Saving Private Ryan

Steven Spielberg loves to direct huge films and there is plenty of emotion contained within, 'Saving Private Ryan.'

The first scene is moving, (at the grave yard), but the war veteran actually appears rather young to some extent. (That would be because it was filmed in 1998!)

We then move onto the landing of the Allied troops at Omaha Beach. For me its one of the most dramatic sequences in cinema history, very raw and you're totally immersed in the sheer awfulness of it! It perfectly illustrates the hopelessness of the situation for the Allied trap as they land and the great sadness of war.

'Who's in command here?!'

- 'You are sir!'

'We're in business!' (This is one of the troop's catch phrases!)

Jackson helps open the Allied forces position through his sniper shooting!

One soldier, (catch phrase : 'We're in business,') collects soil into a tin can, labelled : 'France,' and puts in his bag, (along with other tin cans from other countries!)

The landing sequence incredibly goes on for twenty minutes!

Sean, Peter and Daniel Ryan had all been killed in battle and the fourth brother, James, parachuted into Normandy the day before the invasion.

Its fair to say that especially after the landing sequence, Tom Hank's character plays something of a hero!

The chap, (French and German interpreter) brought along with the division to find Private Ryan finds it difficult going and doesn't fit in.

Actually the cast is a who's who of 1990s film and tv, including Ted Danson, lol!

Initially, Tom Hanks thinks that he has found James Ryan, when in fact he gives the news to wrong person!

'It can't be them, my brother is still in grammar school!'

I'm sure that it was mentioned at some length when, 'Saving Private Ryan,' came out, but there's no mention of the British in this war, unbelievably!

Its fair to say that in between the fighting scenes its pretty dull!

'This Ryan better be worth it. He better go home, cure some disease or invent some longer lasting lightbulb or something!'

There's a lot of heart to hearts and tender moments between the troops.

The guy that speaks French and German seems to be the only person with a conscience in the war filled environment.

At one point Tom Hanks balls his eyes out.

'Please I like America.' - The brutality is really brought out.

'Captain you just let the enemy go!'

'Captain Ryan is dead. - I have a sixth sense in my bones about this!'

The betting pool is up to $300 and Hanks reveals that he is actually an English teacher back home.

'James Francis Ryan?!'

- 'Yes Sir. - How did you guess that?!'

Ryan is not too keen to be ordered to go home. He is shocked to hear that two of Hank's platoon died trying to find him.

The platoon have to hold the bridge with a dwindling supply of ammo.

They develop some, 'Sticky bombs,' to take the trends off the tanks.

The interpreter is to be the ammo man so to speak.

Its clear that they are outnumbered.

The sniper in the tower has an absolutely brilliant eye!

The guy with all the ammo really lets down his platoon by doing nothing!

There's a helmet fight at one part! lol

'Take cover we're gonna blow the bridge!'

Towards the end of the film Tom Hanks has a slow motion part where he witnesses the true horror of the fighting, (just like the landing sequence, where there is a slow motion part).

Just in the nick of time support from the air comes in and the interpreter finally faces up to his responsibilities.

'Every day I think of what you said to me on the bridge. I've tried to live my life the best I could. - I hope that was enough.'

'Tell me I've lead a good life. Tell me I'm a good man.'