An true epic in very sense.

Rating: Null/10 (23 April 2004)

The opening & closing scenes were for me the hardest to sit through as they both convey such a powerful message that really the film is somewhat of an anticlimax. I had only stood overlooking Omaha beach where the opening scene was shot about 9 months before they commenced filming. When one looks over onto Omaha beach itself today there is really nothing to indicate the bloodshed that is so graphically portrayed in the film. It is the most peaceful & surreal place one can imagine & a fit resting place for the rows upon row of pure white headstones that adorn this immaculate cemetery. There are several other cemeteries in the area but this one is something special & the opening scene of the movie captures the solemnity & majesty of this monument perfectly. I just stood there among the graves in awe & admiration of the sacrifice made by these young soldiers who died in a foreign country among the depravity of war to ensure that we could live in relative peace. I can understand why so many veterans could not sit through the opening scene & never saw the movie so overcome were they. They would have had just as hard a job with the final scene had they stayed.I feel the film itself will stand as something of a monument to those who fought against the forces of evil & were prepared to die in the process.The sheer scale & logistics of the movie are mindboggling to say the least. Hanks was his brilliant self although I consider Sizemore nearly stole the show with a supporting performance par excellence. Not exactly Spielbergs masterpiece as I believe we will see more of this type of film from him but it will do for the moment thank you.