As filmmaking, the movie is unsurpassed. You feel the adrenaline, the terror, the fear, the confusion. It is fast paced, remarkable storytelling. First rate all the way.
Rating:
Summary: No, it¿s not just hype. A technical masterpiece
Review: Two generations have grown up since the D Day landings. Steven Spielberg has done society a tremendous service in vividly bringing to life the horrors we have been spared. Those moments which would have died from memory with the men who endured them in 1944 are made real again - within the confines of the silver screen. This film deserves much of the criticism it has received regarding the story and script. For instance, the clumsy device of bracketing the narrative's start and finish as an old man's flashback at the cemetery is saccharine, and especially annoying to British viewers (although perhaps necessary context for young Americans). But to dwell on these quibbles is to miss the point. Spielberg has created a masterpiece of cinematography, not of literature, and more than any other contemporary film I've seen he uses the medium to the full. Attention to detail is astounding - listen out for the eerily convincing sound effects of bullets on steel girders in the opening landing scene. Above all, you finish this movie convinced that what you've seen reflects meticulous research in reconstructing participants' accounts of real events - and technical brilliance in making it real. One to keep forever.
Rating:
Summary: Believe the hype
Review: This movie floored me. I've seen a fair amount of WW2 movies in my time, some cheesy, some well-executed. Never have I seen a movie that fully brought home how horrific the experience must have been. "Saving Private Ryan" brought home at the very least a fraction of what the war must have been like for those who fought it. There was indeed a lot of gore... I wouldn't say it was inappropriate, given the subject matter. Sanitized war movies leave us with the mistaken impression that war is a clean, cut-and-dried experience. The film was brilliantly acted as well as beautifully shot. Hanks turns in yet another Oscar-level performance, and his supporting cast did at least as well as he did. I spent the entire movie with my jaw on the floor, alternately marveling over the horrors of war, the realism, and the quality of the film itself. It's not for everyone... my Dad's a WW2 buff, but I wouldn't reccommend this to him. I suggest those of you who cringe easily at TV violence steer clear. But the beauty of "...Ryan" is undeniable. It outlines the twisted paths we follow in war, the way young men grow old overnight in the trenches and the way nothing is as it seems when you scrutinize it up close. I give "...Ryan" five stars, and I also reccommend "Courage Under Fire" for what feels like an honest depiction of the Gulf war.
Rating: 
Summary: bloated and saggy but with great battle scenes
Review: The troops were shipped to the shore by the british navy but in the film they are americans, spielberg again trying to somehow rewrite history, the war was won by america, nothing to do with the russians or english, right? In the only mention of the british involvement we get a wig wearing Sam from Cheers telling us how overrated Monty is. The scene where the captain is spouting abraham lincoln comes across as crass and artificial, thousands of soldiers have just died and the entire chief of staff takes a break to discuss the death of one soldier. Then we get a dewy eyed glimpse of farmland america complete with white picket fences and billowing corn fields. A pity as lot of this film is truly inspiring: the start and end battles, the death of the medic, the german soldiers pleas for mercy. Best war film? I still rate Platoon for that.
Rating: 
Summary: The most dramatic movie I have ever seen
Review: First of all I would like to thank to the whole stars who took skillful role in this attractive film.I felt myself just inside it as I was watching it in the theatre.In my opinion Steven SPIELBERG who is called as the pioneer of cinema created a marvellous work by paying attention to the all details.And also the stars,Tom Hanks,Tom Sizemore etc.were completely attractive with their succesful abilities.I do not understand the people who claims the film is full of violence.these people should learn to observe this movie, and also the others , from every point.The relations,feelings,were very dramatic,and attractive beyond its war side.WITH MY SINCERELY
Rating:
Summary: Boy, what a movie!
Review: To me, this movie was Spielberg at his best. Every scene was superbly shot, showing how very skillful a director Spielberg is. This movie deserved to get the Oscar for "Best Picture" last year. My son bought me the DVD, and I put off watching it, because I was told it was so gross. He made me watch it, and am I ever glad I did. While there are parts in which there is a lot of blood, these scenes are so realistic they make the war seem real. What I mean to say is they are not overdone or underdone --- they are just right for the movie. The characters are interesting, and the acting superb. I think every senior class in high school should watch this movie every Remembrance or Memorial Day. They will never let their country go to war again. All in all, a superb movie.
Rating:
Summary: The Price of Freedom
Review: The story line was great. One of the best WWII movies I have ever seen. Recommended viewing for those people who have never served in the military. This is the price we paid for our freedom.
| 
