A visual and technical masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (25 November 1998)

This film is an amazing piece of film. The first thirty minutes are at the height of cinema anywhere - sound design is awesome. However, the film continues from such a prodigious sequence and actually improves as we get to know the finely constructed characters. The film is a visual masterpiece, more than complimenting any of the dialogue. No one can tell a story through images like Spielberg can, and that's why people call him "simplistic." However, only high minded critics that want a greater 'text' would say this - In reality, the great text comes through the images, which is what film is really about.
The battle sequences are constructed with greatness. The editing is outstanding, especially the sound editing, which is amazing (the fear/security contrast that Spielberg always uses is demonstrated between the sound of the bullets in combat, and the ticking of the typewriters. Another bullet like sound used effectively is the rain drops). This is undoubtedly a great film. It is in my mind, highly anti-war, and the first thirty minutes are perhaps the most eloquent statement of that - for no other film maker has really captured an anti-war message by expressing the sheer chaos of an event that saw thousands sacrificed before they even got out of the landing craft. This film will raise many issues and ignite much debate - the film may look deceptively simple, but behind it lie many issues that run very deep.