Tough look at the horrors of war.

Rating: 8/10 (9 August 2003)

I had put off watching this film because I'd heard it was so bloody and I wasn't sure I wanted to see it. Well, it lived up to its billing. The scenes of war look very realistic and it's a shocking experience to watch.
I enjoyed the film, but not as much as Spielberg's other WWII film, "Schindler's List." I suppose it's because of the comparative lack of drama. Tom Hanks is a terrific actor but his character doesn't draw you in like Liam Neeson's did. I didn't relate to the people in "Saving Private Ryan" the way I did in "Schindler." It's probably not a fair comparison to make, but that was my reaction anyway.
The premise bothered me a little bit too. Sure, saving the lone remaining child of a family is important, but did it make sense to send a company of men out during the days right after the landing at Normandy to save one person? Things were chaotic then and success wasn't assured by any means, and I think the military's focus would have been elsewhere. I don't know what the real circumstances were that the film was based on, but the director did make the mission seem worthy by having the men defend a vital bridge from the Germans after they caught up with Ryan.

It's a complicated subject, war, and while this movie is very good, I'm not sure I agree with the focus of this film as a way of portraying patriotism.