The first thing that you should know about this film is not who played who in the film, but rather who was sitting behind the camera when all of it was taking place. You see, knowing the director could tell you a lot about the film before you ever actually watch it, and the man behind this film was Steven Spielberg. This decorated director has had a hand in so many powerful and visually striking stories, that it is not surprising to learn that he was behind this film as well.
One of the most gripping portions of the film rests within the entirety of the first thirty minutes. This features a true to life re-enactment of the storming of the beaches in Normandy on D-Day. You are not given any chances to catch your breath as you receive a very realistic perspective on the hell of war. So for nearly half of an hour, you are another soldier participating in securing the beaches for the Allies.
After this intense opening, you are introduced to the company that will serve as the main characters of the film. The leader of this group is Captain John H. Miller. A short time later, Miller receives his orders for himself and his men. They are to be the search and rescue team to find a paratrooper named Private James Ryan.
The reason they are trying to find Private Ryan is because his other three brothers in the Army had all been killed in action and the Army felt that he deserved to go home to his family. Needless to say, the company is divided on whether or not this is actually worth all the trouble to find Ryan, let alone watch him get a ticket home.
You get to know each and every one of the men in the company through various conversations that they have about their lives before the war, and their plans for when the war is finally over. When they reach Ryan and deliver the news, he still insists he remains at his post long enough to hold a key bridge in Allied control. He refuses to leave the company that he is with until he knows this key bridge is secure and not able to be used by the Germans.
This is a story that heavily reflects on the tragedy of war, the necessity of war, and the value of human life in the face of many different circumstances. This could likely be among the best war movies of all time, if not just included in some of the best movies of all time in general. Powerful performances by Tom Hanks (Captain Miller), Tom Sizemore (Sgt. Mike Horvath), and Matt Damon (Private Ryan) amongst so many others have helped to make this movie as impressive as it was.
So, when you are considering "Saving Private Ryan" there is a good bit to think about and understand. This article was meant to give you an introduction to the film and encourage you to see this 1998 classic if you haven't already. This might make you thankful for the life you have, and respectful of the commitment some made to ensure that you had that life the way that you do.
About the Author:
No comments:
Post a Comment