As tense a war film you as will ever see

Rating: 10/10 (4 August 1998)

After reading most reviews you'll be ready for the first 25 minutes. Then it settles in to a routine war movie for a good halftime. Watch out for the last battle sequences, they're as intense as the beginning. The handheld camera used in the fire fights makes the film. Throw in Spielberg's knack for hitting the right emotional buttons and --- voila! Acadamy Nomination.
I hope it wins best picture if for no other reason than to show the unenlightened Hawks and Gung-Ho militarists what war really is. We had to fight that war. We will have to fight others.
Make it the last alternative.