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Saving Private Ryan 
RELEASE YEAR 1998
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MPAA RATING
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The first and last parts of the film are the most terrifying, most gruesome, most shocking scenes of any movie imaginable. Spielberg gets things going with a 25 minute war scene on the Beach of Normandy.
Watching the many soldiers get blown to bits, you find yourself trying to keep in mind that the event you�re watching on a big screen really occurred back in 1944. Seeing all of the dead bodies lying on the shores is an astonishing reminder of what those soldiers went through back in 1944. Feeling joy as you watch the soldiers fight back at the Germans, helping their country in battle brings a gigantic amount of happiness towards you. Spielberg, as he has done so often, captivates the audience with these scenes of war, of sorrow, and of joy. Spielberg depicts the past as brilliantly as any director could. The genius of this man�s passion to reiterate what happened in 1944 is truly remarkable. He had the courage and the will power to show us, in simple terms, WAR. Tom Hanks (Captain Miller) is truly magnificent in the film. His leadership stands out like no other. He carries the film on screen as Spielberg carried it off screen. This superb actor has given us another great performance. This brilliant director has given us another piece of greatness. When you put these 2 individuals together on the same project, the outcome is unbelievable. The cast of handfuls to go along with Hanks to find Private Ryan are sensational. These aren't the gung ho types, they are real people. None are super heroes who always save the day, they are just regular people who were picked to fight in WWII. Just like the ones that were really fighting in 1944. You really get to know these guys and you begin to root for them, as I did. Davies plays a skittish Private who's never been in combat. Burns is the slick mouthed soldier who also gives a fine performance. Sizemore is Hanks' right hand man. He does everything he says and is willing to do anything to help the squad. And Matt Damon (Pvt. Ryan) fills in nicely with a great performance. His image in the movie stands for courage and honor, as he refuses to leave his fellow troops when Hanks' men finally find him. This is the perfect cast for this type of movie. The whole group is fabulous. There are probably 3 or 4 scenes that will reach out and grab you by the neck. They are very powerful and will stay in your mind for good. The movie is filled with so much drama that it can be draining watching it, because it takes so much out of you. The scene where Davies has a mental collapse in a staircase maybe the most defining moment in the entire film. His character is easily the most to relate to, because he represents what any human being would act like during this type of atmosphere. What Spielberg did has essentially changed the way we look at war and how war movies will be made in the future. This gifted artist has painted a portrait of war that will rest heavily in our minds forever. Nominated for 11 Academy Awards.
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