Sensitive, aren't we?

Rating: 9/10 (4 March 1999)

Saving Private Ryan does a couple of things that make it a worthwhile film. 1)It depicts combat as hell. It gives a realism to film combat that lets those of us lucky enough not to have been there realise just how lucky we are. 2)It lets us pay tribute to those old men we see on Veterans Day and ANZAC day (in Australia & New Zealand). We now can appreciate why they still march. As for the sensitivity of some of American friends to comments regarding American patriotism... Of course there is no reason to criticize the depiction of Americans in an American war film. However, maybe, just maybe, the film would be stronger if nationality was taken out of the equation and we saw it for what war is...People killing each other while in fear of their own lives because of politics. We can be proud of what these people did for our freedom but they didn't do it for a coloured piece of cloth, they did it because they were asked to defend freedom and once in battle, they did it to survive. So, American friends, don't be so sensitive. Your people have done alot for the rest we know but we're allowed to criticise a film maker who likes to wave flags in his war movie...that's what starts them!