Corporal Upham was outstanding!!!

Rating: 9/10 (26 May 1999)

Many people have talked about this movie in terms of the realistic violence and action throughout the movie. This certainly helps to drag people into the movie, but was not the most stunning thing I saw in this movie. Some people have highlighted the simple, but effective plot as a means to prove that it was not worthy of the title of best war movie of all time. My view was the movie was not really created to have detail plots to confuse people and make them think, rather the movie was about how pictures and images of war can say much much more than words can ever do. We not only get scenes of realistic action, but fundamentally the characterisation of Corporal Upham is one of the best achievements in ANY war movie. Whereas the other characters we have seen before in other similar war movies, Upham was so unique in war movies of any sort that he blew me away. Saving Private Ryan should have focused more upon Upham's character because it was far more interesting and realistic than all the other characters put together. This movie was a character study rather than plot tangles. Upham should not even be in the war, he is not only innocent, but is the moral person in the movie who affects the decisions and lives of the other soldiers around him. Throughout the movie we see his character slowly change and develop to the final scenes that is so full of emotionally realism that he beats other war movie characters. Scenes to watch out for are: 1) When he is left behind and watches his new friends take out a guarded post. 2) When he sits on the steps - absolutely incredible. 3) When he tries to save a German person's life. 4) And the final horrific emotionally scene of realism. And so many besides.
The only off-putting thing about the movie is the propaganda concerning giving the impression that America is the best country in the world and saves us from losing the war, when in fact they were just additional help who did not join until Britain was in too much debt to the USA.