Spectacular; raises the bar.

Rating: 10/10 (4 June 2012)

I recently wrote a review on The Thin Red Line, Terrence Malick's war epic that was badly timed and unfortunately forgotten. In that review, I mention how it was released around the time of Saving Private Ryan, the "best war film known to man". So, I stand by that.
Saving Private Ryan is the story of a group of soldiers, led by a captain played by Tom Hanks, one of his best performances, who are sent on a mission during WWII to bring home Captain James Ryan(Matt Damon), a soldier who is unaware that his three brothers have died in combat.
The film has such a great story, and it really brings us into the action and into the character's states of mind. Yet, it is three hours long. But for me that three hours just flew by. Steven Spielberg went home with an Oscar for this film, but the film lost the best picture award to Shakespeare in Love, a wonderful film that isn't as good, to be honest.
The cinematography is marvelous, and the action sequences are riveting. The acting is something that I cannot leave out either. Saving Private Ryan is a captivating and sad film experience that really makes you feel for the characters, and makes you feel a longing to be home.
Spielberg's film is spectacular, remarkable, and definitively unforgettable. A filmmaking spectacle on the grand scale. This is one of his best works, probably on his top five. You definitely have to see this at some point or another.
A+