Saving Private Ryan (1998) | Wife's First Time Watching | Movie Reaction

[@kerryferguson2400]

The scene where the inform Mrs. Ryan of the deaths of her sons is one of the most powerful I have ever seen. With no dialogue.

[@clutchpedalreturnsprg7710]

She saw the U.S. Army staff car, but it really began to sink in when she saw her local pastor or priest in the vehicle. She still had no clue that she had lost three sons. What a toll. Of all the reactions that I've seen of this movie Toni got it. Perfectly.

[@clutchpedalreturnsprg7710]

It was interesting that General of the Army ( 5 stars ) George C. Marshall - Chief of Staff of the United States Army authorized the mission to save Private Ryan.

[@dallasyap3064]

@@clutchpedalreturnsprg7710 Except that he wasn't a 5 star yet.

[@clutchpedalreturnsprg7710]

@@dallasyap3064 You are correct, George C. Marshall was not promoted to the rank of General of the Army until December 16, 1944

[@popculturallychallenged]

Yes, that was an incredibly moving scene! 😢

[@cmstone5178]

The German that shot the Captain, the one that Upham shoots at the end, was the same soldier that the Captain let go after Wade was killed at the radar site.

[@iKvetch558]

Thank you for saving me from having to post about that...I wonder how many people will try to say you are wrong.

[@frankgunner8967]

I see a lot of people think that the German guy that had the knife fight and walks past upham on the stairs is the guy they let go.

[@Ailurophile1984]

…who is a different guy than the one who stabbed Mellish and then passed Upham

[@popculturallychallenged]

Thanks! I noticed that when I was editing the reaction! Can't believe we didn't notice at the time!

[@J4ME5_]

and is definitely not the same guy who killed Melish

[@BucksPackersBrewers]

“They’re, like, running to get murdered.” This is why we celebrate D Day still, and remember those who walked into certain doom bravely. It was a turning point in the war, sheer will and courage to take that beach.

[@popculturallychallenged]

I think they will be the bravest men I have ever seen!! - Toni

[@mattinakynen6139]

Turning point of the war happened much earlier in the eastern front. You can be patriotic but just keep realities of history in mind.

[@stavros693000]

@@mattinakynen6139 to my knowledge taking the beaches on D-day was the turning point cause it was when USA invaded german occupied france & got into the fight....what battle was the turn around in your mind?

[@jamesallen2909]

@@mattinakynen6139 the turning point for the Russians was earlier, not for the rest of the Allies. Germany still had a firm stranglehold on almost all of Europe at this point and having lost footing in Africa was fighting as desperately and ferociously as ever. The Normandy landings are EASILY the most important series of invasions for the Allies the entire war as it was the starting point for the pushback of the nazis back into Germany. It’s not a question of patriotism, it wasn’t only the Americans at d day. It’s a matter of reality. The soviets played the long game with the nazis and only found success through the sole fact they had more bodies and supplies to throw away.

[@seanlinehan1136]

Current army, former infantry, degree in Russian history. The turning point is largely accepted as the German defeat at Stalingrad in conjunction with the failed attempt to seize the oil resources in the southern caucuses, and the broader Russian counteroffensive. Normandy was the turning point on the western front, but only considered the nail in the coffin of an already losing German war effort. Keep in mind, this occurred in 1944, only a year prior to defeat. They’d been losing ground heavily since 1942

[@brentfugett2700]

My first day working for the VA over 20 years ago they took us to the director's conference room and showed us a shortened version of the Normandy landing scene (the beginning). Then the lights came up, and the hospital director, Mr Pennington walked in and began, "These are the people we serve...". And that began my career serving the US veteran.

[@popculturallychallenged]

Oh wow! What a powerful way to deliver the message!

[@aryansigrid]

@@popculturallychallenged Yeah, what better way to push one's propaganda!

[@tawogtrailers]

​@@aryansigrid it's not propoganda. That opening scene has been described as one of the more acurate depictions of D-Day. Many veterans that were there have said this

[@cavscout62]

As a disabled Veteran all I can say is it’s a damn shame every VAMC doesn’t approach our Healthcare in this manner. NEVER allow “Universal Healthcare” to become a reality here in our Nation as the VA is exactly that and, it Sucks in a way nobody enjoys.

[@tonyhaynes9080]

@@cavscout62 It's the same with healthcare for British veterans. Illegal economic migrants get treated better than we do. As a disabled veterans, like yourself, I find it deplorable how we are treated.

[@YouOnlyIiveTwice]

Those blimps were called "barrage balloons". They were attached to ships by a wire which prevented enemy planes from being able to strafe down on the ships. A plane would get his wing sheered off if he hit the wire or the balloon would be pulled into it which often had an explosive attached and detonate when it hit the aircraft.

[@popculturallychallenged]

Thanks!

[@EthanBSide]

I'm just watching this and this is a question I've had as a youth, as an amateur historian: Excellent explanation 👏

[@YouOnlyIiveTwice]

@@EthanBSide thank you :)

[@FlyinBrian777]

@@popculturallychallenged Barrage balloons were a common sight over English cities soon after Nazi Germany began bombing during the Blitz, for the same reasons as stated above. The RAF had a division called "Balloon Command". They were effective at discouraging pilots from low level attacks.

[@Nomad-vv1gk]

The Barrage Balloons unit was an all Black American unit. They displayed unparalleled bravery because they had to remain on the beach, exposed to enemy fire for several days until the entire area was secured. They have been erased from history by the Army and Hollywood. It was disappointing that this movie, released in the late 1990s overlooked this unit. The movies and Army official films intentionally have never shown the over 2,000 Black American troops who took part in the initial assault at Omaha Beach.

[@lawrencekoprowski6480]

This movie is a tear jurker. But for a Memorial weekend it gives pride and remembrance of so many sacrifices made to keep this nation free...

[@banzi403]

fake movie about fake people doing fake things. You and I have very different concept of remembering.

[@Cliffster420]

Well said, Lawrence. It's sad to hear the ungrateful idiots in America that don't remember the sacrifices and hate all the traditional values that America was founded on.

[@Ironhead251]

@@banzi403you are a disgrace to this nation and the free world in general. As a partially disabled combat veteran of the United States Navy, people like you make me ashamed of what our nation has become.

[@banzi403]

@@Cliffster420 first i'm Canadian, not american. Second, my dad was a paratrooper on d day, who actually captured a bridge, fought a tank and met monty. So in my eyes a movie about gi joe capturing a bridge too far on the longest day by wiping out a platoon of ss tiger tanks, is not only commical but flat out insulting.

[@banzi403]

@@Cliffster420 is stolen valour the traditional american value you speak of?

[@zilyana7665]

The fact that Ryans wife at the end of the movie asks about Captain Miller as if she doesnt recognise the name suggesting Ryans gone his whole life without telling anyone the story 😢

[@popculturallychallenged]

I've heard a lot of the guys who went through that never talked about it with their families.

[@vblake530530]

My father never spoke of his time in Europe during the War. I know he fought. I know he went back as a Parrot Trooper during the Korean War. I know he had PTSD. I know he struggled with alcohol. I know he drank himself to death. He also raised and got me educated and I’m a physician. So there’s that.

[@shockysocky5396]

@@vblake530530how are you doing as a physician nowadays?

[@m_v__m_v]

You guys deserve to watch a comedy after this one.

[@popculturallychallenged]

We're planning on it. 😂

[@custardflan]

@@popculturallychallenged I would suggest The Best Years of Our Lives, best picture of 1946, about veterans returning from World War II. It's as relevant today as it was then. And you'll need a box of tissue as well.

[@porflepopnecker4376]

You could watch another Spielberg take on the war, "1941."

[@clutchpedalreturnsprg7710]

" Captain Ron ", " Summer Rental ", " Topkapi ", " The Crimson Pirate ", " All at Sea ", " The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox " , " Brewster's Millions ".

[@Metal-Bane]

White Chicks

[@waynepalmer8598]

Imagine how many mothers had to go through the same terrible sorrow of losing sons. War sucks! We have to appreciate the sacrifices these men made.

[@popculturallychallenged]

I can't even imagine going through that. 😢

[@aleccassady5383]

Thier sacrifice and the families

[@robgraham5697]

Peace is better than war. In peace, children bury their parents while in war parents bury their children. - Herodotus

[@liotc4166]

Omaha beach 1000 killed/hour😮

[@RobertBreedon-c3b]

Lest We Forget In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie, In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. I know this from WWI but it fits all wars

[@jowbloe3673]

As much as I enjoy witnessing Toni's genuine reactions and emotions, I did *NOT* ask for a reaction to this. Your reaction in the cemetery at the beginning before a single shot is fired made it clear this would be hard for you, thank you for your strength and perseverance.

[@popculturallychallenged]

Thank you! This is a movie I think is important too see. It was very hard to watch but I'm glad I watched it. 🥰 -Toni

[@stevejette2329]

jow - I have watched SPR and B of B and many reviews many times. Her reactions are so genuine and appropriate that I blew thru a ton of Kleenex also.

[@jowbloe3673]

@@stevejette2329 - She's a reason to keep returning.

[@stevejette2329]

@@jowbloe3673 Yes, seems that way.

[@rainpain3655]

Listening to hear go OHHHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHH OHHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHH over and over at every fight scene was the most beyond annoying thing I've ever heard. Some people out there never had a sense of reality their whole life holy shit.......

[@timbaud5704]

Guts are spilled everywhere and the sea turns red of blood and she is disgusted by him takin a gum from his friends mouth. LOL

[@popculturallychallenged]

Well that’s kinda gross, right? 😳 -Toni

[@SovermanandVioboy]

Thoses Blimps are so called "Barrage Balloons" and they were used against enemy planes - thats why there are so many of them. They form a barrier, so planes would have problems flying through them. Additionally, there were explosives attached to the cables - if a plane cut the cable with its wings, it triggered a little bomb (a bit complicated to explain how it actually works) - but ye, thats what most of these balloons are for. There were also some who carried radio antennas and that could carry a person, to scout the area.

[@popculturallychallenged]

Thanks! 😃

[@clutchpedalreturnsprg7710]

dangling chains too.

[@geraldclough1099]

Barrage balloons in a zone like that had the additional benefit of forcing any strafing aircraft to fly above them, so the offshore vessels don't have to essentially fire on their own troops on the beach.

[@dirkbsilver9260]

Think of them as floating landmines.

[@clutchpedalreturnsprg7710]

@@dirkbsilver9260 Oh yes, I've seen those in the toilet too.

[@brandonbrooks898]

Now this couple do reaction video's the right way. They actually watch the movie and not talk the entire time during the movie. I don't like most of these reaction videos from other people because they don't really watch it and lose the essence of the film experience. You guys do it great! You guys are normal, rare these days lol. Keep it up!

[@popculturallychallenged]

That's so sweet @brandonbrooks898!! Thank you for watching with us. - Toni 🤓

[@michaelschey1084]

The opening scene with the landing on Omaha beach is the most powerful start to a movie I have ever seen. I once read that vets of that assault said that it was exactly like THAT. And that scene in the end, when we see Ryan age to the man he is now, standing over the captains grave asking him if he did ok still brings tears to my eyes. This is a reason why this movie gets the accolades it does.

[@popculturallychallenged]

I agree, this movie is incredible!

[@tommyriam8320]

It(the portrayal) was 'child's play' when compared to the real thing.

[@stickfigure9138]

@@tommyriam8320 Guarantee it

[@cog4life]

Better get tissues. Massage and manicure won’t help😢😊❤

[@brianeleighton]

What many D-Day Veterans said was this was both the most realistic depiction of the landing, but is still wildly inaccurate. According to them the water needed more blood in it and they didn't have nearly enough dead bodies on the beach. Amazing what those 18-21 year old kids were able to accomplish to try to ensure our freedom and Republic.

[@johnwentzel6890]

A common mistake in this movie is that reactors believe the German soldier shot by Cpl. Upham is the same soldier who passed him on the steps. It is not. Upham shot the soldier that Capt. Miller left walk after Wade’s death. The soldier on the steps has SS runes on his lapel, the shot German was regular Wehrmacht. Ironically the the Captain was killed by the man whose life that the captain saved. The soldier calls out Upham’s name just before he is shot. The only German that would know Upham’s name would be “Steamboat Willy”.

[@richcheckmaker]

Upham killing that soldier at the end is fucking bad. Kills a POW who's just doing his job as a soldier and then lets ten POWs go to kill other Americans later. Fucking insane. Commits a war crime AND lets POWs go and people cheer. I'd beat the shit out of that guy.

[@flashgordon10001]

Wrong! You are totally wrong

[@Vikeess]

@@flashgordon10001 no you are.

[@popculturallychallenged]

i noticed that when I was editing the reaction! Can't believe we didn't notice that at the time!

[@custardflan]

@@flashgordon10001 It's the guy Miller let go. He knew Upham's name.

[@HemlockRidge]

Mrs. Ryan had a banner with 4 blue stars. That indicates that she has 4 sons in the war. She will now get a new one with 3 gold stars and 1 blue.

[@popculturallychallenged]

😭

[@bernardsalvatore1929]

Am I the only one who notices that when they show the picture of the four Brothers very briefly as the mother is walking to the front door there is a shadow over three of the four!! My guess is that the one not in the shadow would be Jimmy the survivor!!

[@paweporwo4308]

The soldiers who surrender are not Germans, they are Czechs, I am Polish and I understand what they say, that they are Czechs and they didn't kill anyone. Many people from Central and Eastern Europe were forced to serve in the Wehrmacht. For refusing, their families were sent to concentration camps.

[@tonymoll6265]

The perfect movie to watch around the Memorial Day weekend. This is what so many gave for our freedom. Please remember this!!

[@popculturallychallenged]

I won't be able to forget now. I also think everyone should watch it at least once to not take things for granted. - Toni

[@anthonyguadagnino2681]

I love that she said she was going to try not to cry and knew she’d cry at the scene with older Ryan at the cemetery in the beginning

[@popculturallychallenged]

I don't know why she even bothers trying to hold it in. 😂

[@MASO204]

The guy who shot Tom Hanks wasn't the guy fighting upstairs. He was the guy that Tom Hanks let go earlier in the film.

[@MASO204]

great Reaction! Love the emotion x

[@popculturallychallenged]

Thanks! I can't believe I didn't notice that at first!

[@MASO204]

It's easily missed there's a lot going on! Best War Film of all time in my opinion. @@popculturallychallenged

[@lonzinater1]

- "Isn't that Denzel Washington?...." lmao

[@popculturallychallenged]

BOY WAS I WRONG!!! I'm not sure where that came from.... my brain was definitely not functioning. 🤣 - Toni

[@petis1976]

In WWII a telegram was delivered for single deaths only, in cases where more than one family member was killed a chaplain was sent with military personnel. So Mrs. Ryan knew more than one of her boys was dead. Also, the Normandy invasion scene was so realistic, WWII Veterans who were at the premiere walked out of the theater. It was so hard on them the VA established a hotline for those WWII Vets who saw the movie and experience PTSD from it.

[@popculturallychallenged]

The scene with the mother was so sad! I can't imagine finding out a loved one died through a telegram either. That would be awful! 😭 I remember hearing something about the Vets walking out of the theater. That's so sad.

[@petis1976]

@Pop Culturally Challenged When my BIL died in Iraq, I took the phone call from my MIL (I was stationed in Virginia Beach, and both our families were in MD). After she got done telling me how he died, she asked if I could tell my wife or if she needed to do it. My wife was staring at me from the kitchen the whole time. I stood up, hung up the phone, and started to walk towards her. My wife and her brother were very close, and she could see the tears streaming down my face. She screamed, not Joe, not Joey please God not Joey, I barely caught before she hit the floor. Telling my wife her brother was not coming home is still the hardest thing I've ever done, and the most painful.

[@tonyhaynes9080]

Apparently the only thing missing was the stench.

[@Chrysalis-uu5ec]

My dad (Nam vet) had to run out & was in the lobby with several vets from all different wars & they were just hyperventilating. Said it was the first war movie he's seen that captured all of it realistically.

[@Gretsch-s8j]

My dad was a 20 year old boy from Cambridge Springs Pennsylvania who landed on Normandy as an engineer...he didn't know crap of the larger world...only on two occasions did he briefly talk about his experience...the only two times I ever saw my father cry.

[@joshhevener825]

My great uncle Frank and great uncle William were in the second wave on Omaha beach. They lived into their 90s. I will always be proud of their service.

[@geraldclough1099]

The general who ordered the mission is George Marshal, a man of considerable heart and empathy, who was at the end of the war tasked with rebuilding Europe. You have no worries about the sniper shooting Caparzo again and killing him. Snipers prefer not to kill. He's safe so long as he doesn't seem to be able to get up and run. The sniper intends that his fellows will come out to try to help him and will become targets. Delivering a debilitating wound is strategically more useful, since it ties up multiple others to care for him and evacuate him. You don't get an opinion on Upham until you have been in real combat (video games don't count). It's entirely reasonable that the German's don't notice Upham. Reactions to combat, being under fire, vary. Sometimes, all sound dies. Sometimes, a single noise out of all the chaotic sound comes through alone. Tiny sounds may be very load. Pretty universally, the visual field narrows to tunnel, and you will be blind to everything else. There's been a lot of study in this field. (see On Combat, by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, a standard work for police and military. He's a fascinating instructor. Knowing what you might expect helps some. He also wrote On Killing, which also has some applicability to this film. In WWII, troops still often just fired randomly and avoided actual aimed intent to kill enemy troops. It was like that until the military learned how to accommodate trainees to intentional killing in combat.)

[@popculturallychallenged]

Good points!

[@kdizzle901]

People who criticize Upham are idiots

[@thegeekyouseek8229]

The German soldier who stabbed and killed Private Reiben was dressed in a Waffen SS uniform. The German soldier they let go and who shot Captain Miller was credited as "Steamboat Willie" and was wearing a Wehrmacht uniform. And it's terribly confusing that the two actors look alike, I think it took me 20 years to even notice. But you clearly see the SS on his collars during the fight and when he passes Upham on the stairs.

[@popculturallychallenged]

I can't believe I didn't notice that until I was editing the reaction!

[@jayman58016]

Massive destruction and death and Toni grossed out by the finger in the mouth. LOL. I love it! Great reaction!

[@YoureMrLebowski]

there's a line, even in war 🙂

[@troyp5359]

Germs can kill too!

[@popculturallychallenged]

I thought that was hilarious too! 😂 -David

[@jayman58016]

@@YoureMrLebowski apparently that's the line drawn! LOL

[@actaeon299]

I'm pretty sure, of all the stuff happening that day, putting a finger in a mouth, or sharing a piece of gum, is the least disgusting thing that happened to them.

[@iainbeech5879]

My grandad served in the Warwickshire Regiment from 1943 to 1945, he wasn't part of the Normandy invasion but served in North Africa, Sicily and Italy....he never got to Germany because he was injured in Northern Italy...he then served in the Royal Corps of Signals and was sent to Palestine and was there from 1945 to 1947...I thank God that my grandad didn't see action in Normandy....I deeply respect my grandad and all the soldiers and servicemen and women who saw action in WW2, they gave up so much so that the world could be free and I sometimes feel now that we take these freedoms for granted...God bless them all!

[@popculturallychallenged]

Your Grandfather sounds like an incredible man!

[@patrioticjustice9040]

"Nobody is protecting them." We tried shelling the Atlantic Wall, but the defenses were made of concrete; the worst injuries the Axis had from it was mostly concussions and a small amount of casualties. One tactic we learned in WWII is if you're underground and/or a secure bunker like the ones on the beach, you can survive a naval bombardment. The next thing we tried was bombing them with planes; the problem was between the sea fog and flak, a number of bombs missed. The only option left was for men to go in and storm the beaches, which is exactly what the defenses were prepared for; mines on the sand, machine gun turrets in pill boxes, and hedgehogs to prevent tanks from coming ashore. Bear in mind, these defenses were designed by the Desert Fox himself, Erwin Rommel. The price for freedom against tyranny has always been a high one.

[@popculturallychallenged]

Thanks for the info!

[@ldkusa71]

Nazi General Erwin Rommel, knowing that the Allies will attempt an invasion in France sooner or later, wanted to improve the Omaha Beach defenses more. But Adolf Hitler didn't want to divert resources (Which was tied up with Nazi Germany's war with the Soviet Union) to them. So the D-Day Invasion could have been a lot worse for the Allies.

[@danastearns7939]

The Greatest Generation. The men on those landing boasts knew what they would be facing when the door drops - and yet they did - it had to be done, not to conquer but Liberate peoples of Europe from the most evil tyranny the world had never seen before. Many of the scenes were taken from interviews with survivors of the Landings, relating their experiences. Everyone sacrificed to rid the world of the Axis Powers' tyranny- families at home sacrificed so much too. So many women worked building everything "the boys" would need. This movie is the best "reality" of WWII ever. My dad was in the Navy during WWII training boys loading/unloading armaments from aircraft carrier based planes. I would hope you would watch "We Were Soldiers" - the most "reality" movie of the Vietnam War - where my husband served. Never forget.

[@kimav53]

Spielberg interviewed hundreds of D Day veterans and got their memories of the landings. What is shown in the first half hour actually happened. Lots of veterans had to walk out when they watched it as it bought back so many memories.

[@popculturallychallenged]

I remember hearing that vets had to leave the theater because it was so intense. I can only imagine how hard this must have been for them. 😢

[@ultimatesunrise]

Steven Spielbergs message is simple. This is the sacrifice that was made. Have you earned it?..

[@popculturallychallenged]

I don’t think I have or will ever repay all the sacrifice made for our freedom. - Toni 🥹

[@adamsweetz5156]

The blimps are there to deter low flying enemy fighter planes. The steel cable attached to the blimp can sheer a wing clean off if hit

[@virusmyth4930]

The most powerful scene is seeing all the women being oppressed behind those typewriters while the men are having a good time at the beach...

[@anicheintime72]

Hence, The birth of feminism.

[@actaeon299]

Taking Chance with Kevin Bacon is also an excellent movie for people to watch for Memorial Day weekend.

[@popculturallychallenged]

Thanks for the suggestion! 😃

[@actaeon299]

@@popculturallychallenged It was made by HBO. So, I'm not sure if it's available online or not. I have a DVD from back in the day. I have seen maybe 2 or 3 others react to it. So they must have got it somehow.

[@popculturallychallenged]

@@actaeon299 It's actually on HBO Max! 😃

[@actaeon299]

@@popculturallychallenged Well, if you can get to it, I'll make sure to watch. Even if you can't get to it at this late date, there's always later. I know I'll be busy tomorrow. I spend the day putting flags on veteran's graves most of the day. Or till my back goes out anyway. . I hope you and your loved ones have a good weekend.

[@jhilal2385]

Barry Pepper, who played Jackson the sniper, also plays Joe Galloway the reporter in"We Were Soldiers", one of the Iwo Jima flag raisers in "Flags of Our Fathers", and Ned Pepper in the 2010 remake of "True Grit"

[@popculturallychallenged]

Cool! We'll have to take a look at those someday!

[@brinsonharris9816]

Barry Pepper played Sgt Mike Strank in Flags of Our Fathers (he was killed shortly after the flag raising) and Joe Galloway, civilian AP journalist in We Were Soldiers.

[@tdirgins]

To me one of the saddest lines in Vin Diesel's when he is asking someone to rewrite his letter. "It's to my dad...it's got blood on it." Gets me every time.

[@popculturallychallenged]

I didn't realize that's what he was saying. so that makes alot of sense why the soldier was re-writing it for him. - Toni

[@BigGator5]

"Hell, these guys deserve to go home as much as I do. They've fought just as hard." "Is that what I'm supposed to tell your mother when she gets another folded American flag?" "You can tell her that when you found me, I was with the only brothers I had left. And that there was no way I was deserting them. I think she'd understand that." If you like this movie, might I suggest The Fighting Sullivans (1944) as well. You should react to Sullivan (1997) by Caroline's Spine in the same video, after the movie (the song will have more meaning after the movie). This is, of course, just a recommendation. Fun Fact: Steven Spielberg cast Matt Damon as Private Ryan because he wanted an unknown actor with an All-American look. He did not know Damon would win an Oscar for Good Will Hunting (1997) and become an overnight star before the film was released. Irish Invasion Fact: The Omaha Beach scene cost $11 million to shoot, and involved up to 1,000 extras, some of whom were members of the Irish Army Reserve. Of those extras, 20-30 of them were amputees, issued with prosthetic limbs, to play soldiers who had their limbs blown off. Historical Fact: Upham's (Jeremy Davies) shoulder patch, a blue and grey "yin yang" symbol, identifies him as a member of the 29th U.S. Infantry Division. It symbolizes the fact that the division was composed of units from Virginia and Maryland, who fought on both sides of the American Civil War. Sonic Warfare Fact: Cinemas were instructed to up the volume when they showed the film, as the sound effects play such a crucial part in its overall effect. I remember this, because the theatre I was had surround sound and that tank approaching came from EVERY speaker. I was having a small mental panic attack (I was 17 at the time and I just signed up to join the US Army, so cut me a little slack) leading to the final battle.

[@popculturallychallenged]

I can only imagine what an experience this would have been in theaters! Thanks as always for the great info and for the suggestions! 😃

[@BigGator5]

My pleasure as always. Go in Peace and Walk with God. 😎 👍

[@RobertRoser-h7c]

My dad was in the 29th Division on Omaha Beach. I'm glad he missed seeing this movie. He was wounded three times but not on the beach. One thing he told me was that the men were so sea sick they couldn't wait to get off the boats.

[@popculturallychallenged]

Oh that's terrible. I'm so sorry he had to experience that. - Toni 😢

[@corkydukefarminator8736]

The military will only send men on missions that are strategically important to the war. One of the best war movies ever made. I remember watching it in the theaters with my than girlfriend when it came out. On the ride home I didn't say a word and when we got home, I totally broke down and stated crying.

[@gregcroon6768]

My Dad was at Omaha. His engineering battalion were the ones that blew the hole in the sea wall. I know every year, June 6th in our household was referred to as D-Day. Dad was always pensive and never missed "The Longest Day." Dad passed away in 79 and I often wonder what his reaction to this movie would have been.

[@popculturallychallenged]

Your dad sounds like he was a good man! I can’t imagine what he dealt with over the years after the war. 😢

[@gippywhite]

When this movie came out, it was so accurate to what combat is/was really like that it had a warning/disclaimer for any military personnel watching. It’s still considered the most accurate depiction of World War II and storming the beaches of Normandy. All I know is that Toni has been promised comedies for quite a while. I think she is owed a comedy ASAP. Especially after an extremely powerful movie like this. 💙💙💙

[@popculturallychallenged]

I think so too! We just watched one tonight actually. 😃

[@gippywhite]

@@popculturallychallenged Thank goodness!!! 😅

[@bluesrocker91]

It is by all accounts a very authentic depiction of combat, particularly the opening battle sequence but I wouldn't call it in any way true to history. Aside from the story and all of the characters being entirely fictional, after the Omaha Beach sequence it diverges completely from history. The town of Ramelle for example never existed, and the area along the Merderet river where it is supposed to be located was actually held by the 82nd Airborne, not the 101st as shown in the film. I don't know why they didn't just make Ryan a private in the 82nd Airborne. At least that would have been a nod to the men who actually fought in that area.

[@gippywhite]

@@bluesrocker91 I never said the story was true to history. I literally said, as you reiterated in your first sentence that it’s an authentic depiction of combat when storming the beaches of Normandy. If the 82nd airborne were the ones who were there, then I agree, they should’ve changed Ryan to the 82nd airborne. But there’s a good chance that the only airborne widely known to normies is the 101st. That’s the only real logical reason I can see for changing it. If they want it to make it a true story of one of the incidents that inspired the story, they could’ve just made a movie about the Sullivan brothers. But a good World War II movie that is based on a true story with a phenomenal cast that not enough people react to is Monuments Men. And it shows how Matt Damon has grown, too.

[@bluesrocker91]

@@gippywhite I didn't mean that as a criticism... Sorry if it came across like that. I was just adding my two cents that people should take the film as being only loosely based on history and not a depiction of what was actually going on in the days just after D-Day. The first time I saw the movie was actually in a high school history lesson, and it was presented to us as fact there. It wasn't until years later I found out how heavily fictionalised it is. Definitely agree about Monuments Men though... Excellent film about a fascinating but not widely known WWII story. John Goodman was great in it too.

[@NJbakintheday]

What a sweetheart of a lady. Toni, your empathy and emotion get me every time.

[@popculturallychallenged]

Thank you so much!

[@billwatson8380]

That old man you used to see hobbling around with a cane or walker? He was more bad ass than a lot of us ever could be. God bless those brave men who stormed that beach and fought and died for this great country.

[@popculturallychallenged]

Agreed!

[@williamlilleston1595]

For me, as a veterian of 10 years service, (74-84), it is refreshing to see 2 people that dont have a clue. What exactly do you think service people do ?...Sit on base and eat donuts? Living and dieng to accomplish our given mission is what we are trained to do. We all know we may very well die, but we have a mission to do and our thoughts, our blood and our death does not matter. None of us want to die. But it is because there are so many that will not serve we serve for our people, our country and our way of life. Think about those that will wear a uniform and try to understand the mind set they have. It is because of us that you live and have a life.

[@popculturallychallenged]

Thank you for your service!

[@BillO964]

My Dad was a landing craft operator (coxswain) on Dday in Normandy. He never talked about it but we knew. He never liked going to ocean beaches when we were kids. He was also in the North Africa and Italy campaigns.

[@popculturallychallenged]

Oh wow! I can't imagine how hard that must have been for him!

[@ralph818]

Toni: "Oh, my throat is in my throat" David: "That's where it's supposed to be" Hehehe

[@popculturallychallenged]

🤣. I can't get my thoughts out when under stress!! - Toni

[@ernestclevenger6640]

This movie starts and ends in a military cemetery. This particular cemetery is in Normandy, France, on the cliffs near the landing beaches for the D-Day invasion. It contains 9,800+ graves for Allied soldiers from the invasion beaches and fights for the cliffs. Sadly, there are two more cemeteries there, just as big. In total, approximately 30,000 allied soldiers died that day. In America, tomorrow is Memorial Day.......NEVER forget what they did for us.

[@popculturallychallenged]

That is so sad. 😭

[@dannchamberlain4283]

I'm an old man now. I am a combat soldier who know the hell of war. I want to thank the 2 of you for making this history stay alive. I'd hate to think that we Soldiers, sailors, Airmen and Marine did all this just for future entertainment. Ma'am, thank you for struggling through this intense movie showing the hell of it for all future generations. Love you both for doing this. Dan MSGT US ARMY RETIRED

[@popculturallychallenged]

Thank you!

[@blindlemonpledge2556]

Some vetrans of the D-day 48:42 invasion were so disturbed by how real the landing scene was that they couldn't watch the rest of the movie and left the theater

[@QWERTY-ov9tm]

Not only is this the greatest war movie of all time but it's in my top 5, if not 3 greatest movies of all time.

[@popculturallychallenged]

It is a great movie!

[@Thylonicus]

Toni: I'm not going to cry at all this time. Movie: * cracks knuckles and rolls up sleeves * Challenge accepted. When I saw that this had come up, I knew it was going to be a heck of a ride for the Missus. I'm glad she enjoyed it. 🙂 I _believe_ that the Ryan story is a fictionalized version of a real account, the Niland brothers--Bob, Edward, Fritz, and Preston. They'd be worth looking into, as the story naturally is more in-depth than can really be covered in a KZbin comment.

[@popculturallychallenged]

It definitely was a heck of a ride but I'm glad I've seen it! 😢

[@summergivens242]

Anybody that watched this movie and didn't cry is a brick wall. I cry everytime I watch this movie. So I was right along with you Toni.

[@nicholasjones7312]

Me too! Every time!

[@popculturallychallenged]

Thank you! I'm glad I'm not alone! 😃

[@SearingNinja]

I've never cried from a movie or show or song, but some things get me damn close. Best example in this movie that almost gets me is when they take the letters to Ryan's mom near the beginning. Just imagine seeing the car coming, your heart would already drop and then to hear not only 1 of your sons died, but 3 of them.

[@corkyduke8673]

I remember seeing this in the theater with my then girlfriend when it came out. After the movie I couldn't say a word on the way home, when we got home, I simply broke down and started crying.

[@brianeleighton]

In answer to Toni's question regarding the landing, the military knew the invasion was going to be very costly. This is because amphibious landings under fire are the deadliest activities one can do in combat. This is why militaries REALLY don't like to do them. However, in this instance, there was literally no way around it if the Allies wanted to retake Europe. The best they could do is give them the best chance of success by attacking where they did. The Allies even created a fictional Ghost Army under the command of General Patton in England. They did this because they knew the Germans rated him as one of our best fighting commanders. That kept a large number of German troops manning the stronger section of the Atlantic Wall opposite him. The Atlantic Wall in Normandy was also only partially completed, so it would be easier to breach.

[@g-manracer1997]

You MUST see " We were Soldiers" It is a movie directed and starred in by Mel Gibson. It is another movie that ranks right up here with this movie. One more would be "Fury" with Brad Pitt. I highly recommend both of these to be seen, if you haven't yet already. I can only say, you will not be disappointed. Great job both of you, and remember it's ok to cry. How can you not hold back the compassion that our brave soldiers deserve for sacrificing their lives, for our freedom and way of life.

[@popculturallychallenged]

Thank you for the recommendations! We are adding those to our list. - Toni 🥰

[@jamesk0ua]

I would second the motion for both of them. both are intense. Especially Fury as it is somewhat "darker".

[@tonyhaynes9080]

Also might I recommend, Hacksaw Ridge?

[@captainz9]

When the captain says "Earn this" it's for us all... We should all earn what those men fought and died for, we are all today enjoying the fruits of their sacrifice, never take that for granted?

[@popculturallychallenged]

Agreed! 👍

[@tomgraham5536]

The big balloons over the beach were called barrage balloons and they were to try and prevent German planes from strafing and dive bombing the landing zone...... Honestly knowing how intense the opening scene was I did not think Toni would make it through this whole movie.... Good job girl. You deserve to do some average rom-coms or drama movies for a bit now!!!!!

[@popculturallychallenged]

Thank you! We've got some good movies on the calendar planned. 😃

[@philliphamilton4782]

The two German guys that were trying to surrender( ohh i washed for supper) were actually saying dont shoot we're polish! They were forced to fight for the German infantry

[@popculturallychallenged]

That's so sad. 😢

[@wordword6039]

I think every veteran who's either lost a friend or someone in their unit feels the same way Pvt Ryan felt. Try to live up to the ideal those who were taken from us and our responsibility to "be a good man, and live a good life".

[@popculturallychallenged]

Well said. A huge THANK YOU to those veterans and their families. - Toni 😔

[@duanetelesha]

Barrage balloons, to prevent low flying enemy aircraft from firing on ground troops.

[@carthos4402]

Additional info: The cables that secured the balloons could knock out a plane that attempted to fly under the ballons.

[@popculturallychallenged]

Cool! Thanks for the info!

[@pingasblobfish97]

David is a smart man, I really enjoyed his and his wife's reaction this is one of the better reaction channels

[@popculturallychallenged]

Thank you so much!

[@pingasblobfish97]

@@popculturallychallenged Pleasure brother.

[@TheMustardSeedChurch]

This movie is the closest depiction of what truly happened during the Invasion of Normandy and D-Day itself. The 101st and 82nd Airborne lost 30 percent of their men in the early morning hours due to misdrops, drowning and being blown out of the sky. The 29th Infantry Division suffered over 1,000 casualties in the first one hour of the attack. Over 2,900 men were killed on June 6, and over 10,000 killed overall in the weeks of the campaign. Watch this, along with Band of Brothers, and you will see what our grandfathers suffered during World War II, thus the reason they are referred to as The Greatest Generation.

[@popculturallychallenged]

We watched Band of Brother on the channel and that was intense!

[@johndyess791]

This should be required viewing in every school. The horror and sacrifice those brave men endured on the beach should never be forgotten. This is the reason we celebrate Memorial Day. In the movie where they are talking to the Ryan character, and he states "these are my brothers now I'm not leaving them" cannot be understated. Unless you've experienced it you don't know the power of the brotherhood in the military. This is why so many veterans that leave the service end up being lost and on the streets. They've lost that brotherhood and can't find it again. Its why you see so many veterans in motorcycle clubs, the brotherhood. Once you've experienced it you look for it your whole life. When young people are entering the military, they are looking for structure and a purpose. They find it in the military. They are taught everything they need to know about how to take care of the person next to you. Once they leave the military, there is nobody waiting on them to teach them how to re-enter the civilian world. They end up lost and on the street-corner looking for handouts.

[@popculturallychallenged]

That makes sense. Thank you for bringing some light into the situation. - Toni

[@tommyriam8320]

Instead they(the indoctrination centers we call, "public school") give them "Drag-Queen Story Time" hour with some homosexual freak gyrating and stripping while reciting some perverted and/or bastardized version of a classic fairy-tale..no pun intended

[@Milner62]

Few things. 1) The landings we are seeing at the beginning is Omaha Beach, Omaha beach was one of the deadliest landing zones but there were warships providing support for the landings. The landing craft heading fo the beach was landing in the area of St. Laurent. To the east was the British sector starting around Port-en-Bessin. On this eastern side of the US sector at Omaha, you had three ships providing fire support, the battleship USS Arkansas followed by the french light cruisers Montcalm and Georges Leygues this was Fire Support Area Four, to the west of this was the boat lane for the landing crafts. To the west of this boat lane was Fire Support Area Three which comprised of two war ships providing fire support, the USS Texas (currently a museum ship in dry dock as of the posting of this) lead by the british cruiser HMS Glasgow. The USS Texas and USS Arkansas moved in very close to the shore providing main battery fire against german gun emplacements to help the forces landing on the beaches. This was not shown in the movie. USS Texas on the west side of the US sector provided main gun fire support against what was deemed Exit D-1 which was a fortified position near Vierville that was to be the exit from Omaha beach to the interior of france. USS Texas also dropped off early in the morning a detachment of US Rangers that was to climb the cliffs at Point du Hoe to capture/neutralize the german gun emplacements atop the cliff. This US Ranger detachment arrived late and found the german guns were moved from their position. USS Texas bombarded the whole cliff top at Point du Hoe which you can still see the moon like surface of the area from her shells hitting the ground. Interesting fact of this bombardment that we have from the surviving war diary of the USS Texas that her time in Normandy France which was between June 6 and June 18, 1944 she provided main artillery fire on June 6-8 and again on June 15 and provided secondary artillery fire on June 6-8. On these dates she fired a total of 690 14" main artillery shells, 272 5" secondary artillery shells and 192 rounds of 40mm anti-aircraft. Largest number of shells for her fired in one day was June 6, 1944 where she fired 445 14" main artillery shells and the largest number of shells for her firing continuously in one period was 0550 to 0624 on June 6, 1944 at Point du Hoc with a number of 255 shells for an average rate of fire of 7.5 shells per minute for 34 minutes continuous. Another thing not shown in this movie would be on June 15, 1944 which was the last day for USS Texas to operate off Normandy, german tiger tanks were amassing just outside of the range of the USS Texas`s main artillery prepping for a counter attack. USS Texas was tasked with shelling this assembly area for the german tiger tanks and to fulfill this mission, Captain Baker had her starboard torpedo blister flooded with water to induce a 2* list to starboard giving the USS Texas 2* more gun elevation allowing her to strike at the german tanks. She fired 24 shells as her last shots fired in the Normandy region. On the 16th there was an explosion heard to the stern of the escorting destroyer Forrest with no damage, she left for Plymouth England on the 18th and readied for action at shelling the port of Cherbourg on June 25th. This is when the Texas took two direct hits with minimal damage, first shot hit port side below the water line with no penetration into the hull. The second hit struck the armored conning tower with the resulting explosion blasting up through the floor of the pilot house wounding 7 with the helmsman Christen Christensen passing away later on which was the one and only death USS Texas ever had in her long service from her commissioning on March 12, 1914 to her decommissioning starting December 1945. The third shot went through the hull without going off landing in a crewman's bunk, this was later defused and brought back aboard the ship as a trophy where it still resides today. 2) The blimps are as was stated before I saw, barrage balloons, they were used to prevent aerial attack of ships including dive bombing which the germans had dedicated dive bombers the Stuka. There were numerous aerial attacks on the warships off the coast of Normandy, the USS Texas has in her war diary numerous night time alerts from aerial attacks coming in as well as numerous surface attacks made. In the deck log of the USS Texas on June 8 1944 at 0417, smoke making commenced to screen transport area from a suspected E-boat contact. Another report was made between 0000 and 0400 in the log citing at 0005 heavy AA fire in the eastern area and beach with six planes getting shot down with numerous planes being heard flying over head. German reports made on the radio stated numerous times that their aerial attacks had sunk the USS Texas off the coast of Normandy but the bombs dropped never hit the ship in the dark. 3) the two german soldiers surrendering and promptly getting shot dead were not actual german soldiers. They were speaking Czech and they were saying "Please dont shoot me, I am not German, i am Czech, I didnt kill anyone I am Czech". After Germany took over Czechoslovakia there were many Czechs pressed into german military service. Some were forced, and some willingly joined as they saw the nazis as the lesser of two evils between hitler and stalin.

[@popculturallychallenged]

Thank you so much for the information! That Is so sad about the Czech prisoners. 😢

[@torbjornkvist]

Omaha Beach, during Operation Overlord, was the only landing zone that met fully prepared German defense. That's why US Army had over 2,000 casualties on that beach, on that day.

[@popculturallychallenged]

That is so sad.. I can't imagine what they went through. Just the 15 minute scene was a lot to take in. I can't imagine what it was like being there. 😢

[@blakemcelrath54]

The opening scene is the closest to real combat in a movie you'll ever see

[@popculturallychallenged]

That was so intense! 😢

[@tawogtrailers]

​@@popculturallychallenged many veterans of D- day have said this is one of the most accurate depictions

[@DogFeet17]

@@tawogtrailers some of them said the only thing missing was more bodys

[@cal9064]

Fully agree. The only thing missing are the smells. Something you never forget.

[@JimFinley11]

Yes. The smell, and your hands being sticky with blood and not being able to get them clean until later. I still can't stand the feeling of my hands being greasy or sticky. People think I'm weird because I won't eat fried chicken and I eat pizza with a fork. That's why.

[@BenWillyums]

31:57 in the theater, you could feel the rumble of the tank in your bones far before you could hear it. it was unnerving

[@popculturallychallenged]

Oh wow! This must have been an incredible experience in theaters!

[@MrRaposaum]

In the final battle of the movie, the german guy who killed one of the american soldiers with a knife and went right past Upham in the stairs is the same guy they decided to let go right in about the middle of the movie. He recognized Upham and let him live, which is why you hear he saying "Upham!" when they're surrendering, right before Upham makes up his mind shoots him.

[@popculturallychallenged]

I can't believe I didn't notice that until I was editing this video!

[@ldkusa71]

No. The German soldier who killed the Jewish soldier IS NOT the German soldier the patrol let go earlier. HOWEVER the German soldier who shot Tom Hanks's character IS THE SAME SOLDIER who was released by the patrol earlier.

[@JimFinley11]

That's incorrect. The German who killed Mellish with the knife was an SS trooper - lightning bolt insignia on his uniform - and "Steamboat Willy," the one they let go earlier, was a regular Wehrmacht soldier, not a member of the SS. The horrible irony was that Captain Miller was shot by the very man whose life he had spared. That was why Upham killed him.

[@MrTech226]

Toni This is why surviving vets of D-Day walked out of theaters when this movie came out during invasion scene. One vet stated only difference is the smell of death and gunpowder.

[@MrTech226]

As of 1978, flamethrowers are illegal in combat stated by the Pentagon. Most of civilized countries considered them to be illegal too according to the United Nation Convention of Prohibited Weapons.

[@MrTech226]

During the D-Day Invasion, Allies had standing orders not to acquire POW's until areas are secured.

[@MrTech226]

Those soldiers talking to ours were Polish Conscripts forced by the Germans.

[@popculturallychallenged]

Thank you for all of the great information!

[@GodOfThunder6789]

Great reaction fine people. I think the hardest emotional part of the movie is when Mrs Ryan gets the visit. It’s heart wrenching.

[@popculturallychallenged]

Thanks! That scene was so hard to watch!

[@tommyriam8320]

'heart _rending_ ' _guts_ 'wrench'

[@stevenhopwood8195]

Soon as I saw you were reacting to this movies, my thoughts went out to Toni. I must say she handled it pretty good and managed to watch it all. Well done Toni. ❤️🤘🎸🎻🇦🇺

[@popculturallychallenged]

Thank you @Steven Hopwood!! I tried to be strong but did't work out to well... It was a great movie! - Toni

[@YoureMrLebowski]

how about Rocky (1976)?

[@popculturallychallenged]

It's definitely on our list!

[@Novali3VT]

Sad Fact: The Life Expectancy after the ramp on the boat drops wasn't even a second, it was roughly 0.6 seconds of life after the ramp dropped

[@PeterRStewart]

I have watched the movie quite a few times but l have been sitting in tears watching your wife's reactions. I belive Irish soldiers were used for the beach scene.

[@andystewart581]

The sniper shot through the scope that they depicted was an actual event. Just not in WWII. Marine SSgt. Hathcock did this shot in Vietnam when the North Vietnamese Army sent their top sniper to hunt SSgt Hathcock. SSgt Hathcock won. Hollywood likes to put this in various movies now.

[@Bullock0099]

Never happened. Physics makes that impossible. At that distance, bullets are landing on the targets from above.

[@andystewart581]

@@Bullock0099 This was in the book before wiki. He had his spotter with him. "One enemy sharpshooter came dangerously close to killing Hathcock in an intense battle near the firebase at Hill 55. In the final moments of the fight, the two snipers had each other in their sights, each man ready to end the other's life, but Hathcock was faster on the trigger. He put a bullet clean through the man's scope, killing him instantly."

[@popculturallychallenged]

Wow! That's crazy! What a shot!

[@Demigord]

lol@ toni putting down the tissues when they figure out it's the wrong ryan

[@popculturallychallenged]

😂

[@dusty4835]

As a prelude to the opening D-Day scenes, there's an excellent movie "Ike: Countdown To D-Day'' with Tom Selleck as Eisenhower as he and the small group of commanders plan for the Normandy invasion. Selleck is very good good in this role, the dialogue is excellent and shows the burden, the strain and the responsibility placed upon his shoulders. The movie encompasses the roles of Churchill, de Gaulle, Generals Bradley, Montgomery and others. Highly recommended even if you don't react to it.

[@popculturallychallenged]

Thanks! We may have to check it out!

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Good movie, even if the actors playing Montgomery and Patton are miscast.

[@dusty4835]

@@lyndoncmp5751 Perhaps, but the overall gravitas can't be beat.

[@garymoore2535]

De Gaulles role in the D Day landings....... Only 177 French Military personnel were involved ? The French Resistance contributed far far more than De Gaulle ever did !

[@lyndoncmp5751]

@@dusty4835 I do like the film. I have it on DVD.

[@WorldWide-q8v]

No, the German soldier that killed Hank's character was the one he let go earlier, when the medic died.

[@popculturallychallenged]

I can't believe I didn't realize that until I was editing this video!

[@steveg5933]

I saw this on a Tuesday afternoon with 12 other veterans. At the end we all had tears. One old man his hat said it all. Purple Heart, D-Day Survivor. He simply stated "as far as the movie went, that was the most accurate depiction I've ever seen on film. As for the ACTUAL D-Day, it did not come close." I have always deferred to his expert opinion. I was a US Navy Hospital Corpsman the Navy counterpart to the medic Wade. His death hits hard to this day.

[@popculturallychallenged]

That's awesome that you got to watch this with him! 🙂

[@Milner62]

As close as this is, the movie didnt have a lot, one could chalk this up to being that this is Ryan remembering but he wasnt at the beaches so he doesnt know exactly what happened but what he could find out or heard happened. This I feel is a good explanation for why we dont see allied naval warships shelling the hell out of the landing zones. For example, USS Texas was working the western side of Omaha Beach with HMS Glasgow, Texas started firing her main guns at the Point du Hoe to take out the german artillery atop the cliffs, which the rangers stationed aboard USS Texas were to climb and secure, at 0550 and ceased firing at 0624. During this same time period her 5" guns were firing upon Exit D-1 on Omaha Beach itself to open up a route to get inland from western omaha. At 0626 her main 14" guns were brought to bear on the western side of Omaha around the town of Vierville-sur-mer. Feel it would be nice if we got some historical accurate war films that actually showed things like the naval bombardment of the shore.

[@Jetz316]

The most heart wrenching moment in this movie is at the end when James Francis Ryan from Iowa asks his wife if he was a good man. If he’s lived a good life. 😭 * Side note: My grandfather and great uncles all served and came home alive. My grandfather fought in the Battle of The Bulge, Uncle Jack was in a German POW camp, uncle Bob was in a Japanese camp. Uncle Dick lost a leg… uncles Gerry and Bill had lifelong drinking problems and depression.

[@popculturallychallenged]

That scene was incredibly powerful! That is incredible! We will keep your family in our thoughts today on Memorial Day. 🥰

[@johannesvalterdivizzini1523]

My uncle Tom was a bomber pilot shot down somewhere over the Pacific. He died a hero as he held the flaming plane steady, allowing most of his crew to parachute out, and he was flying (and on fire) as the plane blew up. My aunt never remarried., but as a doctor she put in 40 years with the Veteran's Admin hospitals. My dad volunteered a year and a half before Pearl Harbor and was promoted to be a senior Navigational Instructor. My uncle Vin was a supply truck driver. Mom worked with the USO. They all did their part. In fact virtually all of the adult men and women I knew as a child did something in the War. (One of the local Deli owners had tattoos on his arm from the Concentration Camp)

[@DannyRobalino]

I really like your reactions. I think the next movie from Spielberg should be Schindler’s List, which is based on real events. Two pieces of info you can find about this is that Spielberg was emotionally destroyed during the making of this movie, because it was so accurately portrayed, and I think some of the scenes were actually shot in the remains of the Polish concentration camps. Other piece of info is that Ralph Fiennes’ character was so believable, that one of the holocaust survivors that was on set started shaking just looking at him. A must watch film, so we never forget or repeat this ignorant atrocities.

[@popculturallychallenged]

Thank you! And thanks for the suggestion!

[@lyndoncmp5751]

He never bettered his first blockbuster, Jaws.

[@knojustenuftobedangerous2442]

Thanks, to the greatest generation. And thanks to you guys for keeping this history alive.

[@popculturallychallenged]

They were amazing..... Thank you for watching with us. - Toni

[@NickWilly-yi5xb]

The German Soldier who killed Capt. Miller was NOT, The German Soldier who stabbed Fish. It was The Blindfolded German who Oppum talked Capt Miller into letting go.

[@popculturallychallenged]

I can’t believe I didn’t notice that when I watched it!

[@NickWilly-yi5xb]

@@popculturallychallenged Both wore SS Fallschirmjaeger (Paratrooper) smocks, and were buzz cut, but, The one that stabbed Fish was a bit more muscular and chiseled in his features.

[@noahsturgis3633]

The sniper near the beginning didn't shoot Caparzo again because he was trying to lure the others out to save him. It's a common tactic for snipers to wound, but not kill, an enemy soldier for this exact reason.

[@popculturallychallenged]

Thanks for the info!

[@Rattytatt]

Well done reaction. Side note: the initial landing scene in the movie was about 16 or 17 minutes long. The actual Omaha Beach landings on D-Day lasted from about 0630 to 2100, about 14 1/2 hours. We only viewed a tiny fraction of the experience those men endured.

[@popculturallychallenged]

That was so much pain.... - Toni

[@Milner62]

to be more precise USS Texas and HMS Glasgow enters Omaha western fire support lane Area 3 at 0300 and by 0441 the USS Texas and HMS Glasgow was 12,000 yards from shore. The initial bombardment of Point Du Hoc which was the start of the attack was at 0550 when USS Texas started shelling the site of six 155mm german guns atop the cliff at Point du Hoe. By 1313 a small group of infantry began to get off the beach and push inland, USS Texas continued to provide infantry support until 2109 with aerial attacks against the ships coming in after 2230. By 2400 a beachhead 1.5 miles deep was established. So to be precise the battle started at 5:50 am June 6, infantry started to push off the beach at 1:13 pm with a 1.5 mile deep beach head being established by 12:00am. You have 7 hours 23 minutes between start of battle and the first infantry getting off the beaches and it would be 5 hours 47 minutes from that point till the beach head is established. That would be a grand total of 13 hours and 10 minutes from start of the engagement to the establishment of a beach head. Its a shame that we didnt get to see the actual naval bombardment that was taking place at Omaha beach.

[@jaydisqus3353]

The medic knew the exact dosage to kill himself. That's why he was so specific.

[@popculturallychallenged]

That was heartbreaking. 😢

[@jaydisqus3353]

@@popculturallychallenged the scene that gets me is the one where the mother gets the telegram. Imagine losing three children at one time.

[@Demigord]

i kind of want to want to make my teenage daughter watch the start of this, just to understand something about how horrible war is. my grandfather had two bronze stars, but he never told anyone in the family anything about the war (i heard he might have talked to other vets)

[@krisfrederick5001]

That's a good idea, make her appreciate her iPad. Most Veterans didn't talk to civilians about the War because they wouldn't get it.

[@mestupkid211986]

Easier to talk to someone that understood, I get that.

[@popculturallychallenged]

We may show our kids this when they're older. It's hard to watch but I think it's important to know the sacrifices that people have made.

[@tommyriam8320]

Make those pieces of sh*t on the U.S. "women's" Soccer Team and that monster in the WNBA that Biden Crime Family Boss, Usurper Joe 'the Big Guy' exchanged for a Russian Spy we had in custody - watch this. It'll make no difference but make their ingrate asses watch it anyway, over and over again along with listening to first-hand accounts from the men who were actually there and a part of the real life battle

[@benprewitt4600]

15:42 "...the balloons..." First off: I love your channel, thank you for keeping it going! The balloons are what's called "barrage balloons" and they're used to keep German fighters away: the ropes keeping the balloons from floating away are made of coiled wire, so if a plane were to try and fly low enough to strafe the beach, it would run right into the wire and probably rip it's wing off. Thanks for the time!

[@popculturallychallenged]

Thank you!

[@shallowgal462]

Early in the movie, the army staff mentioned the Sullivans. Are you familiar with their story? USS The Sullivans (DD-537) is a retired U.S. Navy destroyer, named for the five Sullivan brothers (George, Francis, Joseph, Madison, and Albert), ages 20 to 27, whose ship, the USS Juneau, was sunk by the Japanese during the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942. "Theirs was the greatest military loss by any one American family during World War II" (Wikipedia). USS The Sullivans was the first Navy ship commissioned to honor more than one person. It served in WWII and Korea, and was finally decommissioned in 1965. 12 years later, both it and the USS Little Rock were donated to the Erie County Naval & Military Park in Buffalo, where my brother, a veteran of the Vietnam era, was later found after taking his own life. Both ships are available for public tours as museum ships. If you're ever in this area, let me know if you'd like me to be your free tour guide to all the best attractions (and restaurants) around here.

[@popculturallychallenged]

Oh wow! We're so sorry for your loss! 😢 Thank you for the information! We would love to visit that area someday. 🙂

[@carstenphillips436]

I would highly recommend the classic war film The longest day, it gives a good overview of D-day from every perspective American, French, English and German and the timeline and decisions involved for when to go into Normandy. It's not perfectly accurate on every detail but it really shows the scale and significance of the invasion and what it meant for Europe and the world at the time. And it can be something of a comedy adventure seeing many famous actors in little cameos here and there through the film some in the hay day and some just starting out.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Its a better film than this and more historically accurate.

[@popculturallychallenged]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[@hypnotistraywilliams]

Great new DO, makes Toni look much younger. I thought you guys were going to watch something a bit lighter after Stand By Me, you went lighter with Saving Private Ryan?

[@popculturallychallenged]

Thank you! These were released out of order. I think we watched The Rocketeer and The Big Lebowski in between them. 😃

[@bryanblack526]

The blimps you saw were to keep enemy aircraft from getting close enough to make strafing runs.

[@popculturallychallenged]

Thanks for the info!

[@mustavogaia2655]

The blimps over the ships are a protection against low flying enemy planes.

[@susanliltz3875]

When this movie first came out I heard interviews with the survivors of this battle and they said this was the most accurate portrayal of what happened there on the beach that day!!

[@popculturallychallenged]

I believe it!

[@banzi403]

internet myth

[@j9lorna]

I don't think the explosives care if it's in a clean sock or a stinky one. Just as long as it goes boom.

[@popculturallychallenged]

Good point! 😂

[@Idealdeath8304]

No matter how brutal you think war is… it’s worse. Much worse.

[@popculturallychallenged]

I can't even imagine. 😭

[@leo2a7dk]

One of THE WWII movies. Hanks and Spielberg.. What a cocktail. First time watching it, I stood in my armchair shouting at the television... Those feelings running down your spine...

[@FlyinBrian777]

At 27:51 you asked how they knew which side the people were on that they were shooting at. Any soldier back then could immediately identify enemy equipment. We can't see it here but the German markings would have been visible. To someone with a basic knowledge of enemy armored vehicles, the shape of a German half tracked vehicle would be obvious. Hope this helps. For what it's worth, my great uncle survived the D-Day landings but was KIA about 6 months after. He died while fighting against the 1st SS Panzer Division in Belgium.

[@popculturallychallenged]

Thanks for the info! That is so sad! 😢

[@FlyinBrian777]

@@popculturallychallenged You're welcome. The fighting in Belgium was just as ferocious as Normandy, it was so bad that the German general Joachim Peiper of the 1st SS Panzer Division had a nervous breakdown. My uncle is buried in Arkansas in a tiny cemetery in the middle of nowhere.

[@STILL-KICKIN]

We just simply can never ever repay the debt we owe these heroes. May God bless and grant eternal peace to the souls of our fallen and those of our allies as well. 💔 🙏🏼

[@popculturallychallenged]

Well said! 👍