Very powerful depiction of real wartime action; gore minimized however.

Rating: 10/10 (23 December 2004)

Saving Private Ryan received accolades from the U.S. Armed Forces for its realistic depiction of D-Day. Common sense dictates that they could have gone for lots more bloody-stump scenarios without violating the prerequisite of "realistic". The fact that they made a profound statement and didn't go that route speaks well of this movie project.
Anyone who desires to serve their country by going into combat should watch this one. The ideal of "Glory of Battle" would quickly be dispelled. Real warfare is gross, sickening, chaotic, disgusting, tragic. It must be a last resort, and one's motivation should be a very deep sense of commitment to the cause of democracy. Not freedom to do whatever one "feels like", but a concept of humanity that says everyone has intrinsic value. This is what our theocentric founders had in mind when they drafted the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.
Tom Hanks...and a fine cast!