All Around, the best possible war film ever made?

Rating: Null/10 (10 May 2002)

Well, According to the rating I've read on this site, No! In my 2 cents though, I would put this film up near the top. As I sit here I can't think of much wrong to write! Steven can REALLY make any kind of plot shine and, in my thoughts, this is his best. At first the Idea of him casting Tom Hanks as the lead in this film didn't thrill me. I'm thinking, this is that guy from "Seattle" who fell in love with Meg Ryan! He just didn't strike me as that much of an action Hero. Well, in this roll, Tom didn't have to be an action kind of person 'cuz this is the one of them few films i've seen that doesn't have violence just for the sake of having it there. This film contained at the time of its release some of the most nasty and realistic battle scenes I've ever experienced! And unlike Black Hawk Down, this film has no work up to the landings on June 6th.
Imean you see this person, visiting the cemetary. We're not told his name nor which site he's looking for. What we, the audience realize right away though is that this man was a VETERAN who most likely fought here. In then he stops if front of one grave, and in my opinion, the best scene of the film, french hornsring out a powerful few notes as the camera focuses on the lines and lines of crosses. Then the allied assault starts, with all its fury at Normandy. Well, I can't say any more about that.
So leading a crew of 8 men through swarms of German reinforements, Tom Hanks must find a private who has lost all of his brothers. "It doesn't make any sense" is the theme to the whole mission, unlike in other films where the soldiers all never even think about there orders as anything but the most meaningful and heroic things on earth. And of course, why are 8 men being risked for one. The nice thing is that Steven never really answers the question but simply shows the results. I won't spoil the end but I should say this: Don't expect hardly any of the main characters to get out alive!
Totally wonderful film. John's score in this film is the best. I love his music. It's always perfect. The sound is very well done. The camera effects are stellar and I'm sounding silly here but I'm having a hard time finding adjectives that describe what a good film this is. If you don't have this film already, what are waiting for. I'm glad there are people out there who actually care to make films that are REALLY based on history!