Not Great

Rating: 6/10 (26 February 2007)

I personally think this film is not as good as its hyped up to me. Yes it might be realistic, but as a film, I've seen better, with deeper meanings and understandings. I hear people say this is the best war film ever made! In comparison to films such as apocalypse now, full metal jacket, paths of glory, even Platoon there is no contest in my opinion. This film is about the soldiers, and what they had to put up with, which any person will feel for, however the films I have mentioned above have more depth, and discuss more important issues, with greater subtleties (in some cases) and take into account the "grand scheme of things". Comparing this film with "Full Metal Jacket" also is an example of the difference between a "Hollywood" director like Spielberg who directed E.T, Indiana Jones, Jaws and Kubrick who directed A clockwork orange, 2001 and Dr Strangelove. Don't get me wrong i loved Indiana Jones, E.T. and Jaws, but when I compare these films with the Kubrick ones, I see a major difference(with the exception of Shindlers List). However good these films are, they are simple stories, whereas Kubrick tackled bigger issues. Saving Private Ryan is not a simple story, but it asks for sympathy, and rightly so, but that is all it does for me. What I would like to say is that the opening battle scenes are remarkable. I am someone who believes in being only one or two, if that really good films a year. I did not think this was one of them.