*SAVING PRIVATE RYAN* broke my heart ♡ MOVIE REACTION FIRST TIME WATCHING ♡

[@markehrlich9862]

I remember watching this in the theater. My wife was constantly asking me "if I was OK". I'd retired from Army a year earlier [20+ years, Infantry, Airborne, Ranger] and had lost friends in some of the shittier places the world has to offer. I also never cared to keep track of the lives I'd personally or were responsible for being taken. But a few years later, this movie was to have an even greater meaning for us. In 2004, we received "that knock on our door" telling us our son had died in IRAQ.

[@Gitano_Music]

You might hear this a lot, but I honestly want to thank you and your son for being willing to serve this country with your lives in the balance. My dad served in Vietnam and my brother served in the Marines. I don't possess what it takes to bring that burden on my shoulders. From the depths of my being I thank you for you and your family's honor and commitment to protecting and guarding this country we love. Peace and perseverance to you and your family.

[@jenmurrayxo]

I am so sorry for your loss🌹 Thank you for all you and your son have done 🙏

[@markehrlich9862]

@@jenmurrayxo I really suggest you watch "Band of Brothers"

[@Falconer1128]

So sorry for all the loss your family has endured for us. I'm so grateful for what you and your son have done for our freedom, Mark. Thank you most sincerely.

[@asiamatron]

So sorry to hear about your son.

[@seannovack3834]

"Earn this...EARN IT!" That is a message that reaches across the years to all of us who see this film. My Grandfather was in the 2nd wave to hit that very beach and saw the carnage. My father was a LRRP Team Leader in Vietnam (Airborne Ranger) and had a hard time talking about what he saw there. I was in Desert Shield and can tell you what the smell of burning tanks with human bodies is like, and the fact that they burn for a shocking amount of time. Dad and I saw this film together when it came out. We were both in tears when we left. My grandfather was in poor health at the time and we didn't let him see the film because we knew what it would do to him. This film NOT winning Best Picture turned me off of the Academy Awards forever. I haven't watched them since.

[@johannesvalterdivizzini1523]

My dad was in the Army Air Force in WWII, and the USAF for Korea, his father was a doughboy in the Argonne during WWI. All they ever wanted to do was get on with their lives as civilians. It wasn't easy for them.

[@Melrose51653]

Right

[@realburglazofficial2613]

When Miller and SSgt Horvath are talking in the church, Miller says “You know how many men I’ve lost under my command? 94” In 1944, an infantry company was around 100 men. If you don’t count Miller himself; Wade, Caparzo, Jackson, Reiben, Mellish and SSgt Horvath make up the remaining 6 men from a full company. Chances are these 6 men are the _last_ members of the original Charlie Company 2nd Rangers that left the US. By the end of it, Reiben is the sole survivor.

[@jenmurrayxo]

Oh my goodness I didn't know this. That's insane 😢

[@meminustherandomgooglenumbers]

@Real Burglaz Official Nah. Near the start of the movie, when Hanks is explaining the new mission to his Sergeant, the Sergeant asks what happens to the rest of their company, and Hanks explains "We take the pick of the litter and the rest get folded into Baker (probably meaning Company B, merging with Hanks' Charlie Company, likely meaning Company C - two moderately understrength companies merged into one)." Plus when the company left the USA, Hanks was likely not in charge of it - nor of any other company - since Hanks probably started as a Second Lieutenant in charge of a single regular infantry platoon. When promoted to First Lieutenant, he might have been moved and put in command of some sort of specialized weapons platoon which could easily have been in a different company than the one he started in. His promotion to Captain and being given leadership of an entire regular infantry company, probably happened either at some point in Italy, or else while they were in England during the reorganization and preparation for D-day. If Hanks was already in charge of the same company when it arrived in England, then it would have been brought back up to full strength there, along with all the others. This sort of thing happened fairly regularly, and the movie shows that it is happening again a few days after the landing as Hanks gets the new assignment.

[@rainydaydreamawy]

This is moving to think about, but at the beginning, Miller mentions they'll take the pick of the litter for the Ryan mission and fold the rest of the men into another company.

[@tattoos9246]

@@rainydaydreamawy which is irrelevant as you dont know if they were original members, how many there were or how many died in africa and the italian campaign

[@bozzutoman]

I've easily seen this a dozen times since the first time in the theater... still brings the tears.

[@smeltikozuyesmelti]

This movie strikes so close to home for my family. My Grandpa was a 1LT in WWII and was among the first to arrive on the first wave at Doom's Day. Miraculously, he managed to get all but one of his men out of there alive. Later on another beach's conflict, he survived a mortar blast while diving for a foxhole. After an eternity of agony and falling in and out of consciousness in a pool of his own blood, he eventually woke on a wagon. Somehow, not only did he survive this ordeal, but he was found. After a year in a hospital in France, he eventually was able to come home. He never spoke about the war for the rest of his life, but it's not hard to understand why.

[@jimmysmith5418]

My great grand uncles were only 19 years old when they fought this war, their Mother was really devastated when she found out her two sons had to serve, she cried her heart out for days & they’re father was in stunned shock just couldn’t talk. They were enlisted into the 28th Maori Battalion Charlie company. Who were serving in Four Countries El Alamein Egypt 🇪🇬, Italy 🇮🇹, Crete Greece 🇬🇷, and finally Germany 🇩🇪. Sadly they were both K.I.A 😔 😞 One passed away in Italy 🇮🇹, one passed away in Germany 🇩🇪. And still to this day they are still buried in European memorial grounds.

[@rad.man.1]

I thank your relatives for their service. o7

[@jimmysmith5418]

@@rad.man.1 thank you my brother.

[@GetmoreTV]

Thanks to this Brave souls 🙏🏼🙏🏼 My grand father served in Ww2 he was stationed in Northern Ireland and was actually part of the D-Day Landing. Unfortunately on that day he was shot threw his chest and the bullet came out if his arm. Fortunately he lived and was taken back to England. A few months later he was sent to fight in France, Caen. He was captured by the Nazis and thrown into a POW camp. A few months after his capture he was liberated by the allies. 🙏🏼

[@11DNA11]

3:40 The even more sad part about that was... The "Germans" who they shot were forcibly conscripted Czechs and Polish men. And they were saying that to the Americans.

[@richcarrCCC]

Thanks for pointing that unfortunately overlooked scene and it's relevance, it showed that what Jen described as "I don't know what is right..." is part of the human condition. Young men, many just teenage boys, having just endured the horrific carnage come upon 2 men surrendering but unbeknownst to them they aren't Germans but were from countries conquered by Germany and all but forced to serve and were likely very glad to see the Americans. However, who are we to judge, hindsight is 20/20, but when someone looks on they may not always be fair, or accurate, or sincere, in describing how they would act/react in those circumstances.

[@lethaldose2000]

Jen, your empathy and sincerity and emotional intelligence are truly infectious. You understand the sacrifice, the loss and the emotion at the deepest levels. Especially when the priest comes to give mother Ryan the fateful news. That would make any of us drop to the floor. It makes you such a great reactor. Keep up the awesome work.

[@jenmurrayxo]

Thank you so much! 🥰 Finally my strong emotional side is useful for something lolll ☺

[@lethaldose2000]

@@jenmurrayxo Your strong emotions is always useful. There is too much hate in this world. You are the antidote.

[@Gort-Marvin0Martian]

Yes! I couldn't agree more than the way you put it K2da_G.

[@solvingpolitics3172]

@@jenmurrayxo He is correct, great job!

[@derekweiland1857]

@@jenmurrayxo The movie was based on the 4 Niland brothers. Unfortunately, there was no rescue mission for the 4th brother; though he did survive. The one brother shot down was listed as KIA but he actually survived for awhile in the jungle before being taken prisoner by the Japanese. He survived the rest of the war in Japanese POW camp. No small feat considering the brutal treatment the Japanese gave those who surrendered. Almost years after his mother was told of his death he walked back I to her house. That which is lost has been found. Least we forget.

[@Lyonsbane75]

Jen - You're a sweet and empathetic person. Your reaction to this movie and the reality of war moved me as much as the film moved you.

[@track16ofthechronic21]

Some of those who had survived the beaches on D-Day, went to see this film. Many, walked out during the beach sequence because it hit too close to home. I knew a gentleman who fought in the Korean War, who was my neighbor. 40 years after the events, I asked him if he could talk about his experiences over there. He looked at me, then looked away. He closed his eyes, and after a moment he said, "It's too soon." I understood immediately.

[@jenmurrayxo]

I can't imagine how painful it is for vets 😔🌹

[@cgo225]

My late father fought at Montecassino in WW2.... He never spoke about his experience with me, but always spoke about them with his friends (who'd also fought in the war) whenever our families got together. When I became a man, I asked him why he spoke with his friends about the war but never with me (his own son) - he apologised and said that only those who've been through combat truly understand, whereas those who haven't never will. I immediately respected that, I left him to share his (many) traumas with his lifelong friends - and I never challenged him again. He passed in 1989, a wonderful, unassuming father and grand-father, who was in fact the greatest man I've ever known - and I've missed him every single day.

[@rockerdowns6051]

When I saw your genuine reaction to the mother receiving notification of her sons death I knew it was time to subscribe to your channel. The scene always gets to me. Your parents raised you well. Your intuitive and properly empathic. Best wishes to you and your channel.

[@jenmurrayxo]

Thank you! So many moving scenes in this movie 😢❤ but such a great piece of cinema

[@TheTurinturumbar]

Apathetic? Don't you mean empathetic?

[@jenmurrayxo]

Ya but I got it 👌

[@TheTurinturumbar]

@@jenmurrayxo sure, just pointing out that the word used is the opposite to what was, hopefully, intended. Might save some embarrassment in the future.

[@rockerdowns6051]

@@TheTurinturumbar your right my bad.

[@scanau1]

Such a great movie, thank you for reacting. "HACKSAW RIDGE" is a another great one, based on real events.

[@jenmurrayxo]

Oh yes that one is on my watchlist for sure 👍

[@vickiewilson3997]

Oh, yes. Desmond Doss was a true war hero that saved SO many lives as a Medic. It is a must see.

[@tiger4361]

@@jenmurrayxo Be warned, Hacksaw Ridge is as rough if not worse than Saving Private Ryan in some scenes. You may want to include the Band-of-Brothers series, the Pacific series,. Also consider Conspiracy (2001 TV Movie), The Hiding PLace, Return to the Hiding Place, Schindler's list, The Pianist, Raid on Entebee. Last for documentaries look at TimeLine / The Nazi Hunters.

[@Blandge]

This movie is inspired by the true story of Sergeant Frederick “Fritz” Niland who was a member of the 101st Airborne during WW2. I first read about this in the book D-Day, June 4, 1944: The Climactic Battle of WW II by Stephen Ambrose (who is also the author of the book Band of Brothers which inspired a HBO miniseries of the same name). While it's true that Fritz's brothers were killed in combat, and thus he was pulled out out of combat during the Battle of Normandy after parachuting into France on D-Day, Saving Private Ryan's plot is entirely fictitious. Many of the scenes and details of the movie have some semblance of reality because they were inspired by the oral histories, memoirs, etc. of real soldiers. So it's not just the experience of one group of soldiers, but many unconnected soldiers who fought on D-Day. If you read Ambrose's D-Day, you'll recognize many of the scenes and situations of the book in the tales of the hundreds of individual soldiers whose stories Ambrose relates in his book.

[@filmcrew3531]

Tough to watch every time. Your response was mine and is every time I see it. I was shell shocked when I saw this in the theater. The story also draws from the Sullivan Brothers from USS Juneau. Thank you for your reaction Jen.

[@chairmanofthebored6860]

Great book.

[@tadmurphy7436]

Hey Jen, you actually handled that better than I thought. Shooting on your list should be band of Brothers. Executive producers Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg that is a true story for the most part. On a movie note. The story that Ryan told about his brothers in the barn. Yeah Matt Damon completely ad-libbed that whole thing made it up on the spot. Looking forward to band of Brothers it's a must watch. As always you're awesome ❤️💚☘️

[@fazzie1916]

+1, Band of Brothers is "must watch", especially for someone who's doing reaction channel

[@michaelback283]

Second

[@freeheeler00]

Third

[@karlhaber1904]

This was a Hollywood embellishment based upon a collage of a bunch of World War II stories that were actually true. The missing private was Private Niland. However it was a US Army Chaplain that walked through the German lines ( I believe with a white flag don't quote me,)& Made the Germans understand the nature of the extraction of one private who was The Sole Surviving Son who his family. Private Niland was then returned to his family. The Hollywood version is much more intense.

[@El_Bueno]

Yes. Your reaction is pretty much how I was when I first watched it back in 98

[@marklindberg8640]

This is a tough movie, but it is so important. It made me see vetrans whole a whole new sense of reverence and deep appreciation. Thanks for picking this movie and your response.

[@BajaBCat]

This film so perfectly captures the humanity, the horror, the sacrifice, and the heartbreak of war. Anyone badmouthing our men and women in uniform need to watch this film and realize the lives we get to live and enjoy are due to the sacrifices they made, and the scars they carry for the rest of their lives.

[@737DRVER]

Wade's death never gets hard to watch, it breaks my heart when he's calling out to his mom. So thankful for that generation that sacrificed so much for us here in America and for a lot of the world.

[@BlueBookGuy]

The tension in this film, the visuals, the sound mixing is beyond belief. I remember seeing this at the theater. Only seeing tears (and a "nothingness in peoples eyes) from this and film Titanic. It's a hard watch for sure. I had tears in many scenes, but when the medic died, and what he said, I just broke down completely. I truly hope one day humanity will move towards complete Love and caring. x Sending positive vibes x So much chaos in the world recently, we must manifest and build a better world for our children and for all. Love not Hate ❤As hard a watch as it is, this should be shown in senior schools for education purposes...

[@werdle92]

we watched this in high school like 10 years ago. we had to get a parent to sign off on it of course. but it was way better than a normal history lesson

[@jenmurrayxo]

Oh ya this is a must watch 👍

[@ceretomer5987]

You're right. Everyone should watch this movie. The tragedy, heartache, horrible violence and gut wrenching scenes need to be seen to try to understand why war should be avoided at all costs.

[@OmegaSoypreme]

It's such an incredible movie. Even watching cut down clips in this format brings tears to my eyes.

[@EricPalmerBlog]

Also, saw this in the theater, when it ended, when people were walking out, it was like leaving a funeral service. Thanks for sharing. Keep up the great work.

[@jenmurrayxo]

Oh I imagine that was a sobering experience 😢 Thank you!

[@barryceconi3471]

Yep same here. I remember we said nothing till we got back to the car.

[@mr.a8315]

Re-watch. 💜 8:48 Did you ever notice the wrong Pvt. Ryan is played by the actor who was the captain in Firefly and Serenity (Nathan Fillion).

[@davidjacobs3275]

You're right! I didnt notice that. Serenity would be a great movie review

[@shadsullivan7817]

Great reaction! The heart you have shown honors our soldiers. I have many family members who fought, some died for our nation, I am proud. I never served, my veteran Father talked me out of it, because he said it nearly killed him to bury friends, but it would kill him to bury a son. I do regret not serving every day I wake up. I loved your reaction. Thanks!

[@jenmurrayxo]

Thank you! Your family must have been very brave, can't imagine what they went through 🌹

[@albinorhino6]

After making Saving Private Ryan, Spielberg and Hanks produced the 10 part HBO series called Band of Brothers. This movie is a fictional story set during real events, but Band of Brothers is the true stories of Easy Company, 506 PIR, 101st Airborne Division. They were one of the most decorated units in the entire war, and are the origins of modern day Special Forces. Band of Brothers is one of the best pieces of cinema ever made, you will fall in love with the characters.

[@iristhundercloud9684]

Makes me think of the grandfather he fought in ww2 he fought in the pacific. He received a bronze star medal and for me I joined the marines and was part of the invasion of Iraq and I lost both of my childhood friends in combat and makes me think of my friend Timothy he also cried for mother before he died. I miss them a lot rip David and Timothy

[@jenmurrayxo]

I'm sorry for your loss 🌹 You and your friends sound very brave. Thank you for your service 🙏

[@bmason74]

I'm really glad you covered this movie. My grandfather fought in the Battle of the Bulge and did a campaign in Normandy. He was never able to speak about the war, and growing up I couldn't understand why he would never share his experiences. This was the movie I needed to see when it came out. Made me understand why kept silent about it all those years.

[@tomyoung9049]

Had three uncles that served in WWII, all came back thankfully. My brother served in Vietnam and also came home. I didn't serve while actually at war but our ship was called on to strike as part of an operation in the middle east. Grew up hearing about life in these times. Everyone able was eager to go in WWII, my dad tried but was denied because of an auto accident he had been in when little. I never knew the real truth about that til after he passed. He always joked that they turned him down for being too skinny. And he went home with his brothers gf's to celebrate. The fact that he was '4F' actually hit him so hard my mom told me considered taking his own life after being denied. A great reaction to an incredible movie. Don't worry about having real emotional responses, especially to films like this. After all, we all love to see reacters laughing so hard they lose it to a strong comedy. This is just the other side of that. Being real is one of the best ways to make your channel continue to grow.

[@jenmurrayxo]

Thanks Tom 👍 Your uncles & brother sound very brave 🌹 Sorry to hear your dad went through that

[@richcarrCCC]

We love you Jen :) Your having been relatively 'speechless' throughout the movie save for those significant moments, is not only very telling of your ability to immerse yourself into the profound and gruesome realities of war and your appreciation for those who suffer in them, it also says so much about your genuine empathy & compassion in giving due consideration and contemplation to each moment, each soldier, each life, without having to verbalize the obvious, your tears, your exclamations, your breathing, your body language, they all speak volumes. After seeing over half a dozen other YT Reactors Sav'g Pvt. Ryan reaction videos, yours was, well, I am at a loss for finding the proper term, but your fewer words exemplify "Less is More". Thank you so much for yet another great reaction video.

[@jenmurrayxo]

Thank you so much Richard! Your comments made my day 🥰 I appreciate your support so much & it's so nice to hear that me just being myself is resonating with you 😊 Thank you 🙏

[@drummy2112]

Very well stated, Richard. Couldn't have said it more eloquently. Thank you for this Jen. 🙏🌹

[@jenmurrayxo]

Thanks for watching with me Scott, I appreciate it

[@TravMaxAdventures]

This is a top three movie in my book. I do not care how many times I watch it or watch a reaction to it, I always tear up in three scenes; the opening scene in Arlington cemetery, the mother breaking down on her porch, and the very last scene at Arlington. Thank you for watching this film Jen. Looking forward to your take on Airplane.

[@jenmurrayxo]

Thank you for watching along again with me Trav! 😊👍

[@craigwheller]

its not Arlington, theyre at Normandy

[@TravMaxAdventures]

@@craigwheller You’re right. I was mistaken.

[@daveking9393]

Definitely a tough movie to watch and I appreciate sharing it with you. Another fine job editing as usual. Thanks for all you do. Keep up the great work!

[@tylersuttle5825]

Jen, my Grandfather was at Normandy. To see your reaction and appreciation is what I wish our generation of millennials would have. I hope you will review the Band of Brothers and The Pacific HBO series in the future.

[@jenmurrayxo]

Your Grandfather must have been very brave 🌹 Thank you to him for his service 🙏

[@alexmoore3676]

The guys with their hands up who got shot on Omaha beach were saying "Please don't shoot me, I am not German, I am Czech, I didn't kill anyone, I am Czech!"

[@alberto7514]

My favorite movie of all time. Stepping foot on that beach was one of the most impacting and memorable trips of my life. Thank you for watching this for us.

[@jenmurrayxo]

Thank you Al 🙏

[@martinbraun1211]

I highly recommend DOWNFALL (2004)!

[@m.d.5463]

@Jen Murray: That 'Mum receives the 3 letters'-scene gets me all the time I see this movie. Only a heartless monster doesn´t feel compassion with that mum.

[@Gort-Marvin0Martian]

First thanks for watching and reacting to this film. I took my 3 sons to see it. All grown men now. When the film ended we sat in silence until the credits rolled and then stood to leave. The other 500 people in the theater also sat in silence and no one spoke. We stood and we walked out in silence. I come from a military family. My dad, my uncle and my step dad were all in the Army. My dad in Europe during ww2. My uncle in Pacific with the Navy in ww2. After the war he joined the Army when his Navy commitment was finished. He was a POW in Korea and subsequently wounded by shrapnel from a grenade. I have his Purple Heart. My step dad also served in the Army and he also went to Korea. My uncle and my step dad were career Army, 26 years each. Every time I see this movie I think of the sacrifice the men portrayed here made. It's my understanding this is loosely based on a real event. So, again...; thank you for watching it. I watched yet again, only through your eyes this time. Overwhelming, it is.

[@jenmurrayxo]

Thank you for your service 🙏 ❤

[@Gort-Marvin0Martian]

@@jenmurrayxo Thanks Jen. The service was all theirs. I tried but the Army just didn't like me. No really I had a particular health issue or I would have gone to Vietnam just like a bunch of my friends did. We didn't run like some people you've heard of. I got as far as the induction facility but in the physical exam, they decided I couldn't go. So...

[@ffjsb]

Just an FYI, helmets don't protect you from bullets. They're designed to stop fragments and shrapnel from artillery and explosions.

[@jenmurrayxo]

Oh noooo, they should be bullet proof!!

[@justsomeguy5061]

@@jenmurrayxo True, but they’d need so much steel they’d be too heavy to wear. The majority of casualties were from shrapnel in WW2, and while any wound is bad, a head wound is usually worse.

[@meminustherandomgooglenumbers]

@@justsomeguy5061 The shrapnel is difficult to portray in movies though, since it travels much farther and faster than the visible dirt and sand kicked up by the blast. The schrapnel from one of those sand plumes on the beach can drop guys 20 feet away or more, even though the kicked-up sand doesn't go nearly thar far.

[@ffjsb]

@@justsomeguy5061 Steel is poor when it comes to ballistic protection. That's why modern helmets don't have any steel at all, just Kevlar and resins. Even still, they are not designed to protect against rifle rounds. The body armor worn by modern US troops has an additional ceramic plate that's about an inch thick, and HEAVY...

[@jamesrippy1161]

WWII vets who survived d-day have said that this is what they went through. Also don’t worry about the tears, this movie routinely makes grown men cry 😭

[@jenmurrayxo]

I can't imagine 😢

[@jazzmaan707]

The Beach Landing on Omaha Beach, was very realistic, according to the WW II Veterans I had talked to when this movie came out. My grandfather was drafted in 19444, when he was 46 years old. That is how dire the situation was in 1944, as the outcome of the war was still in doubt. God Bless all the Veterans, who did not come back home.

[@manu9d5]

This video popped in my feed like 2 hrs ago... I ended up watching three more of your channel. LOVE YOUR GENUINE REACTIONS.

[@jenmurrayxo]

Thanks Manuel! I really appreciate that! 🙏

[@sedawd77]

You should react to "Hacksaw Ridge" which is also based on true story of Desmond Doss who was a medic in WW2.

[@jenmurrayxo]

Yes that's the next war movie on my watchlist!! 👍

[@alexflores7652]

My wife and I saw this I think back in 1999. I was stationed at Hill AFB, UT, there weren't many people in the theater when we saw it. But after the movie was over no one said a word as we all walked out in stunned silence like we got kicked hard in the nuts. It is one of the best war movies to come out in recent memory. There have been others but this one had such realism in how it was filmed. Most war movies skip how ugly war really can be and the toll it takes on those of our family at home just like the movie We Were Soldiers with Mel Gibson or after many years when the war is over.

[@kevinty7]

Agree with all your comments, so intense and realistic insight into what it was like. Watched it hundreds of times and still in tears! Especially the line at the end ‘tell me I’ve been a good man’ 😭😭well done Jen❤️

[@David_Baxendale]

This movie has (in my opinion) the most powerful opening 20 or so minutes of any movie ever made. It starts by showing that the effects of what you are about to see reach way long after the whole thing was over, 50 year and more. It then goes and shows you just why those events still affect people. I was born in the 70s, the wr movie we saw back then were "ah, I've been shot", hammed up death scenes, people dieing a hero. This movie just kind of pushes them off the table and says "this is what it's really like, arms missing, pulling half a person, there's a leg, you'll be glad you survived and maybe also feel guilty others didn't". One of the best movie ever made in my opinion. I'd add "may we never have to go through that again" but the sad truth is, people did, are and will go through it again. It may not be us (whoever your *us* is), but other will.

[@sammylane21]

Of the 16 million...(Good GOD ALMIGHTY! Reread that stat again.) that gave their lives in that horrid war, only 240,000 veterans are alive today, and dying by the day too.😢

[@markjuarez1791]

Wonderful reaction, Jen. I will never forget being with an opening night crowd for this movie. As soon as the D-Day Invasion scene ended, you could hear a collective sigh of relief come from the audience. After that, there was still an entire movie to go.

[@irishinnj72]

There was very heavy confusion about the soldier who spared Upham's life on the stairs being the one they had let go earlier. The answer is no, the soldier who let Upham live on the stairs was a different actor, he also had the Nazi SS insignia on the right side of his jacket's collar. However, the soldier that they let go after the death of their medic Wade, WAS the soldier who shot Tom Hanks on the bridge and was then shot dead by Upham. He clearly does not have the Nazi SS insignia on his jacket collar, because he was regular German infantry. You can also hear him call out Upham's name right before he's shot, hoping that Upham would spare him again. Steven Spielberg has also repeatedly said that they were two different actors, who just happened to be alike in appearance.

[@JimmieRayGiboney]

4:18 For small events, survivors form a "burial detail" such as those seen in Western genre movies about calvary units, wagon trains, et al. But for big events such as this? Each side has a formal morge corps dedicated to dealing with the dead. They just have to wait for the fighting, if not for the whole battle to end. Unlike the medical corps whose medics as you've just seen are in the fighting.

[@snookyookum]

Just to put things into a little perspective: The opening battle scenes of the landing on Omaha beach were tough to watch but in reality a representation of one small area. In actuality 2,400 soldiers died on that beach by the end of the first day. I really admired your reaction to a very intense and powerful movie.

[@jenmurrayxo]

Oh my gosh that's terrifying to think about 😢

[@tattoos9246]

there were a total of over 10,000 casualties just on omaha in the few hours it took to take the beachhead

[@laurenceholloway2359]

This film, like Schindler's List, are difficult to watch, but extremely important. If you don't feel devastated and learn from these horrific events, then we will just be doomed to repeat them.

[@ndpd11]

Jen, I think the takeaways from this movie are that we should be thankful and humble about the freedoms we enjoy, and above all, we should all "earn it". Thank you for your heartfelt reaction.

[@chuckhilleshiem6596]

I am a combat veteran ( Vietnam ) You can not possibly know the good you have just done. Thank you for this and God bless you

[@jenmurrayxo]

Thanks for watching Chuck and thank you for your service 🌹

[@chuckhilleshiem6596]

@@jenmurrayxo I dont need to be thanked you do . It was my first time here but it wont be my last

[@mako88sb]

Sorry. Forgot a couple movie recommendations. The first one is Memphis Belle(1990). Not as grim as SPR but an excellent portrayal of the crew of a B-17 on its 25th mission. The 2nd one is Alive(1993). If you’re not aware of the event that happened almost 50 years ago in the Andes mountains than all I can say is it’s considered the most incredible survival story in modern times. Just an amazing example of perseverance and triumph of the human spirit.

[@mack7882]

Based on the Niland brothers - the one brother reported KIA in the Pacific later turned out to be alive and was a POW of the Japanese. His return to the family after the war was unexpected. The Niland brother in Normandy who was sent home by the army was not found by a special patrol but was contacted by an Army chaplin and then sent home. Reportedly the Niland story was first told to historian Steven Ambrose by a member of Easy Company. The real life story of the men of Easy Company of the 101st Airborne is told by Spielberg and Hanks in the HBO series Band of Brothers which is a 10 part series about WWII that is IMHO the best series about the war ever filmed. Another film that I would put up there with Saving Private Ryan is the film - Heartbreak Ridge - the true story of Desmond Doss a conscientious objector who serve in the Pacific.

[@fabreezo]

Wow great editing. Hit all the main highlights and a great reaction. Well done. Solid reaction video!

[@jenmurrayxo]

Thank you! I have a wonderful editor! ☺👍

[@rebfj86]

Another pretty intense WW2 movie is Dunkirk by Christopher Nolan. The soundtrack by Hans Zimmer really builds up the tension and when I saw it in the cinema I found myself holding my breath. It’s hard not to tear up at seeing the numbers of lives lost 😢.

[@seanwhitford1537]

Jen, I have seen some of the worst this world has to offer. I grew up in unimaginable hell. My dad died after 10 years in a coma from a motorcycle accident and my mom died 4 days after successful open-heart surgery. That is just the surface to my world. Most things don't make me cry any longer, but I cry every time I watch this movie. I cried with you today! Your compassion and empathy are felt here. ☮️

[@jenmurrayxo]

I'm sorry for your losses 🌹

[@seanwhitford1537]

@@jenmurrayxo Thank you. I really appreciate it. It made me into the Stoic I am today, so it is what it is. My parents will be with me...always. There is always good that can come out of any bad situation. I know. Have a good weekend!!!

[@jasonalmy1872]

Oh Jen, that was rough. Great movie about a terrible part of history. You did a great job getting through it even though it was obviously difficult. You're always so thoughtful and respectful during your videos.

[@jenmurrayxo]

Thanks Jason, I appreciate your kind words. Such a beautiful & heartbreaking movie

[@thegorn68]

If anyone reading this visits New Orleans in the future, I highly recommend visiting the National WWII Museum there. There's an exhibit show called "Beyond All Boundaries" in 4D that is awesome and is narrated by Tom Hanks. It really makes you appreciate the Greatest Generation even more and what they went through. I was weeping at the end. Torn between being grateful for what that generation went through and ashamed at how spoiled we have it now.

[@michaelb1761]

Veterans say the opening scene is the most accurate depiction of war because it's about half as bad as reality.

[@sspdirect02]

You must watch Schindler’s List.

[@jenmurrayxo]

Oh yes that's on the watchlist 👍

[@threejackdaws88]

Maby, Come and see

[@derrickowen8162]

@@jenmurrayxo Good luck.

[@JamesASharp]

@@jenmurrayxo Yes. Schindler's List (1993), and Munich (2005).

[@derrickowen8162]

@@JamesASharp Munich is great. Not very many reactions to that one.

[@saturno1985able]

Hi Jen , Paul here your # 1 fan , I enjoyed this reaction in particular because it's one of my favorite movies of all times , it's my opinion we all should watch this to remind us how good we have it now . and how terrible it could have gone had it not been because of these brave and courageous men's sacrifice . I deeply believe every tear you shed put a smile on those lost souls because is one of the ways we can show thank them , the other way is to do all we can to prevent it from happening again . looking forward to see more of your reactions . best wishes Jen ( princess Leia's cousin ) .

[@jenmurrayxo]

Thank you Paul!! ☺👍

[@scottc287]

I was in a US Airborne battalion in Italy when this movie came out. I remember the Commanding General rented out the post theater for all the guys in the battalion and brigade. It was that influential. The cemetery is the Normandy American Cemetery overlooking Omaha beach in Normandy, France. It is very much a sobering experience to visit.

[@jenmurrayxo]

Oh I bet it is 😢

[@scottc287]

@@jenmurrayxo You're reactions to this video are heartwarming and heart wrenching at the same time. Thanks!

[@jenmurrayxo]

Thanks for watching with me and thank you for your service 🙏

[@BaldybynatureFpv]

The scene notifying the mother gets me every time !!That was one of the most powerful scenes in the whole movie even though it was short.

[@jenmurrayxo]

Ya they do so much with such a small scene with no dialogue, very powerful 😢

[@thornie123]

Man every time he says, “tell me I lead a good life, tell me that I’m a good man”… I choke up.

[@Jedi_Master_Obi-Wan_Kenobi66]

For me what hit really hard was when the guy the 2 American soldiers shot that were surrendering at the D-Day sequence were actually Czech, probably conscripted by the Third Reich (something Germany did with many of the nation's it conquered) They were actually saying something along the lines of " I'm Czech, I didn't kill anyone, please don't shoot"

[@marvinsarracino116]

Doing the rewatch for ya Jen!❤ Man this movie still hits me hard in the feels! 😔 Thanks for recommending the rewatch Jen 👍🏻

[@helpmefixthis9117]

Watching and caring for my mom for every second of everyday for three months , watching her go from normal to taking her last breath is even worse in my opinion..At least these guys all died with honor and all relatively quickly.. I still have PTSD from it ..I relive moments.Some moments that would make your skin crawl which I won't talk about unless you asked ..Let's just say dying is a extremely brutal & slow process..More than I ever could have imagined..

[@2104dogface]

FYI-The Tiger Tank that they attacked with Sticky Bombs is now in FL (been in the U.S. for awhile on the east (MD/PA) coast doing WW2 reenacments/Airshows)and getting work done if not already up and running with a fresh paint job, fully firing 88 main gun, engine and the frame on the back was redone as for the movie it was just made with plywood. and will be back up and running soon.

[@meminustherandomgooglenumbers]

The British also have a real Tiger in running condition at some sort of museum. Every once in awhile they take it out and drive it around a small track for a crowd of spectators. The British soldiers would complain about how noisy their own tanks were. The running joke was you could hear a British tank coming a mile away, but you couldn't hear a German tank until you saw it come around the corner.

[@johannesvalterdivizzini1523]

Yeah, I've seen it at a WWII reenactment close up. It looks convincing enough, but is also smaller than an actual Tiger tank, as the chasis is a Soviet T34.

[@derekweiland1857]

Fury is a great WWII movie. Boyd "Bible" Swan: Wait until you see it. The new guy, Norman: See what? Boyd "Bible" Swan: What a man can do to another man.

[@mikeortiz6008]

I remember watching this movie while I was stationed at Fort Sill in Oklahoma and I thought being a soldier at that time how I would handle things and I didnt think I would do well of course 3 years later 9/11 came and I was sent to Iraq and Afghanistan and I spent the next 6 and a half years in and out of my share of shootouts of course nothing like this war but I did end up getting hurt by an rpg that left me in a wheelchair but the brothers I had that day saved me by the bravery they had to get me out of there. I always daily pray for those men because even though I was hurt I am with my family and I would have done the same for them. I had a captain tell me once there are no cowards in war I dont know if that is true but in my case there were not. Jen your reaction was exactly what its supposed to be your own because everyone reacts differently you never know how to act till you watch it or are in it. Thank you Jen.

[@jenmurrayxo]

Thanks Mike. Thanks for sharing your story and for your service 🙏 Can't imagine what that's like 🌹

[@mikeortiz6008]

@@jenmurrayxo Thank you Jen your truly great at your reactions.

[@michaelgreskamp1093]

Jen - you are a credit to your generation understanding WW2 and the sacrafices that were made. Too many don't know how WW2 was pivitol to the freedom we and other countries have today. It's a difficult movie but believe it one that evert high school student should see to give them an accurate depiction of the hell war brings.

[@Buskieboy]

Interestingly, James Doohan, aka Scotty from Star Trek was with the Canadian contingent at Juno Beach. He lost his right ring finger to a machine gun. He hides it a lot, but shouldn't because he should be proud of it. If you watch him in some ST scenes you can catch a glimpse of it. He was part of a group of D-Day survivors that gave Steven Spielberg an award for the most realistic and honest depiction of the D-Day landings. They said it was very close to what it was like.

[@DEWwords]

"Earn this" is for every audience member sitting watching this in a free world.

[@FM-kl7oc]

3:33 The two people surrendering are Czech soldiers, they're speaking Czech -- not German. Czechoslovakia fought against Germany, but many Czechs were captured and given the ultimatum to either fight for the German side, or be killed.

[@meminustherandomgooglenumbers]

They're not really actual Czech soldiers, rather they're Czechs who were forced into the German army.

[@JoeBurlas]

Thanks for honoring the memory of those who actually fought in those battles. My dad and grandfather are both buried in Arlington. Sometimes it seems like people forget but this was really nice, even if it wasn't the easiest movie for you to watch. Also, thanks for entertaining me at work. Keep it up!

[@jenmurrayxo]

Thanks to your family for their bravery 🌹

[@jimmysmith5418]

18:17 Here’s a fun fact actor Matt Damon (Private Ryan) when he was talking to Captain Miller, about the barn story, that scene alone is entirely improvised. Actor Matt Damon just came up of the story and director Steven Spielberg said to him “just come up with something and will use it in the movie.” and so he did.

[@davidjacobs3275]

The US Navy has a Guided Missile Destroyer, USS The Sullivans (DDG-68), named after the Sullivan brothers. The Sullivan brothers were five brothers from Waterloo, Iowa who served together on the light cruiser USS Juneau. They were all killed in action in the Naval battle of Guadalcanal, November 13th, 1942.

[@JimmieRayGiboney]

4.9K Thumbs Up + Mine! 👍 You're welcome, and thanks. 😊 Notes: I point out Vin Diesel being in the movie as a habit, because of an English friend who liked this movie but claimed to not like Vin Diesel movies his character in "Pitch Black" allowed Claudia Black's character to eaten alive! Since he fell in love with her as an avid viewer of "Farscape" he didn't take it very well. He ejected the videocassette and slammed it down very hard! His default position from then on was that VD's movies must all be "crap"! Because of that, I forget about Nathan Fillion being in it! Jen, you did speak enough. Your commentary was like a melancholy sports play-by-play annoucer, but I appreciated it. Why? Because it is a nice change of pace for me to get the female perspective, albeit not all guys react the same. 😮 As for this movie's impact? Well, it impacted even the lives of fictional characters because their writers saw the movie. Even comedy-action series such as "V.I.P. - Valerie Irons Protection" felt obligated to acknowledge this movie and how it affected the popular culture afterward. By the way! So many people thought that the old man was Tom Hanks' character and were quite surprised to learn it was Matt Damon's titular character!

[@mr.a8315]

Great job, Private Murray! I cried with you. *hugs* ♥

[@Adam_Le-Roi_Davis.]

I'm here doing a rewatch for you, Jen.

[@JamesMPalmer]

I saw this in the theater. The opening scene where they landed on the beach was so intense & realistic. The movie itself was LOUD, but the audience was dead silent. The silence was DEEP, you know what I mean? You could almost touch it, it was so pervasive. The impact of that scene could not be overstated on it's realism, or it's impact on people. People were crying & somber in the theater, watching what happened. IMHO, I think this movie should be watched in colleges & high schools when it gets around veterans day, or other such days, in order to help educate people about war, those who serve and what they went through. So they might get SOME idea of what it was like. Because, even though later on it was it's own set up, it was still quite real in a lot of places & story line. Great impact. Still gets me in the feels.

[@muchpeacemuchlove]

In times of peace, sons bury their fathers - in times of war, fathers bury their sons - Herodotus

[@martinbraun1211]

You can't go wrong with a Tom Hanks movie!

[@jenmurrayxo]

Omg Tom Hanks is a legend

[@rdevries3852]

@@jenmurrayxo If you like Tom Hanks and appreciate movies based on history, you should try watching Apollo 13. Excellent movie.

[@roxannekean6025]

This movie was so realistic, that combat veterans had to get up and leave. The story is fiction, but was based on a true story of 5 Brothers who all went down on the same ship. They were the Sullivan brothers, and their mother got 5 telegrams. They lived on a farm, and their neighbors, who lived a quarter mile down the road, could hear her screaming for hours. Never forget that freedom isn't free.

[@sampsonbaba8800]

The accuracy of it was so real former veterans left the cinema watching it

[@JimmieRayGiboney]

12:13 As you play the original "Call of Duty" set during WW2, you get the feeling that the game developers saw this movie and "Band of Brothers" if you have also seen them. (That's probably why each production doesn't have a video game tie-in😮 to think of it. 🤔) I played that game so much that it was like a second life to me. My trigger finger used the computer mouse too much, though. Now I have Tendinopathy, AKA "Tendonitis"! Later on I also got Arthritis.

[@mako88sb]

Very well done. As others have mentioned your genuine sincerity is much appreciated. This movie did a fantastic job of showing how bad Omaha was but there are some inaccuracies. For one thing the style of bunkers shown in the movie is way off. The Germans took advantage of the terrain and built, placed & camouflaged the bunkers in a way that made them very difficult to make out from the sea. Even the troops had issues with that. One book I read was Harold Baumgarten’s D-Day Survivor. Along with what I mentioned already, the Germans used a better grade gunpowder that significantly reduced muzzle flash and gun smoke. He wrote that they seldom returned fire simply because they didn’t know where the enemy fire was coming from. There’s a guy with a KZbin channel called History Underground and he did a lot of videos on the Normandy beaches including of course, Omaha. He does an excellent job and you can easily see the difference between the movie and the actual bunkers.

[@sebjones1566]

My Grandfather was Royal Air Force Pilot flying Mosquitos "Fighter/Bomber". Flew over Normandy, conducting bombing and gun run operstions on the German positions on D-DAY+1 and onwards mainland Europe.

[@h.donnellgrayiii4276]

Everyone cries when they see this the first time - so don't feel bad. Bless your heart ❤️

[@nationaltrails9585]

On D-Day, the 3rd Canadian Division landed on Juno Beach in Normandy with allied forces. Though not a box office success, I suggest reacting to Flag of Our Fathers from 2006 for some representation of the WWII in the Pacific. My Dad went to the Pacific. If you want to go back to 1946, There's The Best Years of Our Lives, a film about three returning WWII veterans. Always Remember and Never Forget.

[@jenmurrayxo]

Oh I am definitely interested in seeing a Canadian perspective 🇨🇦 Your dad must be very brave 🌹

[@nationaltrails9585]

@@jenmurrayxo Thank you for your comment. There is that reality of a Veteran and their legacy, what became of them after the war, their family, relatives, friends and what truths they are remembered by. I believe both cited films touch upon that. Thanks Again. :)

[@michaeljohnson8235]

No matter how many times I watch it I get choked up. Thanks for posting, I enjoy your channel 😀

[@jenmurrayxo]

Thanks Michael! 👍

[@SanJoseBob]

One of the “Greatest Movies Ever!” The Movies Tom Hanks has done! Private Ryan, Forrest Gump, The Green Mile, Castaway, Philadelphia, Apollo 13, the Man is “Bank”! The true story of 4 brothers who all died in WWII are the “Sullivan Bros.” and yes, now they won’t allow Brothers to all serve at the same time. I’ve had Veterans tell me that that opening scene on DDay is the most realistic ever!……. SanJoséBob

[@bauhaus1000_PoetryinMotion]

I remember watching this in a theater and that opening scene was intense! God bless all of those brave soldiers who landed on the shore that day. Thanks for your movie reaction. Liked and SUBSCRIBED!

[@8JFJK8]

Greatest war films ever: Saving Private Ryan, Das Boot, and 1917. My personal favorites. Thanks for the reaction 😁

[@HAYAOLEONE]

Peckinpah's 'cross of iron' is pretty cool too.

[@davidjacobs3275]

James Doohan, Scotty in Star Trek TOS, is missing a finger. You can only tell in a few episodes, they hid it well. Doohan lost it on Juneau Beach on D-Day. He served with the Canadian Army

[@johannesvalterdivizzini1523]

(Juno, not Juneau)🤓

[@paulolive1973]

Jen, whatever you have on your list, make sure you react to Band of Brothers. It's a masterpiece!!! BTW, Spielberg and T. Hanks produced it. Simply amazing!

[@actadiurna6733]

I appreciate your subdued responses, unlike so many reaction videos where the person either babbles incessantly or chews the scenery.

[@ronalddobis6782]

I was born in 1958 so I had uncle's who fought in this war (my Dad was too young but he served in Korea). None were at D-Day but they did see action. They never talked about it. It wasn't until my one uncle's funeral decades later that I found out that he had been shot and had received a Purple Heart.

[@jenmurrayxo]

It must be so hard for vets to talk about what they went through. I can't even imagine 😢