Sunday, May 30, 2010

A Review Of The War Film Saving Private Ryan

By Lance Walter

Chances are, if you are taking a look into an article such as this, you want to learn what you can about likely the best film to be released in 1998, Saving Private Ryan. This article will give you an introduction to the film, as well as a better than brief plot synopsis. So if you want to learn about this particular motion picture, this should certainly be the place to do just that.

It is no surprise that the man behind all of the action of this impressive film was none other than one of the most decorated directors of all time: Steven Spielberg. From his impressive feats to bring emotion to the audience through visual displays unlike anything they had ever seen before, this film does not disappoint.

In fact, it features one of the most graphic and impacting opening sequences that might have ever been documented up until that point concerning a war film. This is done through a soldier's eye view of the storming of the beaches at Normandy. To put it mildly, this is does not give a skewed perception of this. For nearly thirty minutes, the audience has a front row seat to the hell of war, seeing what the actual soldiers likely saw on D-Day.

When the action plateaus here, you are introduced to the main character of the piece, Captain John H. Miller and his company of men from all over the United States. They soon learn their new orders, which are to be the search and rescue unit to locate a paratrooper named Private James Ryan. However, this proves to be a rather difficult task in war torn Europe.

The reason they are trying to find Private Ryan is because his other three brothers in the Army had all been killed in action and the Army felt that he deserved to go home to his family. Needless to say, the company is divided on whether or not this is actually worth all the trouble to find Ryan, let alone watch him get a ticket home.

Through the course of the film, you share triumph and tragedy with the men of this company. You learn more about their lives before the war, and their plans for when it is all said and done. When they do reach Ryan, he is given the news and still refuses to leave his current company. They are responsible to secure an Allied bridge. If Ryan leaves, they may not be able to do this and Miller's company aids them in making a heroic stand that is both a tragedy and a triumph rolled into one.

This is a story that heavily reflects on the tragedy of war, the necessity of war, and the value of human life in the face of many different circumstances. This could likely be among the best war movies of all time, if not just included in some of the best movies of all time in general. Powerful performances by Tom Hanks (Captain Miller), Tom Sizemore (Sgt. Mike Horvath), and Matt Damon (Private Ryan) amongst so many others have helped to make this movie as impressive as it was.

If you cared to learn more about Saving Private Ryan, than this article should have given you a great introduction to this film and given you a reason to watch it if you haven't. While there are so many things to appreciate about this movie, you will likely appreciate something unique and special as so many have.

About the Author:

No comments: