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Saving Private Ryan (1998)

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Saving Private Ryan (1998)

1998 | Action | Drama | War

169 mins

Following the Normandy Landings, a group of U.S. soldiers go behind enemy lines to retrieve a paratrooper whose brothers have been killed in action.

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Produced by Paramount Pictures
Director Steven Spielberg
Writer Scott Frank
Cast Tom Hanks, Tom Sizemore, Matt Damon, Edward Burns, Barry Pepper, Adam Goldberg, Vin Diesel and Giovanni Ribisi

Images And Data Courtesy Of: Paramount Pictures.
This content (including text, images, videos and other media) is published and used in accordance with Fair Use.

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Dean

Added this item on Feb 13, 2017

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Saving Private Ryan (1998) Reviews & Ratings (91)
9-10
71.4% (65)
7-8
24.2% (22)
5-6
3.3% (3)
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Sarah (7799 KP) rated

Feb 9, 2021  
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
1998 | Action, Drama, War
10
8.9 (91 Ratings)
Movie Rating Watch
A classic
Film #14 on the 100 Movies Bucket List: Saving Private Ryan

When I think of war films, I immediately think of Saving Private Ryan. This is partly because I shamefully haven’t seen the majority of the older classic war films (but I may have done by the time I reach the end of this list), and also because this is the first war film I ever saw. I have my dad to thank for introducing me to this, he was obsessed with anything war related, and while I would never admit this to him as a teenager, even back then I could appreciate how brilliant this film was.

Saving Private Ryan is a 1998 World War II epic from Steven Spielberg that follows a group of soldiers as they embark on a mission across France to rescue a man who’s 3 brothers have been killed in action. It stars Tom Hanks as Captain Miller as he leads a host of recognisable faces including Vin Diesel (Caparzo), Barry Pepper (Jackson), Tom Sizemore (Horvath), Giovanni Ribisi (Wade), Edward Burns (Reiben) and Jeremy Davies as Upham as they trek across country to find Matt Damon’s Private Ryan.

The main plot is definitely very Hollywood, but the film itself looks and feels like anything but a glamorous Hollywood blockbuster. This is by far the grittiest, darkest and most horrific war film I’ve seen to date. Spielberg does not shy away from displaying the true horror of war, from the blood and gore of the fighting to the physical and psychological effects it had on the soldiers , it’s all here in all of its horrifying glory. One of the most memorable scenes of any war film is the opening sequence of the D-Day landings, that shows a haunting and frightfully bloody side of the war that no other films have managed to capture in such a dark and emotionally draining manner. Even the opening scene in Arlington Cemetery, especially when paired with a moving score from John Williams, is a tearjerker only a few minutes into the 2.5 hour runtime. I don’t know how factually realistic this whole film is, but it’s definitely one of the most compellingly believable films I’ve ever seen, especially the death scenes.

Visually the cinematography helps with the dark and gritty feeling. Everything looks grey and drab, even hazy at times, and this only helps to promote the overall tone of the film. Admittedly there are parts of this now that do look a little dated and there are a few early scenes with a strange out of place camera flare, but considering it was released 23 years ago, it’s aged pretty well and still looks quite good. It’s helped by a truly stellar cast lead by the ever brilliant Tom Hanks, who’s turn as Captain Miller is hauntingly good. The fact that he didn’t win the Oscar for his performance is criminal. Him alongside the rest of the cast, including memorably brash Brooklynite Reiben (Burns) and God-fearing elite sniper Jackson (Pepper), completely embody the camaraderie, friendship and sometimes hostility shown by the group of men perfectly. My only slight criticism of this film is that after growing to know and like these men over the course of the film, there is a question mark over some of their fates at the end which is a tiny bit disappointing.

Saving Private Ryan won 5 Oscars, including Best Director and Best Cinematography, but was nominated for many others including Best Picture, which in my opinion it deserved far more than the film that won in 1999 (Shakespeare in Love), as this is undoubtedly an all time classic war film.
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Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated

Apr 13, 2020  
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
1998 | Action, Drama, War
10
8.9 (91 Ratings)
Movie Rating Watch
One of the GOATS
At the time of this writing, Saving Private Ryan is sitting at fourteen on my all-time list. It is one of those once-in-a-lifetime movies that doesn’t come along too often. The story revolves around an army captain in WWII taking his men on a suicide mission to rescue a private before he is killed in action. Private Ryan’s three brothers have already been killed in action and the military wants to get the remaining Ryan home so his mother won’t have lost all of her children in one war.

Acting: 10
Where do I start? With Tom Hanks and his brilliant performance as Captain John Miller? Vin Diesel in probably one of his best roles as Private Caparzo. Tom Sizemore…Matt Damon…There are so many amazing performances that contributed to the greatness of this movie. You usually see it in glimpses as each character doesn’t get much in the way of their own screen time. The movie is packed with so many of those glimpse moments from these stellar actors, it’s hard to forget each of their roles.

Beginning: 10
Boasts one of the best opening twenty minutes in movie history. It’s violent, touching, and sucks you right in to the meat of the movie. There is so much intensity here, from the raucous sounds to the visceral feel of everything, that it’s hard to catch your breath afterwards.

Characters: 10

Cinematography/Visuals: 10

Conflict: 10
If you want knock-your-socks-off action from beginning to end, Saving Private Ryan is absolutely the movie for you. The battles are amazing giving you a front row seat to World War II. Steven Spielberg relies on a number of different camera angles to give you the full effect. Every scene is heartstopping as you realize the stakes and understand that no one is safe in this ultimate battle to stay alive. This movie has more action in the first twenty minutes than most films do through their entirety.

Entertainment Value: 10

Memorability: 10

Pace: 10

Plot: 10
For the most part, the story is pretty linear. There is a mission. Go and complete the mission. The end. However, there are two existing twists within the movie that definitely make things more interesting and entertaining. Those small tweaks were enough to satisfy my craving for originality.

Resolution: 10

Overall: 100
There is a scene on the beach where the camera shoots from underwater then repeatedly rises and falls in the water showing the grit of everything happening. This is one of a number of shots that makes Saving Private Ryan one of the all-time movies to ever exist in cinema. This movie is flat out amazing.
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ScoobyGoo (155 KP) rated

Apr 20, 2017  
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
1998 | Action, Drama, War
9
8.9 (91 Ratings)
Movie Rating Watch
Superb cast and another acting masterclass from Tom Hanks. (3 more)
Graphic and realistic.
Depicts the horrors of war with accuracy.
Compelling and emotional.
Powerful and realistic re-creation of the D-Day landings in World War 2.
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Veronica Pena (690 KP) rated

May 12, 2020  
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
1998 | Action, Drama, War
9
8.9 (91 Ratings)
Movie Rating Watch
I love war movies and this one is no different. I really enjoyed it. It was a little on the long side but definitely a must-watch. The cast really blew me away. I was not expecting to see so many familiar faces, especially in a movie from over 20 years ago.

I feel like I can't really go into too much detail as to why I like this film without giving things away so I'll just say that this is a great film. Definitely watch it. I hardly think you'll regret it.
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Saving Private Ryan (1998) reviews from people you don't follow
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Samantha Berg (213 KP) rated

May 24, 2019  
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
1998 | Action, Drama, War
9
8.9 (91 Ratings)
Movie Rating Watch
Great action (2 more)
Realistic
Pioneering
Long(compared to same time period movies) (0 more)
Great movie, very true to what soldiers experienced. Probably a contributing factor to Band of Brothers series which was also phenomenal. Well researched.
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Tom Holland recommended (curated)

 
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
1998 | Action, Drama, War
8.9 (91 Ratings)
Movie Favorite Watch

"Four, Saving Private Ryan. Spielberg, what an amazing movie. So truthful, so delicately made. Just one of the all around best movies, I think, of all time."

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John Cena recommended (curated)

 
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
1998 | Action, Drama, War
8.9 (91 Ratings)
Movie Favorite Watch

"I’m a huge fan of Saving Private Ryan. What the movie did, and how it rekindled a new generation’s respect for the Greatest Generation. I thought that movie was just brilliant in many aspects."

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Andy K (10823 KP) created a video

Sep 28, 2019 (Updated Sep 29, 2019)  
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Upham Fails Mellish

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