outstanding

Rating: 10/10 (11 December 2005)

The American army are about to land at the Omaha beach in France. The moment they land its a blood soaked fight to take the beach. In this fight is Captain Miller and his troop of men. After the Omaha assault, Miller is given a mission to find a man and take him out from behind enemy lines. The man is Private James Ryan. Ryan's brothers have been killed in action and to bereave his mother the American Army want him home. Ryan's location is unknown as his paratroop were miss dropped. Miller and his troop now have to go behind enemy lines to find Ryan, that is if he's still alive.
Saving Private Ryan is an outstanding war drama from master director Steven Spielberg. The opening beach scene is so brutally violent and harshly real, yet it honestly conveys the horror of the war. This was the first movie I saw that violent, but accurately, portrayed the violent nature of war and the emotions of the soldiers. You are placed right into the battle; with people being dismembered and shot apart. The final fight at the bridge crossing is the most intense battle of the film. It doesn't have the sheer unrelenting violence of the opening battle, but it is so emotionally charged.
Though the violence is confronting, but there is so much drama and character depth behind the violence. All the people of Millers troop are three dimensional, you can emotionally attach to them. They all are bonded too, you can see their comradeship between them. There is also that naivety to them; they will follow their captain not just on orders but they trust him without question. Captain Miller has so much depth to him. You don't find a lot about him, yet you can tell there is much anguish and longing to leave in his face.
Spielberg has taken a more head first look into the second world war. Shinder's List was about the men behind the scenes and the politics, while in Saving Private Ryan we are taken to the view of the soldier. Spielberg's direction is flawless, getting you right into the battle and evoking so much emotion from all the actors. The acting is also flawless. Tom Hanks gives one the his best performances ever, he was brilliant. Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Barry Pepper, Vin Diesel, Giovanni Ribisi, Adam Goldberg and Jeremy Davies all bring great performances as the mix matched group of people, their friendship for all of them was so believable. Matt Damon though only appearing towards the end as Private Ryan does a great job also.
Saving Private Ryan is one of the best war movies ever made, it is a masterpiece of cinema.