Shockingly numbing

Rating: 7/10 (13 July 1999)

A scary film. The landing scenes were so "real", I was left cold. Is this what war is really like? I personally think that soldiers who worry as much about what's happening around them as these guys did, do not last long.
The acting is not important - how can one who has never experienced war produce the necessary emotions, or lack of them? The effects are good, not too flashy to let you relax, yet strong enough to shock you. The movie seems overlong, though, as the search for Ryan continues. A lot of the dialogue there seems superfluous - a better director might have used less talking and more expression to convey the same emotions. Unfortunately, there was little attempt at developing the characters beyond the basic stereotypes, so their fate does not matter much, in the end. Still, a modern audience may need that statement of the obvious to get the point.
Do I recommend this movie? If you have not seen a war movie before, do so - any attempt at illustrating the "realities" of war is commendable. However, if you have seen other war movies, save yourself the time. The movie is too long, and despite a terrifying start, fails to engage you in the long run. Watch it on video...
I rate: 2.5 out of 4