A gritty look at the harsh reality of war

Rating: 9/10 (13 November 1999)

First off, I should preface my comments by saying that, although this was an excellent film, it isn't for everyone. The intense, graphic, "in your face" nature of the presentation will be too much for some viewers to handle.
The opening sequence is extremely well done. I was literally shaking after seeing the horror which faced those involved in the D-Day assault. The camera angles, combined with the gritty, high contrast filming, give the whole film a documentary feel. Unlike other war documentaries, Saving Private Ryan manages to pull the viewer deeply into the action.
My only negative comments relate to the underlying premise for the movie, which seems rather far-fetched. I also felt that in some cases the special effects exaggerated things a bit more than they should have. But those are minor faults, in an otherwise top rate film.