10 years later, still has impact and still unrivalled

Rating: 9/10 (17 November 2008)

When I first saw this on the big screen, my senses were literally violently shaken, my heart pounded with fear and adrenaline within the first 5 minutes. No other war film made me feel like I was in it and feel the real horror that war is. It comes sudden and when it does, its relentless, leaving you breathless. On second viewing, 10 years later on a small screen, the shock element has of course slightly diminished but the impact and dare I say it, adrenaline rush is still there.
I have since seen several war films which have used Spielberg's ground- breaking first person perspective war film tools such as Thin Red line, Band of brothers, Letters from Iwa Jima, Flags of our Fathers etc (in fact most of these. apart from Thin Red Line, were produced by Spielberg). But none has bettered the astounding execution of brutal warfare as Saving Private Ryan. I now view it as the greatest action war movie of all time. The mission to save Private Ryan is a riveting one as the 8 protagonist soldiers undertake detour missions to reach their goal. The soldiers are depicted as flawed, sometimes confused, sometimes disillusioned, brave, frightened, cowardly, rational, irrational...all the elements of chaos that war brings and burdens the soldiers minds including their captains.
The squad comprises a typical range of characters, perhaps some stereotypical in war films but all played wonderfully, not over the top, not caricatured but like real people that we may know. Hanks as ever superbly holds the film together as he leads his squad into the chaos. My favourite character though is the clumsy, bumbling interpreter who has limited combat skills and struggles to be brave, a role wonderfully played by Jeremy Davies who later perfects those delightful hesitant mannerisms as Daniel Faraday in the Lost TV series).
The most conflicting question being raised throughout the film and by each soldier was the worthiness of risking many lives (or indeed wasting valuable resources) to save one soldier who may or may not be alive. This really is the main theme, posing a great moral dilemma.
Some complain that there is absolutely no reference to other allies involvement but why is that necessary? Every ally had their own missions. I am British yet I do not make any qualms. Britain has made their own war films with British only protagonists. America can do the same. They did fight too regardless of the fact they entered into it late but they did fight. And no ally won the war by themselves. The Allies as a whole won the war.
But I digress. This movie can be classed as simply a great action packed war film but it is layered with moral conflicts, incredibly brutal realism and fine performances all round. A magnificent achievement that has yet to be bettered 10 years on.