Extremely well-made, visceral and tense War movie

Rating: 9/10 (5 November 2014)

As always, you're going to get reviews by those who loved the film and those who didn't but, if you go by the overall rating, that's usually a reasonable guide. Having missed seeing 'Saving Private Ryan' on the big screen, and reading some good reviews of this film, I was determined to make sure I didn't make the same mistake - and I'm so glad I took the time to do so as it was worth every minute (and pound).
From the opening scene, you are made aware of just how 'realistic' the portrayal of war is going to be and, unless you really are desensitized to extreme violence or approach the film with the wrong attitude (as I strongly suspect some of the more cynical reviewers have done), then you are in for one gut-wrenchingly tense and thrilling experience.
You need to watch this film with the mind-set of the era and the event it is portraying, not trying to judge the story or characters against the mores of today or modern conflict. Some have seen this as a contrived or clichéd movie - but it's neither of those things as long as you keep in mind what the makers are trying to do: show the true horror, brutality, moral-destroying and brutalizing nature of such a conflict.
Set in 1945, many of the characters have already been through several years of terrible war and it's evident from how they behave, doing some heroic things, some tender things, and some things that seem morally reprehensible to us today but that we know - from first-hand accounts - did actually go on.
The battle scenes are incredibly realistic and well-staged and seem to me the closest I've ever come across as to what the experience of a real one must be like (though I've never personally been anywhere near a war, so how could I really know?). I used the term gut-wrenching because that's how I felt during those intense moments. The sheer terror experienced by the crew during one major battle scene part-way through the movie is brilliantly portrayed - and brilliantly acted (despite what some have said) - and will leave you emotionally drained at the end of it. It's a long time since I felt this tense (almost sick with it) watching a film.
So put aside those negative reviews, approach this film with the right attitude, and you will be rewarded. But, hey, that's only my opinion: make your own mind up!!!