Relentlessly powerful and brutally graphic. Saving Private Ryan is a masterpiece of modern cinema, and perhaps the greatest war film ever made

Rating: 10/10 (29 December 2005)

One of the greatest war films ever made, Saving Private Ryan is an intense and graphic portrayal of the closing days of WWII. The film captures accurately the sounds, reality, colour even the smells of the war.
Spielberg deserves praise for his charismatic contribution to this masterpiece and he received it.
Tom Hanks leads a suiting cast through the marshlands of Northern France to rescue the last surviving Ryan brother after a direct request from a high ranking official, risking his and his men's lives in the dangerous path to rescue James Ryan.
"Superbly directed *****"
"Spielberg leaves the Holocaust and takes on the bloody D-Day invasion in this beautiful war film depicting hell on earth"
"Saving Private Ryan is truly a superb example of undisputable, nononsense film-making about the war. While not sentimental it is extremely powerful. Undoubtedly the Best Picture of 98"
"Spielberg's direction, is so incredible in this film, that makes the film so real it is unbelievable"
"One of the few war films that portray war as accurately as possible. Hell. And Saving Private Ryan does that. It peaks in to the gates of hell. Brutally realistic;uncomfortable; psychological... and ultimately one of the best films to come out of America in the last 15 years"