A very accurate war epic, with a inaccurate storyline

Rating: 9/10 (18 May 2004)

Saving Private Ryan is a superb war epic that will probably be remembered in the far future, revising the Second World War very accurately. It begins with the title character, James Ryan as an old man surrounded by his family; whereby are visiting the grave of a very important person in Ryan's life. The film then very quickly takes a new approach, as we begin to learn the story of the beginning of the film, and just who this person is.
Moving onto the famous D-day landing; an event that very few war films have portrayed, especially in such graphic detail, then moves beyond the beach, and through wrecked towns and cities in France. The film then progresses as the title of the film is explained, and new characters are introduced and lost, demonstrating the real horror of war.
The film in general is about a solider, who has been unlucky enough to lose three of his brothers in combat, leading to a special, dangerous mission. Captain John Miller, (Tom Hanks) must take his men behind enemy lines to find Private James Ryan, an American solider situated somewhere in France. The men question their orders, but continue to embark on the mission. As Ryan, becomes nearer, the mission becomes harder, and soon, most of the characters are suddenly killed, including Captain Miller, the name on the grave at the opening sequence of the film!
Although very well acted, and involving a gripping story line, it is fair to say the story should be more realistic as this story is extremely unlikely to happen in the real World War 2.