Saving Private Ryan
Year: 1998
Starring: Tom Hanks, Barry Pepper, Matt Damon, Edward Burns, Tom Sizemore, Giovanni Ribisi
Director: Steven Spielberg
Writers: Robert Rodat
Length: 170 Minutes
A remarkable World War II film from Steven Spielberg. All three brothers of a U.S. soldier named James Ryan have died in combat, so a team is sent on a mission to bring Ryan home safely. The plotline was perhaps inspired by the story of the Sullivans.
The highlights of this film are the battle scenes. The opening battle scene of D-Day at Normandy, while tough to watch, is also mesmerzing and visually stunning. Not only perhaps the most intense, exciting, and realistic war scene ever filmed, it ranks up there with the greatest action scenes of all-time, period. There is another war scene at the end of the film that is nearly as brilliant.
Some have complained that the story line isn't quite that strong. While it is far from weak, it is true that it could've been maybe developed a little bit stronger, and the scenes between the battle scenes could've been a little bit better. I found the storyline to be compelling and moving, but not quite at the level to make this my choice as the best war film I have ever seen (refer to my next review). But regardless, the performances all around are strong, and Saving Private Ryan is a cinematic masterpiece.
***** out of *****
Year: 1998
Starring: Tom Hanks, Barry Pepper, Matt Damon, Edward Burns, Tom Sizemore, Giovanni Ribisi
Director: Steven Spielberg
Writers: Robert Rodat
Length: 170 Minutes
A remarkable World War II film from Steven Spielberg. All three brothers of a U.S. soldier named James Ryan have died in combat, so a team is sent on a mission to bring Ryan home safely. The plotline was perhaps inspired by the story of the Sullivans.
The highlights of this film are the battle scenes. The opening battle scene of D-Day at Normandy, while tough to watch, is also mesmerzing and visually stunning. Not only perhaps the most intense, exciting, and realistic war scene ever filmed, it ranks up there with the greatest action scenes of all-time, period. There is another war scene at the end of the film that is nearly as brilliant.
Some have complained that the story line isn't quite that strong. While it is far from weak, it is true that it could've been maybe developed a little bit stronger, and the scenes between the battle scenes could've been a little bit better. I found the storyline to be compelling and moving, but not quite at the level to make this my choice as the best war film I have ever seen (refer to my next review). But regardless, the performances all around are strong, and Saving Private Ryan is a cinematic masterpiece.
***** out of *****