A terrible excuse for a war movie.

Rating: 3/10 (17 May 1999)

When this first came out, everyone jumped up and danced around about how good it was. Critics said it was incredibly powerful and it redefinned the war movie. They claimed it was nothing like those patriotic films right after world war two. Nor was it like the many excellent films made during the 70s and 80s on Vietnam. It was so different and so much better. I completely disagree. If anything, it is a throwback to all those Gung-Ho films like "The Sands of Iwo Jima". It really makes one want to join the fight and help save Europe. And it is quite funny. Not only is there humour when they are marching around looking for Private Ryan (which is acceptable), but you also laugh when people are dying. That shouldn't happen in a quality war movie. It can in an action movie on the other hand. Another thing, the ending is absolutely ridiculous, like that would happen. I must commend Spielberg for his excellent direction of the landings and the action sequences were staged well, but this is no great film.