Saving Private Ryan- just a few comments

Rating: 10/10 (9 August 1998)

First, I want to say that I was thoroughly shocked and impressed by this film. I can't say I enjoyed it, because, as you know, this wasn't the type of film to be enjoyed. This was the type of film to be remembered and hallowed, which I will for the rest of my life. As a member of generation X, I have to agree with all those who have said that younger people need to see this. Before I saw this movie, I have to admit, war was merely a concept I learned in history, and the realism of SPR opened my eyes wide (not to mention my mouth in that first half hour or so). And I also agree the message was to us. I have yet to experience a loss or a sacrifice that even comes close to what those families went through, and of course I hope I never have to experience anything remotely resembling it, especially after seeing this movie. Before I end this message, I would just like to clear something up. The meaning of sending eight guys after one guy, besides the figurative meaning, the reason given in the movie, is addressed in the first half of the movie. General Marshall read a very poignant letter that had been written by Abraham Lincoln to a woman who had lost all of her children in the Civil War. The brothers had been put in the army together so they would be with people they knew. Putting family members together in the armed services was a common practice up to and including WWII. The reason General Marshall sent those eight men after Private Ryan was so that he could send Ryan home, instead of his body in a box, like he would have to do for so many men from so many families. This movie is not entirely fiction based. There were many incidents during WWI and II in which whole families were killed all at once. After WWII, it was declared that members of the same family had to be split up, so that the chances of that family having sons left after the war were greater than before. Besides all that, if more families lost more sons, they'd have more contempt for the government for sending their men into a no-win situation, which makes it a good thing we won! But all of that speculation aside, I choose to ignore all those who complain about the *shaking camera*! What's that about? Take some Dramamine for pete's sake! I also choose to ignore those who said the movie lacked character development and emotion. Look a little deeper, that was the whole movie! In closing, I'd like to say that all is not lost in trying to reach the heart of human compassion. If Steven can do it, so can we!