This is the first one of the many videos I've watch of y'alls that I'll comment on: I appreciate, with all my heart as a veteran, your sentiment. Thank you.
Saw this when it first came out. Served 10 years in the Navy as a Corpsman, 8 with Marines. It was a Tuesday matinee. There were 12 of us, all veterans. When it was over we all had tears. One old man his hat said Survivor D-Day. I asked him what he thought of the movie. His exact answer "It was the best war movie I've ever seen, but as for D-Day, those scenes didn't even come close." I have always deferred to his expert opinion.
"those scenes didnt even come close" yeah for sure but man... i wonder what was going through his head when watching it/tell you guys about it. if only there's a device that lets you visualize memories at a very high detail and let others see it. and thank you for your service
11:21 They are called barrage balloons. They prevented enemy aircraft from getting too close for bombing/strafing runs. The cables holding the balloons could cut a plane in two.
Also, they didn't have 50 states to chose from to guess which state Cpt Miller was from. They had 48. If you notice all of the period flags in the movie have the correct number of 48 stars.
@@jannneumann5766 Pretty sure I read recently that in the UK and US there are a few companies that are trying to restore some of those blimps/balloons. Obviously much of the technology is going on 80+ years old at this point, so I can't imagine there are many original parts available. But at least restoring them with current tech is an option these days.
I was still on active duty when this film came out. I remember watching it for the first time, on video tape, in my barracks room. And just sitting there in stunned silence through the entire run of credits at the end. We had a 3-mile timed run the next morning, and all I could think about while I was running was that opening battle scene and how there was no way I could break stride running around a parade ground when those men went through something like that. I mean, I was a student of history long before I decided to enlist & I knew in an academic sense what Normandy must have been like, but seeing it depicted in such brutal detail on my tv screen was a whole different level. This is definitely one of those movies that makes you reevaluate your life, and recognize just how petty most of our complaints truly are.
I remember reading accounts about D-Day, and this was realistic. I read a lot of WWII vets had to leave and take a couple of breaths because all the memories came flooding back. That's why they didn't talk about it and spent all day at the post drinking.
My Grandfather was wounded at The Battle of the Bulge. He was shot in the back and it blew an exit wound in his chest the size of a small fist. He laid on the ground for hours and was only noticed when his fellow soldiers were checking the bodies and stripping them for ammo and weapons. He spent almost a year in a VA hospital back in the states, and that's where he met my Grandmother. They both had the same last name, and my Grandmother's Brother kept getting my Grandfather's mail by mistake. So, she would bring it to him. That entire generation was made of stronger stuff than we'll ever know.
They did a lot for the world that would make a normal person give up. The real shame is that a lot of those who didnt make it home were the best and the brightest of that generation. They went in first in hopeless situations, and paid the ultimate price. I would like to see the world THEY would have made.
Awesome reaction. I'm a veteran. I served in the U.S. Navy from '89-'93 & was in Operation: Desert Shield & Operation: Desert Storm. Thank you very much for the kind words at the end of your video. It really means alot to all veterans. Sometimes, a simple thank you and a handshake is all we need.
I had a granpa who was in Europe during WWII. He was a career Army man, and proud of it. That green/brown blanket they covered the medic with after he died....I slept under one of those many many nights at my grandparents' house. Every time I see that scene, I'm happy he was able to bring HIS blanket home and I got to fall asleep under it and feel safe under it. Great reaction, guys.
Such a beautiful movie...I agree that it is Spielberg's best. My dad served in the Korean War, but died young at 54 when I was 18. Now I'm older than he was and miss him more as I get older. Thank you to all the veterans!
I consider it Spielberg's second best, after Schindler's List. Incredibly it lost Best Picture to that insipid Shakespeare in Love because Harvey Weinstein bullied everyone to vote for his movie. Ryan has survived the test of time, however, and I am thankful for that. I still have buddies from Vietnam who cannot watch this or have been forbidden to because of PTSD. Such is the lasting effect of the first 30 minutes, which I am told is a toned-down version of the actual battlefield experience.
Same for me dad was France in 1939 fought until Dunkirk then a pow was sent Korea sadly he past away at 53 I was 16! He is with me every day! God bless all the brave people who fight for freedom against tyranny
The blimps are called barrage balloons. They have a thick cable running down from them so that if an enemy aircraft tried to fly through the area there is a DAMN good chance that a wing will be ripped off the aircraft.
@@christopherking4932 Lots of cool & useful wierdness out there. You should do research on the magician that brought down aircraft with a kaleidoscope of mirrors. Or even the bat bomb... where some say would have done more collateral damage than the nuke... though the destruction would be uniquely devastating for Japan.
Everytime I see the beach scene, my brain cannot comprehend that so many people were willing to fight and give their life for Europe's freedom (I'm Dutch) I also cannot watch this movie without absolutely bawling my eyes out.
My great grandfather Francis was a sniper. Among other battles, he fought in Normandy on D-Day and in the battle of the bulge. My grandfather Clifton was in the Army Air Corps. He loaded bombs onto the aircraft. His cousin was a famous fighter pilot, and my grandfather would always keep an eye out for his plane and greet him by his first name whenever he landed safely. My father was an infantry officer in the Michigan National Guard, his brother was a gunner in the Navy, and their brother in law served in the Army. I served in the Marine Corps as a MAGTF Planner.
My grandfather was at Normandy and lived to save the group of soldiers who were with him and to tell me all his stories of what they went through-I looked up to him he was my “Father Figure” since I didn’t have a father and he passed in 2001-PFC Jesus M Ramos-This movie just makes you appreciate everything past and present soldiers do for our country🙏❤️
Unfortunately IMO, no solder has died or been wounded for our rights or freedoms since WW2. Not Korea, not Vietnam and not the sandbox. And I served. I wouldn't do it today.
My grandfather was also there and he was also MY father figure. I couldn't get any stories from him except how he was promoted to Sgt. He died in 2005-Sgt Henry Jessie Hunter Sr. I am also an army veteran.
My best friend's dad is a marine, a Huey driver in Vietnam. Never saw the dude cry til he took us to see this movie when we were teenagers. He walked out in the middle of the opening scene in Normandy weeping. Haven't seen him cry since. It's important to note vets aren't a monolith. He remains a staunch antiwar vet to this day, and forbade my best friend from following in his footsteps and joining the Marines. Probably a good thing, we graduated from high school in 1999, 2 years later America was in Afghanistan, and 4 years later the Marines were in Fallujah. Vietnam was a much different beast than WW2, though.
My Mom, Uncle, and a Cousin were in WW2. My Dad was in Korea and Vietnam. Two more Cousins one in Vietnam and One in Germany in the 60's 70's. All of them were very anti war. I think my Dad had itt worst. He was a Navy Corpsman from Korea to Vietnam. 22 years of patching people back together. He always carried a pistol with him. Pretty sure he spent quite a bit of time attached to Marine units in the field.
My Dad was in the Air Force, The Strategic Air Command, during the Korean War. The lucky son of a gun was in aircraft maintenance, a Sergeant and spent most of the war stationed at a US airbase in the UK. He also spent some time at an airbase somewhere in Idaho. Some people live charmed lives. One of my Great Uncles was in the 101st Airborne during WWII, and was the sole survivor of his squad (twice). He survived and came home, but he was never the same again. He drank heavily to cope with what he saw and did. There wasn't a lot of knowledge about PTSD then. Rest in Peace, Howard.
War is inevitable. Human nature has never changed nor will it. I had two brothers reported MIA during Vietnam. My uncle was a Green Beret and pulled five tours in Laos, Cambodia and the DMZ. The problem is the fools who think there are rules in war.
If you dont cry at any point in this movie, there is something wrong with you. The medic scene kills me everytime. God bless our troops. Past, present, and future
I appreciated how it briefly but poignantly showed the impact and importance of the families. The mother of course, but also how Ryan's entire life was validated by his wife's "You are".
My wife's grandad was in the landings at the start of this film. He told me, not long before he passed, that this was the closest a film has come to showing what the D Day landings were really like. He would never talk about his experiences of the war but he cried when we watched this.
When the theatre lights came on after this movie, I noticed I looked at all the older men in the audience much differently. While they were slower or more bent over with age, most of them were our soldiers and had gone through similar ordeals. My uncle fought in WWII and my grandfather in WWI and while I saw them as only my relatives for most of my life, seeing my grandfather's photograph in his combat uniform or my uncle among the ruins of Berlin made me feel even more respect for them than I already had. Saving Private Ryan was a powerful film.
My grand uncle Lyle fought and died in the battle of the bulge in the ardennes in December 1944. He was just 19 years old. It’s mind boggling to me. He was just a kid. His body never made it stateside, but his harmonica did, and on the case which is wrapped in medical tape, reads “To hell and back”. Pretty somber feeling holding that. Thank you to all veterans, past and present, for such a great sacrifice for everything we have today.
Sorry for your families loss. You might not be aware of this but there’s a 1955 movie titled To Hell and Back starring Audie Murphy playing himself during his time in combat in WW2 were he became Americas most decorated soldier. Not bad considering he was rejected by the navy and marines. He suffered from PTSD so recreating some combat situations that had some of his buddies killed must have been pretty hard on him.
This was quite the emotional cinematic experience in the theater. After the movie ended I was so numb leaving the movie,and I was so quiet for several hours after.
@@bighuge1060 I get that. I "visited" Auschwitz back in the 90s for the 1st time (even made a small documentary with our images for schools after that), and we (a group of young guys in our 20s) were like hit by a huge hammer, unable to express anything for the rest of the day.
One of my favorites. No matter how many times I watch it, I always get choked up at two moments in this film. When Mrs. Ryan received the visit from the Chaplain and of course when James Francis Ryan breaks down and asks his wife if he was a good man at the end. Always gets me. To all the veterans out there and the veterans families, Thank you.
My grandfather was a Ranger in WW2, so I've always had a special connection with this film. Especially when I was the only one that he talked to about the war. One of the best war films I've ever seen. I remember the first time I watched this was at my Aunt & Uncle's house. Was the only time where I stood up and cussed at the screen and didn't get in trouble for it. You two have good hearts and when good hearted people watch a film like this there's bound to be tears. This is a good one. (Reaction & Film)
@@YouMeTheMovies This movie is based on the 4 Niland Brothers. Two of the brothers did die on D-day, and a 3rd was listed as KIA after being shot down over Burma. There was no rescue mission for the 4th son; though he did survive and he was returned home to his mother after the invasion forces hooked up with the airborne forces. Interesting fact the brother shot down over Burma actually survived in the jungles for a while before being taken prisoner by the Japenese. He survived the war all the way to the end in a Japanese POW camp- no small feat. Over a year after he was listed killed he walked back into his mother's house. That which is lost has been found. Least we forget.
My Grandad served in Burma during the Second World War. He was a British soldier and like his allies and brothers across the pond. Fought with bravery and great distinction. A prayer to all soldiers killed, wounded in the past and present we thank you for your sacrifice and to all serving soldiers thank you too.
Hi from the UK 🇬🇧, shortly after my Dad was born my grandfather died on the HMS Hood, pride of the Royal Navy when it came into contact with the German battleship Bismark, the second shot from the Bismark hit the ammo storage and Hood exploded. My other grandfather was a Royal engineer in the North Africa campaign, as we got older he would tell us some of his stories... Harrowing. It's amazing the sacrifices they made for us. All the best 🇬🇧🇺🇸
My father served in the 8th Army Air Force in World War Two as a radio/radar operator on a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber. He and his crew flew 33 missions over Germany, including 4 missions to Berlin. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and five awards of the Air Medal. He never talked about the war, but my mother said he came back a different man then when he left. He became an alcoholic, and a violent one, and my mother was forced to divorce him when I was 7 years old. Back then, they didn't know about Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome or the mental and emotional toll combat took on the men and women who fought and there was no help for them. He died in 1992. Growing up I hated him for what he was and could never understand why my mother still spoke of him until her death. Then I joined the Army and was sent to Vietnam and I finally understood what combat can do to a person and I saw my father in a different light. I suffered from severe PTSD and, like my father, climbed into a bottle to try and forget. Thank God my wife never gave up on me and I have been sober for almost 35 years. But I continued to suffer nightmares and sudden bursts of anger. I never knew when it was going to happen. Then, in 2012, I accepted Jesus into my life and God led me to a new friend in my church who was a licensed psychologist, who over a two-year period, and at no cost, helped bring joy and peace back into my life. My wife, my angel, and I celebrated our 51st wedding anniversary May 30 of this year. We saw Saving Private Ryan at the theater and it was then I truly realized that my father and his brothers and sisters in arms truly were the "Greatest Generation!" It sickens me to see what the America they fought and died for has become and the very dangerous road the Marxist Democrats are taking us down.
The "Marxist Democrats"? Let's leave out the bogus "religion" and deal with the FACTS of the history: Ho Chi Minh was an ally of the US and its allies during WW II. he provided intelligence to the allies about Japanese troop movements. Meanwhile, I'll real "ally" Chiang Kai Chek was asked to deploy a force of his Chinese troops as a ploy -- they weren't being put in actual danger -- but he refused until he was paid millions. Immediately after the war, the French set out to reestablish their colonial tyranny on Indochina -- Cambodia, Law, and Vietnam -- in behalf of Michelin Rubber, with the US under Truman providing monetary and military hardware to the French effort. Michelin Rubber owned rubber plantations, and the Vietnamese were dragooned into working the plantations. Worked to death, they were called "fertilizer" and buried where they dropped. When the French were blown out at Dien Bien Phu, REPUBLICAN President Eisenhower put the first "advisors" into Vietnam. That was the first direct US intervention in Vietnam's domestic civil war: North Vietnam was nationalist against the brutally exploitive French colonialism. South Vietnam's gov't was a hangover from French Colonialism -- a Catholic minority in a majority-Buddhist country. The US's intervention in Vietnam was ILLEGAL -- a violation of the US-authored Geneva Conventions. But those who put colonialism imperialism ahead of the facts of history gibberish about "Marxism" -- which they know nothing substantive about except as a dirty word to be slung. It is noteworthy that the white supremacist/KKK in the South of the US called those who were about registering BLAKCS to vote "Communists". Imagine that: wanting everyone to vote who is eligible to vote being "Communist"! -- which is of course a RACIST LIE. And you are so blind as to invoke Christ -- Christianity is about compassion and inclusion -- but calling those who are about at least inclusion "Marxist"!? Smarten up and grow up: stop blaming others for your situation: you participated in the Vietnam war, which was illegal, and you want RESPECT!? Do TRUTH a favor: research "My Lai Massacre" -- the US troops slaughter of Vietnamese civilians, elderly to toddlers and infants. And the first person to "investigate" -- and cover up -- that war crime was Lieutenant Colin Powell -- always thereafter a Republican "hero". There is no honor attached to illegal wars, or to those who participate in them -- and then drown themselves in arrogant self-pity because not everybody is fooled by their blubbering complaints about how their "service" isn't respected. Your name-calling is typical of the irresponsible who refuse to accept responsibility for their own actions. You don't refute their criticisms -- you avoid them by calling the messenger names that you believe are dirty words -- even though you don't know thing one FACTUAL about the word. Marx was a Jew, Christ was a Jew, and both based their view on protecting the least among us from the rapine inflicted by those who believe themselves "superior".
A fact: When Matt Damon was talking to Tom Hanks about his brother's before they went to war and having a laugh about it, that was all improv and they even keep when Hanks looks off to Spielberg to see if this was apart of the scene or not
I have 23 years of serving in the United States Army with 7 combat tours under my belt. War is never good and the most horrible experience and no matter what year war occurs, past and present, it always seems the same. Thank you both for sharing your reaction.
The "Blimps", as you call them, were actually barrage balloons, which would make it more difficult for German fighter planes to strafe the Americans on the beaches. Fighter pilots, German or otherwise, liked to come in very low during their strafing runs. Pilots ran the risk of becoming ensnared in the cables that anchored the balloons to the ground. In case you don't know, strafing is the process by which fighter planes would kill infantry by spraying them with machine gun fire. They could kill hundreds of soldiers at a time. American fighter bombers ran wild in Normandy, shooting up infantry, convoys, endless numbers of trucks and assorted armored vehicles. And there you have it.
My personal hero, My Grandfather who fought in the Navy in WWII on a destroyer in the Pacific. He was a loader for one of the big guns. He survived though he lost several fingers during battle as they were firing shells so fast he had his fingers get caught in the breach and off they went along with the shell. I miss him. I’m now 51 and married to a wonderful Japanese woman. It’s strange how things come to be… thank you Grandpa Lloyd. Thank you.
Her reaction was beautiful. Made me cry along with her at the end there. And I've seen this many times. Still gets me. Thanks for watching this. And thank you to everyone who has served.
love how when he was dying he was calling for his mother. so many people do this when dying because they go to a place in their head as in their mother to were they felt protected and loved. there is nothing like a mothers love.
@@carlousmagus5387 yes indeed they do. depends on the person indeed just used mother as a example because he cried for his mother. and i am sure when i die i will be calling for mine.
@@carlousmagus5387 Most likely do, but every veteran story I hear they say it's boys calling out for their mothers. Heartbreaking. An American soldier said he saw a German soldier crying out "Mutter". Gosh it's so sad.
It sounds like you've seen it enough to be familiar with, I'm sorry that's a thing anyone can recognize or relate to , that is some heavy stuff and I'm sure certainly puts a lot into perspective, it does for me just imagining
The opening scene with the old veteran and his family gets me everytime! None other film in movie history has made me already cry within the first few minutes (''Up'' is a 2nd one tho, but that's after, I guess, 10 minutes, still, that's even an Animation movie). Greetings from The Netherlands, and thank to all the WWII veterans for their deeds to save us from the Nazis!
Served in the Navy for 41 years, wife served four years in the Marine Corps. Dad was a Navy Corpsman for 7 years in WWII and was in the Battle of Okinawa, Both children served in the Navy, son for 10 years before being medically retired, daughter is still serving now in her 12th year. One brother served 20 years in the Air Force, another brother served 20 years in the Marine Corps. Don't feel bad I still tear up watching Saving Private Ryan and watching your reaction video. Memorial Day is to remember the Veterans who died in the Military. Veterans Day is to remember all Veterans. Armed Forces Day is to thank and remember all Military members who are currently serving.
I saw this movie at the theater with my uncle. He was a LT-COL in the Army and we both heard how realistic it was. Being that the draft has long been lifted, I was lucky to never have had to be drafted or seen any kind of conflict. My uncle served two tours in Viet Nam, was in Yemen during the Gulf War back around 1990 and was a lead surgeon during the Disco bombing in Berlin as he was stationed in Germany then. He retired after 25 years of service and was a chief surgeon for Albany General Hospital for quite a few years. He was rendered with brain damage after leaving our home after a Thanksgiving feast. Crossing an intersection, he was tee-boned by a young lady. Most of his motor functions failed even after he was considered fully recovered about a year later. He passed away about two years ago, and this movie just reminds me of his time in the service. He'll always be one of the greatest heroes I've ever known. RIP Uncle Mike (James Ryan was his actual name, but he went by his middle one).
This is an incredible movie. I remember seeing this theatrically with some older veterans in the audience and I don’t remember ever being so moved to tears when I saw these heroes crying. Thank you to all who have ever served past and present.😢
***THE BLIMPS*** back then, were used to keep Small fighter planes from flying in and strafing the beaches . TODAY, blimps are often found at forward bases because the have cameras ( regular , infrared and thermal imaging cameras to keep watch over the areas of small and large FOB's ( Forward Bases ). Smaller COP's ( Combat outposts ) These days, might have a 30 or 40 foot tower erected with a sophisticated camera system on it for an over watch of the area.
My Great Grandpa served in World War 2. He passed away in 2021 at the age of 100. His name is Clarence West. He was such a nice and gentle person. Always went to church on sundays and played Golf until the day he passed. I was blessed to visit him on his 100th birthday and see him smile despite what was going on in the world at the time. We shared some heart felt words together. God Bless our Soldiers! Thank You for your Service and our freedoms
My father served in Vietnam. He passed away just over a year ago. He is interred in Arlington. I am very proud he earned that. Yeah, this movie hits you in the guts many times over.
My grandfather, Moses F. Diaz served in the Navy and Army during World War II and the Korean War. He passed away this year at 93 years old. Thanks to both of you for watching this one, I always enjoy your comments on these films.
You'd also like a movie called Hacksaw Ridge. Another war movie based on a true story. The emotion set in this movie and Hacksaw honours the representation
I served as an Army Infantry (Grunt) Sergeant. As a 19-year-old, African American Grunt Private, during the period December 1983-December 1984. I earned my Combat Infantryman Badge for my service inside the Korean DMZ. Essentially, there's no place to run or to hide while engaged in a combat mission. So, you fight to win. We (Grunts) never quit on our brothers, and we never leave our brothers behind. Your emotions and commentary touched my heart. I often wonder if my experiences and service made a difference. South Korea remains free, so I'm thankful. Unfortunately, very nice guys are hurt and are lost to war. This movie demonstrates how brutal and senseless war has always been. I would do it all again and make the same sacrifices.
"Earn it." Two words that sum up anyone's lives that we could live after such an almost world as we know it ending war. Thanks to all the American soldiers and also the allied soldiers trying to free their country from Nazi oppression all over the world. Between this and Schindler's List, these are two of Speilberg's absolute best.
"Also the allied soldiers"? You fucking kidding us? OUR people died fighting, OUR people were massacred left and right. You dont get to put europeans on "also" here as if they are second place.
My dad spent most of WWII at the controls of a B17, my uncle was 101st Airborne from before D-Day until VE- Day, and my step-dad was 5th Army and, as he put it, swam ashore in Normandy and walked to Berlin. Both my uncle and step-dad were with groups that liberated concentration camps and neither one could ever manage talk about it.
The barrage balloons were used to discourage air attack. Such as strafing, low level bombing and dive bombing. They were also used over land to protect important targets. Some planes had cable cutters on their wings.
Woah.. if I was a pilot I'd sure want more pay to be cutting barrage balloon cables with my wings at 300MPH. Just as much chance of having the wings sheared off it seems.
While he may be a modern veteran, my older cousin is an Afghanistan veteran. Jackson, the sniper in this film, reminds me a lot of him. I don't know anyone who dislikes my cousin....he's such an awesome guy to hang around. My hat is off to him for his service, and all like him...past, present, and future.
Your tears and words at the end really choked me up, so thanks for that 😢😁 btw I think your words were perfect 👍👊 I'd also like to thank everyone who has served, past, present and future, from your country and mine, and all other allied countries. Your sacrifices will never be forgotten.
14:43 a couple of things to note with the sniper scene: - The shot as seen in the movie is theoretically impossible to pull off. Bullets drop as they travel through the air; based on where Jackson is in relation to the German sniper in the tower (400 yards), gravity would’ve pushed the round down far enough that if it did hit the scope, it wouldn’t pass through the other end. The round would most likely damage the scope and probably user, but not kill him. -That being said, the movie based this scene off of a real sniper kill done in the Vietnam War by USMC GySgt. Carlos Hathcock during a day-long duel with a Vietcong sniper. Hathcock himself said that the only way this could’ve been done was if both men were aiming directly at each other, and he just happened to fire first. That being said, Hathcock’s shot wasn’t nearly as far as Jackson’s, as it was only around 100 yards, the length of a football field. -They chose a Vietnam sniper shot to replicate simply because back in WWII, the American Army didn’t utilize large number of snipers like the Soviets, Germans, or British. America’s doctrine was highly mobile and were mainly on the offensive during the fighting in Europe. Snipers are best used for defensive purposes, as one well placed sniper can effectively halt the advance of an entire unit. -It’s also unlikely a shot like this would ever happen again. Modern day sniper scopes have several lenses of varying thickness inside, which means more material for the bullet to pass through and thus, lose velocity. It may injure the guy behind the scope, but not kill him. Mythbusters actually tried to replicate the shot and failed to do so because they were using modern day sniper scopes and not WWII-era ones that had one or two lenses in them, essentially being equivalent to a modern day red dot sight.
The blimps by the beach were called barrage balloons. They were attached to thick steel cables on the surface and made it harder for airplanes to make attack runs against the ships and ground targets.
Love you guys! Marine Veteran here and it's great to see 2 people who appreciate our veterans who sacrificed in the line of duty. I'm forever grateful.
Saving Private Ryan changed the way that war movies were made. Prior to this most of them didn't show the violence in such a realistic and sustained way. And even since then there's really only a handful of war movies that can match what Saving Private Ryan did. Those are Black Hawk Down (2001), We Were Soldiers (2002), and Lone Survivor (2013) all three of which I very highly recommen
My Grandfather landed on Omaha Beach with the 'Big Red One' (the First Infantry Division) on D-Day. First combat he ever saw. This movie never fails to conjure him up in my memory. He seems to have had a different story of the war for every member of the family but no one has one of the landing. As far as I know, mine is the closest in time/space; it occurred a couple weeks later some miles inland of the beach. I imagine only my Grandmother knew all the stories Grandpa was willing to tell of that time in his life. He was a difficult man to get close to but I miss him almost every day in some way.
For anybody going to Normandy, a visit to the American cemetery is compulsory. Such a quiet beautiful piece of American territory, but so overwhelming, especially when you realize of its size. I'm somehow glad that they have this place to rest in peace.
Captain Miller's admonition to Ryan to "earn It" is an admonition to us all! We should all EARN IT as a show of respect for the sacrifices our soldiers made in WWII. Live a life that would make them proud.
One of Steven Spielberg's finest work. Thank god there's are outstanding directors like him that conveyed such a picture in this movie that every generation in future can watch a film like this and appreciate what the WW2 generation had to sacrifice to give us freedom and peace.
Tom Hanks' character basically cursed Matt damon with that "earn this". That man spent 60 years in abject terror that he had several men's souls on his conscience.
Such an intense start, then they hit you with the emotional letter scene and the Chaplin visiting the mom….what put me over the edge was Wade dying calling for his momma….
Colleville cemetery over Omaha beach is indeed a beautiful place. Two of the Niland brothers rest there next to each other. This movie is based on their family story. One died June 6th 1944. The other on June 7th 1944. The ground in front of their graves is worn away from the amount of visitors.
If you're ever in Honolulu, go check out the cemetery at the Punchbowl honoring the heroes of the Pacific. It is a beautiful tribute. Along with the Arizona memorial of course. It makes me extremely angry at people who take freedom so lightly... like it's just a thing that's always been there and doesn't need protecting. I spent 4 years active and 4 reserve in the Air Force during the Clinton years so nothing much was going on. I don't feel like I come close to measuring up with these guys or my dad who served in the Army in Vietnam. The WWII vets are the greatest generation and we're losing them more and more every day.
My grandpa was drafted at 20 years old in WWII and was captured in France and a POW for almost a year. He wouldn't talk much about it. But what he did tell was horrible. I have high respect for veterans and our active military.
"Whenever you're scared, I want you to close your eyes and think of these..." Reminds me... in the book "God is My Co-Pilot", Colonel Robert Lee Scott relates his experiences with the AVG, the Flying Tigers. One night they're sitting around bsing, and they talk about what they're fighting for. They conclude that what they were fighting for was The American Girl. She, to them, was apple pie America. And now I hate 2021 again.
Later on in the war barrage balloons were used by England to carry rolls of cable over occupied Europe & those cables were timed to release dragging the cables & taking out electrical grids. It was a very cost effective weapon.
My Grandad flew in the polish air force squadrons (300, 301 & 303) after having lied about his age and joining up to fight the Nazis at the age of 15, after fleeing Poland and learning that 27 out of the 30 members of our family had been put to death in the camps. He few Spitfires, Hurricanes, Wellingtons and Lancasters, (amongst others) performing bombing raids and night photo reconnaissance I'm not sure on the details but at one point he was interred in a camp himself towards the end of the war. Thankfully the camp was liberated and he was able to come to Britain and start a new life, thanks to the amazing ground troops (and all other members of the armed forces) that helped fight and free us from tyranny. I myself hoped to live up to his legacy and joined the Air force myself and have served in Iraq & Afghanistan I remember being 10 years old, and noticing tattoo on his arm and asking him 'Grandad, why did you get such a silly tattoo?' I didn't understand his reply at the time, when he simply said, 'For you!'
This was a moment for my family. My entire family went to the theatre to watch it. That was in 1998. It still stands as the greatest war film (in my opinion any film) ever made.
Every woman loses it when they see the mother collapse in grief. Thank you so much for truly getting it and understanding what those have done for all of us.
Even non Americans like me feel emotional when watching this masterpiece... it's very moving and deep... this movie shows the meaning of sacrifice very clearly... there is also a meaningful reason for why the sacrifice was made...
@@YouMeTheMovies Thank you for your support. We do it for great Americans like you, and thank you for a great reaction to a great film. Band of Brothers and the Pacific is a must watch.
@@DerekMoore82 That war, if it comes, will not be like this or anything we've seen before. While conflict ultimately comes down to boots on the ground, warfare has become so abstract. It could be drones and nukes; it could be fought entirely in cyberspace. Economic interconnectedness will also be a deciding factor.
@@Adizero2 There was a time I would have agreed with that, but if the last few years have demonstrated anything, it's that there's an overabundance of dumb out there, and a lot of it making it's way into halls of power.
my dad was part of the sniper ambush team with the 25th infrantry and 101airborn in vietnam from 67 to 71. the hell he went through and tried to not bring back with him was incredible. my great grandma which was his guardian at the time recieved two letters saying he was dead while he was out there. both times another letter came back saying he was alive. she told that taxi driver to never bring another letter to her again no matter what or she was gonna kill him. she was 4'10 but her 6'3" husband was there to back her up. he lived though he woke up in a body bag on a heli on the way out to a ship the last time. all he saw was dark and couldnt move. the gunner saw a bag moving different from the rest from wind. he took his knife and opened the bag. my dad sat up... gunner tried to jump out. his harness kept him in. when they landed they opened every bag to be sure. he was constantly passing out from blood loss from the shrapnel in his head but he woke first in heli, then boat then gernany then in the states somewhere then alabama then finally home in georgia. he had 3 purple hearts, bronze star, silver star and something else. he never got his medals. he never wanted them. i dont blame him. he was a tunnel rat too. shows how damn crazy he was. the person he had me turned into at 7 is another story but many men to this day fear me. im not that person anymore due to my mom being an angel. i thank her everyday for that. but yeah, as bad as he was when he came back, he is still a badass in my mind and heart. i learned so much from him and respect the good parts about him at least. i have full respect for anyone in any war. no one knows your pain unless they were there too in some way or form. my hats are off to you. ty you all for your service
As a combat veteran myself, I think every single war movie should be unapologetically realistic like Saving Private Ryan is. It not only honors those that sacrificed themselves so that we could be free by showing the average person what they went through but maybe if that average person knew what war was really like, we'd only go to war as an actual last resort.
In the 1990s, not long before his death, my father said that if he knew that this was what his country was going to turn into, he never would have enlisted in WWII. I can only imagine how horrified he'd be to see the toilet his beloved country has become in 2021.
After watching Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers it puts into perspective what we, around the world today with Covid, is nothing compared to living in the 1940"s......So many men found it difficult to return to civilian life yet in today's world it's an issue if you don't have the latest iphone.......
My grandfather served in WWII, but all he ever did was get transferred to Hawaii for a few months and then the war ended (he tells it better but that’s the gist). He never saw combat, which of course I’m thankful for since it meant he was able to make it through unharmed. My uncle served in Vietnam but honestly I’m not on good terms with him for unrelated reasons, so I don’t know any stories he might have from that war.
1. Many WWII vets left the theaters because the D-Day battle scenes were so realistic. 2. The German Captain Miller was talked into letting go is the same one that killed him. Upham finally killed him. 3. The story Ryan tells Miller about the last time he saw his brothers was made up by Matt Damon. He was told to say something interesting so he did and it was kept in the movie. 4. There really is a USS Sullivans(DD 68) dedicated to the brothers lost on one ship. That's why all brother soldiers/sailors from one family can't be assigned to the same command. 5. I did 24 years in the US Navy. My favorite character is Private Jackson/sniper and my second favorite is Sargent Horvath.
I remember seeing this movie in the theatre on opening night. Pretty much everyone just sat there through the credits and quietly left afterwards. Never heard such a quiet theatre.
My first like... beautiful reactions...intro is really good... ❤️❤️❤️...will watch your video now ..love from India 🇮🇳❤️. Am serving in Indian Army... happy Veterans Day..
The best part about this whole upload is while all these men were dying horrific and painful deaths in the film, we catch glimpses of a cowboy absolutely devouring his popcorn. Amazing.
I know it would be hard for a mother, I would imagine a father as well. But imagine 3 lives you gave birth to. Raised, loved and had dreams of one day seeing the same or greater joy than yourself as they grow up. Then in one day knowing all 3 were gone in an instant and there is nothing left of them. As a father, I could not imagine ever getting out of bed or working or even bothering to ever eat again as I would just give up right then and there.
@@mikemarc92 By that stage, do you really think a person would care what others thought? Soft, Hard, what would it matter by then? They fact would still remain, you lost it all.
I remember my Grandpa. Harry Doddridge Jr. 106th infantry fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Got captured and was a POW,later liberated at the end of the war in Europe. He was a machine Gunner,he was 19 at the time. He went through hell but went on to live his life fully and did his best to put his memories of the war behind him. He was always working, never was idle, I figured because it helped him get passed his thoughts even though he was a hard worker before, providing for his younger brothers and sisters. I also think of my great uncle Doyle who fought in the Philippines. He struggled with life after his service but did his best as well. Thanks to all who served, remember them. Great reaction y'all,thanks take care.
Seeing this film around age 13 gave me my first ever existential crisis. For the first time death and in turn the value of human life seemed very very real.
