There are many better "war movies," but not as visual

Rating: 8/10 (12 September 1998)

Yet another movie that is considered great simply because the name Spielberg is attached. If not for the hyper-realistic combat scenes, this film would simply be average.
On the plus side, the movie takes full advantage of today's audiovisual technology to provide the most immersive film experience dealing with war - - any war. The violence is so realistic and plentiful it's at times desensitizing, a common feeling among soldiers in World War II.
On the negative side, the movie revolves around the gore and the combat, and as a result fails to resolve many of the questions the movie raises -- namely whether risking an entire group is worth saving one man.
There are many other movies that more strongly illustrate the wide range of attitudes, emotions, and pure brutality of war; among those, All Quiet On The Western Front (the original), The Big Red One, and Platoon involve the viewer on a much deeper emotional and intellectual level than this film.