Saving Private Ryan
Category
War
Director
Steven Spielberg
Cast
- Tom Hanks
- Edward Burns
- Tom Sizemore
- Barry Pepper
- Adam Goldberg
- Giovanni Ribisi
- Matt Damon
- Vin Diesel
Release Date
24 July 1998
Synopsis
Steven Spielberg's World War II film "Saving Private Ryan" has been tagged as "the best film about war ever made," and the film certainly lived up to the hype. With the movie instantly beginning with probably the most realistic depiction of a historical scene, with angles and shots taken from the viewpoint of the battling soldiers, you'll probably feel a little terrified from the blood, the gore, and the explosions all around. But Spielberg takes it down a notch, by introducing to us the mission at hand, giving the audience a little sense of drama that makes Saving Private Ryan more than your typical war epic.
Tom Hanks is Captain John Miller, head of the operation to save this unknown Private Ryan. He has an assortment of troops with him, slightly resentful of the mission they have been tasked with. Who is this Ryan, and why does he deserve to be restored to his loved ones when there are thousands out there who have died and didn't need any saving? But Captain Miller sets them straight, and leads his troop all over Europe. Men are lost along the way, and each death scene is riveting, as the tearful soldiers become witnesses to the inevitable outcome. These soldiers know they're bound to lose their lives along the way, but Hanks continuously pumps them up with courage to fight to the finish. When they finally meet Ryan, the group is even more frustrated by Ryan's refusal to abandon his post, but they are convinced to unite with Ryan and his survivor buddies for one glorious battle to the end. Lives are lost, American planes come to the rescue, and Ryan will remain forever grateful to his rescuers, but of course to Captain Miller the most.
What sets this war film apart, aside from the captivating and exciting turbulence of the fight scenes, is the humanistic approach to the war. In the midst of battle, love, loyalty, and family are deeply cherished, along with the virtues of loyalty and courage. A very moving tragedy is appropriately utilized by Spielberg as an effect of war, making the idea of war seem more real, and not just something you read in history books. And because of this reason, Saving Private Ryan truly deserves the title of being the best war film ever.