An overrated film with 20 min of compelling cinematography

Rating: 4/10 (4 February 1999)

I think it is absurd that this movie receives such high praise. I admit that the 20 min scene of the battle at Omaha Beach is a technical tour de force, however the rest of the movie suffers from mushy appeals to our sense of national pride and does not effectively construct thorough character studies. I believe it pales in comparison to The Thin Red Line, a movie which I believe has not received its due respect. I think it is unfortunate for Malick that the timing of this movie forces such absurd comparison to Saving Private Ryan.