Unique film

Rating: 10/10 (4 October 2016)

Saving Private Ryan caused WWII vets to leave the theatre during the film. Sounds like a bad movie? Well that's incorrect, they left due to the emotions it made them feel and how real the movie seemed. This comes as no surprise since it is a Steven Spielberg movie. He is a much decorated film maker who is good with serious genres. He certainly did not let down in this instant classic.
The movie does an excellent job at showing the terrifying reality of war. The opening battle scene might just make you cringe as it starts off in the blood bath of Omaha Beach. This lasts about 24 minutes but leaves a much longer lasting impression. While the blood and gore of the movie might turn you off, it does show a personal humanistic side. Tom hanks as the leading actor does a good job at making you feel what it was like to be in that situation. Tom Hanks who is also known to be a much decorated actor, had experience of acting out war scenes from the hit film Forest Gump.
The graphics and design of this movie were magnificent. The designers studied many things about WWII and the way it looked in order to put together such realistic scenes. It's as close to war as you can get in a film. Everything down to the stitches on the uniform is done as historically accurate as possible. Also the animated portions were beyond its time. There is a scene where a soldier is trying to put his guts back into his body that is so detailed it kind of makes me sick. This movie broke many graphic barriers for the time is what made and really began a new era of historic war movies.
The plot consists of a young Private Ryan whose three brothers were killed in action. Since he is the last of his brothers left, the marines feel the need to bring him back home to his mother. This mission is given to a small group of men led by Tom Hanks. This plot is based on historical truths so the concept of it cannot be argued by critics. That doesn't mean the idea of this real life issue can't be questioned however. The problem of this plot was seen throughout the movie in the soldiers' eyes. As the group started to lose men over one private, they began to question what they were doing. A scene in which the soldiers start arguing about it and one pulls a gun on the other really makes you feel this moral struggle. Audience members who became attached to these characters also started to question the idea of saving one man for the price of many. Tom Hanks settled down these doubts, however, in a heartfelt speech during the scene of argument and kept his soldiers focused.
Being emotionally connected to the characters was a strong suit the movie showed. It made it better than just a bloody war film. It made you feel as if you were there and part of it. You grow to care for each member of the group as the film goes on. Which makes it that much harder when they start to die off. A scene in which they gave background stories of where they're from helped strengthen the connection.
This movie is intense and is definitely not okay for kids. It receives an R rating for blood, gore, and language. Veterans of our military will be much more appreciated after a film like this. What makes this movie special is that it doesn't only show the horrible non-humane aspects of war, it also shows the morality and heroics these brave soldiers showed in order to protect a good cause. Saving Private Ryan is a unique film because of that.