Better than "Ryan"

Rating: Null/10 (27 July 1999)

"Glory" is better than "Saving Private Ryan". Where Ryan had amazing movie technology working for it, it's feeble script undermined almost everything except for the two battle sequences. Here, on the other hand, is a movie that is interesting every step of the way. From the opening shot of a soldier losing his head (one of the most graphic shots I've seen) to the final moment this film is filled with unforgettable images. It's rare that I see a movie that makes me sit still for hours on end trying to digest everything I've just seen. Even the final shot of Shaw's grave makes me choke up. Even though the scene is guilty of some of the most brutal manipulation ever, it works because director Zwick actually knows what he's doing (as opposed to a clunky shame like "Patch Adams"). By the way, I have to aknowledge the smart move he made by combining his beautifully shot film with James Horner's perfect score (believe it or not, it's better than Titanic).