Saving Private Ryan (1998) - Movie Reaction - BRITISH FILM STUDENT FIRST TIME WATCHING

[@emil87th]

The Greatest War Film ever made. The attention to detail in this movie is insane. Few historical movies get so much right! From the uniforms, to the sounds of gunfire, to the explosions, it has it all. One scene that I just love and it blew me away when I first saw/heard it is when they're moving into the village where they meet the "fake" Private Ryan, is the the rain drops falling down sounding like gun fire and then transitioning into actual gun fire as the stomping boots run by. Beautifully done. Another thing I caught during my 7th rewatch of the movie that most people don't see because of so much other stuff going on is when Wade, the medic, is trying to save the battalion surgeon on the beach. One of his colleagues takes a bullet to his hip, right where his water bottle is hanging. Look closely at the hole in the bottle, the water that comes out at first is clear and then as his wound seeps into the bottle the water turns red. Insane attention to detail. Just insane. For the algo: 10/10 reaction! Great review! Awesome comments and insights!

[@christineseyes]

"I will never be the type to jump around screaming and hollering while watching a movie." This is precisely why I'm loving your channel. Cheers

[@robertbick986]

"When I was growing up I didn't watch these classic films" Film: Saving Private Ryan Saving Private Ryan is a Classic Film. Oh crap. I seem to have become old.

[@venomusbite3461]

Us military has a “last son” policy of multiple siblings sign up and parish the remaining one goes home to keep the family going

[@jenbyrne1683]

They also created a rule about siblings serving together. The Sullivan brothers.. the fighting Sullivan's is another great movie.. but after they all died on the ship they were stationed together on no more siblings could be in the same unit. I think they are mentioned in the film.

[@ari_a2764]

A lot of militaries have that. My father is iranian. The oldest brother got wounded and eventually kia in the iran-iraq war. He was a volunteer. My father told me they didnt conscript him.because of that. He later went to germany in early 80s

[@SBCBears]

But to answer his question, no, a special mission would not be initiated. The military would work thru existing lines of communication to recall Ryan. Also, the breakdown of unit discipline and insubordination at 27:15 is unrealistic.

[@Nomad-vv1gk]

@@jenbyrne1683 There is no Sullivan rule. My brother and I served aboard the same ship in the Vietnam War. The assignment is done upon request.

[@Hoigwai]

Since you asked, the Lincoln letter to Bixby is an actual thing and the movie is based on actual events. "While much of the movie is a fictional account, the premise behind Capt. Miller’s mission is based on a true story. That is the story of the Niland brothers - Edward, Preston, Robert, and Frederick - from Tonawanda, New York."

[@th.burggraf7814]

Just a comment to keep the algorithm going. Really liked your reaction to this film. 👍🏻

[@smadaf]

It's interesting to see how many KZbin 'reactors' who were too young to see _Saving Private Ryan_ when it first came out assume that "the old man in the graveyard" is supposed to be the character whom Tom Hanks played. When the movie came out, the publicity about it was pretty much four things: World War II, Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Matt Damon. For those of us who knew those basics, the opening scene, with old Private Ryan in the cemetery, had us all thinking that he looked amazingly like an old Matt Damon. Some of us weren't sure whether to be more amazed by age makeup that looked so realistic, if that was what it was, or that they found an older actor who looked so much like Matt Damon, if that was what it was. I don't think many people in 1998 were misled to thinking that the old man was supposed to be the Captain-despite the transition between the shot of him in the cemetery and the shot of the Captain on the landing-craft.

[@alltogetherfitandproper4252]

You’re the first person I’ve seen say ‘I’d probably be Upham’ after he failed to save his man. That says something.

[@WatchMeMovie]

I just think that there is no way for a civilian like me to know how I would react in such an extreme situation so I can't really look down on him. It's easy to say ' I would've rushed in and saved my friend' I would definitely like to think I would but I'm not trained to deal with that situation

[@alltogetherfitandproper4252]

@@WatchMeMovie absolutely. You’re honest. It’s a new quality for me anecdotally when seeing a dude watch this (and any maybe, but mainly this) movie.

[@195511SM]

I've heard it said that Upham is a character that sort of represents most of us.

[@zepter00]

@@WatchMeMovie You should Watch „ Thin red line” it was released the same year as „ saving private Rayan”...and got less recognition than it..but in opinion of many people including critics it was better movie. Try it ... You will like ..or even love it.

[@bcrypted]

Would like to see an Interstellar reaction. Not really war related but I like your videos, honest reviews, thanks.

[@smadaf]

In 2004, Andy Rooney, an American journalist, who had been a 26-year-old soldier at Normandy in June 1944, spoke on television, on the sixtieth anniversary of the invasion. This is my transcript of what he said; perhaps you will find these words worthy of your time: "Because it was part of my life, I'd like to say something about D-Day. I don't know how to say it any differently than I did in a book I wrote, called _My War._ "If you are young and not really clear what D-Day was, let me tell you. "It was a day unlike any other. There have only been a handful of days since the beginning of time on which the direction the world was taking has been changed for the better in one twenty-four-hour period by an act of man. June sixth, nineteen forty-four, was one of them. "What the Americans, the British, and the Canadians were trying to do was get back a whole continent that had been taken from its rightful owners by Adolf Hitler's German army. _It was one of the most monumentally unselfish things one group of people ever did for another._ "We all have days of our lives that stand out from the blur of days that have gone by; and the day I came ashore on Utah Beach, four days after the initial invasion, is one of mine. "As we approached the French coast, there were small clouds of smoke, and sudden eruptions, as German artillery blindly lobbed shells over the hills behind the beach. They were hoping to hit U.S. troops or some of the massive amount of equipment piled up on the shore there. "Row on row of dead American soldiers were laid out on the beach, just above the high-tide mark, where it turned into weedy clumps of grass. They were covered with olive-drab blankets, just their feet sticking out at the bottom, their G.I. boots sticking out. I remember their boots: all the same, on boys all so different. "No-one can tell the whole story of D-Day, because no-one knows it. "Each of the sixty thousand men who waded ashore that day knew a little part of the story too well. To them, the landing looked like a catastrophe. Each knew a friend shot through the throat, shot through a knee. Each knew names of five hanging dead on the barbed wire in the water, twenty yards off shore-three who lay unattended on the stony beach as the blood drained from holes in their bodies. They saw whole tank-crews drown when the tanks rumbled off the ramps of their landing-craft and dropped into twenty feet of water. "There were heroes here no-one will ever know, because they're dead. The heroism of others is known only to themselves. "Across the Channel, in Allied headquarters, in England, the war-directors, remote from the details of death, were exultant: they saw no blood, no dead, no dying. From the statisticians' point of view, the invasion was a success: statisticians were right: they always are-that's the damned thing about it. "On each visit to the beaches over the years, I've wept. It's impossible to keep back the tears as you look across the rows of markers and think of the boys under them, who died that day. Even if you didn't know anyone who died, your heart knows something that your brain does not: you weep. "If you think the world is selfish and rotten, go to the cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, overlooking Omaha Beach: see what one group of men did for another on D-Day, June sixth, nineteen forty-four."

[@rebeccamcgowan981]

When the film was released, veterans who were on the beach who saw it said it was the most realistic version they’d seen. Many veterans said it was hard to watch.

[@ari_a2764]

The realism mostly comes from the gore, scale and sound shown. Not the battle itself

[@Northbravo]

I heard even some started smelling diesel

[@cjs1045]

I've watched tons of reactions for this film and many others. It is phenomenal how much you were able to notice and appreciate on your first viewing of the film. Please keep this up. You're better than anyone else I've watched.

[@smadaf]

The D-Day assault by the Allies was and is the largest seaborne invasion in the history of the world. About midnight the night before, more than 2,200 Allied bombing aircraft attacked parts of France near the landing-sites, and 24,000 Allied soldiers were dropped inland by parachute. In the morning of June 6, 1944, the Allies sent 351,700 men (mostly Americans, Britons, and Canadians) from England, across the English Channel, to five beaches at Normandy (including Omaha Beach, which is represented here), of whom at least 4,414 were killed. More than 5,000 watercraft were involved, including hundreds of mine-sweepers, hundreds of escorts, and almost 5,000 landing- and assault-craft.

[@olliegueret2963]

D-Day Landing scene was filmed in Ireland!!!

[@bekhele]

you're reactions are perfect man, just get immersed, and occasional share a thought, there are reviewers out there who talk non stop through the most intense things, breaking the immersion for themselves to a level its plain criminal . you also understood very well the humanity of it all, while many appreciate the spectacle over it. great content!

[@SBCBears]

Yup. The non-stop talkers are dreadful. It's their way of psychologizing what they see on-screen.

[@theliikedanuss]

Tom Hanks is def not one of my fav actors but this movie is def one of my all time fav movies , such a good movie ❤️

[@heyitsmemg7494]

Aww man sorry about the video getting taken down. You would think if it’s such a problem KZbin would outlaw all these reaction channels but I guess the more popular the channel KZbin thinks it’s ok. Still nice to see this re-uploaded.

[@evanconnolly8717]

You see that many white crosses and you cant help get teary eyed, even if you've seen this movie. You know the movies over and you have so many emotions from all of the characters dying and you feel for these guys. Then they drop the scene of all the crosses and you just can't imagine. Then I broke down.

[@davidreisinger9272]

Omaha Beach was the worst... Brits and Canadians were fighting similar battles on different beaches but the heaviest German defense was at Omaha

[@ripsaa2693]

I am always amazed this is only 75 years ago...unbelievable,,.great reaction too by the way

[@snoferguson]

Love watching your reactions. I saw this film when first released and remember the complete silence in the cinema afterwards as everyone just sat there, stunned at what we had just experienced. Saving Private Ryan is a true masterpiece.

[@barneyfifesgrandma1356]

Tough movie to watch. So many of our relatives were affected. Spielberg is one of our greatest directors if not the greatest.

[@Blue-qr7qe]

I'll reiterate something i'd said before in the comments here: When someone blathers away throughout a well-scripted film and obliterates all dialog, i want call the usher and have them thrown out of the theater. We need to be able to follow the script if we're to understand your reactions. Thanks for being economical with the commentary till afterwards. Once again, 'excellent job from you. Great editing as well -

[@SBCBears]

Agree completely. This was the best commentary on SPR I've seen and I've seen many.

[@spacecatboy2962]

in the movie the assault on omaha beach lasted 15 minutes, in real life it went on for 6 hours

[@abraham7414]

Well the d day scene would obviously not last 6 hours

[@pierrickpierrick7009]

Imagine going through this for 6 hours long ... War is fucking hell

[@jojoemcgeejoe457]

Since you're film studenting, I suggest both Band of Brothers and The Pacific. Both are WW2. Both are HBO productions with much the same producers. One is heavily character-driven and shot in open terrain with lots of options on scene and vista. One is more event driven with terrain limiting scene and vista options.

[@alyssaramirez7014]

I’m going to second the Band of Brothers series. It was created by Tom Hanks AND SPEILBERG. Hanks directed and it’s an amazing miniseries. I mean after this film, you can only image what those two could produce. It’s fantastic. Put it on the next poll! Honestly, I liked The Pacific, but not enough to suggest it. I’m with you on BOB though, CURRAHEE!!

[@WatchMeMovie]

Thanks for these suggestions, Band of brothers is probably the most request series at the minute so I'm gonna start it after Hannibal, I don't think I'd have time to watch two at the same time, cheers!

[@theliikedanuss]

I second this, both of em ia awesome series. For those who haven’t seen I can also recommend Generation Kill, not at the same level but a really solid short series as well 👍❤️

[@sirjohnmara]

"Rumble Fish" is a fantastic movie so you saw really good movies!

[@2104dogface]

They got the Idea for Saving Private Ryan from the book Band of Brothers , it was based on the Niland brothers,Frederick William "Fritz" Niland knew 2 of the troopers from E/506 (Muck / Malarkey) and had met up while on leave with his brother Bob and they asked him about Combat as he had fought in the MTO - Technical Sergeant Robert Joseph "Bob" Niland D Company, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division was killed in action on June 6, 1944 in Normandy. He volunteered to stay behind with Corporal James Kelly and hold off a German advance while his company retreated from Neuville-au-Plain. He was killed while manning his machine gun; Second Lieutenant Preston Thomas Niland was killed on June 7th with the 4th Infantry, Edward Francis Niland was shot down in Burma and assumed killed but was a POW , Frederick William "Fritz" Niland was with the 101st 501st PIR , but was taken out of combat and served as a MP state side

[@catherinelw9365]

Yes, the Nilands were neighbors of Skip Muck.

[@alisong826]

I watching your reaction as a film student! You seeing all the diff types of shots makes me so excited! 32:01

[@TheTriumphbsa]

The films you mentioned as more obscure, are actually lesser known classics worth of a good watch by anyone!

[@christopherbaldwin2005]

The "Draft" was done away with in 1975, after Vietnam. I joined the U.S. Army December 7th, 1977. Another great War movie is "We Were Soldier's". It's a true story, about how Helicopter's were traded for the horse going into battle. They were assigned to be the 7th Cavalry. Same as Custer. 400 American's against over 2,000 Viet Cong I think. Thank you again for the real feeling's conveyed.

[@WatchMeMovie]

Thank you very much for the info and the comment , I sppreciate it, We were soldiers has been suggested quite a bit so I will get round to it, Cheers!

[@bastianmuller4854]

Great reaction. This was one of my favorite movie as a teen with my highschool friends. Spielberg masterpiece 👌🏻 Greetings from Chile.

[@ConstantineJoseph]

From the real accounts of veterans about the Omaha beach landings, the story is even more incredible than what is depicted here. One of the veterans recounted that the 28th division were literal boys of average age 19, chosen by Eisenhower to lead the charge as the older men were too afraid of what bullets and bombs will do to their bodies out of past experiences. As soon as these boys were exposed by the ramp coming down, they were mowed down with utter decimation as depicted. All of these boys going in with the first few waves knew they were going to die, they actually know they will die but yet there were accounts from survivors that they clamored with intense eagerness to have the ramps lowered so that they can meet their fate with their fellow comrades. Hearing of these eye accounts by the vets, I literally froze at the thought of it. Absolutely flabbergasted and a total lost for words. To say the word sacrifice on the alter of freedom or the future of a proper human civilization is literally it.

[@robinhazen8034]

I really appreciate hearing your observations and reactions to the films you showcase. I often watch movies by myself at home on DVD (especially these days!) so I don't get to hear people's gut reaction to various scenes in the moment. Your perspective as a filmmaker casts a new light on the artistry within each movie.

[@danidreadnought2046]

loved the vid. i like how i nod when you comment on sth .. and i like how you dont ruin the moments with too much talking as other reaction channels do.keep it up

[@WatchMeMovie]

thank you for the feedback , appreciate it a lot!

[@danidreadnought2046]

@@WatchMeMovie i can suggest some movies if u like watching em . I love Braveheart...love The Departed...Prestige is a nice one too...dont know if u gonna like em cause as u said u study filming and i dont know if they fit you..i just like em storywise. Peace mate

[@slearl]

Castaway would be in my top-five.

[@williamberven-ph5ig]

Nothing exemplifies the true cost of war than Mrs. Ryan on that porch. The most horrific scene in a film full of them.

[@83gemm]

“I thought the captain was alright cause we’ve already seen him.” I was like 17 or so and saw this in theaters and my thought process was the same. When he died I was just like... wait, wait.... but... the old man... the ... the beginning.... Then Private Ryan transitioned to the old man and I just sat there slack jawed. I don’t think I said three words on the way home. In the wrong hands, that “trick” would have been a cheap ploy; a cheat. But it was done so well and was fairly arranged so it just gut punches you. No big “HEY THIS IS OUR TWIST REVEAL!” fanfare. Just that slow pull back on the dead captain and the seamless transition of age on Ryan. Beautifully executed and so effective. We all think Hanks is safe the whole movie so we let our guards down and really let ourselves care about him because he’s not gonna die. So when he does we feel it so much more viscerally. It’s just... it’s so brilliant.

[@DOUGIEFRESH379]

I saw this movie a dew months after my father died who was in WWII. And my Uncle died piloting one of the gliders that was shown crashed which had the plates put in for the general. When i went to the movies to see this i was with my fathers friend who was in WWII also and landed on the beach named Omaha. He was shaking during the whole movie and we had to stay at the end of it for him to get his composer back. But it wasn't just him there was a handful of veterans just crying in there seats. I will always remember that night and the effect it had on all the veterans which were watching it.

[@kklein5374]

A friend of my fathers who Was it at the Normandie invasion, saw this movie before he died he said it was like he was back there! And When captain Miller told Ryan to earn this he really was talking to all of us! We owe our veterans so much!

[@christopherbaldwin2005]

Matt Damon actually ad-libbed the story about his brother's to Tom Hanks. Your reaction's are certainly genuine and in depth. Just subscribed! Have you done the movie "Fury" yet? If not, you owe it to yourself to see it.

[@WatchMeMovie]

Thanks very much Christopher! Fury is definitely coming soon, its been suggested a lot

[@sandranorman5469]

@@WatchMeMovie Actually Spielberg had the actors go through basic training at Camp Lejeune. When Matt Damon joined the group there was resentment underneath his fellow actors. This was confirmed by several supporting actors.

[@matta5498]

Watch Mel Gibson's, "We Were Soldiers".

[@captainz9]

They couldn't "flash forward again to him telling the story", you can tell at the end when his own wife has no idea who Capt. Miller is that he's never talked about it to his wife (and certainly not his kids)... Her confused look when he asks if he's a "good man". He's carried it silently for decades because to talk about it would bring up the trauma of it again. When the movie first came out in theaters many WWII veterans had to walk out during the D-day landing scene because it was just too real for them and brought up the trauma of it. Some accounts have veterans "smelling diesel" the memories it connected were so real. If you ever wonder why many veterans never talk about their war experiences, this movie shows why - imagine seeing your friends, the guys you've trained with, shot down all around you, watched them bleed to death begging you for more morphine to ease their agony, not just one but dozens and you're powerless to save them... And then making it home and having someone ask you about your experiences.

[@LoSconosciuto57179]

I saw this film at the cinema when it came out and it was very successful in Italy. In the movie theater it is impressive and the first twenty minutes is pure cinema. Greetings from Milan, Italy.

[@ThomasThePanzerTank]

Little bit late to this one but the movie is an absolute masterpiece. A lot of the time there’s such a disconnect between the events of previous conflicts/wars as most people have only seen some shaky or choppy footage of WW2. This movie makes a fictional (based loosely on a true story yes) feel like you’re simply watching footage from WW2 in HD quality and completely immersed you. The amount of realism, even confirmed from the veterans that were there on the beach, is astonishing. I’m glad you watched it as it will always be one of the hardest watches but ultimately fulfilling movies you can watch.

[@XerxesLangrana]

Came here after your reaction to ‘Schindler’s List’. People in the military have said that the opening scene of ‘Saving Private Ryan’ is the most realistic depiction of the Normandy landing in a film. If you want to watch another Spielberg masterpiece (and because you’re a film student) watch ‘Empire of the Sun’ (1987) - another WWII film but very different. I’m sure you’ll love it. If you want to watch wonderful Tom Hanks performances of recent times I’d recommend ‘Bridge of Spies’ (2015) and ‘The Post’ (2017) - both Spielberg films again and both are wonderful! P.S. Since you’re a Brit and a film student, I hope you’ve watched David Lean’s ‘Bridge on the River Kwai’ (1957) and ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ (1962) - both these masterpieces are a must watch for any film student. Spielberg has said that he watches both these films before he beings directing any film. Also watch ‘Duel’ (1971) his directorial debut.

[@minjidelpilar4849]

You should see Philladelphia of tom hanks, its really good.🙂 might change your mind about him.

[@thinkingoutloud3757]

Spielberg just does shit so casually perfect, it's almost insulting. Everything just flows. Everything just clicks.

[@wgalloPT]

Considered the most realistic war movie ever made, from actual reports of survivors.

[@jbooker7099]

Actually...Tom Hanks is one of the BEST. He can be ANY character in a movie. THAT is what makes him one of the BEST that ever did the craft.

[@williamberven-ph5ig]

Like Morgan Freeman though he can never play a villain. Both have an aura of goodness, competence and fairness. I would follow either into hell because if that's where they're going, there must be a good reason.

[@blukeblue1235]

Great job man. Good luck with your schooling. I hope you go far.

[@jerrykessler2478]

When they were preparing the for this film Tom Hanks and the actors who played his squad did a boot camp to learn military tactics. Matt Damon was excluded to create a genuine animosity.

[@calmseas9263]

The US Dept. of Defense set up a hot line for all the veterans who watched this movie and needed counseling.

[@peterengelen2794]

I love your reaction, on the question on how come you never saw ''Saving Private Ryan'' or other modern classics, and then you responded with ''because when I was young, I've watched more obscure movies because of my older brothers and my favorite movies were ''Rumble Fish'', ''Drugstore Cowboy'', ''Easy Rider'', ''Apocalypse Now'', ''Blue Velvet'' and ''Jacob's Ladder''. I wonder if these people who asked you that question have actually seen all those movies you'd mentioned? Hahahaha! Greetings from the Netherlands.

[@LordGrokken]

From beginning to end mere hours, for the various troops involved, 36 hours plus. My father was on one of the troop transports way back in the Channel, he told me that they were on the boat for 36 hrs. He never was sent in, but they were close enough that they caught bullets and artillery shells were landing near them.

[@marke8323]

A Movie Blooper, in the Movie the Landing Craft are American but on D-Day they were actually Britsh, the majority of American Landing Craft sent to the Pacific... Great Movie!

[@Lestat13]

Greetings! I just subbed to you & I want to tell you why... I’m a hardcore cinephile & I enjoy film reactions. Unfortunately, some feel the need to constantly react. If you’re offering an honest observation on story, techniques or just how it’s making you feel, great. But, during the opening battle scene (approximately 20 minutes, btw), hearing a reaction channel say, “Cool”, is stomach turning. You were direct in your observations & gave the proper respect warranted for the moment. Amazing film...up there with Schindler’s List...it’s the little moments, like when they’re going through the dog tags that are exquisite. I look forward to seeing other reactions. Some personal favorites: Diegesis, Thor Reacts... What’s your main interest? Cinematography? Editing? Directing? I, myself, wanted to get into cinematography, once upon a time. In fact, that one scene of the kamikaze pilots, in front of their planes, with the sparks, “Empire of the Sun”, also by Steven Spielberg, hooked me right in. Keep it up & stay safe. 🖤🌹🖤🧛🏻‍♀️ ETA...This was loosely based on a true story...5 brothers, I believe.

[@tristanrcox]

I totally agree with you about Spielberg. My favorite director of all time

[@symondo5883]

I’ve now subscribed mate, I like your reaction to this! Couple of points about this film which I think he raised: during the Omaha beach scene Steven Spielberg did not use storyboards it was very much reacting to what happened in front of him, so that’s why it gives a feel almost like a documentary!? And I believe this story is based on a true story which happened in World War II but I think the American brothers were based in the Pacific? If you google it you’ll be able to get the full story 🤙🏻

[@WatchMeMovie]

Thank you! Man I really need to watch the making of this , hearing so many cool little details about the production process. Thanks for this I really appreciate these bits of info!

[@alyssaramirez7014]

Fun fact 1: There is actually a policy in the US military called the “Sole Survivor Policy”. Fun fact 2: This movie is actually loosely based on a true story about the Niland brothers. Only one brother was based in the pacific and 2 were killed in action in Normandy. Fun Fact 3: If you’re a fan of Band of Brothers, Sgt. Fritz Niland (Damon’s character) was friends with Muck and Malarkey, IRL.

[@TheRealDarrylStrawberry]

"look i washed for supper" theyre actually screaming in Hungarian "we were forced, we were captured, please please"

[@Nomad-vv1gk]

The opening scene Ryan goes to the grave of his brother, at the end he's at the grave of Capt. Miller's grave. His family is directly behind him at the first grave site, at the end, his family remains at a respectful distance, except for his wife who has no idea who Miller is. Ryan went home and never told anyone about that day in Ramell. The opening scene Ryan goes to the grave of his brother, at the end he's at the grave of Capt. Miller's grave. His family is directly behind him at the first grave site, at the end, his family remains at a respectful distance, except for his wife who has no idea who Miller is. Ryan went home and never told anyone about that day in Ramell. WW II was fought by men; the average age of U. S. combat personnel was 26 years old. The SGT. in the assault boat wasn't putting food in his mouth, that was chewing tobacco. They were in very rough seas and it took hours for the soldiers to disembark the troop ships into the Higgins Boats. Not knowing when they would ever have a good cooked meal again, many of the soldiers ate a hearty breakfast before disembarking. The first group to load into the boats bobbed around in the water for several hours before heading toward the beach. Many get seasick during that time. The vomit wasn't the main problem, the blood in the boats created a psychological problem when the boats returned to bring more soldiers to the beach. In Vietnam, the average age of combat personnel was 22, not 19 as many people think. Also, the largest number of U. S. personnel killed in action in Vietnam enlisted not draftees. Spielberg researched small details, for instance, Pvt Jackson's right thumb has a black mark on it. That's actually a bruise that many U. S. riflemen had caused from getting their thumb caught in the loading mechanism from not locking the bolt back properly when loading/reloading the M1 Garand rifle. It was called "Garand thumb". The Hitler Youth Knife is more literary liberty than fact. That knife is a hiking knife given to members of the Hitler Youth Corps, which was much like the Boy Scouts in training while being indoctrinated with the ideology of National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi). The only other group they were issued to were members of the SA. This knife was never part of a soldier of the Wehrmacht. As for the reaction of Carparzo and Mellish, it is highly unlikely an average G.I. would have known what that knife was and its symbolism. The matter of Mellish crying is also not likely as the Allies didn't find out about the fate of Jews in Europe until the first concentration camp was liberated April 4, 1945. The war in Europe ended May 7, 1945. So, following the real timeline, Mellish dies before the Allies knew anything about concentration and death camps. But, after-all, it is Hollywood. Saving Private Ryan is not based on the Sullivan brothers. Fritz Niland became the basis for Private Ryan. He was dropped behind enemy lines on D-Day and spent five days in the French countryside, eventually earning a Bronze star in combat for taking a French. Robert Rodat first came up with the plot in 1994 when he saw a monument in a cemetery in Tonawanda, New York. The monument was to the Niland Brothers - 4 young American men who fought in the Second World War. When three of the Nilands were reported killed, the surviving brother - Fritz - was sent home. This inspired Rodat to write his movie. There are 26 military cemeteries across Normandy, but the most famous and visited site is the poignant Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer. The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in France is located in Colleville-sur-Mer, on the site of the temporary American St. Laurent Cemetery, established by the U.S. First Army on June 8, 1944 as the first American cemetery on European soil in World War II. The cemetery site, at the north end of its half mile access road, covers 172.5 acres and contains the graves of 9,387 of our military dead, most of whom lost their lives in the D-Day landings and ensuing operations. In real life with the Nilands, it actually turned out later that another of the brothers was alive - he’d been held captive in a Burmese POW camp. Attempts to point out the "discrepancies" between the stories of Fritz Niland and James Ryan are often misguided, as Ryan is only based on Niland, and is not meant to be (or claimed to be) a completely accurate representation of him. The differences in the two stories seem to stem in part from the fact that the true story of Sergeant Niland and his brothers is often reported inaccurately. The character of Private James Ryan is a mixture of fact and fiction, with some of the fictional elements coming from the erroneous stories about the Niland brothers. The German credited as "Steamboat Willie" who was released by Capt. Miller is not the German who engaged and killed Pvt Stanley "Fish Mellish during hand-to-hand combat. "Steamboat Willie" was in the Heer (Army) of the Wehrmacht and the other was in the Waffen SS which was a paramilitary organization and not part of the Wehrmacht. Originally, the SS uniform differed from the Wehrmacht uniform-whereas the regular army wore field grey, the SS wore black, head to toe (although later the SS did adopt field grey and often wore camouflage pattern uniform. American troops were brown and they didn't wear jackboots. The lightning bolt SS insignia can be seen on the right collar lapel of the German as he passes Upham and reaches the bottom of the staircase. During the Battle at Ramelle, Upham became shell shocked and was unable to save a .30 cal team from a German soldier because he was too frozen with fear to do anything about it. He carried all the .30 caliber ammo at the battle of Ramelle, but was unable to do his job because he was always either pinned down or too afraid to move. He signified the loss of innocence in war and thought that soldiers could be civil, but he later succumbed to the evils of war and made up for his cowardice when he shot Steamboat Willie for killing Miller even after the latter had shown Willie mercy earlier. Not only did Upham represent the loss of innocence of war but he also symbolized the "Every-man". His illusion of neutrality faded when he finally had to pick and side and kill Steamboat Willie, his character revelation being how he finally understood the horrors of war. It became clear that Upham had turned into a hardened and true soldier because of the whole experience. Upham's rank was Tech 5 Corporal (E-5), that meant he was technician in a specialty area. His was maps and translator, he was not a combat infantryman and was never trained for front-line duty. Gunnery Sergent Hartman explained it this way in the movie Full Metal Jacket: "It is your killer instinct which must be harnessed if you expect to survive in combat. Your rifle is only a tool. It is a hard heart that kills. If your killer instincts are not clean and strong you will hesitate at the moment of truth. You will not kill. "The way the next of kin was notified of their loved one was killed in action during WW II was by Western Union telegram delivered by a bicycle riding messenger. If you were being notified of multiple deaths as was the case in this film, notification was done in-person by a military officer, usually from the same branch of service as the deceased when possible. That's why the mother upon seeing the officer exit the car momentarily froze knowing that meant at least 2 of her boys were either KIA or MIA, as the priest exits the car, she staggers and completely collapsed. Unfortunately, you didn't include that in your video presentation. That is one of the most important scenes in the movie. The mother speaks no lines in the movie, yet her breakdown brought a flood of tears form movie goers in theaters across the nation. Another important scene is it is clear from the few lines Ryan's wife speaks that she has never heard the name of Capt. John Miller, this means John has never spoken to her about what happened that day in Ramelle. What many missed is listening to Ryan speaking at the Miller's grave of how he thought about what those 8 men did for him every day was not guilt, but commitment. There are units assigned to recover, bury and mark graves. Usually these were temporary battlefield cemeteries. As hostilities moved farther away, a more permanent site would be selected, at the family's request, whenever possible, the remains would be returned to the United States. At the Normandy Cemetery Visitors Center, you'll find the following inscription: IF EVER PROOF WERE NEEDED THAT WE FOUGHT FOR A CAUSE AND NOT FOR CONQUEST, IT COULD BE FOUND IN THESE CEMETERIES. HERE WAS OUR ONLY CONQUEST: ALL WE ASKED … WAS ENOUGH … SOIL IN WHICH TO BURY OUR GALLANT DEAD.General Mark W. ClarkChairman, American Battle Monuments Commission, 1969-1984

[@RoberinoSERE]

Remember you Tommys were experiencing the same farther up the beach at Juno and Sword.

[@spacemanspiff3052]

Great reaction. Most people focus on the amazingly intense Omaha beach landing when they describe this movie, but I’ve always argued that no scene moves and gets viewers intensely involved in the film like the Upham stairwell scene as Mellish is fighting for his life and Upham just can’t overcome his terror. So many viewers at the edge of there seats talking to the screen urging Upham on and the mix of rage and sympathy as he just fails to break free of the fear holding him. That’s movie making! I tip my hat to you Mr. Spielberg.

[@chathamabs2011]

Good review. I've seen this film many times but I really have to prepare to watch it, I never fail to get drawn into the characters and their emotions. Some films I can't watch, I find it too much (Green mile). Stunning cinematography, use of light etc. Wish I had a proper audio set up at home, it does help, particularly with films such as Saving Private Ryan.

[@sanguinemde5031]

The landing at Omaha beach lasted for 10 hours before it was secured. Obviously for the film they had to shorten that down a little.

[@davefranklyn7730]

It took nearly all day to secure Omaha Beach. The came in right after dawn and finally controlled it late in the afternoon. The killing and destruction we saw really lasted all day. Horrible!

[@barryfletcher7136]

I don't know if you look at comments from months ago, but no - the military would not have sent a rescue mission like portrayed in SPR. It would not have been practical. However, the military WOULD have sent a message to "Pvt. Ryan's" unit to evacuate him once it WAS practical to do so. It was also a policy at the time to remove from combat the only surviving son.

[@grahamlong6870]

Unfortunately, owing to the airborne troops being dropped all over the place on D day, and not where they were supposed to be, most of them joined whatever group of soldiers they came across. They were in fact scattered for miles across the French countryside. Attempting to contact Ryan's unit would have done little, if any, good. The chaos of war dictates that most plans are in fact transient, and the soldiers have to make it up as they go along.

[@SBCBears]

Yup. Withdrawal from combat always occurs thru ordinary lines of communication. Never has a rescue mission been mounted by the US for such a purpose.

[@williamjones6031]

1. Many WWII vets (and others) had to leave the theaters because of the opening battle scenes because they were so realistic of what really happened at Omaha. 2. The guy they had to give the morphine to was their medic. They were asking him how to help him best. 3. The story Ryan tells about his brothers was ad lib. 4. The German Upham talked them into letting go and subsequently killed was indeed the same one that killed Lt. Miller. 5. My boy Jackson/Barry Pepper teams up with Tom Hanks again in the GOAT Hanks movie in "The Green Mile". If you like Hanks in this and Forrest Gump you'll LOVE him in this. 100% guaranteed cry.(even hardest of men) HINT HINT

[@yaimavol]

I think the military would absolutely react in this situation, because of what they learned from British soldiers in WW1. My God, entire towns and villages lost all of their men in a single day. WW2 they separated men from small towns and cities and familes.

[@ashleydixon4613]

The films you mentioned watching and loving as a teenager and referring to as obscure-those movies really aren’t obscure. (At least not to this 46 year old American. In fact, Apocalypse Now is a classic that everyone must see.)

[@jefferywarburton2116]

I relate this movie to an older film with Lee Marvin called the Big red one. It was much less graffic and the plot was not to find one individual, but more to advance. I feel the casting of the main group of men is uncanny. Almost a nod to a previous generation.

[@seamstressdragon8707]

You should react to War Horse, excellent WWI film :D

[@RudeRaptor]

The main objectives of this invasion took until June 21 to finalize. So it took 15 days for the whole invasion to reach it's final goal

[@okeefe757]

I am 47, an American, not a film student, Tom Hanks is not my favorite, but he's really good in my opinion. Obviously people (especially younger ones) have to understand that their favorite doesn't have to be everyone's favorite (or even just liked by everyone).

[@trudywolfe2795]

I'm 23 and looking at you I feel ancient. How old are you like 19? Your responses are very well thought out and very on point. I am so happy I found you. I love your reactions. Thanks Ryan.

[@Beans360]

12:00 Sole Survivor Policy. In the Military of the United States that are designed to protect members of a family from the draft or from combat duty if they have already lost family members in military service.

[@brucehilton1662]

Tom Hanks #1 all-time. Enormous range and craft. Might try Apollo 13. He is also "pretty good" in Rom-coms. And anything else he did.

[@evanconnolly8717]

Most of this movie was made in ireland and england. The town they called ramelle was totally made from scratch in some feild in the middle of nowhere in england. I wonder if it's still there

[@peterengelen2794]

It's crazy, just like you've mentioned, Tom Hanks is not one of my favorite actors, when I (for instance make a list) think about my favorite actors, but actually, looking at his whole career, starting with his comedy movies like ''Splash'', ''The Bachelor Party'', ''The Man With One Red Shoe'', ''Volunteers'', ''The Money Pit'', ''Big'', ''The 'burbs'', and then his more serious roles in ''Philadelpia'', ''Apollo 13'', ''Saving Private Ryan'', ''The Green Mile'', ''Cast Away'', ''Road to Perdition'', ''The Lady Killers'', ''Charlie Wilson's War'', ''Bridges of Spies'' and ''News of the World'', he his actually one of the greatest American actors of his generation!

[@Entertainzor]

Me, even as an athiest: Jesus...

[@stephentaylor9630]

You are a film student? Then you have to see Godfather I & 2. These films can teach you much! Cheers.

[@WatchMeMovie]

Thank you Stephen! Yeah we had to watch part 1 in the first few weeks of the course and it was phenomenal. Will be watching part 2 on the channel though and looking forward to it, cheers!

[@philjones45]

I'd not make it off the boat either mate. A humanistic response. I've a feeling you'll do well. Thanks again.

[@quellochepensaprimadiparla6101]

private Jackson never reloaded his springfield, he had endless ammo XD

[@johncostello9356]

If you are a real fan and student of filmmaking, The Thin Red Lone is an excellent war film. It’s not as heart wrenching but the cinematography is a bit better than SPR. The cast is insane also with big name actors having small cameos.

[@alltogetherfitandproper4252]

If you’re going that route of amazing war films, Black Hawk Down is where it’s at.

[@raymondmanderville505]

The old man ( Ryan )isn’t telling the story , the camera takes you to the scenes being played behind those old dull gray eyes of the war veteran . His wife doesn’t know the man she’s married to & doesn’t remember ever hearing the name of Captain Miller . Because most of these men never talk about what they’ve been through or witnessed during the war with non veterans.

[@billpemberton4981]

When you have bullits fling over your head,all you think about is completing your objective

[@kurtwashere]

Comment (for the algorithm).

[@WatchMeMovie]

Appreciate that!

[@claudec2588]

My Top 5 Male Actors. I don't know why you would care but here they are, not in any particular order; Sean Penn, Gary Oldman, Michael Cane, Denzel Washington, Richard Harris. Any of these actors are in a film I want to see it.

[@ste.6026]

Personally I tend to get more out of small budget and more obscure movies than most big budget leave your brain at the door productions (though they do have their place) Films such as 'Shawshank', 'Green Mile', 'Schindler's List' and too many others to name from the very beginning of film are classics for a reason and most are a must to see at least once...

[@SADFORIAN]

I'd put Hanks in the top 20. Probably not top five though. Dude's solid though. And I say that as someone who got to know him by way of Bosom Buddies (a stupid but funny early 80s American sitcom).

[@spacecatboy2962]

haha, its funny how people get riled up over who other people like or dont like in sports, acting or singers

[@OmarSanchez-ge5qg]

The whole set of the Omaha Beach scene was shot in Wexford, Ireland.

[@Nitebreed]

Knowing my grandad stormed Normandy beach led his sons and his grandchildren to be soldiers- I servedbin kosovo, Iraq and mogodishu - lost somme great ppl who I had the honour of calling my brothers

[@christopherbaldwin2005]

In the beginning someone states that the Ryan brother's were split after the Sullivan's. The Sullivan brother's all drowned/killed because they were all on the same ship. History 101.

[@victoriacottle4631]

You asked early, how long were they on that beach. Short answers? 10 hours. If the Axis powers reinforced it at all, we never would have set foot in Europe. Omaha beach is always remembered but as an American, I still thank Canada and Australia for their actions on the other 4 beaches we had to take, especially Sword

[@1wwtom]

After the Sullivan brothers, all five being lost on the sinking of their cruiser at Guadalcanal in 1942 the services spent attention to separating family relatives from being together in action. Still incidents like this were not uncommon.

[@Wally-H]

Another fantastic war film is Cross of Iron.

[@juliehaley2765]

There were 3 brothers who served on the same ship and they all died. So yes they didnt want that happening again. Cant remember their names but very sad.

[@dulguuntsg8389]

there is a saying in our country: soldiers are trained to be used for one day...

[@michaelignatowicz9470]

Awesome channel brother, keep up the great job 👍

[@WatchMeMovie]

Appreciate it Michael, thanks for taking the time to comment

[@angelamitchinson8439]

The Green Mile !!!!!

[@carty43]

Adding to the legend of this film is that the final village battle was edited to be in real time.

[@wloffblizz]

That's got to be either a myth or an impossible attempt, because a battle of that scale would definitely have taken a couple of hours at the very least.