American Flag Waving!

Rating: 9/10 (31 March 2000)

Saving Private Ryan
DIRECTION 100% If you can find a better dramatic war action film than this please give me a ring. Flawless and impeccable with room to bring the viewer into the action in the two major war scenes. The small incidents still manages to pull you into the tension. A well deserved oscar win in this category!

ACTING 91% Upham and Hanks leads the way in the emotional scenes, perhaps more could have been expected from other characters.
EDITING/PSPECIAL EFFECTS 98% Supreme and impressive war scenes. The first 20mins are the most memorable and exciting, the director manages to pull the WHOLE cinema into the movie and won't let you lot go until everyone either dies or they just managed to live.
PLOT 72% Not complex, but neither is it too simple as emotional scenes and characters tell their own story on how they are reacting to the challenges of 'Saving Private Ryan'. Not all war movies need to have detail plot-lines!
STRONG WORDS AND VIOLENCE ETC 94% The action is stronger than the words, it may give you nightmares; but at least you will know how it felt to be on the beach. Best seen and heard on the BIG screen.
MUSIC 76% There for the quiet and victorious moments.
SOUND 99% With the surround sound effects hitting you with virtual bullets and explosions will your senses survive in the cinema?
HOOKABILITY 99% As soon as you see the bodies drop you will be running for cover!
LASTABILITY 87% You will want to see the ending if continuing the mission was worth the trouble.
OVERALL 90% Just manages to get to this golden mark, only on virtue of it's technical merits and placing the viewer on the screen for the first time in a cinema setting; instead of its oral drama on-screen, even though this was exceptional in places, right Mr Upham! Why this movie felt it needed to distort history by implying that America saved the world from Hitler with non NATO style American flag waving will put off the most sincere film goer.