Full Movie Reviews
Rating of
3.5/4
A true experience.
memento_mori - wrote on 09/21/2013
There's not much to say about this movie that hasn't been said already.
I feel bad for saying this is a fascinating film, considering it is so horrifying to watch. But if you put all the bona fide moments of war aside, it is still a very realistic depiction of how soldiers and army men interacted.
I especially liked the scenes involving Matt Damon. In his breakout role, he delivered an Award-worthy performance. Fun fact: His backstory was improvised by him.
Steven Spielberg is the man. It would've come as a shock if he hadn't won for Best Director.
This movie is one of the few where I appreciate the shaky-cam. The first half hour is incredibly filmed, full of cringe-worthy moments.
It's one of the few Steven Spielberg films that I see as undergoing style over substance. But the …
Rating of
3/4
"Saving Private Ryan" by Yojimbo
Yojimbo - wrote on 04/19/2012
Spielberg's multi-Oscar winning story of a squad of men sent to recover a soldier who was the sole surviving member of his siblings set a new standard in realism where it comes to representing the battlefield. It gives a genuinely believable idea of what it must be like to be caught up in such a hellish environment where any hesitation or even the smallest act of mercy may cost you your life or the life of others, particularly during the visceral opening scenes. Unfortunately the rest of the film does not quite measure up to Spielberg's consummate skill behind the camera. The script does mainly manage to avoid sentiment but it also feels very sanitized. The other allied forces are glaring in their absence, as are soldiers of other ethnicities and more often than not, profanity: this …
Rating of
4/4
Saving Private Ryan review
Daniel Corleone - wrote on 10/03/2011
On June 6, 1944 the Normandy invasion commences. Capt. John H. Miller (Tom Hanks) has been ordered by General George Marshall to save one of the Ryan brother’s killed during in dutye. He is accompanied by Horvath (Technical Sgt.), Mellish (Rifleman), Reiben (Automatic rifleman), Jackson (Sniper), Wade (Medic), Upham (speaks fluent French and German) and Caparzo (Rifleman). The company was able to locate Private First Class James Francis Ryan (Matt Damon) and should be sent home because of the Sole Survivor Policy. One of many memorable quotes: Capt. Miller – “Just know, every man I kill, the farther I feel from home I feel.” “James... earn this. Earn it.” Corporal Upham – “"If God is for us, who could be against us?"” Private James F. Ryan - “And I've tried to …
Rating of
4/4
You want to explain the math of this to me?
gideon43 - wrote on 05/30/2010
Sometimes, a number of critics miss the point when reviewing movies. this film has a number of historical inaccuracies and yes, its also a slightly clichéd "American won the war single handily" type of film but casting aside any criticisms, Saving Private Ryan is quite comfortably the finest war movie ever made.
Plunging the viewer headfirst into an opening combat sequence that is almost certainly the most searing and intense ever committed to celluloid, SPR pulls no punches and redefines the future of war movies.
Blazing action makes way for philosophy and an emotional commentary which explores the decency and righteousness that sometimes leads man to war.
SPR hardly puts a foot wrong and with an exemplary cast (Tom Hanks on incredible form), a spot on soundtrack and grainy …
Rating of
4/4
All-time great war movie
ryan - wrote on 05/21/2010
If you like war stories then this is the film for you. Great setting, great acting, and awesome dialogue!! I've been told that this movie is too long but any decent war movie needs to have plentiful length to truly express the story of people trying to cope with their individual problems and views on life, not to mention the problem of war surrounding them all. The story is really an original one of a battalion of soldiers sent on a mission to rescue a private who's lost all of his brothers in the war. The way it shows the rescuing companies opinion of the rescue mission and hopes to go home themselves, or just to live through another day, is awe-inspiring. It is more violent than most war movies, but I think that the violence adds a realistic touch that is absent from alot of films in …
Rating of
2.5/4
Good War Film
Zombified - wrote on 12/29/2009
Saving Private Ryan was a good film with wonderful acting, but I feel that the movie could have been better.
The story was good, but I felt that the plot could have been a little better. I liked watching the drama unfold through the movie, but there was something in the movie that I didn't really like. One of the things that I really like though was the characters. The characters were very realistic and portrayed by wonderful actors that really lit up the screen. Everyone in the movie acted really well and made Saving Private Ryan one of the best war movies (character wise) that I've ever seen.
Overall, Saving Private Ryan is a really good film. Other than the story, the movie worked really well and I find myself watching it from time to time.
Rating of
3.5/4
Saving Private Ryan
SmokeScreener - wrote on 06/18/2009
This is a very intense, gritty war movie that carefully balances the duty of soldiers with the grim realities of war. The opening sequence at Omaha Beach is absolutely stunning. The cast is excellent, from extended cameos by Ted Danson and Paul Giamatti, to another incredibly nuanced perfromance by Tom Hanks. Well worth watching as we continue our misguided effort in Iraq...
As always, I monitored the film for tobacco use. The film contained as much smoking as you might expect from a WWII drama. There are 37 depictions of tobacco use, including the use of chewing tobaccco... a rarity in movies; all but two occur outdoors. One character actually takes up the habit during the course of the movie! No shock here: The film earned a SmokeScreeners Rating of 4 butts. …
Rating of
4/4
Best graphic opening scenes in any movie ever!!
mdtinney - wrote on 05/22/2009
Saving Private Ryan is a 1998 American war film set during the invasion of Normandy in World War II. It was directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Robert Rodat. The film is notable for the intensity of its opening 24 minutes, which depict the Omaha beachhead assault of June 6, 1944. Meanwhile, in the United States, General George C. Marshall discovers that three of the four brothers of the Ryan family have all died within days of each other and that their mother will receive all three notices on the same day. He learns that the fourth son, Private First Class James Francis Ryan (Matt Damon) is missing in action somewhere in Normandy. Marshall orders that Ryan be found and sent home immediately.Afterward, it follows Tom Hanks as Captain John H. Miller and several Rangers as they …
Rating of
4/4
Oscar snub Private Ryan comes in at #46.......
Mr. B.K. Tinney - wrote on 04/23/2009
Anyone who has seen war movies would be lying not to put this one at or near the top. The directing by Steven Spielberg is amazingly magnificent even with his standards and the cast of acting led by Tom Hanks is terrific as well. Watching the first 20 minutes of the movie is so electrifying it is almost as if you were on the beaches of Normandy yourself...it is that powerful. You find yourself on the same journey with them through enemy lines to find Private Ryan (played by Matt Damon) alongside Tom Sizemore (who was perfectly cast as Hanks' sgt.), Edward Burns, Barry Pepper, Vin Diesel, Adam Goldberg, Giovani Ribisi and Jermey Davies. The feel of the movie is second to none as far as war movies go and it has to be considered one of the master director's prized works as well as the …
Rating of
3/4
Great War Film
TheWolf - wrote on 07/30/2007
An amazingly epic movie, Saving Private Ryan is both an expertly told war film with the flair of originality that exceeded my expectations. While I was used to seeing many older war movies there were only a few that really left the impression that war is hell. The majority of the time they are showing you the tough times with a few hero soldiers that do the unexpected and do anything for those that they know and trust. This movie takes a different approach after finding out that a soldier named James Francis Ryan is currently behind enemy lines, and unbeknown to him his 3 brothers had recently been killed, a team of men is sent in to pull him out so that his mother doesn't have to get 4 death notices if he is killed in battle as well.
The movie is amazing, it makes you feel like you …
