To Hell and Back

Rating: Null/10 (16 August 1998)

It is a movie like this, that tells me why Steven Spielberg is a god. Of all the war movies I have ever seen, this certainly tops the list. Not "Platoon" "Apocalypse Now" "Full Metal Jacket" "The Deer Hunter" can prepare you for this experience.
8 for 1. What an odd math equation. Why would eight men risks their lives for the sake of 1? This is Spielberg's question posed and answer it, he does. Tom Hanks is the reclusive Capt. John Miller, sent to lead seven others into the heart of German occupied France to save one Private James Ryan (Matt Damon).
I don't want to explain what happens, because I want you to see the movie yourself.
No stomach for violence? I hope you can survive the first 24 minutes, the battle scene that will go down in the history as the greatest invasion ever filmed. It is the infamous D-Day Invasion, the Invasion of Normandy to others. Hell on Earth, to those who were there. I don't know if this is accurate and all, I'm 15, the closest thing to war I ever had was my Grandfather, so I don't know firsthand. But I leave it to Spielberg to tell the truth. It is a film, not about war, but men in war. The feelings of love, loss, courage and cowardice. All of it is interwoven into, well, the best film of the year and one of the greatest of all time. It is so beautiful and horrific, it wrenches your soul and you know that, hey, this actually happened. Men fought and men died. I have a new found honor for those who fought to keep me free and those who died trying. I only have a thousand words, so I should keep it brief. Spielberg has crafted a gory, yet beautiful, gritty, yet polished film. This will not be the film he is not remembered for, that was "Schindler's List". But this will certainly put him the legends books at Hollywood.
Of 4 stars: * * * *
"In the last great invasion, of the last great war, the hardest mission for eight men, was saving... One."