Saving Private Ryan (1998) FIRST TIME WATCHING // Reaction & Commentary // Oh my...

Head to squarespace.com/shanellericcio to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code SHANELLERICCIO
This week it's my first time watching SAVING PRIVATE RYAN! holy wow -- this was hard -- but ultimately so so stunning! do you agree?!
00:00 - Intros
02:23 - Thank you Squarespace!!
04:08 - Start Watch
36:15 - Start Wrap up
_____________________________________________________________________
PATREON INFORMATION!!
See my full-length reaction on Patreon:
/ shanellericcio
Business Inquiries: [e-mail]
*AS ALWAYS* I do NOT claim ownership of any clips used in this watch. Used for entertainment purposes only

[@zooks527]

When his wife walks up and reads Miller's name without recognition, you realize that Ryan has never told the story to his family. He's just dealt with it on his own.

[@sahirdamani1264]

Oh wow I didn’t ever realize that 😢

[@tarfful2173]

Jesus that’s heavy, keeping that to yourself for 60+ years

[@Johnnyjonas274]

And that generation did not go to therapists. They just suffered and sucked it up

[@the.seagull.35]

Woah... Thank you for pointing this out. I can't believe he never told her this.

[@brianeleighton]

​@@the.seagull.35 How does that conversation go with a civilian who has never seen combat? "Hey honey, the only reason I am alive and with you today is because a guy named Captain Miller and eight other guys died because I insisted we stay and hold a bridge instead of just leaving with them." I don't think so. Combat vets hate talking about combat...especially with non-combat vets and civilians.

[@toecutterjenkins]

My grandfather was at d day, as a kid he was the biggest strongest man I knew. In my 20s i watched this movie with him . That d day scene was the first and only time I ever saw him cry. He never spoke about the war until the last few months of his life. He seemed proud of what he did but didn't want to every glorify it.

[@kevinramsey417]

Couldn't be easy being a vet and going to the movies to re-live the worst day of your life. My grandaddy wept too.

[@liljenborg2517]

My grandpa was in the Philippines. He never told us anything, except that his buddy was the bazooka guy and let him fire the bazooka once on a test range. That was all the war stories we ever got.

[@jessharvell1022]

my grandfather was too infirm by that point to see this in theaters with us, but he likewise never talked about the war, except for a few humorous anecdotes. (like being hungover for the battle of the bulge.) felt bad after he passed that i hadnt tried to talk to him about it, but much like tom hanks and the rosebushes, i realize now that he thought what he went through over there had to be for him alone.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

unreal, you just had me consider that maybe this film -- though painful, allowed many vets to finally talk about it. So illuminating

[@douglascampbell9809]

I knew a man who was on Omaha Beach on D Day. I was in my late 30s when I was there when he watched this movie. (he was a good friends Grandfather) All he said was the water was a different shade of red. This was the first time I knew he was there and that he had even been in the war. Had I known him better I might has asked him if he would be offended if I asked him a few questions about his time in the Army back then. My family was a military family. Mom was a Navy WAVE who fixed PBY patrol aircraft on the West coast. My Uncle was on an LST in the Pacific along with a first cousin who was infantry also in the Pacific.

[@albinorhino6]

When Hanks says “earn it”, he’s talking to Ryan, but he’s also talking to us, the viewers. We have to earn the life that has been granted us, based on the sacrifice that so many made.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

yes! wow! love that -- I didn't do the double read on it, but you're absolutely right!

[@RichardDicksondlyrch68]

And I'd argue that the washed-out American flag as the final shot is Spielberg saying that we haven't earned it. We're now a shadow of these men.

[@mikeaninger7388]

I’ve said this very thing in other reactions. Live a life that earns as if someone died for it, because they did.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@RichardDicksondlyrch68 Now that there is actually _sympathy_ out there for Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan .... crazy.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@strike4able Yes--Germany should have known better than to attack its peaceable neighbours

[@sca88]

There's a reason Jackson (from Tennessee) is the sniper. Most of the great snipers in history, American and worldwide were rural country boys and even girls (Russia, Finland). They grew up hunting and firing rifles since they were very young.

[@karlhaber1904]

There were a lot more families who had multiple sons on the battlefield back then. My grandpa was one of 12 boys. The oldest son was too old & the youngest one was too young to serve, the rest of 10 of them served in either The Pacific or in Europe in the US military, mostly army during World War II. That whole generation of men were something really special. My grandpa got out of the army went back to work the oil fields in Kansas till he retired and then still kept working. He would build bicycles from parts for boys in his little town that didn't have fathers & treated everyone he ran into like he had known them for 100 years. This movie is always made me think of my Grandpa and the men of his generation, the women too because the women from that area were also really valuable gems.

[@karlhaber1904]

I saw this movie in Dolby, at a theater in El Paso Texas in 1998. I served in the US Military and at one point in my career, I was an M60 machine gunner. My job was to provide fire for my squad and support them will they deployed and then they would cover me as I repositioned. The opening scene made my Adrenal Glands ache, actually hurt, because the machine guns used for the special effects sounded just like the one I used to fire. It was a hard scene for two reasons, one because I was seeing American Soldiers getting killed wholesale, but, also because I had a I had a relative degree of empathy for the German Machine Gunner who did EXACTLY what I would have done, if enemy landing crafts were coming, which is, to put my sights right in the dead center of the door to the landing Cafe as it showed up and the second it dropped its door just squeeze on the trigger and maybe Rock slightly to the right &to the left, but mostly, turn the people getting out of the landing craft into casualties. Again, it was a hard thing to watch.

[@kevinfhaney]

yep my dad was a Point Man in Nam

[@legionkahn]

If you liked this you need to watch the Band of Brothers show HBO did. Spielberg and Hanks were the executive producers and it follows a group of soldiers from training all the all thru D-Day to the end of the war. It is the spiritual sequel to this movie and feels very much like it in so many places. Plus it starts each episode with the real soldiers talking about the events. Hanks even wrote and directed some episodes.

[@matthewdunham1689]

So true

[@evanmayo9037]

I personally love the Pacific so much more, it’s show how gruesome that theater of war was which usually gets over shadowed by the European Theater.

[@TheWindcrow]

Band of Brothers reaction. Great show by Speilberg and Hanks.

[@Deathbird_Mitch]

It is basically the sequel to this movie. After making this movie Spielberg and Hanks decided to collaborate on delving deeper into the 101st Airborne during WWII.

[@lawrencewestby9229]

BoB is ten hour-ish episodes. It’s a commitment to watch but it is an amazing piece of filmmaking that was given the budget required to make it so. It also starred mainly unknown actors, many of whom went on to famous careers.

[@jimberglund6979]

Fun fact: Stephen Spielberg excluded Matt Daemon from the real "boot camp" the other actors had to go through to prepare for the role so that all the other actors would resent him for it which would carry over into their performances.

[@kevinramsey417]

I know, it's very Kubrick. I wonder what would have happened if Matt showed up anyway.

[@CChissel]

@@kevinramsey417 it’s very Spielberg. He puts the actors basically in real situations as similar to their role as possible. He’s almost killed several actors. It’s pretty fucked up

[@the.seagull.35]

@@kevinramsey417 People always call out Kubrick for being hard on actors, but a lot of directors do similar things, depending on the movie. He didn't do it with every film. He was also one of the greats of all time.

[@jp3813]

@@the.seagull.35 James Cameron comes to mind.

[@johndix4604]

Late to the show but every American should have to watch. My father in-law was in Vietnam with family members back to WW 1 and said the opening is as real as any-movie made to date. Awesome movie and the whole thing was made with every detail made as accurate as possible with the assistance and advisors on set.

[@johnlisiesky5337]

I can still remember seeing this in the theater. When the movie ended there was dead silence, everyone just quietly pick up there stuff and slowly left the theater. There was not a dry eye in the theater. Leaving quietly was a unanimous individual decision as a show of respect for what our men went through.

[@tool46296]

Me too. Saw it with my wife and we were just processing what we just watched. I remember seeing a couple older gentlemen still in their seats crying their eyes out. It was an experience. People don’t realize that when this movie came out there has never been a war movie so graphic before. This hit hard.

[@jaredragland4707]

Same. There were a few sobs outside the theatre, but we all stood and watched the credits in silence. Most of us had just been informed we were deploying to Kosovo that week.

[@macdreidle1]

Nicely said

[@sandrajewitt6050]

Watching this in theatre was intense. All the visuals and sounds were bigger. The entire audience was silent, somber, overwhelmed.

[@jonm1114]

Same experience here. The theater was jam packed, but when the movie ended there was pretty much absolute silence as the crowd slowly made their way out. I have never seen that reaction from a theater audience before or since.

[@curtisbailey78]

2 main things stick out for me about this movie: 1. The Ramelle sequence. I know everyone crows about the D-Day opening and I understand why, but Ramelle is *so* complicated and it's insane how well it's established that when the chaos begins, you know exactly who's where, what they're trying to do, what the stakes are, etc. It's stunning. 2. Hanks' speech about how he doesn't know how he'll be able to go home and tell his wife about "days like today". To me, that's the center of the movie - the choices and moral dilemmas forced upon these men by their circumstances are simply impossible. That scene hits me like a ton of bricks.

[@garycrow1943]

I cry 3 times every time I watch this movie. When the mother collapses on her porch, when Ryan says he is with the only brothers he has left, and when Ryan asks his wife if he is a good man. Every single time.

[@DannyBoy9227]

That and when Miller tells Ryan to “earn this”

[@stevesilsby5288]

You are not alone in that.

[@frigginjerk]

Yeah, the mother... you wouldn't think an actor who's in one brief scene, with no lines, who we don't even really get a good look at could have such a gut-wrenching role.

[@garycrow1943]

@@frigginjerk Destroys me

[@Melancthon7332]

@@frigginjerk It's precisely because we don't see her, and don't hear her - her cinematic anonymity allows her to become all mothers, not just Mrs. Ryan of Iowa. She isn't so much a character as the pure emotion of the loss of your children.

[@markhenry8669]

54 years ago my brother was killed in Vietnam he was 20 years old I was 9years old. I still remember that Sunday afternoon that TWO Marine Corps officers and My pastor came to the house to inform my mother that my brother was killed in action My pastor came to the house to inform my mother that my brother was killed in action. He received a bronze star with valor and a purple heart. Please keep doing this you are GREAT at your friend Mark.

[@leeswhimsy]

"How am I supposed to live my life after that?" - Happily, freely, enjoying it to the fullest, taking none of it for granted....Because so many fought to give us the right to live that way. I'm from a family where ALL the men from my generation and back are veterans, so I think I can say that this is how they feel. Just like Hanks' character said: Earn it. By living a good life.

[@BryanH63]

My Grandfather was on that beach on D-Day, he was an Army Ranger who received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for saving some of the men in his unit that day. As a family we went and watched this in the theatre and we all cried seeing the Hell he likely went through that day. Thank you for watching this and reacting the way that you did seeing it.

[@lethaldose2000]

Shanelle, 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.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

aw thank you!! This was an incredible film to catch on the channel ❤️

[@jkbughunt]

simp

[@kevinmoore2929]

​@@ShanelleRiccionot sure if anyone explained to you about the small banner at the Ryan's house. Each blue star represents a family member serving during war. After getting word about the three sons, the banner would be replace with two different ones. One with three gold stars, representing the sons who were KIA and one with a single blue star for James. Our Gold Star families should never be out of our thoughts.

[@iKvetch558]

Hi again, Shan... in reference to your question about prisoners on D-Day at 7:47... until they could secure the beachhead and create a safe area to guard prisoners, Allied troops were ordered not to take prisoners under any circumstances. In effect, pretty much all German troops that attempted to surrender on D-Day were shot instead of being taken into custody. Those two particular Germans were actually not German...the language that they were speaking was Czech, and they were saying that they were there against their will and had not fired their weapons at anybody. Spielberg put them in there purposefully to represent the many people that were taken from their home countries and forced to fight or work for the Nazis.🖖✌

[@axelschult5286]

Hmm... was there not a War Criminal Process after the War where the Americans killed a Bunch of German Soldiers that did the same at the Battle of the Bulge ??

[@StarShipGray]

@@axelschult5286 There were several inquests about such behaviors. Though it is good to know that the US had the best reputation for the treatment of German POWs of all the allies. Fewer died in our custody than in English, French and certainly Soviet custody.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

AHHH wow! So layered!!! they werent even German -- okay now I have to chew on that for this one. This movie just keeps unfolding for me, new elements are hitting me again and again

[@iKvetch558]

@@axelschult5286 What the Germans did in the Battle of the Bulge was not exactly the same. In that case, the Germans killed POWs that they already had custody of. To be sure, there were incidents where Americans killed POWs under the same circumstances as the Germans did, and most of those incidents were prosecuted. But there were other times, like D-Day, when it simply was not possible to keep prisoners safely, where they could not be guarded effectively, such as during airborne operations or amphibious landings.✌

[@ChicagoDB]

There is considerable dispute as to that…for starters, it would be an “illegal order”…no officer could give such an order nor could any soldier follow it, without violating the “Geneva Conventions”…did such killings occur? Absolutely…but as to whether it was “ordered”…not likely.

[@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.

[@youtmeme]

What??!?!?!

[@waynepurcell6058]

@@youtmeme Yeah. The soldier they let live after Wade died is the soldier that shoots Miller at the end. That's why Upham shoots him. The SS man that kills Mellish passes Upham on the stairwell because at one glance he can tell that Upham is basically a desk guy/pencil pusher in over his head/capacity and not a real threat. Upham shooting the guy that he himself asked mercy for is a statement of how one loses one's innocence when "shit gets real". Upham wasn't supposed to be a combat soldier, just a desk jockey/interpreter. The single bullet he fired killed the single enemy that he had spoken to eye to eye as a human being. People throw off on Upham, but he had to live the rest of his life knowing he caused some deaths through own fear and that he also killed a human that he had begged mercy for. In actuality he probably carried far more guilt and torment than Ryan ever did over the course of his life.

[@ianjenkins2008]

As a military veteran I cry at the start and end of this movie every time I watch it. Having lost friends in different combat situations this movie really hits home 😢😢😢

[@stevejette2329]

I was amazed how she seemed totally lacking in emotion. Lots of clinical analysis but very little emotion. "I'm so scared" stated as dry and void of vocal 'fear'. Most women cry A LOT.

[@shawnd507]

Spielberg knows how to do war movies. Schindlers List will F you up even more than Saving Private Ryan. Truly one of the most powerful moving movies I've ever seen.

[@kevinramsey417]

If she does Schindler, she's going to need to take a break to compress what she just saw. Spielberg went HAM with Private Ryan but with Schindler he showed no mercy and held nothing back. Thank God he did. Future generations need to know how bad things were under the Nasties.

[@jeffburnham6611]

I didn't get the same type of reaction from Schindler's List that I did from this movie.

[@ricksgamemisc10]

Schindler's List is one of the greatest movies I've ever seen - and never want to see again.

[@MzQTMcHotness]

Hey girl! So, I have 4 tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. I can confirm that after having experienced firefights, war scenes mean more to me than before I deployed. Can also confirm that the tactics used in this film are very close to actual tactics and the dialog and personalities are very much how service members are, even today. Fun fact! The company I work for worked on Ryan, Band of Brothers and The Pacific.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

WOW! Thanks for all this, the confirmation is super appreciated... and wow so those are def next on my list then ... :)

[@Nitebreed]

I too went to iraq and afganistan and somalia- and we did no beach landings and nothing to the scale of this- I was cassivac'd to a military hospital in Germany- the fire fights were scary but nothing like this- apart from the ied's

[@MzQTMcHotness]

@@Nitebreed TYFYS.

[@user-bl1xb8ox3i]

My grandad was a medic in the ww2. He never really talk about it but just a year before his passing, i got to listen to him talk about his horrors😢 as i interviewed him for a class project. He lived a happy life but at times he had his moments. RIP grandpa, just wanna say thank you and all the vets for sacrificing your today for our tomorrow❤

[@mikekay3313]

My wife and I took her Grandfather to the theater for his first time in almost 20 years at his request for this movie. He was one of the many that hit the beaches for those first few days and came back with a purple heart. He sat between us and I remember him clearly mumbling "Oh boy" within the first minutes of the movie. Imagine seeing it in the theater...much less your first time in a couple of decades with all of the sound and visual upgrades... We shared so much after that movie and I'll never forget it.. He did mention how much he loved the film and how accurate he thought most of it was even specifically mentioning the training they were given to fire weapons at the tank between their turret and their base. Your comments and observations hit home concerning Ryan retuning home and making a family. My kids wouldn't be on this planet today had our Grandfather not made it home as well. We still love and miss you Papa. God bless those who died AND survived this nightmare.

[@dennisgray9303]

Great review. I'm a retired vet with 3 combat tours in Vietnam. I watched this movie at the theater and saw 3-4 vets that were in the audience get up an leave during the first 10-15 minutes, the opening battle at Normandy.. A couple returned, several did not come back. It was a powerful movie and one of the most realistic war films I've ever seen.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

I dont think I coudl've sat through it if I were them... no way

[@mr.invisable6919]

Thank you Vet. It's not enough but, I can't not say it. Tell your story to someone. For the children's sake maybe we all learn something about the cost of freedom. God bless every veteran and loved ones that supported them.

[@aintsam9952]

I watched this when it first came out with my grandfather, a Korean War veteran, and was all about the action. After deploying to Afghanistan, I rewatched this and it was a lot harder to watch as a veteran understanding why Captain Miller and his team did what they did.

[@pete_lind]

There is 1962 movie , The Longest Day , its focus is on that Normandy attack and its point of view of all sides , most that period big name actors are in that movie and majority of them are themself WW 2 veterans , its not as gory , when its black & white , but it has great wide shots of the beach and taking a village .

[@alanholck7995]

@@pete_lind Jean a une longue moustache.

[@MikeB12800]

“People ask why I do it, I do it for the man fighting next to me” paraphrasing Black Hawk Down.

[@toddjackson3136]

My grandpa was a Korean War vet too. When he saw this he was asked if it was realistic. His eyes were misty as he said, "yep!". Then he stood up and walked out. When my cousin got back from Afghanistan my grandpa took him aside and talked to him for awhile. I think he and I are the only ones Grandpa really talked to about his time there. He had a lot packed in that he never fully delt with.

[@wilsonharp3340]

I saw this on opening night. Military brat here, and had been reading of how incredibly accurate the scenes were, especially the opening scenes for D-Day. Went with a buddy of mine, both of us very well-versed in WWII history. About 25% of the line were older men, WWII age, maybe Korean War veterans. Almost all men in line that night, and skewed much older, even for a Wednesday night crowd. As we stood in a unnervingly somber line to wait for the next showing, the prior showing audience walked past us. Tears were evident in almost all faces, and several WWII age men were being helped along by what looked like their sons. I will never forget there were two late teen girls, makeup absolutely streaking down their faces, sobbing uncontrollably as they walked past me. One of the said through her tears, "I only wanted to see it because Matt Damon was in it!" Oops. The theater was probably the quietest I have ever heard. I don't think anyone said a single word from the time the older James Ryan appeared on screen until the end credits. It was almost a reverential silence in the showing I was at. Very moving experience, and when I watch it again, I usually have to skip over the part where Wade dies. That part just affects me so much. And I became an immediate fan of Giovanni Ribisi due to that portrayal.

[@daxmorgan]

I saw this film when it released in the theatre. It was incredible, overwhelming. When it ended, there was nothing but silence and the sound of the audience sniffling. I honestly was moved to tears myself when I say an elderly woman escorting her husband out of the theatre who was so moved to tears that he was sobbing and leaning on her for support. The one thing I clearly remember was the flood of conflicting emotions I had about this film. The two strongest were a deep sense of pride and thankfulness for those men who serve and sacrifice so much for us, and an equally strong sense of shame for how much we take that for granted and do not appreciate what the blood of patriots like these men has paid for us to have.

[@procrastinator547]

The prisoners surrendering saying “look I washed for supper” are actually saying something like “don’t shoot, we’re Czech”. Many men from other countries were forced to fight under the nazis.

[@jeffburnham6611]

It's more accurate to say those people were conscripted to fight for Germany. Nazism implies dedication to the ideals of National Socialism. Not every German was a Nazi.

[@willbeonekenobi]

@@jeffburnham6611 I'm also pretty certain that not every Nazi was German also. I remember there being 'Volksdeutsche' (people whose language/culture and ancestry are of German Origin but aren't citizens of Germany) moved back to Germany to fight for Germany.

[@Deathbird_Mitch]

And they could have easily been POWed, but they shot them, probably held no actual allegiance to Germany. Meanwhile the German later who they didn't POW because they couldn't, they just let him go, came back to kill them.

[@thomasvlaskampiii6850]

Something I take from that scene is that war isnt black and white. It's a million shades of gray. By shooting them after they were obviously surrendering, that was technically a war crime

[@FinnMcRiangabra]

@@jeffburnham6611 Do you mean the Germany that was run by Nazis?? How is that not "being forced to fight under the Nazis"?

[@HalfBloodPrincess437]

Tom Hanks saying “earn this” on the bridge, imo he wasn’t just telling Ryan to earn it. He was telling us all to earn the sacrifices those men gave so that we may live free.

[@rustincohle2135]

America wasn't under any danger of being conquered by the Axis powers. But I get the sentiment.

[@dominicvioli7098]

@@rustincohle2135 not only was this line antagonistic and uncalled for it is also ignorant, uniformed and stupid. America was not in any danger, we were fighting a war on 2 fronts which could have possibly turned into 3 if the germans fell sooner to the soviets. We were attacked on American Soil. Our merchant ships, navy vessels and even civilian ships were being regularly tracked and attacked in the atlantic ocean. All of our closest allies in europe were being occupied with our closest allie britain barely hanging on. If the soviets had taken all of germany it's very likely they would have become to sole superpower with nuclear weapons. Germany had natural allies in south america meaning that after they had conquered europe they would have a base of operations directly to our southern border. To sit here and say America was never in any danger just to be a smart ass and p ut someone down.

[@lisathuban8969]

@@rustincohle2135 Er, NO. NO. NO. You must of seen a lot of movies about WWII and are just assuming things. I am old. My mother and grandparents lived through this time, and remembered it vividly. My father-in-law was an officer on a sub in the Pacific for four years and saw combat several times. He didn't like to talk about the war, as he had seen so many enemy soldiers die horribly since subs were not allowed to take Japanese prisoners. No, it wasn't "in the bag" for a long time, ESPECIALLY the first few years of the war, even after the American's entered. A few battles gone wrong and we would be living in a country divided between Japan and Germany. Germans would take the East coast, the Japanese would get the West. Don't assume it was a done deal and a breeze, it was a fight for survival.

[@garytyme9384]

Living free, now there is a picante sentiment.

[@lisathuban8969]

@@garytyme9384 You'd rather have Nazis? This is about as free as it gets. What other freedoms are you missing?

[@lukesmusic]

I saw this in theaters right when it came out. Let me tell you that the surround sound made it feel like bullets were zipping right past my head. I was absolutely physically drained after the D-Day beach scene. Unbelievable film making.

[@SolidAvenger1290]

Thank you for your reaction & comments. Two years after this great film came out, my grandfather passed away from cancer in 2000. He enlisted in 1942 (age 20-21) & served in the 5th Ranger Battalion that trained in Tennesee. Eventually shipped out to Britain in late 1943/early 1944 in preparation for Operation Overlord. Trained in Special Cliff Operations in the Highlands of Scotland in early 1944 alongside his fellow Rangers (plus other Allied/UK Special forces) before D-Day. On June 6th, 1944, he subsequently climbed the cliffs of Point du Hoc. He had to carry his BAR into battle in rough terrain under heavy fire, search & eventually destroy the German Howitzers that greatly saved thousands of his fellow countrymen on the beaches. As history goes, the Rangers had to traverse miles of the French countryside for the repositioned guns after hours of naval & air bombardment prior to the invasion forced the Germans back from Point du Hoc. My grandfather was one man out of 75 men (out of 225 Rangers, 67% of the unit were wounded or killed) who was able to reach the top of Point du Hoc & keep on fighting beyond the Longest Day. Played a part of Operation Cobra in the breakout out of Normandy. Into the battle of Saint-Lo in July 1944, he got wounded when a piece of mortar shrapnel hit his leg (from his calf to above his ankle) & took him out of action. The 29th Infantry Battalion alongside another American division with small groups of Army Rangers (intermix of the remaining 2nd & 5th Ranger Battalions) took massive losses from German artillery destroying the town. My grandfather would have met his end at Saint-Lo, but thankfully he had a guardian angel over him. Over the years, I was told by my father & my aunt that after he got wounded, my grandfather was saved by a Sherman Tank Crew from the 747th Independent tank division that came to support the 29th Infantry division to take ruins of Saint-Lo & were attempting to gather all the wounded GIs during the course of the battle. It's still very unclear how many were saved on that day alongside my grandfather, but as a result of them saving lives, the Sherman Tank Commander was the only casualty while gathering up the wounded men under heavy fire. Due to their courageous actions, my grandfather lived, was able to go home to raise a family, & eventually serve as a police officer (SGT) for nearly 25 years until he retired in 1978. He got the Bronze Star for his heroic actions on D-Day & 2 Purple Hearts in the Fall of 1944. In both civilian life & his long days in law enforcement, he had to take small amounts of morphine (inside a capsule attached to a sliver neck chain around his neck) every day due to the wounds he received in the war until his last days on this earth. A reminder of the sacrifices he made in the defense of America, her people & the liberation of Europe. My grandfather's mother was a German immigrant & orphan who came to America in the 1890s when her homeland (early German Empire) was facing some social destabilization. My grandfather had no ill will against the majority of the German troops he fought against in the Liberation of France. He always respected the Germans (the Wehrmacht/cousins) for their military leadership, combat efficiency & historical discipline. He absolutely hated the Nazi idealogy, who only represented Hitler & a few thousand people in the SS divisions that committed the Holocaust. Like everyone else who first watched the movie, I began to truly understand & greatly appreciate the sacrifices my grandfather & the millions of soldiers made in WWII. That includes the common German Soldier (non-SS/Nazi) who fought not for Hitler, but for their family & their country. This film will always be one of my favorite films about WWII despite some of its flaws. I always got emotional at the end of the film when Miller tells Ryan that "Earn this" & it cuts to Ryan asking his wife if he was a good man. My grandfather never ever saw Saving Private Ryan in the last years of his life (did like the movie The Longest Day), but like most veterans, he would have attempted to avoid seeing the horrors of war again. I am immensely grateful to have known him before his passing & I am proud to be his grandson. This is a story I like to share with those who have first watched this film and Band of Brothers on KZbin. If I had to create a title to describe his WWII story it would be called... "Liberation at the Gates"

[@robertdurant1595]

Rangers Lead The Way.

[@rotcivgaleano3704]

Rangers always lead the way and thank you for sharing this part of our history and the sacrifice of your grandfather God bless your family and the others who have laid their own lives for freedom bless you all 🙏

[@shawnmcx482]

Tom Hanks shakiness is what they then called "shell shock". Today we call it PTSD.

[@poolhall9632]

Capt Miller’s breakdown is a great reminder that most of our grandfathers never got the mental health care they needed when they came home.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

I was trying to nail it!!

[@mena94x3]

@@poolhall9632 Captain Miller had a breakdown?

[@mena94x3]

@@poolhall9632 - Yeah, he allowed himself a moment of feeling his emotions, letting everything that had been bottled up leak for a moment, but I wouldn’t characterize it as a _breakdown._ I agree past generations didn’t address their mental health Fromm PTSD, though.

[@alanhilton3611]

My grandfather was at Dunkirk and some of the stories that he would tell was equally incredible and horrifying, he got a medal for saving a frigate with another fellow by unclogging the propellers from seaweed the ship was saving troops that were coming off the beach when it's propellers became clogged with seaweed.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

WOW -- i could never imagine ever having to live through anything like that!

[@vorbis4860]

@@ShanelleRiccio If you ever watch a Dunkirk production, check the 2004 one. It's far better than the 2017 one, but it's a completely different style.

[@makingtechsense126]

My great uncle died shortly after the D-day invasion. In the weeks that followed the beach landings there was a terrible friendly-fire incident where several allied bombers dropped their bombs on allied troops. My great uncle died in that incident. War is chaotic. This movie shows it better than almost any other. Thanks for the review.

[@pnwcruiser]

I saw this shortly after it was released and went in thinking Tom Hanks wouldn't be able to pull the leading role in a war movie off. He was the "Sleepless in Seattle" and "Forrest Gump" guy in my mind (very good to extraordinary movies). Wow, was I wrong. Fantastic performance from Hanks, as always.

[@portland-182]

You should try 'Band of Brothers' a 10 part TV series that used all the research and assets from this movie. FUBAR was so well known that eventually a wrecking tool was named after it.

[@davidludwig1492]

As soon as I saw Shanelle Riccio reacting/reviewing this film I knew I had to subscribe. Your meticulous director's vision is what drew me to this channel. Plus, your smile and laugh are nice, too. Please keep doing what you do.

[@hulkslayer626]

"Every man I kill... the farther away from home I feel" One of the greatest lines.

[@3275Dan]

When Speilberg did the first showing of this there were WW2 veterans in the audience, alot of them walked out. When Speilberg asked them why, they said it was to real as he had managed to get it spot on to what it was actually like for the guys. We can't begin to imagine the horror the guys faced when landing on the beaches on D-day but this comes pretty close.

[@jordanbooth4470]

One of the best parts of this film: the scene with Cpt Miller and Pvt Ryan before the final battle, the story that Damon tells about his brothers is almost entirely improvised, he was merely recollecting part of a story from his past and inserting the names of the Ryan Bros characters into the story. Phenomenal acting.

[@Trapper50cal]

It's important to know that what we saw in this movie are memories behind the eyes of so many veterans that sacrificed so much in order to protect what we enjoy everyday and sometimes take for granted. I wish I had recognized that while my grandfather was still alive, I wish I could have exhibited a more knowing thankfulness to him and for his service.

[@tragicdeyz2641]

I'm sure he loved and was proud of you and that was all he needed.

[@SPEEDPAINTER1]

I like to think that when Captain Miller tells Ryan "Earn this. Earn it."--- He's really telling all of us. Amazing movie.

[@brianbausch9240]

I saw this in the theater and I made it a point to go alone. My grandfather served in WWII and he always took great pride in what his generation did. I sat in the theater for at least 10 minutes after this movie was over trying to process everything and compose myself. This movie should be shown in every high school, every year so our youngsters understand what the words sacrifice, heroism, and bravery truly mean!

[@joepowell7025]

I saw it in the theatre in Sydney, Australia and there was literally not a dry eye in the audience after it ended and the lights were turned on. It was extremely powerful.

[@ericschnellman962]

Excellent review. One inaccuracy was showing the sniper pulling the trigger. He jerked it rather than squeezed it which a sniper should not do. Also, my father-in-law was in the 101st from D-Day on. The 20mm flak cannon featured in one scene was what injured him during Market-Garden. It made things painfully real for Jan to see how her father was injured. He went on to get wounded again at Bastogne and a bronze star.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

wow what an incredible story, knowing how real this was makes it super sobering for me. I was in a total funk all night after :(

[@merkitten953]

My grampa was in Market Garden. He went tons of places & did a ton of stuff in the war, was basically a certified badass. Then he came home & became a rug salesman, dad, and the best grampa a girl could ever have. Never heard hom raise his voice at my Gram, me, anyone. Always hsd time to play Legos with me. I miss him.

[@jameseverest518]

My father was a DDay veteran. After I saw the movie I told him to not see it. He eventually did see the movie and said that he found the experience healing. He said that the movie was really how it was. Weeks later I met a man who grew up in Normandy France. I told him about my father. He told me to tell my father "Thank you very much". When I passed this along to my father he cried. One of the very few times I had ever seen him cry. Years later I was able to visit Normandy and the cemetery in the opening scene of the movie. A friend gathered a jar of sand for me to give to my father. For the rest of his life, that jar was never more than an arm's length away. When my father died we added some of the sand to his ashes. There is a scene on the beach where a soldier with USN on his helmet tells Cpt Miller to move away from an obstacle because he is going to blow it. That is what my father did on DDay. He was a member of NCDU, Naval Combat Demolition Unit, (which later became the Navy SEALS), they were landed minutes ahead of the invasion and tasked with blowing up the obstacles. They landed at low tide. The tide on Omaha comes in very fast. My son and I counted 400 paces from the low water line to the first cover on the beach. One other item. About the use of morphine ... one for pain ... two for eternity

[@wranglerboi]

My dad was involved in the D-Day landings. He was only 23 at the time. He never talked about it. When I was 13 (and he/we were stationed in Germany), we made a trip to Normandy. The cemetery in the film is the actual cemetery where many of those who died that day are buried. At one end of the cemetery is a long wall that lists the names of all those buried there. I will never forget standing there with my dad as he glanced across that list before finding the names of some of the men he had known. It was the only time in my whole life that I ever saw my dad cry as he recounted what that day was like! Even though he has now long gone home to be with his creator, I still have nothing but awe and gratitude for what he--and so many others--did that day to stand firm against tyranny. Oh, how much I wish we still had that same fortitude and determination today to preserve the nation we call home that is again being threatened with tyranny.

[@Poss1]

I'm glad to see this. An incredible film, I'm especially interested in sharing your take on it. It unfolds as a story with so many through-lines of differing scale that I'm always excited to revisit it. Your watch is sure to be rewarding, for both of us. Here we go!

[@Shovelheadtard]

"Band of Brothers" mini-series created by Tom Hanks/Speilberg is another powerhouse in this same visual style. Possibly even more emotional though as you get to know the characters even more.

[@danpurdy32]

That and while this is a fiction, Band of Brothers was a retelling of the real thing. BoB is hands-down the best and most important miniseries ever made.

[@L1VE3V1L]

totally surpasses Saving Private Ryan, but that's not to detract from how good it is. It's excellent and a good opener for Band of Brothers, which is happening at exactly the same time just in another area, fairly nearby.

[@aselene8890]

Even as a grown ass man this movie has me in tears, you couldn't have chosen a better movie to evoke those emotions. Everything about the movie is so authentic, so accurate, so on point and lastly so brilliant, it's no wonder it won Oscars. Arguably one the best if not the best war film ever made. Spielberg also did Schindlers List which is also emotionally charged. Some other older war films also are brilliant...The Longest Day, A Bridge to Far, Battle of Britain, 633 Squadron. Yes they have ropey effects by todays standards but the story telling and accuracy is no less than on point and terrific entertainment in their own right. Edit bit - Black Hawk Down is another war movie but set in the 90'smodern military and expertly done by Ridley Scott. A great watch.

[@michaelvincent4280]

You need to watch "We Shall Not Grow Old" for a different war which will now strike you just yesterday. Astonishing.

[@williamhamilton6643]

I'm old enough that my father and an uncle were part of D-Day. My father was a Lt. on one of the Navy heavy cruisers that went up and down the coast shelling German gun emplacements prior to the invasion, and for the week after June 6 in support of the troops as they worked their way inland. My uncle was in the Army and on the beach on D-Day, but I'm not sure which wave. They may have shared experiences with each other, but they didn't say much to the family. My uncle would show us kids the shrapnel in his leg that was still coming out in the mid-1960's to our amazement, but that was it. My father lived to be 100 and spent his later years recounting his wartime experiences and writing his memoirs. It was then that I learned of the following. You asked the question how did they clean up the beach with all the dead bodies. Well, the portable morgues they set up on land were so overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of dead that they started sending the bodies of the fallen servicemen to the Navy ships for burial at sea. My father's ship, the USS Quincy (CA-71), buried 200 of our serviceman. All crew that weren't on duty were required to attend all the burials. It was only after witnessing 200 burials that he realized how horrific things had been on the beach. He admitted that the crew had tears were running down their eyes as they stood at attention, so gut-wrenching was the experience. There were dozens of other Navy ships doing the same thing. The movie opened with the scene at the American cemetery in France, but as overwhelming as that field of grave markers is, there are thousands more that were buried at sea. Saving Private Ryan is a masterpiece, but it can only approximate, not duplicate, what it was really like on that fateful day, or the months that followed. The fact our schools no longer see fit to even teach our history sickens me. Most people under 40 can't even say who we fought in WWII. It is the utmost disrespect to be forgotten and these men who shaped our country and our future deserved better for the sacrifices they made!

[@williamhamilton6643]

To clarify something I said above, the KIA sent to Navy ships included those who died as the battle continued inland for 4 or 5 more days after the June 6th landing. I didn't want to overstate the June 6th number of KIA buried at sea. The Navy was still able to provide support and hit inland targets 7 or 8 miles from the beach as the battle progressed. Since those KIA were still being sent back to the coast the temporary morgues became overwhelmed. I can't even imagine the long-term effects it had on those who had to process the deceased.

[@arsbadmojo]

So there was an FX series called "Justified" staring Tim Olyphant, Walter Goggins and an AMAZING cast. Some of the best writing for a TV series I have ever seen. The translator, Upham - played by Jeremy Davies has a starring role in the 2nd season as a primary antagonist. He's almost unrecognizable from this film, but OMG - what an actor!! He won an Emmy for the role. If you appreciate great writing and great acting, I can't recommend "Justified" any more highly. It's incredibly immersive and entertaining.

[@thegorn68]

I was blown away by Davies' transformation as an actor when he played Charles Manson in "Helter Skelter" (2004). I couldn't believe it was the same actor when I looked him up.

[@driverdave1]

Still one of my all time favorite TV shows ever made. And one of the few that I watched the full title intro scene every single episode...it just gave me a warm feeling inside...much like the title sequence in Firefly, another one from the top of my TV show list.

[@RichardinNC1]

Justified is an awesome series. I missed it when it first aired but binge watched it last year.

[@UTU49]

What was Justified about? Was it about war as well?

[@RichardinNC1]

@@UTU49 Justified was about a US Marshall transferred to the Kentucky mountains where he was from and ends up dealing with all the local criminals including a long time friend gone bad. Great acting and stories. Each season has a new theme too.

[@cometogether999]

I've only seen this movie once and that was when it first came to video stores (sounds like the jurassic period) over 20 years ago. Thanks for stepping out of your film comfort zone, you're the best, Shanelle.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

:) aw thank you! happy to step out for a film an incredible as this one!

[@jameswarkentin2798]

I saw this in the theater with my wife and brother and his wife. Was able to keep it together, but have never been able to watch this movie all the way through since. I think it is an important film that demonstrates that there are things more important than the individual. I'm so grateful to those who gave of themselves so that I could live in a free country.

[@ralphficker167]

Thank you, Shanelle, for another intelligent and articulate review. Of the ones I've seen, this is the first of yours where you were so emotionally grabbed. I also so appreciate the particular way you talk about the characters during the movie. Upham, for example. In virtually all reactions I've seen on KZbin, not just for this film but for any film, the viewers talk to and about the characters, as if the viewers were there. Upham is a notorious example. Viewers always judge him harshly because he's a terrible soldier. You treated him as a fascinating character, whose weakness was understandable and interesting, and whose presence made the film stronger.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

he was SO FASCINATING , I LOVED these characters, they complimented each other so well, and I was relating hard to Upham!!

[@xavvi]

@@ShanelleRiccio Something a lot of people seem to miss about Upham (understandably so since there's so much chaos and other stuff to consider) is that Upham is meant to represent the United States itself - it's not a coincidence that the Nazi was slowly killing the Jewish soldier while Upham sat there in fear and did nothing. Had he acted he could have saved a Jewish life but he stood pat in fear until he had lost something that meant more to him (akin to America and Pearl Harbor). Definitely Spielberg's commentary on how had the US entered the war earlier perhaps many more lives could have been saved.

[@195511SM]

An absolute CRIME that the BEST PICTURE Oscar that year went to a piece of CRAP like 'Shakespeare In Love'.

[@Braveheart0484]

That shouldn't surprise you. Why would hollywood give an award to a pro American war movie?

[@MrZnarffy]

I remember seeing this in the theatre, and the absolute shock of the first five minutes of film. And especially as a grown man, you know it would have been you either on the beach or in the German trenches if you had lived earlier. Neither had a choice, you were drafted, and your chance of survival wasn't all that great...I grew up during the cold war, and in my country every guy did a year or two of military service. And you knew IF shit where to hit the fan, you were pretty much toast...

[@Shovelheadtard]

Yea it hit hard in the theatre. It locked me in so hard. Only movie I've ever gone to where I didn't even touch my popcorn/soda/candy.

[@kevinramsey417]

Spielberg still had it in him to be hard-core and damn. The Schindler-Jurassic Park-Private Ryan period may surpass the Jaws-Close Encounters-ET period as the best era of Spielberg's career. I do not say this lightly.

[@jeffburnham6611]

Interestingly France would not permit filming on the beaches at Normandy for this movie.

[@the.seagull.35]

@@kevinramsey417 Agreed

[@rabooey]

One of those movies that, no matter how many times I've seen it reacted to, still always manages to make me feel like it's my first time too. There are some others, but it is rare.

[@MegaForrestgump]

It is the vicarious nature of ourselves. We have seen it and have our own individual reactions. But, to see someone else react hits us in a similar way. We get to see someone have a reaction that we had, we get to expect a conformation in our on reactions. It helps us "earn" our reaction.

[@TiredWings]

Opening night, saw this in Bowling Green, KY with every Veteran within 50 miles. Lots of sighs, and coughs, very stoic reactions. End of the movie, my Brother and I race to the restroom, because nobody dared leave during the movie. While washing our hands, an older gentleman waiting behind us starts loosing it. Then every older gentleman ( about 12 or so ) in there lost it. Men falling to the floor crying, kicking doors, blubbering. My Brother and I couldn't take it and got the hell out of there. As we were leaving, more Vets were coming in, seeing the reactions, and started loosing it also. Old men being brave in public, but once out of sight.....I will never forget that night. PS: My Granddad landed D-Day +6 and fought in the battle to take Cherbourg, ended up eventually on a boat about a year later to be part of the invasion of Japan that never happened. That old man lived to 98. Don't make them like him anymore....

[@joebwankenobi5194]

I saw this in the theater with my dad, a history buff. I was 21, about the age of the young men who fought this terrible but necessary war. The opening beach scene shocked me to my core. As we left while the credits rolled, I saw an elderly man leaning forward in his seat with his face in his hands as his wife rubbed his back. I fully realized then the scope of what I had just seen on that screen. Every American needs to see this film.

[@sianne79]

Spielberg knows his war movies. He also directed 1.) Band of Brothers (mini series with 10 episodes. I can't give an opinion on the series as a whole, I'm only on episode 5 but from what I'm seeing, it's fantastic, especially with the interviews of Easy company.) 2.) the Shoah interviews, (Entire database of interviews with Holocaust survivors) that he was inspired to create after directing--) 3.) Schindler's List. That one is ten times harder to watch but in spite of that...or perhaps BECAUSE of that, it's one of the most important films ever made. Though you'd probably like it on a craftsmanship level as well. The use of lighting and color is AMAZING. And also Hacksaw Ridge, but that's not a Spielberg movie but still incredibly powerful. It starts off as a drama about rules, religion, and relationships, and then in the last third of the movie, it makes a hard right turn into HOLY SHIT OH MY GOD. It was produced and directed by Mel Gibson (who knew better than to put himself in the movie this time) and I'm pretty sure he was trying to outdo the first twenty minutes of Saving Private Ryan as far as blood and body parts flying in every direction is concerned. However, it is Very Well Made

[@mehim2893]

You forgot fullmetal jacket.

[@DonnaCPunk]

Spielberg produced Band of Brothers, he didn't direct any of the episodes.

[@sianne79]

@@DonnaCPunk whups yeah, produced

[@CR055FIRE]

Note: The crash of DeWindt's glider (played by Leland Orser) is based on a real incident that involved Brigadier General Don Pratt of the 101st Airborne Division. Lt. DeWindt's character is based on Lt. Col. Mike C. Murphy (1906-1981). Pratt's retrofitted glider was carrying himself, a pilot, co-pilot, one paratrooper and a jeep. Murphy was not notified of the glider modifications until just after take-off. Gen. Pratt and the glider co-pilot were killed in the incident. Excerpt from compiled account - by Major Leon B. Spencer, (USAFR Retired): "Colonel Murphy found himself hanging half in and half out of the smashed nose section, his torso restrained by his seat belt. He looked down and saw that his lower limbs were entangled in the bent and twisted metal tubing of the glider's nose section. Both legs were broken, one severely, and his left knee was badly injured, but he remained conscious. Lt. May, Pratt's aide was stunned and bruised, but was otherwise unhurt." "As his head cleared somewhat Murphy said he was alarmed to see several German vehicles that he said were tanks, poised just across the hedgerow, no more than fifteen feet or so away. He froze for fear that they might shine a light on him. From their vantage point further down the hedgerow, Lt. Warriner and Captain Van Gorder saw the same tracked vehicles. Van Gorder also described them as tanks, but Warriner said that they were tracked armored reconnaissance vehicles. All of them agreed that there were German soldiers seated on the sides of the vehicles with rifles across their laps. The lead vehicle stopped in front of Murphy's glider and two soldiers jumped off. They entered his wrecked glider with flashlights, poked around for a few minutes, got back on their vehicle, and hastily departed. Murphy, trapped in his seat, played dead, as did Lt. May. Perhaps the continuous roar of the low-flying tow planes overhead and the frequent din of crashing gliders scared them off. As a precautionary measure, Murphy remained still for several minutes after the Germans had departed. He then began to try and free his legs from the twisted metal tubing. The extraction was slow and painful. Once free, he lowered himself to the ground hanging on to the smashed glider framework. He tried to stand but his legs collapsed under him and he fell into a shallow ditch. While he was laying there Lt. May walked up and said that he feared the General was dead. He had tried to find a pulse, he said, without success."

[@steveg5933]

I am a 10 year veteran of the US Navy (Desert Storm). I went to see this on a Tuesday afternoon. There were 12 of us in the theater all veterans. I was the youngest by many years. At the end of this the house lights came up. ALL of us had tears in our eyes. One old man looked at me and said that was the most accurately portrayed war movie I've ever seen. But as for the real D-Day, it didn't come close. His hat proclaimed his expertise- D-Day Survivor Purple Heart Recipient. I have always deferred to his expertise.

[@DevilzFan]

I saw this in the theater in 1998 with my grandfather, who was a WWII vet and Pearl Harbor survivor. He was absolutely blown away by it. He said that opening scene was the most accurate depiction of war he had ever seen. Two side notes, "Band of Brothers" is phenomenal, ans you should absolutely watch it, even if it's not something you watch for the channel. Also, I love Ed Burns as a actor, but he's a fantastic director as well. If you haven't seen them, the first two movies he directed are excellent. "The Brothers McMullen" and "She's the One".

[@stlmopoet]

A brutal but important film. I've watched several of your reviews and appreciate your knowledge of filmmaking. Just yesterday I learned 4% of the sand on Normandy's beaches is actually shrapnel from D-Day. A mind blowing statistic. So much carnage there. I like your personality, your humanity. I also appreciate your going through the IMDB trivia for each movie.

[@yesspazsmith9895]

It's refreshing to see a reactor that actually knows film. In first seven minutes, you're talking about steady-cam, shakey-cam, gimbal, and subjective camera. Thank you.

[@Ender7j]

This movie, in theaters, inspired me to join the service. I was a manual laborer with no future and my decision to honor the work of previous generations by serving my country changed everything for me. I retired a few years ago, a little early, and still tear up a little when I watch this movie. Thanks for sharing your experience with us

[@brianb.8295]

I first saw this movie as a teenager with my great-grandfather, a World War 2 veteran. The one thing I have stuck in my mind was when I asked him if that was what D-Day was really like. He answered "No. Not enough bodies."

[@garycrow1943]

Truth

[@toecutterjenkins]

I'm sure BAND OF BROTHERS has been recommended to you. It's a series that was made from stories of the men that were there.

[@michaelvincent4280]

A group of us dressed in period uniforms and gear, looking like we just walked off of the screen. The veterans there loved it, and for us the film seemed more real than real. We felt honored to have been there.

[@luketrottier9388]

It is incredible, the more you know about firearms and warfare, the more you notice very subtle, perfectly accurate details. From things as small as a piece of fabric on a finger to lessen the risk of getting skin caught in a sliding mechanism of a rifle known for that to occur.

[@rmcross428]

Since I started watching your reactions, I'm watching film in an entirely different manner. I'm enjoying learning the art of film.. Thank you !!

[@ShanelleRiccio]

oh yes!! my favorite kind of comment to receive thank you!!

[@opkearney]

At the time of D-Day, the protocol for dealing surrendering enemy soldiers was to follow the agreement of The Hague Convention from 1907, which had provisions to guarantee quarter and humane treatment of those who surrender… shooting a prisoner of war was an offense punishable by court martial in the US Army and Marine Corps. However, it still happened in the heat of battle and often went unreported. It was even outright disobeyed by many commanding officers during the Battle of the Bulge who refuse to court martial GIs who had executed German prisoners after the discovery of the Malmedy Massacre. There were unofficial standing orders after that massacre to shoot any Waffen SS troops who surrendered. So long story short, there were plenty of instances where German and American soldiers executed the other side, but the Western Front of Europe saw a much more humane war compared to the Eastern Front between the Germans and Soviets; which was the most barbaric and deadly conflict on its own in human history.

[@cookedcarrotstastelikevomit]

DAMN YOU SHANELLE!!! You’re not supposed to make me cry!!! Love this film. Definitely a tough watch but a must see to know what was sacrificed for all of us to have the freedom we have today.

[@cookedcarrotstastelikevomit]

P.S. I did see this in the theatre when it came out. Taking mushrooms before the film not the best idea.😂 Talk about INTENSE!!!

[@lawrencedockery9032]

Saving Private Ryan changed the way that war movies were made. Prior to this most of them didn't show the violence in such a realistic and sustained way. And even since then there's really only a handful of war movies that can match what Saving Private Ryan did. Those are Black Hawk Down (2001), We Were Soldiers (2002), and Lone Survivor (2013) all three of which I very highly recommend

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Oh, yes, war movies started in the 1990s.

[@williammccollom6847]

This is a wonderful movie, so intense and emotional. Spielberg made it for his father who was in WW2. The opening sequence when the film was shown to WW2 veterans, many of them left because of the realism. This film also inspired the Medal of Honor games. And in my opinion it got robbed for the Best Picture Oscar that year as well as in some acting categories. 24 years later and it's still played on television often and is being reacted to for the first time.

[@joedertrek1]

One of Spielberg's best films. I loved it so much! Also, there were a few actors in the film that I didn't recognize at first such as Bryan Cranston, Ted Danson, and Nathan Fillion.

[@dnish6673]

Paul Giamatti, Denis Farina, Leland Orser, Ryan Hurst, Harve Presnell, all pretty familiar guys.

[@Buskieboy]

I've watched this movie 30+ times and it makes me cry every time. Wade the medic dying & calling out for his mother hits me hard. When Captain Miller dies on the bridge after telling Ryan "earn this" rips my heart out. BUT when the older Ryan turns to his wife and says, "Tell me I've lead a good life." "Tell me I'm a good man." I lose it. Tears stream down my face as I quietly sob. My chest heaving. Every single time. He's had that guilt and emotion bottled up, unsure if fulfilled his debt to his brothers from the bridge. For 55 years he's wondered if is a worthy man. A good man. It wrecks me. (My eyes are welling up just typing this)

[@gtaclevelandcity]

Spielberg used real amputees for some of the beach scenes to help illustrate how violent it really was.

[@wesleyrodgers886]

Veterans reactions are well documented. Wonder if they thought..finally a true view of what it was like. (As far as a movie can portray that).

[@sianne79]

So much so that many needed therapy due to this movie re-activating their PTSD

[@alanholck7995]

@@sianne79 Quite a few of them had never really dealt with it before

[@roger5322]

I grew up in a military family. My grandfather served in the Navy in WWII, my farther served 33 years in the Air Force, a uncle that served 20 years in the Navy, another that served in the seabee's, and my sister served 20 years in the Air Force. I've been half way around the world and back again. I've seen and done things that most can only dream of. Some good, some bad. Some things I share, some things I'll take to my grave. What bothers me is how people today don't see what the military and their families have sacrificed so that they have the freedom that they have. Freedom has a price, and that price is blood.

[@mach2223]

The guy at 7:42 is a Czech soldier, he's saying "I'm Czech! Don't shoot! Don't shoot, I didn't kill anyone! I'm Czech! I didn't kill anyone!" in Czech, but they can't understand him. I couldn't find the script anywhere, and I can't hear what he says while they're talking over him, becuase he's turned down when they're telling him they can't understand him. It really breaks my heart every time, that scene, especially since I can perfectly understand what he's telling them.

[@Blue-qr7qe]

Thanks for this - such an important film. I'm always suprised when people fail to recognize Ted Danson. His voice alone is that distinctive. Maybe it's that i lived through the CHEERS era. He's really a highly capable actor.

[@mark-be9mq]

And Nathan Fillion as the first Minnesota Ryan.

[@KrissyFace]

I was surprised she didn’t recognize him too. He had a few lines and was on screen long enough. But then I was a Cheers fan too 😉 😁

[@wabals]

This is gonna be a tough one

[@Hiraghm]

"How am I supposed to live my life after that?" With gratitude in your heart.

[@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

[@iKvetch558]

Oh boy, Shan...this is a tough one to watch...I still tear up at certain parts even after watching this movie over 100 times. Thank you for sharing your reaction to this one with us. Oh, and do not worry too much about the guy on the beach that takes off his helmet and then gets shot in the head right after...he would have died from that shot even with his helmet on. 🖖💯✌

[@p-51d95]

"Saving Private Ryan": Fictional story placed in a realistic historic setting. Great movie. "Band of Brothers": Completely true. Better than "Saving Private Ryan". Should be required in high school history.

[@jukopliut]

Well almost, few mistakes that might have been corrected quite easily.

[@jonathanrupert5592]

Saving Private Ryan based on the true story of Fritz Nyland.

[@jerryconner4270]

I saw this movie at the theater when it came out in 98 I think it was. The news was even before we saw it was that it was suppose to be an amazing movie. My group of people were all veterans, like myself. When the movie was over, the entire theater was still and silent except one old veteran yelled out "and that's the way it was". I'm a veteran of the cold war, now age 61 and I was crying as I'm sure most of us there were. The film gave me new perspective when I saw the bright united states flags flying at the Veterans Affairs hospital that I was admitted too. 21 years later I watched this movie again, with you and same reaction.

[@mattallen2801]

Hi, great reaction. For all the gut wrenching moments within this movie, the moment at the end when he talks to Miller's tombstone and to his wife asking if he was a good man, tears me up every time. this is an awesome movie and suggest that you re watch it again, without the pressure of a commentary. Cheers from Australia

[@hephner78]

actually the "german" soldiers with their hands up were saying, in Czech, "dont shoot, we're czech, not German"

[@martinbraun1211]

I suggest"Downfall" (2004)!

[@NateAZ]

My father's oldest brother was in the Utah beach landing on D Day. He could not watch this movie, less than two minutes in he had to leave and went outside and threw up. He refused to return or to ever watch this movie, he said he thinks it was probably very well made, but it is just too much like it was on that day. He was despondent for the most part for about a week after seeing just a couple of minutes of the opening. From what I understand in the info I got from my dad, his brother was on a landing craft that had nearly everyone shot as soon as the door dropped (like we see in the first minute of the movie) and was only one of three that survived to the beach. Seeing that take place again in the movie really brought back that memory with tons of emotion for my uncle. Spielberg really does know how to add realism to his movies, to evoke intense emotion.

[@shermdogify]

Watching this movie in the movie theater was the most surreal experience and really made you feel like you were in the battlefield experiencing all the action. To this day my favorite film I have ever watched in a movie theater. Glad to see you enjoyed watching this movie as much as I did.

[@yeoldegamer5112]

Have you ever seen Wofgang Petersen's "Das Boot"? It means "the boat" Gives a german perspective from a submarine crew. during WWII. Great performances allround, especially Jürgen Prochnow as the commander and Herbert Grönemeyer as a war correspondent. Many of the cast later became household names in german TV and movies. Herbert Grönemeyer is an actor but also singer, musician, producer and kind of a german Bruce Springsteen. So, basically a Rock Star 😉 Apparently the german dubbed version was more successful in the USA than the english dub. A must see not only for the theme and character development but also the filmography in the tight confines of a sub. Edit: Back to Saving Private Ryan. Amazing movie and the older I get the more I seem to cry when watching it. Edit: Jeez, not even 2 minutes in and I'm already peeling onions ...

[@alanholck7995]

I live in an area w/ lots of Navy personnel (Hampton Roads) - the submariners among them hate Hunt for Red October and Crimson Tide for being unrealistic. But they love Das Boot. And yes, you should watch it in German with English subtitles.

[@kevinramsey417]

And Prochnow of course needs no intro. He's a legend.

[@1953jazzman]

I believe this is your finest reaction yet! I recommend that you find a DVD or Blu-ray of this so you can watch all the special features!

[@christopheratkins6640]

I saw it in the theater with my girlfriend at the time. She insisted we leave after maybe ten minutes. Went back later and saw it by myself. Cried all over the theater. I live this movie.

[@St.Maliki]

I will repeat what most others have already said. Band of Brothers is an absolute must. Even if you don't wanna devote your channel's time to a miniseries. You owe it to yourself to watch it completely on your own.

[@HouTexHemi]

Theater experience: I did see this in the theater and for whatever reason, I had not seen a trailer, I just saw the movie poster. I knew it was WW2, starring Hanks and directed by Spielberg so for whatever reason, I had this image of the sort of lighthearted WW2 type stuff he had in 1941 and the Indian Jones movies. I was rocked to my core seeing this. Just punched in the face. You also have to remember, people didn't make war movies like this at that time. Ever since this came out, it has really changed how raw and graphic films depict war. At that time is was truly shocking. One big impression I still remember was the sheer savagery on display and the epiphany that yes, of course it must have been like that but had just never really considered it before.

[@martinbraun1211]

Please watch VALKYRIE from 2008. Based on true events!

[@jarojasn]

Hi Shanelle, I made a purposeful decision to see this film in the theaters. I was working in Manhattan and left work and walked to the Lincoln Center neighborhood where the film was still being shown. I remember at the time, too, that many veterans were excited to see it. WW2 veterans were aging out and they needed to feel validated. This is about the same time that Tom Hanks was working to create a National WW2 monument in Washington, D.C.. The film was amazing. It was incredibly loud and so moving. In your video you state that the quiet moments are the ones that moved you. I always felt that too, but didn’t realize it. I’ve always cried like a baby when I see James Ryan and him family at the beginning and especially at the end, because I cannot imagine the guilt he’s felt his entire life for having survived on the blood of those that died. Keep putting out great videos.

[@AdamRock]

I remember when this came out... I didn't get to see it in theatres, but it was reported in the news at the time, that countless veterans could not sit through the opening of the movie as it brought back too many memories from the war. I get emotional every time I watch this movie.

[@SC457A]

Masterpiece in my opinion. Brutal visuals, amazing sound, acting was great and a story that hits hard for a variety of reasons. One of my top 5 of all time movies. Edit: Stephen Ambrose comment in the end is actually really interesting. Look into the mini series Band of Brothers he was involved with later with Tom Hanks. Possibly one of the best mini series ever made.