Film Review: Saving Private Ryan

Director: Steven Spielberg

American Soldiers prepare for the Normandy beach landings knowing that they are attacked a heavily manned German stronghold in the Second World War. How would you feel knowing that hundreds of bullets are waiting to pounce as soon as you are in view and there's a good chance you won't make it out alive? Spielberg produces a truly harrowing film epic that many councillors advised that ''psychologically vulnerable'' veterans should not watch the movie. It's become popular to portray war in a very dark bad light and not many films paint it in a worst light than Saving Private Ryan.

The Brutal Beach Assault at Normandy

The opening assault on the beaches at Normandy is a brutal unflinching scene with hundreds of soldiers cut down by enemy bullets before they even get off the landing craft. The directing and effects are superb, Spielberg literally invites us to watch some of the worst atrocities committed by man. Hanks is admirable as Captain Miller who leads the party who go in search of Private Ryan as they encounter different problems en route.

Captain John H. Miller (Tom Hanks)

Unfortunately it falls into the familiar Hollywood trap of being too patriotic in altering history to make it look like the Americans did everything and many other nations are marginalised. The Normandy beach landings were performed by the Royal Navy with the Americans arriving on their ships rather than the American Coast Guard ones depicting in the film. A small criticism but considering this film was all about historical accuracy it's a shame the Americans after overplay their role. This aside it's a very realistic look at a mission during the Second World War which feels like a film version of Band of Brothers or The Pacific which is high praise indeed.

3.5/4 stark realism provides a harrowing watch