"the mission is a man"

Saving Private Ryan (1998): 7/10

Poster (c) DreamWorks Pictures

It's tough being a teenager now. You have to catch up on all types of movies. Classics, older movies, and newer movies you may have missed. When Saving Private Ryan opened in 1998, I, of course, wasn't allowed to see it, nor would I have been interested in seeing it. But now, everyone at school's buzzing about that movie, saying how great it is. I finally gave into peer pressure and rented it, and it's quite a good movie. It's just not the extraordinary classic that it's made out to be.

The time is World War II. Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) is sent to fetch the title character, hence saving him and making the title make sense. Why send out eight people to rescue just one private? His three brothers, who were also in the war, were killed, so basically eight men are sent out to ease Mrs. Ryan. Obviously, when they finally reach him, there is resentment.

The movie opens with a flashback to the war, as every single war movie seems to do! Why is this always necessary? That means we know that some people survive, taking some tension out. At least we usually can't figure out who yet. Then it goes in with a bang, at a loud, exciting war scene that doesn't really have much to do with the rest of the plot, but it's very exciting. The only problem is that it pads out the movie to an obnoxiously long 170 minutes and since it isn't necessary, it didn't HAVE to be in the movie.

While the movie is quite long, it's never boring, not at all, but some parts aren't very interesting. Also, since it's a Spielberg investment, every single character has to have a backstory, meaning that smack dab in the middle of the movie, everyone must reminisce about what their life was, even those whose names we don't know, meaning that right when it's getting good, it goes off to left field.

The war scenes were incredibly realistic, as far as I can tell. Although graphic at times, it's obvious how painstakingly hard they worked to make it seem like you were actually there, no matter where you were, including watching it on a 5" screen. Also, I think something else that added to the realism is that Spielberg kept the camera to a 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Therefore, he was centralizing in on the action, what needed to be shown, and what doesn't need to be shown.

Saving Private Ryan ebbs and flows. At times there's heartpounding action, at others it's just watchable so you can continue on with the plot. But however you feel about this movie, you have to admit that it's one of the most realistic war films ever made.

Rated R for war violence and language.

Review Date: February 1, 2004