Moving but far from profound

Rating: Null/10 (16 October 1998)

I wonder why the press loves that starting scene of the landing of the allied in the Normandy. The first person camera was shaking so much that I was quite literally thrown out of the scene and this just went on when Miller and his team engaged this german APC or whatever on a green field with flowers. That said, let's continue. The good things about the movie were: The story idea made it possible to blank out any strategical or tactical aspects of war, which either divert the watcher or justifies war itself (lost bla, but saved blabla) ... at least up to a certain point (the value of that bridge was only outlined with "the one of two remaining intact ones..."). The movie features also very moving graphical effects, by that I mean wounds, lost body parts, outflowing intestines. And also audio effects like the noise of the tanks in the beginning of the German attack on that bridge. I hope you know what I mean. Some nice ideas like the rain drops splashing onto the leaves, making you think that it's like the sound of gunfire, which turns out to be true afterwards. And others which were tragi-comical (soldier takes off his helmet after it luckily deflected a bullet and is promptly...)
But. I don't like the movie. Actually, I hate Spielberg for this "goddamn" movie, pardon the term. The very scene, I mean, is when a German and an American soldier fight (attack on bridge) on the first level of one of the houses and the German pulls out his knife and happens to be on top of his "enemy". And what then happens must be told in full, as I remember it. The silent whimpering of the soldier as the blade cuts slowly through the fabric of his jacket and then on and on and on and all the time the German whispers: "Give up, you don't have a chance, it well be easier for you, give up, it be will easier .... Shhh shhh". Until the blade has fully made its way through chest and heart and the soldier is dead. No bursting out "you goddamn nazi, I never give up", no "ha, ruthless defender of so-called democracy, receive your true punishment" or whatever. No, two people forced to kill each other and only one can win. THIS scene is still in my mind, all the time and I do hope that it will fade somewhen. But let's cut out that personal stuff of mine ... The movie was great in a way. When those tanks are coming, the little hill behind which the Americans take cover sliding down by the trembling of the ground. Captain Miller pulling a soldier after him at the landing, whose legs are blown away and Miller does not realise it. You really went out of it and were stunned. BUT: The beginning is the weak point in my opinion, the stunning phase happens in the end.
Now on to my general concerns (last paragraph, I swear). I think, war is "bad". The "stupid" thing about war is that it involves humans and especially the killing of humans. Further on, war is even stranger. Humans kill without any inner motivation, without real hate or anger out of personal reasons (although sister was killed by Germans V2 in London ...). It is so abstract and so unreal. One of the other commenters said, that Full Metal Jacket would score better in showing the futility of war. And that's the point ! Futility, desparation, hopelessness, the lacking of sense and reason ... that is war for me. Concerning humans, there is not a single good thing about war. Lives are simply thrown away, dumped, cannon-fodder.
Open bodies, blown away extremities or injuries like that don't touch me but things like "soldier A nearly makes it to blabla but just before he reaches it, he's shot" (remember "A bridge too far" when the solider runs for that cylindric box hoping to find ammunition or whatever and there are only hats inside ?) This is war for me. I think, "Platoon" is better. I think, "A bridge too far" is better. I think, "The Bridge" is better. Actually, although all the anti-war-movies I know are inferior in terms of visuals and sound, they all are superior to "Saving Private Ryan". The only thing speaking well for all of you is, that good visuals and sounds directly influence unconsciousness...