Gets a reaction out of me every time I see it(and I'm certain I'm NOT alone)

Rating: 9/10 (4 April 2009)

Now I cannot speak from any sort of personal experience,not militarily nor age-wise(my late maternal grandfather actually was in the European theater of command during WWII,and missed being involved in D-day by not that much,if I'm to understand correctly),so I would and could not dispense with any of the critiques that I've read here regarding how true or authentic the military/war element of the film was(and there were about equal parts of both those who thought this show was the best/very accurate and those who thought this wasn't even close/completely inaccurate,from what I was able to divine off the long rolls of comments). So I can only review this the way someone in my position can:namely,from how it directly affected me.
And for that,this film is completely and totally spot-on.
The possibly fictionalized account of an Army expeditionary unit's dispatch to find the lone surviving brother of five servicemen who were killed in action because of an obscure rule in the military that pertains to surviving siblings during war. The unit is led by quiet,dignified schoolteacher Captain John Miller(Tom Hanks,who really is a study in steady perseverance here)and the troops are predominantly young(i.e. 19 to 27 year old men)and prone to the usual emotional swings that occur amongst young men who are both brave but bewildered,uncertain of the mission and colored by their own personas.
To say that this movie is manipulative would be an understatement,but then,how else does director Steven Spielberg roll? From the highly personal camera-work,simple yet emotive dialog and--last but not least--the grinding,crunching,raw,explosive sound,visual and special effects(and the editing that went with it!),this movie will most certainly draw a reaction out of you the viewer,whether positive(largely what I felt)or negative. To me,if a movie cannot be able to elicit a reaction,physical,emotional or both,then it really cannot be considered a potent film. Conversely,if it can create ANY reaction,then kudos to the makers. This film had me feeling a whole range of emotions through its run(much of it anger and low,grinding fear).
I'm sure there are equal arguments as to the legitimacy of a military,historical or cultural film that Saving Private Ryan either is or isn't. Either way,this movie creates a powerful,raw and memorable feel that does not abate with watchings. Not a favorite,I suppose,but an excellent work of cinema. 9.5 out of 10