Legendary!

Rating: Null/10 (2 May 1999)

Let's forget for a second about camera angles and who used them before and what not. Let's give Spielberg his due without overdoing it. Let's talk about the movie. I challenge anyone to admit, honestly, that they were not shaken up and moved by the sequences in SPR. If you weren't you're either dead or Jeffrey Dahmer. Forget the cinematography and the battle scenes. The cast assembled did a brilliant job! Specifically Giovani Ribisi's performance. (which was underrated). And Ed Burns who I felt should of gotten a nod for a best supporting actor award. Hanks was solid and made his character work.
Now to address my friends the brits, who are seemingly angry at the depiction of America's role in the war, and how SPR glorified Americans and Americans only. American movie, American director..do you see where this is going. Let someone else make a movie depicting the other perspectives. SPR told the story about American soldiers looking to locate a private and bring him home. It also did something else...It paid homage to the brave American soldiers that endured that nightmare that was D-day. Being a veteran myself who never saw combat, thank God, I collapsed in my chair and cried knowing people that lost their lives in the Gulf War. Let's not remember Private Ryan for who it didn't pay respect to, because I think that most of us are intelligent enough to know that there were other nations soldiers fighting and dying, but to whom it did pay homage to. The brave soldiers who fought in a strange place, and died to preserve the way of life that is right. War is hell and it is wrong. Life is too precious. I do agree that congress and the Pres. should view SPR prior to making any decision. But I also know that WW2 is history, and the men that died, from all nations, deserve my respect and my deepest thanks for preserving the lifestyle that is my own. There is a saying that says "you're a better man then me." I extend that to every soldier that fought, bled, and died on the allied side in WW2. And being a former sailor, I, like the elder Private Ryan, extend a hand salute to them.
That's what Private Ryan did. It was the best war film ever made.