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In terms of production quality, this might be Spielberg's most technically well-made film. Really bringing you into the battles, the opening scene on the beach sets the bar for intense battle scenes. It's such an astonishing scene. The handheld high shutter-speed look really adds to the real, gritty (in a good way) feel to the scene. It's unlike just about any other large scale battle scene I've ever seen.
When most people talk about this film they stay on the battle scene and how great it is but I think this film is more than just one really phenomenal action sequence. It's a deeply powerful film that shows the atrocity of war on the human level. There is a scene in which we see two American soldiers have an enemy soldier who has put down his arms in surrender only to be shot down by the soldiers, and then along the same line, later in the film when the Americans do spare the life of an enemy soldier he ultimately ends up fighting against them later in the film. There are no heroes and villains in war, no good guys and bad guys on the front lines, only soldiers, only survivors.
The premise of the story is simple. A squad of American soldiers are sent behind enemy lines to save a private who is to be sent home because his brothers have died. Tom Hanks plays the leader of the squad and he is spectacular as always. The sound design of the film is great and pairs well with the bleak, realistic visual portrayal of war that brings it to horrifying reality without glorifying it in the process (save for some of the sentimentalist flag waving at the beginning and end of the film, but hey it's Spielberg).
In spite of a little sentimentality, it's a phenomenal film that sticks with you and is in the upper echelon of Spielberg's incredible works as one of the best directors of all time.
10. Saving Private Ryan
In terms of production quality, this might be Spielberg's most technically well-made film. Really bringing you into the battles, the opening scene on the beach sets the bar for intense battle scenes. It's such an astonishing scene. The handheld high shutter-speed look really adds to the real, gritty (in a good way) feel to the scene. It's unlike just about any other large scale battle scene I've ever seen.
When most people talk about this film they stay on the battle scene and how great it is but I think this film is more than just one really phenomenal action sequence. It's a deeply powerful film that shows the atrocity of war on the human level. There is a scene in which we see two American soldiers have an enemy soldier who has put down his arms in surrender only to be shot down by the soldiers, and then along the same line, later in the film when the Americans do spare the life of an enemy soldier he ultimately ends up fighting against them later in the film. There are no heroes and villains in war, no good guys and bad guys on the front lines, only soldiers, only survivors.
The premise of the story is simple. A squad of American soldiers are sent behind enemy lines to save a private who is to be sent home because his brothers have died. Tom Hanks plays the leader of the squad and he is spectacular as always. The sound design of the film is great and pairs well with the bleak, realistic visual portrayal of war that brings it to horrifying reality without glorifying it in the process (save for some of the sentimentalist flag waving at the beginning and end of the film, but hey it's Spielberg).
In spite of a little sentimentality, it's a phenomenal film that sticks with you and is in the upper echelon of Spielberg's incredible works as one of the best directors of all time.