Nice work Mr. Spielburg

Rating: 9/10 (24 November 2005)

This was an excellent movie, rich in character development, well performed roles and topped off with a compelling theme. I LOVED the irony of eight men sent to save one.
Some say the Omaha landing portrayal was unrealistic, but I'd like to see someone pull off the miracle of a better Omaha scene than SPR's. It was as accurate as film can capture that violent moment. You can either deal with that, or complain as if action is all that matters.
This story is essentially about the characters (normal people in extraordinary circumstances). The war, believe it or not IS BACKGROUND. This story belongs to the nine main characters; not the entire war effort. This is why only American's are portrayed. If you're looking for "The Longest Day" setup, why don't you check out 'Cliches R' Us'? Anyhow, this is why we don't see the other allied nations in this movie. Spielburg wasn't saying "American's did all the work." The story is about soldiers who happened to be Americans. Case closed.
Some argue the story is too one sided, portraying all Germans as "Dirty Animals". However, there are many segments that suggest this isn't the case. The Americans act cruel in some scenes, and Germans do the same in others. It was fair to both sides. There was nothing enthusiastic in the scene where the two German prisoners are executed. Ultimately we must remember this movie is in the American POV. When Wade and Kaparzo died, we lost two of the films main characters. Of course their death scenes were to be more emotional than that of some 'extra' playing a German.
As far as flaws go, there are only two worthy of mention.
In the scene where Tom Hanks takes out three men with his Thompson (a minute before he meets Ryan), the very last German dies long after the tommy gun's sound effect expires.
In the scene where Jackson is in the church tower (making his final kills before he dies), he fires seven to eight shots with the Springfield WITHOUT RELOADING. The Springfield 1903 never held more than five bullets in any of its many modified models.