War is hell

Rating: 9/10 (4 August 1998)

"War is hell." For most of us that's an intellectual truth. We've had no personal contact with the brutality of battle. Steven Spielberg doesn't let us get away with such detachment. He forces the senseless slaughter and stupidity of war right in our faces. The first 25 minutes of this film is, without doubt, the goriest 25 minutes of film to date. In the midst of carnage, we begin to become attached to Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) and his men. When, after surviving the horrors of the first hours, they are assigned the perilous task of searching out one soldier (behind enemy lines), we worry for their safety. And well we should. The mayhem is far from over. This is not a sentimental search-and-rescue story. This movie is a philosophical dissertation on war--the do or die mentality of fighting men--personal courage--the rationalizations--patriotism. It's also an excellent piece of film. Similar to Schindler's List, you want to cringe from the knowledge, from the reality, of what you're seeing on the screen, but you are compelled to continue to watch. The acting is excellent; awards are sure to follow. This is a significant film which everyone should see--if they have the stomach for it.