I was looking forward to seeing this movie very much. The rave reviews only heightened my anticipation. Let me start at the beginning...

If you can survive the first 20 minutes then you'll be okay. Yes the opening is very graphic and very shocking...BUT it is absolutely brilliantly done. It depicts the fateful Omaha beach landing on D Day. We share every terrible moment in all but body. Starting with soldiers vomiting on the boats as they near the shore, bullets silently hitting soldiers underwater, the charge up the beach into a hail of gunfire, limbs flying through the air, sheer blind panic. It is an assault on the senses and I've never experienced anything likeit in the cinema before. Nor do I imagine I ever will again. Spielberg shows us the way through the eyes of Captain Miller (Tom Hanks) as he himself stumblesup the beach, dragging a wounded colleague only to look down a few minutes later to see their legs are now missing. It is almost a blessed relief when they break through.

After that we get down to the business of the movie - the locating and rescuing on one Private Ryan (Matt Damon) - in a public relations exercise after his three brothers are killed in quick succession, it is decided to spare the mother any further grief and return the surviving son to the fold. It is a simple premise but one which Miller's squad quickly resent, risking eight men to save one private. It begs the question - is saving one life worth risking many? It is a question we are frequently reminded of throughout.

The task of locating Ryan is by no means an easy one and the squad go through great difficulties and conflict, both external and internal, along the way: a sniper attack, a botched hit on a gun nest, arguments over "the decent thing to do", the execution of a POW. Until finally Ryan is located along with a small squad, all protecting a relatively meaningless bridge in a ruined town. Millerand his men end up joining them and the inevitable confrontation with some German panzers is another gruesome battle, lasting longer than the beach landing! I won't spoil the outcome *grin*

This is cinema par excellence and my hat is now permanently off to Mr. Spielberg. The direction and editting are superb. The script is very well penned, bringing the characters to life, giving them all valuable things to say. Very able support comes from Jeremy Davies (as green Corporal Uppham) and an impressive Tom Sizemore as the ever faithful Sarge, Miller's confidant. Tom Hanks shines as the Captain, a private man, trying to be strong in the face of death but his resolve slowly being eroded. Oscar nominations anyone? If you can stomach the graphic images, it is well worth it. One image that will remainwith me is one that just made my jaw drop - the beach landing, and the first boat opens up to allow the soldier to disembark but as soon as the door opens, the whole boatful is scythed down in a whistling torrent of machine gun fire. Absolutely horrifying.

This is a very rewarding and even educational movie. As Matt Damon said, he left the cinema with a great sense of guilt - that this generation (of which I am a part) really have no idea of what those men went through over there. This movie cannot be missed. Speilberg is at the top of his profession and deserves all the accolades we willsurely receive.

The closing thought from the movie relates to a message given to Private Ryan - "Earn it". This referred to the fact that this group of soldiers had risked everything to save his butt and the request was asking Ryan to make sure he lived a life to earn this rescue. I have seen it written elsewhere and I agree that "Earn it" is also a message that WE can take away from the movie.It wasn't just Miller's team that risked everything. We are all Private Ryan and 1000s and 1000s of others like Miller and co. also risked - and gave - everything, to ensure that we have the freedom we all take for granted. See this movie - it is important that you do.


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age