Ryan Saved.

Rating: 9/10 (11 August 2015)

Saving Private Ryan (1998): Dir: Steven Spielberg / Cast: Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Edward Burns, Tom Sizemore, Barry Pepper: Superbly crafted war film about the value of a single human being. Three out of four brothers die in the war 1914 while the fourth was a paratrooper deemed lost. Private James Ryan is still alive and Tom Hanks is ordered to bring troops in to extreme danger to bring him home at the request of his mother. The first 25 minutes are horrifyingly realistic as distorted bodies pile up on the Omaha Beach. Director by Steven Spielberg details the reality of surviving an explosion only to discover that your legs are missing. This can easily play double billing with his Schindler's List. Tom Hanks delivers an excellent performance as Captain Miller who leads the mission and is committed to life itself. Matt Damon is well cast as James Ryan who makes a turn for the good of others. Edward Burns, Tom Sizemore and Barry Pepper are also featured among the squadron. The problem is that most of these supporting roles are cardboard types that are always overshadowed by the two leads. Even the scene where an enemy is saved only to later gun one of them down. How likely is it for that same enemy to turn up again with someone set to avenge his act? Featuring some of the best war footage ever shot with a strong human story of havoc, heroism and the value of human life. Score: 9 ½ / 10