Saving Private Ryan [1998]

After the indelible opening sequence, however, the film is not without problems. The story, though based on an American Civil War incident, feels like it was concocted simply to fuel Spielberg's sentimental streak. In standard Hollywood fashion the Germans remain a faceless foe (with the exception of one charmless character who turns out to be both a coward and a turncoat); and the platoon, led by Tom Hanks, consists of far too many stereotypes: the doughty sergeant; the thick-necked private; the southern-man religious sniper; the cowardly corporal. Matt Damon seems improbably clean cut as the titular private in need of rescue (though that may well be the point); and why do they all run straight up that hill towards an enemy machine-gun post anyway?

Some non-US critics have complained that Ryan portrays only the American D-Day experience, but it is an American film made and financed by Americans after all. Accepting both its relatively narrow remit and its lachrymose inclinations, Saving Private Ryan deserves its place in the pantheon of great war pictures.

On the DVD: This DTS edition of Saving Private Ryan presents the movie with astonishingly vivid surround sound that is audibly superior to the standard Dolby Digital version. With a wider dynamic range and a more spacious soundfield, the battles really do spill over into your living room. There are new animated menus but because the DTS data stream requires greater space on the disc, the 30-minute behind-the-scenes documentary included on the previous release is omitted. --Mark Walker

Many people have argued that this film only portrays the American side of D-Day, neglecting the contribution of the troops from other Allied nations. Whilst this is true, Omaha beach and the areas featured in this film were areas attacked by predominantly American troops, and to feature the entire Normandy area of operations would overly complicate the story. The scene showing Omaha beach after the battle, with the sea flowing red with all the blood spilt, is particularly poignant and brings a lump to the throat of everyone who sees it.

I recently watched this film with my grandfather, who landed on the British 'Gold' beach in one of the first waves ashore on June 6th 1944. He watched the first 20 minutes of the film, which depicts the D-Day landings, with tears in his eyes as the memories of that day flooded back. While he got through that day unharmed, a number of his friends and comrades were not so fortunate. The film transported him back 57 years, and he said that this is the closest you can get to the reality of the landings without actually being in a landing craft and coming under fire.

Saving Private Ryan aptly demonstrates the horror and chaos of battle. After watching this film I found myself with a new found sense of respect for those young men who were thrust into the Hell of World War 2 and still carry those memories as pensioners. Stunning, moving, compelling, and deserving of all the accolades it gets.


What a film!   September 2, 2003
20 out of 21 found this review helpful

Saving Private Ryan finally gets the treatment it deserves with this superior DVD release, now complete with a DTS soundtrack. The special features on the discs are minimal, with only a few trailers and some notes; but there is an interesting, if not fascinating documentary on the making of the film which includes interviews with D-Day veterans.

However, you probably wouldn't buy a film like this for the features. You would buy it for the intense, unrivalled and spellbinding combat sequences - most notably the acclaimed D-Day landing recreation. But it doesn't stop there. Spielberg takes us into a debate about the war through the eyes of eight stereotypical soldiers (although nonetheless powerful or resonating for it). The soldiers lay the different views, reasons and arguments before the audience about the war that were shared by so many at the time.

The film climaxes in what can only be described as a brilliant battle between the platoon in peril and Nazi tanks and infantry. The film is improved with the DTS soundtrack, which completely immerses you into the experience. This is a great transfer onto DVD of a great film.


A True Masterpiece   August 12, 2002
Milo
18 out of 26 found this review helpful

Everything in this film is perfect. i cannot find anything to criticise.
Tom Hanks is brilliant in his role of Captain John Miller, a Ranger in the American Army sent behind enemy lines with a small band of soldiers, each unique in their own way, to retrieve a private from the 101st airborne who's 3 brothers had been killed in the previous weeks. Saving Private Ryan is an amazing insight into the "soldiers war" with heart gripping scenes such as the opening landing on Omaha beach. It leaves you feeling overwhelmed and humble. One of the superb things about this film is that it manages to create a sort of relationship between you and the individual soldiers. This is by far one of Hank's best films yet, and a true masterpiece from Spielburg. You will not be dissapointed with this. The camera work is outstanding, with shots seen through the eyes of a moving soldier. Every directorial aspect of this film draws out the horror and suffering experienced by so many young men during the War. There is none of the cliche "American Hero" bravado you tend to see too often in Hollywood. SPR shows the young boys of america at their ultimate test. It shows the darker, personal side, when a grown man cries and crumbles in the face of danger. A "must see"
-- 5 Star Rating!!


Saving Private Ryan   June 9, 2005
John Corbett
17 out of 17 found this review helpful

Saving Private Ryan finally gets the treatment it deserves with this superior DVD release, now complete with a DTS soundtrack. The special features on the discs are minimal, with only a few trailers and some notes; but there is an interesting, if not fascinating documentary on the making of the film which includes interviews with D-Day veterans.

However, you probably wouldn't buy a film like this for the features. You would buy it for the intense, unrivalled and spellbinding combat sequences - most notably the acclaimed D-Day landing recreation. But it doesn't stop there. Spielberg takes us into a debate about the war through the eyes of eight stereotypical soldiers (although nonetheless powerful or resonating for it). The soldiers lay the different views, reasons and arguments before the audience about the war that were shared by so many at the time.

The film climaxes in what can only be described as a brilliant battle between the platoon in peril and Nazi tanks and infantry. The film is improved with the DTS soundtrack, which completely immerses you into the experience. This is a great transfer onto DVD of a great film.

The extras too on this 2-disc release are good, documenting well each aspect of the making of the film. Altogether, a worthy treatment of what has been often called the greatest war film ever made!


Looks real, feels real, the story sucks   October 22, 2001
15 out of 29 found this review helpful

Spielberg does have a habit of giving us good films, his talent is turning bad scripts into a watchable film. This in what he has done with Saving Private Ryan. The opening sequence and other fight scenes are superb but this hides the pointlessly over the top story line. Yes it is based on a true story but it was far from the truth. The question I found myself asking was "Is this realy needed?" The D-day landings had enough stories in them for one to be blown out of proportion for the sake of a film. I personaly know of two stories from my own family that could of topped Ryan's rescue without the story editor!
Overall the film is good but a few scenes I feel do make me Grimace, the lack of German empathy, no mention of the Canadian and British landings etc. And the american flag at the end. What? Only Americans died?????
This is what stands in my mind, It feels as though we should only feel sorry for the Americans and I feel does a great injustice to everyone non-American who died on those days. Forgotten for the sake of Ryan. This film was made by Americans for Americans.