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One of the early examples of Miramar/Weinstein campaigning, similar happened with King’s Speech over Social Network and probably others I can’t recall. From what I’ve read the campaigning was so over-the-top, everyone knew Shakespeare would win even though SPR was the most critically acclaimed movie that year, it wasn’t even considered an upset.
I say it again and again... the woman playing Ryan's wife in the present gives two of the best line readings, in a well written scene. When she reads the grave marker, "Captain John H. Miller"... she's never heard that name before, clearly. That tells SOOOO much of Ryan's life since WWII, 50+ years of building a family and a life, and he never shared what happened. Then, when he asks her to tell him that he's lead a good life, the pause and glance back at the stone, because she also has no idea that he's been carrying this burden and so the question is out of the blue... Great performance for someone given 2 lines, and great writing to make that clear.
I was a Navy Corpsman, I served 10 years, 8 with Marines. I saw this on a Tuesday afternoon. There were 12 of us. Myself, and 11 others, all veterans. At the end of the movies, the house lights went up. All of us had teary eyes. One old man stated the following- "As far as war movies go, that was the most accurate depiction I've ever seen . As for the ACTUAL D-Day, it didn't come close" His hat said it all- D-Day Survivor, Purple Heart. I have always deferred to his expert advice. As bad as you think it was as shown in the movie, it was much, much worse.
I can believe that ,in real life it must have been much much worse but couldn't be shown on the screen. These men made the ultimate sacrifice so that the rest of us could live in relative peace!
There was a man that I spoke to a lot about his experiences in the war. He was a Pearl Harbor survivor. There was so much that he told me that I can't repeat because it's too gruesome. He passed away a few months ago
Apart from the opening beach landing scene, I disagree.Rather than spread out in a protective formation, the section just meandered, in a group, across fields where an ambush could very well be set up.And as for the finale.Instead of striking the enemy in the open and using the buildings for cover, they gave away every advantage available, by allowing the enemy to march into the village, before attacking them.
The movie portrays how the actual combat on the beach was. But it also makes it seem like it was over relatively quickly. In reality they were on that beach for hours.
I remember when my husband took me to see this, I was completely speechless during the initial scenes of the Omaha beach landing, it was so realistic, it looked like a news reel. The best war movie ever made imo.
i remember when this movie cam out some group took a bunch of vets that where at the D-Day landings to a screening. they stated the beach landing sequence was like you where there except the smell.
Still tyhis movie is like those cowboy movies where peoiple are hit and fall dead. In real footage there are people who you swear that should have died as the have missing body parts or head sections and they are screaming and asking for help desperately. Real war is far more horrendous than this movie. After seeing real footage I respect all veterans of the world. There is a deep sadness hidden in the battlefield.
@@josepablolunasanchez1283 Yeah I remember hearing that the vets who watched it said that scene was very realistic (no one had really done this gritty realistic style of WW2 film before this came out in 1998) with the one exception being that it was far too quiet, in reality all you could hear was the screaming of the wounded.
“Earn it”, is a message to all of us. We all need to “earn it” from the sacrifices of all the men and women who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms today. Little thing I’ve noticed from seeing this movie a million times, when Ryan’s wife reads Captain Miller’s name on the tomb stone, she doesn’t recognize the name, meaning Ryan has never talked about it. Which a lot of veterans don’t talk about it because what they experienced was so brutal.
This was Vin Diesel's first major motion picture role! Steven Spielberg himself saw a student film he did and was so impressed he asked him to audition
Apparently Vin Diesel nearly walked away from this movie while filming. He was finding it too difficult. Tom Hanks convinced him to stay. Not sure if this is true but thats what I heard.
The part that gets me more than anything is when the mother collapses on the news of her sons' death. Grew up rural in farm country and knew so many sweet, gentle souled farm wives of that generation. Back then family was everything, losing three sons like that would have been beyond consolable and more than one could bear. Just rips your soul out.
@@Charles-bo8iy The saddest part of the movie was the two Czech soldiers at the start that were forcefully conscripted into the Heer, didn't shoot anyone, and were then killed while trying to explain their situation because they couldn't speak English.
The movie that did win was Shakespeare in Love, a Harvey Weinstein produced movie, wouldn't be surprised if he used his influence to get the win. No way in HELL, did that movie deserve to beat out Saving Private Ryan.
dude nobody cares about Oscars :) Time is the only decent judge. And in time everone forgot about the "winner" Shakespeare in Love which btw I saw and its an average movie. But many still remember Saving Private Ryan
If you aren't aware, it was and I believe still is a common practice that if in war, all sons of a family enlist and all but 1 son in a family lineage were to die in combat, the last surviving son is to be brought home to continue the family heritage. Its a matter of honor to preserve the life of the last man in the family line to continue it forward.
Additionally, until WWII there was no such thing as Social Security or pensions and people very much depended on their children and grandchildren to care and provide for them as they aged.
Actually, the sole survivor policy is voluntary and must be applied for by the surviving sibling. The remaining sibling may reject the hardship discharge and should they reenlist will be ineligible for sole survivor discharge in the future.
If you were the only son in the family you didn't get drafted? What a waste of manpower. My father was British infantry in Europe from the battle of Caen to one year of occupation in Germany. His only brother died fighting the Japanese. His mother wasn't even told his brother had died until a month after Japan surrendered, and my father didn't find out until he got home in 1946. I guess the British approach is a little more committed than Americans: soldiers die in wartime and you still have a job to do.
no only one sone the oldest can servie in the millitay becuse of that thats why the recruter ask if you are an only child becuse if so you are bared from intry
I saw this movie in the theatre a couple of times. I was in my 30's. Now, I'm in my 50's, and that line, "tell me I'm a good man" brings tears to my eyes. That's what all men really want to be - a good man, and to know they are.
When you consider the opening Omaha Beach sequence, remember that it was tamed down for the film. In the movie, it took them 15 minutes to open the exit and move up onto the bluffs over the beach. In real life, it took closer to six hours.
My friends dad was in the second wave at Omaha. He said it’s all true, and my friend would not allow him to see it until after 6 years after it was release!!!
I really appreciate your comment. I was born in 1955, my Dad was several months short of the age to serve in the Army in WWII. He cried when watching this movie as many of his high school mates from the class ahead of him died on Omaha Beach. He play football and grew up with many that died there. I was fortunate to hear many stories of WWII growing up as many of the stories I heard were many times 15-20 years removed from when they happened. Your comment on the timeline is accurate.
One veteran was asked about the opening sequence and he said there wasn’t enough bodies. The reality, according to them, was way worse. Steven Speilberg went as far as he could.
Das Boot (The Boat) is a German film about a German sub crew in WW2. You won’t get many requests for this one, but it’s an incredible film and should be watched.
So glad you did this review. I remember seeing this movie in the theater. To hear the bullets zipping past you as an audience member: I had NEVER experienced anything like that. It was so real, it engulfed the whole room. And when that tank in the end came over the mound, the whole room was shaking, it was so loud. Wonderful movie. I have watched it more times than I can count. This and Schindler's List to me are two of the best films ever made. Great review!
Yeah, I saw it at Mann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood: huge screen and amazing sound system and it was an epic movie-going experience. I feel like after seeing this you have to watch "Schindler's List" to really see why we were there and who were fighting against. All of the sacrifices by our soldiers, and the countries fighting with us, and we actually have goddamn Nazi's (or Nazi wannabes) loudly proclaiming their heinous beliefs all over this country. I'll never understand it.
As a kid I always wanted to join the military for some reason. I was 11 or 12 when my dad brought me to see this movie. Outside of everything I had seen so far, what spooked me the most was when the tanks started rolling into "Ramelle." The seats were fucking rumbling in the theater from the bass and it was like "alright really fuck that shit".
@C T YES! I mentioned that same thing in my comment. The whole place was shaking. For anyone that didn't experience it in theaters, it's hard to describe. But when that tank came over the top, it sounded like a monster or a lion. It to me was THE MOST MOVING shot in the film.
In real life five brothers in the US Navy were all stationed aboard one ship, the USS Juneau. The Juneau was sunk and all five brothers died. I believe because of that, family members are not permitted to serve in the same unit together, and if i recall correctly, that incident served as a bit of inspiration for this movie. edit: as nomad-vv1gk pointed out: that rule actually doesnt exist
Five family members I grew up with spanning two generations were able to be at the same base in Iraq for a little while when they were deployed. The dad, who was fairly high up and held some swing, I believe had to pull strings for even that to happen (and none were in the same unit, and one from was from a different branch but it was a combined base)
It is a misconception that brothers can't serve on the same ship. There is no "Sullivan Rule" or any other restriction that forbids siblings to serve aboard the same ship. I and my brother served together during the Vietnam War. You could be randomly assigned to a capitol ship but on a Destroyer you would generally have to request the honor of serving together. That was the case with my brother and I.
Saving Private Ryan is still my number-one favorite war movie. 😊 I've seen a lot "like a lot" of war movies, but nobody has ever displayed better of what really war is than the beginning of this movie.
i like "we were solders" how it depicts so many aspects of what is going on. "Saving Private Ryan" was going for the shock value of the opining scene and they did that well. but other then that it is just ok. my opinion :)
The D day scene was definitely the most brutal war scene ever for me until I saw Hacksaw Ridge several years ago. I instantly thought of Saving Private Ryan as I tried to stomach that first scene of war.
My great grandpa was part of the assault force on Utah Beach on D-Day. I watched a lot of war movies with him, but the only time in my life I ever saw him cry was watching this movie. He sat there really quiet and repeated the names of his war buddies that he lost on the Beach. This movie depicted combat so realistically that there were D-Day vets who left the theater when it first came out because they couldn’t handle going back there.
Those that landed at Utah don’t get enough credit, they had a hell of a month ahead of them, moving up the peninsula and taking Cherbourg. Then, arriving at that, hoping to gain a deep water port, and finding most of it destroyed. That had to be demoralizing, they lost a lot of men in that period. Not to mention, Utah wasn’t in the original plan, it was added.
I'll never forget the first time I saw the opening scenes - it was July 2006 (I was a month off 14 years old) and me and my classmates and teachers were on a coach in France, for our school trip. We were literally driving to the very beaches depicted in the film, and the memorials, museums and cemeteries. I'd love to go back there one day, it was a wonderful experience.
Band of Brothers was made because of this movie. Hanks and Spielberg were the producers of BoB, and the story of trying to pull a soldier after his brothers died, was based on the true story of a member of the 101st Airborne (Company E was in the 506th PIR of the 101st, and the real "Ryan" was I believe in the 501st PIR of the 101st and was friends with several members of Easy, namely Malarkey and Muck).
Doesn't deserve the Oscar. The Thin Red Line should've won. It's an anti-war masterpiece. Saving Private Ryan is pro-war propaganda and mindless patriotism.
I watched this in the theater, it was so good I went back again the next day by myself to check it out again. Both times the crowd just sat in their seats as the credits rolled and beyond, absorbing what the hell they had just seen. "Tell her that when you found me, I was with the only brothers I have left" Gets me every time. -Combat vet
My father was an Army medic in the Pacific for 3 years, and he and my mom retired to Ft. Lauderdale in 1991 and lived in a retirement community. When they went to see this on opening weekend, the entire theater was filled with nothing but retirees....and almost every man there was a veteran. And every woman there lived through the Home Front or served as a nurse or similar. My mom said that when the movie ended, the entire theater was silent, except for the sound of weeping old men. Watching this movie actually inspired my father to finally tell us some of his wartime experiences. Before that, all you could get out of him were funny little anecdotes. After this, his stories got a bit more grim.
There were no Czech soldiers at Omaha Beach- let alone any who were gunned down. Didn’t happen. But there were ProNazi Russians and Ukrainians who joined the Germans voluntarily fighting on D-day.
@@Arizona-ex5yt I think the real reason for the inclusion of that though was to show that war crimes were committed by both the Axis and Allied powers. Does a great job of reflecting just how dark and brutal this time period was in human history.
Learn all you can, I'm so happy to see young people learning about this important time in our history, my father was on Utah beach on that day January 6th 1944. You had a great reaction to the film.
This was the first movie I recall seeing that made me 'get' war. As in the sacrifices, the chaos, the insanity, the just absolute hell we put people through for whatever lofty reasons we assign these struggles. It wasn't until I saw this that I understood why my great uncle refused to talk about the war. And why the survivors are always tragic heroes in the end, because the world is forever changed for them. They can never go back to what those of us who are lucky enough to be ignorant of this experience know. When you thank someone for their service, you're not thanking them for glorious honorable combat in the name of truth and justice and the American way - you're thanking them for having to go through this because our politicians said so.
This is one of my favorite movies of all time not only it's the best War movie But Steven Spielberg really out done himself in this one the true horrifying depiction of war
For me this is the greatest war movie. It hit me when I grew up (as a german in Germany) and just left its mark that I will never forget. So suspenseful and so well made.
Even those who saw the first screening the vets said they could still smell the diesel from the landing craft. Stuff like that will never go away after all those years. It's scary that your dad probably said along with other vets that the movie was as real as it got.
For a couple of older classic war films, I highly recommend the films _The Bridge over the River Kwai_ (1957) as well as _Zulu_ (1964) Absolutely phenomenal films.
I thought forever that the guy who took out Mellish was the same German soldier they released earlier, but there were 2 different actors & 2 different characters.
When I saw this in the theater, there was an old man in my row who was sitting on the edge of his seat with a death grip on the seat in front of him during the beach scene. From his reaction, I figured he was a veteran and they got it right.
Someone has most likely already told you, but when this movie was aired, some D-day veterans were invited as well, and some had to leave due to the very realistic interpretation of the landing in this movie.
It was absolutely historically accurate. My dad was there on the USS Frankford Navy destroyer giving fire power support taking out the bunkers so the soldiers could get up the hill as they were pinned down. This is Exactly accurate. The opening scene lasted 25 minutes, but in fact, the landing lasted about 7 hours. Veterans said the only thing missing was the smell of diesel, gun powder and blood.
Those tin cans scraped their keels on the bottom getting as close as they could to fire into the pillboxes on the shore. Obviously the Germans fired back with what they’d got and a destroyer has no armor at all!
I remember watching this during middle school to learn more about D-Day. Had to be one of my favorite movies, I'm glad my teacher had introduced it to us.
Everything you see in the scenes for the landing in Normandy, actually happened. Some of it I wish I didn't see, like the guy picking up his arm. RIP to all these heroes.
Those guys that had arms and legs missing in the movie were actual amputees.. Geniously done tbh... Really added to the realism... They set the bar with that one.
Almost impossible to believe that Saving Private Ryan, one of the most iconic movies ever made, lost the Best Picture Oscar in 1999 to Shakespeare in Love. Possibly the worst snub in Oscar history.
"The Thin Red Line" is a beautifully filmed, star-studded movie with some amazing performances about the first major land battle in the Pacific. It was filmed on the actual island the battle took place on. It came out the same year as "Saving Private Ryan" and was also nominated for Best Picture. It would be well worth a watch.
You thought you recognized the *"German Captive"* upstairs they released. But you didn't recognize it was him who shot *Captain Miller* who released him earlier in the movie. Only to be killed himself by *Upham*
@@-esseff- I know but she thought she recognized him as the guy upstairs but didn't recognize the German captive when he shot Captain Miller. I fix the wording that confused you
When my grandfather was placed on end of life care both my brothers were recalled from Iraq where they were deployed as infantry and cavalry scout respectively for the sole purpose of saying their final goodbyes . The American red cross made all the arrangements with the army. Very thankful for their work
The US army in this event was helping france, with their heroic action. Your brothers as the US army on Iraq is invading and oppressing their country cowardly. Shame on all your brothers and all the armies
@@Stalli0n505 What we did to Iraq was despicable. We were way overpowered and our premise was BS. Yes, they had terrorists, just like every other country in the world. I hope you served to see the BS of war as well as the good sometimes.
I served in the Navy 6 years. I can fully understand Ryan's desire to stay. There's that brotherhood that you have with the people you serve with that stays with you tbe rest of your life. You especially feel it when the buddies you served with start passing away.
When we went the theater was packed and they had grief counselors staged in the theater. There were tears and reverent silence at the end of the movie. This movie took you there and it gives a view of what it was like for 18 year olds being in this situation. It was much worse than we saw and felt. Thank the Veterans whenever you meet them. God Bless
Do you recall Miller yelling "Thunder" when they met up with another unidentified group of soldiers? This was how they were taught 'friendly from enemy. The German language has no 'TH' used together.
Greetings from central Texas. This movie came out just after I joined the Army. This helped teach me despite the difficulties and the deprivations of simple amenities of daily life ad a part of the rigor of being a Soldier, it is a noble thing to choose to be. I so recommend your next movie be Fury if you haven’t seen it.
Glad you watched this and it is an amazing film. One of my favorites. I watch a lot of war films mainly for the respect for our vets who served and gave their life. Also, out of respect for my family. My Pop-Pop was in the air force during WWII. Him and my Mom-Mom got married during the war and wanted to in case he got shipped off. He came home safe thankfully. Unfortunately, my family suffered loss too. My Uncle lost his life in the Vietnam War. He was due to come home but ended up losing his life tragically. He was only 28 years old and married to my Aunt and they had a daughter together. I never met him but my family always told stories about him. To pay tribute to him I did an art piece for my Aunt and cousin. He will always live within us forever. God bless to our vets who served and made the ultimate sacrifice.
Saving Private Ryan is definitely one of my Top Five War Movies.. Mainstream, but not at all Overrated. I'd like to recommend "Taegukgi"(Brotherhood), a 2004 South Korean war movie. Very unforgettable.
Obligatory trivia, the guys you saw speaking Czech at the beginning were saying along the lines of "Stop please, they made us fight, we didn't kill anybody." Then they killed them, atrocities happen on both sides, I'm glad this movie never shied away from it. It's why I've seen a lot of soldiers call them the Geneva suggestions, people don't really follow the "rules" when they are out there in the moment. Upham gave mercy to the German soldier and what it earned him was HIS life, at the cost of others.
If you want to see one of the most amazing true stories of WWII, do a reaction to "Hacksaw Ridge". A great movie about a great man that is honestly hard to believe, yet a movie where Hollywood actually undersold the true story for once.
This is not only the best war movie of all time, but one of the best movies ever made IMHO. It feels historically accurate for the most part (aside from the main plot), the cinematography is amazing, the music is great, the sound is great, the acting is great, the cast is great. This movie is an S-tier movie in my eyes. It shows what war was really like in terms of the damage done physically as well as mentally/emotionally. Even those that survived were left broken.
I have always been interested in military history. I especially enjoy WW2 since my father was in both the First Infantry Division and Third Infantry Division. He told me a lot of stories about his time in the army. Also had two uncles who were in the WW2. One served in England as a B17 radio operator with the 390th Bomb Group.
I was deeply moved by your response to this film. I have watched the film countless times and I love all the characters and the story, especially given the fact that it was based on a true story. Thank you so much for reviewing it. Watching you see it for the first time really amplified all the the reasons I love it.
Saving Private Ryan has so many actual references. It has been called the most accurate depiction of the landing on D-Day. The General when he is talking about getting Ryan back refers to the actual five Sullivan brothers who were killed when the USS Juneau, the ship they were on was sunk at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. The General actually quotes from memory the Bixby letter written by President Lincoln. You really need to watch the mini series The Pacific also produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg. This is also about WWII but the fight against Japan. Another great movie you should watch about WWII is Hacksaw Ridge, this movie is based on the true story about Desmond Doss.
Your head is a mess. This was based on the story of Fritz Niland, who, when he and everyone thought all his brothers had died, got found immediately, protested a bit, but quickly was ordered onto a Jeep got his ass on there, and sent back to the States, where he served the rest of his term.
@@rollomaughfling380 I do not see anywhere in my reply, which states what this story is based on, I did say it "has so many actual references". The General actually talks about the Sullivan Brothers and he does quote the Bixby letter. Both of these Items I stated are true facts. I do not think my head is a mess, but some people's head is a mess.
This movie was produced and directed by Stephen Spielberg, with actor Tom Hanks. Band of Brothers was produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks. Same cinematography and editing.
I'm really glad you recognized that Upham just wasn't ready for what he was facing. I always feel bad for the guy. He's thrown into the role of paratrooper along with combat veteran Rangers and airborne soldiers who have been training for two years to make the big jump. They were reasonably prepared for the situation while Upham was not. I've read many autobiographies of combat soldiers and they almost always say some variation of that they were overwhelmed during their first major combat experience, but they fell back onto their training. Upham was basically operating on frantic willpower and when his willpower gave out on the stairs, he had no applicable training to fall on to.
Upham tried to get out of the war without blood on his hands, but when he saw the guy he let go kill Captain Miller, he knew he was just as responsible, which is why he shoots the guy at the end. I hate the armchair warriors who decry his actions. NO ONE knows what they're going to do thrust in a situation like that, especially with as little training as he had. I like to think I'd do the right thing but I could just as easily be curled up in a ball in pants-shitting terror.
He was still a coward and he found out he was. I mean among the newbie soldiers and Marines and even civilian partisans and Resistance to occupation did their part. Fir the most part, ciwardicebon battlefield was I'm pretty sure few and far between if any at all. Good thing he's a fictional character. It is a fact that he acted cowardly. No two ways about it. That's what hits about loss of (spoilers) .... ....cap miller.
the " earn this" quote was the meanest thing, he could told to him. now he has til live his life knowing, he has to make up for the sacrifice of all of this men. and it`s even worse with any single birthday, because he remembers the years those men have lost, and all just because of him.... i mean, how can you live with something like that...
Saw this in the theater when it was released. I had no idea how the movie was going to start, but in the opening scene when I realized we were in the Normandy cemetery, I was like "oh crap, this is going to be D-Day..." and I was already sobbing before the landing scene even began. Needless to say, I spent about the next hour in traumatic shock. Riveting. An unparalleled movie experience. One of the rare films that leaves you processing what you saw - emotionally, morally, philosophically - for hours after it finished.
First time I saw this movie I was next to four DDay vets with their wives. Their wives would ask if this is what it was like. The amazing American Soldiers motivated me as I shipped out the next day with the 82nd Airborne Division which was the lead unit into Kosovo. Great men always inspire those who follow in their footsteps. Truly amazing what the almost 14,000 American paratroopers who jumped in the night before DDay accomplished knocking out many German artillery guns and blocking any German reinforcements. Sobering there were 29,000 Americans killed during the DDay operations. And the fighting lasted from 6 June 1944 to 7 May 1945.
Once you finish band of brothers, I highly suggest " the pacific ". It's also based on real ppl and shows the pacific theater of the war. I'm sure ull find it as well as band of brothers. Great reaction.
One of those little details that so few seem to notice about this movie is that Captain Miller's hand only shakes when it is calm. He knows danger is nearby when it stops.
Glad you enjoyed this movie. Leaning the horrors of war is often watered down in movies and left to the audience’s imagination. I grew up watching the movie called “The Longest Day” that covers broadly the events of D Day. I would recommend it to anyone looking for good WW2 movies.
You’re the first person reacting to this movie that understood the scene with Upham on the stairs not been able to help. Most get angry or hate Upham, but you understood Upham wasn’t ready for combat. Great reaction
I love this movie. I saw it at the theater with my father. We were amazed. That opening sequence was terrifying and so well made. My next best for war movie with action is Hacksaw Ridge. My Dad's cousin Jay was wounded in the cheek in the battle of Okinawa. Hacksaw is based on a true story. I hope you can react to it.
Better description is the most realistic D-day film. Army Rangers are a special operations force (SOF) that is primarily responsible for conducting direct action against HVTs. Some other missions include special reconnaissance, personnel recovery, raiding behind enemy lines. Apart from being a SOF, they are also a light infantry, where they conduct airborne assaults, air assaults, seizing and/or destroying strategic infrastructure (airfields, forward bases etc). During WW2, I believe they were mostly leading conventional assault against enemy forces and conducting raids behind enemy lines. This film gives an actual feeling to the horrors of war faced by soldiers, instead of glorifying it. If I remember correctly, several war films later on are inspired by SPR to portray the horrors and gruesomeness of war as well.
I love your compassion and empathy for these men. I am the same way. I have a son who's been in the NAVY for 13 years now. I hope he never sees war like this. Great reaction and you picked a great movie!
When I was 17, my Mom and I saw this in the theater when it first came out not knowing anything about it really other than it was WW2. Movie ended, a packed auditorium sat in complete silence for 10 minutes then slowly started leaving. It was a very powerful experience
You said "It's not the time to eat a peach or whatever". ANY TIME is the time to eat ANYTHING you come across as a soldier. Because you never know, if you are suddenly cut off of supplies for the next days of weeks. Because of that you are eating everything you are coming across. Right at the spot. Without any hesitation. I learned that in my duty time as a German. Greetings from Germany
You should maybe try "Lawrence of Arabia" directed by David Lean. It was that film that inspired Spielberg to want to become a director in the first place. He still watches it every so often, and especially before starting a new project, as a reminder of what a really good film looks like.
I always point this out. The guy taking off his helmet in the D-Day scene would’ve been dead either way. The helmets were more for shrapnel and debris than for bullets. A squared up shot to the head would’ve been fatal with an M1 helmet.
42:21 "Wait, is he the guy?!" No, but the actors they hired for those two roles look similar enough that most audiences have that question on their first watch. EDIT: The former POV shows back up at 46:20.
Everybody always exclaims about the guy taking off his helmet right before getting drilled through his cranium. Those helmets were more for (light) protection against artillery shells bursting overhead. The first round that glanced off his helmet was exactly that, a glancing strike. That helmet wouldn't have stopped the round that hit him dead square even if he had been wearing it. That helmet would have been no more than a bowl full of brain matter. Even in modern times and with modern technology the things that soldiers wear are "bullet resistant", not "bullet proof". "Bullet proof" is just a phrase. For every advance in body armor there is (or soon will be) an advance in weapons/munitions designed to defeat it.
I watched SPR in 1998 when it came out at the cinema. I was hosting a group of Russian government officials who were visiting the USA and we took them to see the film at a new cinema with surround-sound, etc. I had previously been to Russia & Ukraine and had seen films about WW2 on Russian/Ukrainian TV. Those films were generally very violent but not as well done as SPR. Those films also usually showed Allied troops (Americans, British, etc.) a few times, but the Allied troop scenes involved trucks driving through a forest to happy music and no one shooting at them. Our Russian guests remained completely silent through SPR until we got outside. They then asked me how many "D-Day" invasions there were during WW2. I told them there were 7 or 8 in Europe (depending on whether or not one counts the Dieppe raid in 1942) and forty-one (41) in the Pacific. That was all true. They were stunned. They had been taught all their lives that the Allies weren't really in hard ground combat during WW2 and that all the effort/losses were borne by the USSR.
Years ago when the Internet was not so censored, I recall there was a download of a video that was declassified. I wondered what secrets could be there. And there were no secrets. It was real footage of vietnam where rescuers were treating wounded and there was this man with half of his body and head missing and the man was awaken and asking for help. I could withstand a few seconds of it, and it was hard to sleep that night. Now I understand why soldiers develop PTSD. There is a deep sadness hidden in the battlefield that only soldiers know.
What changed the U.S. policy regarding brothers in combat started with the Sullivan Brothers. The five Sullivan brothers were World War II sailor brothers of Irish American descent who, serving together on the light cruiser USS Juneau, were all killed in action during and shortly after its sinking around November 13, 1942. As a result of the Sullivans’ sacrifice, plus another family’s suffering, the newly named Defense Department soon implemented the "Sole Survivor Policy." But before that happened there were other parents who had lost several of their children.
Without doubt the opening 20mins or soof this movie are the most extraordinary I have ever seen in a movie theater, the audience just sat stunned what they were experiencing
This is based loosely on the situation of a soldier named Niland, who was a friend of one of the soldiers depicted in Band of Brothers. There were four Niland brothers in the service. Two died in the opening stage of the Normandy invasion, and one who was a pilot went down and was missing in action in the China-Burma-India Theater. The differences are: 1. nobody had to go find the fourth Niland - his unit was not scattered and the chaplain was able to find him, break the news about his brothers, and get him on his way back to England and then back to the States from there, and 2. the brother who was a pilot turned out to have survived and made it home at the war's end. Their mother did get all three telegrams at the same time. I can't even imagine the pain.
The Fallen of World War II - Might be worth a watch, its a youtube video that puts it all into scale for you. Could do a reaction, lots of people did but even privately it'll help you personally picture all of this.
SPR is known to be THE best warm movie out there. How Stephen Spielberg recreated those scenes at the beach was unbelievable, it makes us feel like we are there. Even Veterans that have gone and watch it either couldn't take it n stepped out or confirmed it was very realistic. Tom Hanks has made history portraying some key roles that he has been involved in most important moments in modern history, thru different roles
Glad to hear that watching these movies has perked your interest in history. History is the story of us. I enjoy listening to the stories of the men and women who were actually there.
When this movie came out I had a couple of vets two rows in front of me , I heard them crying and so many people cried during this movie , myself included 😞 can’t imagine the experience of these soldiers suffered in real life 😢 I hate wars !!
