This movie is a great display of human nature

Rating: 9/10 (29 November 2011)

Yes, Saving Private Ryan (1998) by Steven Spielberg is a war film but it can be seen as much more than that. Throughout the film, Spielberg placed a great emphasis on the emotional and psychological effects that a war can place on soldiers. Captain Miller's platoon is put through several situations that cause them to lose loved ones and throw morals out the window as their mentality about life changes. Their grueling lives are shown to be an example of the real aspects of war and let people around the world think differently.
As the soldiers are placed on Normandy beach, they have a hatred for the German soldiers that can be seen throughout the battlefield. Some soldiers yelled "Don't shoot, Let them Burn" while others shot the "enemy" point blank even when the Germans surrendered. No mercy was given. The soldiers lost their human nature and became angry killing machines. Their hatred blinded them from seeing that the Germans were human beings also who were, in some cases, ordered to be on the battlefield. Just as American soldiers were drafted into the war.
In a later scene where Private Wade dies, the effects of the war are seen taking a toll on the soldier. Several soldiers hit, torture, and ridicule the German soldier for killing one of their beloved members. Imagine watching one of your good friend dying in front of you. That moment will have a great impact on you since you will be living with that memory forever. These soldiers had to face this moment so rage overcomes them to hurt the German soldier. Even when the German desperately tries to relate to the Americans by singing American songs and chanting "F--- Hitler" and the captain lets him go, some of the soldiers still want revenge. The hardship of the war is psychologically affecting them. Their hatred begins to build and build to the point where the soldiers yell back and forth while holding the other at gun point. The tension just keeps rising.
The last battle scene showed a great representation of the effects of the war and showed a change in some of the characters attitude. After the frustration of losing two soldiers, Private Reiben was livid when Private Ryan didn't want to leave his post. Edward Burns (Reiben) gave an excellent performance of this frustration that his character later turned into a brotherhood. He began to let go of the hatred to fight side by side with Ryan as did the other soldiers to successfully protect the bridge.
When Corporal Upham shoots the German soldier, who was let free from the Wade scene, was a special moment in the last battle scene. I think that Upham was a representation of innocence being deteriorated by war. Throughout the film, Upham was the morally right character who believed in doing things the right way. He had a special innocence during the war. But after seeing the soldier shoot the captain, that innocence is gone. At this point, he begins to see the life of war for what it really is. Upham gains a war mentality and kills the German soldier. With no regrets.
This film was a medium to let viewers get a peek of the lives of soldiers in wars. But I also feel that this film ask important questions like, When considering the amount of deaths, is war really the answer?