I don't understand the hype

Rating: 3/10 (13 July 2006)

I am a big fan of WWII movies and was looking forward to this movie. I had heard so many great things about it. I was very disappointed. The actual photography and special effects were great. The actions of the people involved to make little sense. The opening at Normandy was well done but I didn't understand mixing the humor with the gore. But it was good at showing the brutality. Now the men at the center of the action were experienced soldiers. We see them using their wits in using mirrors to look around corners, not exposing them selves to enemy fire, etc. Everything is fine. Then comes the set up, trying to find the one private in the sea of humanity. Okay, so they look and finally find him. Now the logic seems to completely desert the men and they act so stupid which is a complete 180 from how they acted at the start of the movie. If they had no combat experience that is one thing but to start the movie showing how smart they are, then wind up the way they did just was too much for me.
Okay, I accept the decision to stay and fight for no real good reason because things like that happen. But then they start running out in front of tanks, stand still while tanks point their guns at them, sit on their butts when they run out of ammo, and to not even try to find out where the bridge was in relation to the army? As it turns out if they had not lured the Germans into their "trap" their fighters and the whole column would have been up to deal with them without any pointless fighting. Okay well that could have been a stupid decision but to have the men act they didn't have a clue about war, they didn't just go through the brutality of the invasion, was just so contrived it was too much for the suspension of believe normally called for.
I really don't understand why so many people liked it. It seems like the fact that Spielberg directed it gives in an extra 4 points. Obviously I am in the minority here. Maybe I watched too many episodes of "Combat" growing up and my expectation were too high.