*SAVING PRIVATE RYAN* BROKE ME! | First Time Watching | (reaction/commentary/review)

[@entelechy00]

The Sullivan incident they refer when they talked about splitting up the brothers: after the Pearl Harbor attack, 5 brothers all joined the Navy and requested to serve on the same ship. The ship was sunk and all 5 were killed. A national outcry came about, and siblings, except twins, can now no longer be in the same unit/ship.

[@Harv72b]

This movie was essentially an open letter from Spielberg (and the rest of the cast & production team) to the entire world, attempting to drive home just what all those men in "The Greatest Generation" gave up for the rest of us while a few of them were still alive to receive our thanks. Captain Miller's final words were aimed just as squarely at the audience as they were toward Private Ryan.

[@gk5891]

Many of the famous actors with cameos like Ted Danson worked essentially for free for that very reason.

[@thecocoacouch]

That’s what I thought too, the thank you at the end was how the audience felt as well.

[@kimnielsen3430]

And yet.... the real version is worse. This scene is shot at high tide, which was the plan. But hey change it, but like "last minute" they changed it to move low tide. Because of the tank traps and such. So instead of the distance you see in the movie, it's like 3 times that

[@mikeymike1374]

@@thecocoacouch pretty shit how you censored it

[@Anon54387]

@@thecocoacouch It broke YOU?!? Imagine those who actually had to be part of that mess.

[@puzzled_pelican3626]

79 years and two days the greatest assault that would determine the fate of the world happened

[@nikolaypetrov9789]

so true. if usa didnt land in europe then whole europe would be part of soviet union. war would end anyway, just would take longer

[@robertg7396]

Years ago, I had an elderly gentleman for a neighbor by the name of Arthur Tobin, but everyone called him "Toby". He was one of the first wave of soldiers to storm the beach this horrible day. The stories he used to tell, would chill you to the bone, but he was such a kind, and gentle soul, he told them in such a way, that was just fascinating. He was living history. I used to visit with him often, take him out to do his errands, and he became a grandfather figure to me, as well as one of the best friends I've ever known. May he now rest in peace. 🫡🇺🇲

[@thecocoacouch]

Wow what a story. All incredibly brave men.

[@robertg7396]

@The Cocoa Couch absolutely. True heroes! It was an honor spending time with him.

[@dawnofthewalkers4915]

I think one mistake captain Miller made was putting the machine gun in the bell tower with Jackson. It basically told everyone where they were at.

[@Harv72b]

4:17 What they were actually saying (in Czech, not German): "We are Czechs, we did not shoot anybody!". A little historically accurate Easter egg that Spielberg threw into the movie (the Germans did forcibly "recruit" men from occupied nations, particularly in the latter years of the war as the tide turned decidedly against them).

[@thecocoacouch]

Oh that makes it so sad the. Since they got shot and made fun of.

[@NS1.]

Wow, then that really freaking sucks. ☹

[@greggross8856]

The Japanese did the same thing in the Pacific, only with Koreans.

[@S0ulinth3machin3]

@@NS1. besides being against the Geneva Convention, this adds another reason why one shouldn't shoot surrendering opponents. You don't know who they are, they might be good people. If there wasn't a war on, you might be friends. Do the right thing.

[@DJGuatemala83]

My Grandfather dropped in the night before DDAY, w the 101 airborne. He was my hero, and many many years later, i too joined the Army infantry. Im 39 yes old and i never understood why he never talked about the war, until i too was in war. Its so disheartening to me to this day that i never could comprehend it, his sacrifice and pain, until long after he passed away.

[@LlamaLlamaMamaJamaac]

Thank you both for your service 🇺🇸

[@digidv85]

Very hard to watch, I know. Saw this in theaters and was absolutely speechless. Back in 1998, I was too young to legally go on my own. But my mother took me, since her father; my grandfather, who was still alive at the time, was a WWII vet and felt it was important to see this together.

[@thecocoacouch]

I imagine those sort of experiences would have been so much more personal hey.

[@jcarlovitch]

The letters in the front breast pockets were death letters. They were written to their loved ones expressing what they meant to them and were to be mailed by your comrade only if you were killed in action.

[@thecocoacouch]

Yeah I figured as much. And I’m assuming that other character was re-writing Vin Diesels characters letter because it had blood on it?

[@J4ME5_]

@@thecocoacouch yep

[@BlyatBlaster]

2:10 my great grandpa was at Utah beach on D Day. We liked watching war movies growing up, and the only time I ever saw him cry was watching this movie. He sat there really quiet and cried while he repeated the names of his buddies he had lost on the beach. When the movie came out there were WWII vets who had to leave the theater because the portrayal of combat was so realistic. They couldn’t handle going back there.

[@BlyatBlaster]

@c your dad sounds as hard as they get. That’s a job I wouldn’t want. At least the guys on the boats can move for cover when they hit the sand. The driver can’t really do that, he’s stuck holding his position, exposed, until he gets his job done. What a dude.

[@lionlyons]

Ryan's story about his brothers and the ugly girl was ad-libbed by Matt Damon - he was making it up as he went along. The script contained another amusing story but, when the scene was filmed, Spielberg felt that the anecdote sounded "written"; so he asked Damon to make something up. Right decision. The story is one of the best acted parts of the film.

[@chasekemp6915]

Absolutely. He did such a great job

[@thecocoacouch]

I know!!! I was laughing along with him it was so good.

[@veteranhoffman6776]

I have uncles that started to watch it in the theater when it first came out, but walked out before it ended, and said it was so well done that they almost believed they were back. One uncle said the smells of the battlefield were there in the theater because of the triggered memories.

[@thecocoacouch]

Yeah I can only imagine how visceral those memories would be.

[@HappyFella29]

I saw this video when I was 18 years old and when the lights came up I was weeping. Not crying…weeping! I had to compose myself before I could drive home. This is my very favorite film of all time. It is the ultimate cinematic masterpiece!

[@arhickernell]

You have to watch Band of Brothers and The Pacific series now. More Hanks and Spielberg perfection

[@micchaelsanders6286]

The greatest war film ever made in human history. Hands down.

[@LupusLifestyle]

Saw this in the theaters and didn't leave my seat until minutes after the credits ended. I can't imagine the sacrifice that generation made. Don't have much to add. Thanks for providing your insight. Take care.

[@thecocoacouch]

We’re still reaping the rewards today for what they did for us. At the end when he was saying he can’t thank them enough for what they did for him, it really felt like the entire audience felt that way too.

[@sirdavidoftor3413]

@@thecocoacouch : Continued peace, gained by that generation, is the only way to honour them. Europe historically has been the powder keg to world war. Today that peace is threatened by one man who decided to escalate and invade a sovereign country. This man with Hitler like ambition must be rebuffed. Stay safe, stay sane, stay strong Ukraine 🇺🇦

[@restant8845]

Best war movie ive seen is Come and See. A Belarussian film from the 1980s depicting the german invasion of eastern europe. The entire movie is on youtube for free with english subtitles. Not only is it the best war movie in my eyes, but one of the most horrific. It is one of the hardest films to watch with scenes and cinematography that haunts me now. A true slowburn. Its a good break from all of these "heroic" and action packed tales to give a different perspective from the civillian side of war. It would be a great reaction and i think nothing can top it.

[@davidcarnevale8885]

My grandfather (my mom's father) was in the 2nd wave of the beach invasion, so everything in that opening scene is exactly what he experienced. So intense seeing, so accurately depicted, what he would've gone through. I am forever thankful for his sacrifice, and especially that he survived the war, or else I wouldn't be here typing out this comment or watching this reaction, I wish I got to meet him but he died before I was born, may he and all the other brave men that lost their lives in this war rest in peace. War is truly a horrible thing and there's really no winners

[@AreYouKittenMeRtNow]

It blows me away that any of them made it home, and made it possible for us to be here today. While your granddad was on the beach, mine was already in Normandy as he’d jumped in with the 101st the night before, 907th GFAB 🇺🇸

[@davidmowry8951]

Well done. Ww2 combat vets deserve the recognition and respect from all of us. They would be in disbelief at what America is becoming.

[@williamjones6031]

1. Many WWII vets left the theaters because the D-Day battle scenes were so realistic. 2. The German Captain Miller was talked into letting go is the same one that killed him. Upham finally put him down. 3. The story Ryan tells Miller about the last time he saw his brothers was made up by Matt Damon. He was told to say something interesting, so he did, and it was kept in the movie. 4. There really was a USS Sullivans(DD- 68) dedicated to the brothers lost on one ship. That's why all brother soldiers/sailors from one family can't be assigned to the same command. 5. I did 24 years in the US Navy. My favorite character is Private Jackson/sniper and my second favorite is Sargent Horvath. RIP Tom Sizemore😇 6. Sizemore also played Boxman in "Flight of the Intruder", a movie I'm in briefly. 7. You need to watch Tom Hanks in the GOAT. Stephen King's "The Green Mile". Finally, Yesterday was the 79th anniversary of D-Day

[@TerminalFailSafe]

It’s interesting that you mention the horror of watching a man bleed out from a gunshot wound no matter how hard you try to stop the bleeding; no matter how hard you are squeezing the blood and platelets - even with the Level 1 pumping the blood and fluid as hard as it can; no matter the number of clamps you manage to get on ripped bleeders.. it goes on in ERs and Trauma Surgery Bays in so many Trauma Centers all over the States. I saw more shooting deaths in civilian ER/Trauma Centers over my career than I ever saw in the military. Explosive amputations.. a whole other story.

[@Proteus2905]

I watched the movie in a huge cinema back in the day. They had this amazing sound system installed with boxes all over the place. Giant loudspeakers and at the final battle, when everyone lurks in cover waiting for that tank to come around the corner the entire cinema was shaking. I remember this clear as day. I sat in my seat and the immersion was complete.

[@thecocoacouch]

Yeah the huge build up with those horrifying sounds was agonising.

[@iKvetch558]

The story I heard was that they even put some microphones inside big chunks of beet, and recorded the sounds of bullets hitting them at a firing range...but I am not 100 percent sure if that is verified.

[@195511SM]

I HEARD SOMEWHERE that a lot of soldiers also got seasick, because they ate some very rich breakfasts before climbing aboard the landing craft.

[@jaspyr88]

Damn I cried the whole time watching this video. I knew this one would get you as well. Nice job holding it together my guy!

[@Ceractucus]

Hey I just wanted to thank you for this incredible reaction. Just discovered your channel, and was blown away by perhaps the best reaction to this movie I have seen. At the mother's house there is a flag in the window with four stars. This flag was sent to every family who had sons serving with a star for each son serving. If any of the sons died the family would be sent a gold star to put in place of the star so all would know. When the medic got shot and asked for more morphine everyone knew he was dying. One morphine kills the pain, the second morphine kills you.

[@thecocoacouch]

It’s so tragic hey. Also thank you!!!

[@javix2013]

They are one of those movies that were so well made at the production level at the time, that stand the test of time, and always maintains that impact when you see the realism of their war scenes, even if you see it 25 years later, this movie is from 1998.

[@patterrum]

Possibly the best war movie ever made. I cried like a baby tye first time I watched it. I have recently discovered a film called Come and See. Its World War 2 from the Russian perspective. It's truly disturbing but incredibly powerful. If u can take it I really recommend it. Great work as always mate. 😊

[@thecocoacouch]

I’ll write it down man! Yeah this film is so visceral and honest. Cheers!

[@catherinelw9365]

Great reaction - one of the best I’ve seen for this film. I hope you consider Band of Brothers- it’s a ten part series and the best thing HBO ever produced. It will also blow up your channel!

[@sirdavidoftor3413]

Very nice and respectful reaction to this. If your going to go down the WW2 rabbit hole, which I hope you do, another great Spielberg movie to watch is Schindler’s List. Based on a true story, the 3 hour movie is a much watch movie. It had me riveted to my seat, and never once did I notice that it was so long. Also, the HBO series Band of Brothers, and The Pacific, are well worth looking into. Both are directed by Spielberg and Hanks. Tom does make a cameo appearance in Band of Brothers in one of the episodes. Stay safe, stay sane, stay strong Ukraine 🇺🇦

[@elijahvincent985]

About 2 months ago, I went to Urgent care for a followup for a bad cough I had. There, I saw a WWII Veteran with his wife. His wife was the one seeking treatment, as he was healthy and walking her on her wheelchair. I always thank a veteran for their service, so that's exactly what I did to him. His face lit up in a precious smile and said "Thank you!" This movie is why I appreciate our soldiers' hard work.

[@legohunter1020]

The sniper is my favorite character in this movie. He's of one of the reason why I'm mainly a marksman class in shooter games.😎

[@ryanhampson673]

It’s not directly said how long the men have been with Captain Miller but if you know WW2 history you can figure it out. In the church Horvath and Miller are talking about a guy at Anzio which is in Italy. Later Horvath says he’s been with Miller since Kasserine pass which was a battle in North Africa. So Captain Millers unit has been fighting since Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa in 1942, through Tunisia, Sicily and into Italy all before invading Normandy. Horvath confirms this at the beginning when he fills a tin with sand labeled France and then you see two separate tins in a bag labeled Africa and Italy.

[@TheZombieman87]

Things I've learned about this movie: Bullets dont go that far in water. Not enough to kill. The speed at which the German MG-42s are shooting would melt their barrels. Those who lose an arm or leg are real amputees. The 2 soldiers who were surrendering were conscripted Czechs. The Germans in the last battle were extras from the Irish Army Reserves. Sniper Jackson is quoting Psalm 144:1-2 from the Bible. And, yes, I saw this movie when I was 10. ;)

[@TheMarionetteKitty]

You're younger. You've grown up with Tom Hanks as a serious actor. I'm Gen X. I grew up with Tom Hanks as a comedic actor. Then he did Philadelphia, his breakthrough "serious" role. I remember there being a lot of skepticism, wondering if Hanks could pull it off. He won the Academy Award for best actor. I highly recommend the movie, as well as And the Band Played On, if you're interested in a movie about the AIDs crisis.

[@jonathanwalkeer97]

I knew a ww2 veteran when little my friends Grandfather pops he had a 80s dodge he parked along side of road by ditch. He kept a old colt 1911 pistol in console of truck for ya to look at was never loaded he took from war. Truck was always unlocked lol

[@Ramblinrabbit24]

Yo man just found your channel yesterday and have been watching your reactions. I’m glad you left some of that letter that general read in there. In my opinion, it’s one of, if not the best part of the movie. A lot of reaction channels leave that out. Good job!

[@Armyaunt73]

The guy you saw in We were Soliders is an amazing character actor Barry Pepper. He's also in Green Mile & 2 great movies that didn't get much press called 61 & 25th Hour.

[@MomCatMeows]

My grandfather was forced to lead a group of soldiers in battle after their commander was shot by nazis. He was successful in this and saved many lives that day. He earned a Purple Heart and metal of honor for his bravery that day.💜🙏

[@woverby1963]

I was here with the only brothers i have left, hits deep!

[@thecocoacouch]

Beautiful moment.

[@salsonny]

At the beginning of the landing. The American troops were served a heavy hearty greasy breakfast thinking it would give them the energy they needed. Hence the sea sickness.

[@thecocoacouch]

Yeah right makes sense.

[@mikezilla1986]

They ship the survivors back to the beaches. “Honor Flights” real emotional stuff.

[@michaelwilber774]

Great movies, great reaction man. They are called the greatest generation for a reason. some great movies id check out for war stuff, battle of the bulge, gettysburg, the great escape, pearl harbor, band of brothers, the pacific, the longest day with john wayne, conspiracy(2001), judgment of nuremburg

[@Thane36425]

Seasickness and fear. Most of the troops had been on the move for several days and had been on the transports for two days. The first phase was moving them all to special camps at the coast to get ready. These were closed with no one leaving for security sake. No doubt the men knew what was coming so they were tense anyway. The next phase was loading the landing ships. These were not the landing craft shown in the movie but often small ships proper to transport the men to near the beach where they would transfer to the landing craft to take them to the beach. Even though these were ships they were infamous for being a rough ride even in port. Add to that they were cramped, with poor ventilation and often inadequate toilet facilities. There are many stories of sickness on the boats, often from rough weather where, all these things adding together, resulted in overflowing toilets to make things worse. The men were loaded on the night of June 4 for a June 5 landing. However, that was cancelled due to the weather. Since loading and unloading the men took a lot of time and there was concern about morale if they did that and about some men sneakin out of camp spilling the beans and Germans finding out. So there they sat being pitched around on the 5th getting worn out and sickened. Then on the 6th many were served a big hearty breakfast, which many threw up from seasickness and stress. The ride into the beach didn't help either. Very rough and that degree of stress gets the heart rate up to where strange things happen, including vomiting and shaking. Anyway, this landing was based on the worst section of beach in the whole invasion. This included survivor testimony and accounts.

[@MaliciousMudkip]

Dude you're like a wholesome BunnyFufu

[@chasekemp6915]

I love the emotion that you show. Most young men nowadays could care less about what those men sacrificed

[@thecocoacouch]

I appreciate that thanks. You can’t help but feel that way for those men though.

[@jackieleggs9274]

Couldn’t agree more with ya.😞🙏🏼🇺🇸

[@J4ME5_]

I think thats because they dont know, thank goodness for films like this and BoB and Schindlers List to help educate the young ones.

[@jackieleggs9274]

@@J4ME5_ Amen to that

[@glstka5710]

The story about the girl who took a nosedive from the ugly tree wasn't in the script, Matt Daemon made it up ad lib.

[@pendorran]

General George Marshall, who orders this fictional mission, was a real person, and universally respected. Churchill called him "the noblest Roman of them all". He later won the Nobel Peace Prize for his Plan to rebuild postwar Europe and Japan.

[@IAmNotARobotPinkySwear]

4:44 - he's crying cuz he and his team mates just mowed down a bunch of teenagers; look up "hitler youth normandy"

[@erinpowell941]

I went to see this movie in the theatre when it came out. I sat in my seat and literally shook for twenty minutes. It was so loud with the theatre sound, and I felt the tears running down my cheeks without realizing I had started to cry. No movie before or since has made such a visceral reaction on me at the theatre like this one.

[@mikemorrison4125]

Hi Oscar, I find these types of movies hit differently because they were based on real events that happened. As always you did a great job buddy. Hope you have a great day and look forward to the next video. Keep being awesome dude😊👊

[@thecocoacouch]

Yeah that makes it so much harder to watch. Again, thank you I really appreciate it ☺️

[@dannygreenland4853]

This is one of the first War movies actually watced and it's an epic movie so many famous actors in the movie. A team sent on pretty much a suicide mission for one man, and I think only 2 survived if that, the best of them died mainly Barry Pepper's character the Sniper, War is evil, but will never trully end.

[@scottbrazier]

Good review, Oscar, emotional but action-packed movie. Now, for a couple of comedies to lighten things up. Keep up the great work.

[@thecocoacouch]

Haha I’ve got a few more but I’ll try to lighten the mood 😆 thank you also!!

[@BrandoBaggins23]

This whole film is truly a masterpiece. Loving your reactions thus far and can’t wait to binge a few more after this one! If you haven’t already seen the TV show Firefly (and the subsequent movie Serenity), I’d HIIIIIIGHLY recommend it!!!

[@Celinoz]

Man why are you watching all these movies back to back. I’m all cried out 😅😂

[@thecocoacouch]

Idk I’m dumb 😆😆

[@Celinoz]

@@thecocoacouch And we’re here for it. As a veteran I really appreciate your commentary.

[@rdevries3852]

@@thecocoacouch Well, next up I guess are Fury, Dunkirk, The Thin Red Line and/or Hacksaw Ridge for World War 2 movies. Or you could go a bit further back in time to World War 1 and do 1917 and All Quiet On The Western Front. _Or_ you could switch to series and take on Band Of Brothers and The Pacific. If you're a glutton for punishment, that is. 😅

[@mikecarew8329]

I’ve always thought of the “earn it” like as Spielberg saying we all need to earn what men like these did for us in WW2. Whether we’re an attorney in the US, a tech worker in Belgium, etc we all should try to earn the freedom that the US service members in Europe and Asia; Brits in Europe and Asia, Australians in Tobruk; Russians on the eastern front etc sacrificed for us to have. Those sacrifices were for many and for future generations but they were also, definitionally for each individual in the west / Asia then and now who were saved from Fascist dictatorship.

[@thecocoacouch]

I agree. In hindsight all those moments feel like messages to US.

[@nathmg11]

6:06 Dude, I’ve seen this movie so many times and this is the first time I noticed the photos 😅

[@212x3]

And now you might have a slight understanding that, while it is protected, a lot of veterans get upset when the flag is burned or disrespected. We fought for our ourselves and our brothers/sisters next to us. It means more to us than "just a piece of cloth".

[@marklivingstone3710]

Two scenes in that movie are like a gut punch to me. When the mother realizes why the CO and the padre have come and when CAPT Miller tells Ryan ‘Earn this’. The morons you hear saying we should go to war over this, that or anything else should watch the first 20 minutes of the film ….and then be told, by the way, you’ll be in the first wave against the enemy. Anyone who thinks there is something glorious in war should watch this movie, it might just cure them of a delusion.

[@TheAsianOfChaos]

“Mama” as he holds his intestines That 2 seconds has stuck with me more than the rest of the film tbh

[@entelechy00]

The first time a son was sent home as the last survivor was the American Civil War, and the mother had lost her husband and 6 of 7 sons in the war. The son was sentenced to die for having fallen asleep during guard duty, and the confederates had attacked that night, losing several soldiers. The mother went to the White House and asked President Lincoln to spare her son for her sake, and he did, and set the presidence to let the last male survivor go home.

[@tallicafan85]

Saw this when it first came out the same year my grandfather died who fought on utah beach. I was 13. The mother part got my, everyone always cuts it out of the reaction

[@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. 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. The average age of a U. S. troops armed forces personnel during WW II was 26 years old. Selective Service draft age range was 18 years of age to 45 years. The average age in Vietnam War was 22, not 19 as any think. 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

[@tinaharris13]

Another good movie from this era you may not know is the monument men. It isn't quite as action filled but has a great cast.

[@ronmaximilian6953]

Matt Damon was basically an unknown actor when he was cast here. The best part about that performance is that Damon ad libbed the story about the brothers.

[@purcascade]

He was hired because he was unknown... and then Good Will Hunting premiered. 😂

[@joaoluizfonseca6914]

@@purcascadebut Good Will Hunting was released in ‘97, and this movie was released after he won the oscar for Good Will Hunting months before

[@purcascade]

@joaoluizfonseca6914 Yes, thank you, that's what I said. Saving Private Ryan filmed during summer 1997; Good Will Hunting released in December 1997, and Damon became a star much to the surprise of Spielberg who had hired him to be an Every Man unknown.

[@Padre.K1880]

I knew a native veteran who survived the D-Day invasion and the Battle of the Bulge, he passed in the early 90’s….

[@MACAshuGf]

When the water was literally just blood that was so horrifying just shows how many died before they even got to the sand

[@peterphilly4148]

This movie depict the D-Day (June 6, 1944) landing of the Allies in Normandy, specifically of American forces on Omaha Beach. About 73,000 Americans participated and they landed on Omaha and Utah beaches as well as providing air support. Nearly 62,000 British soldiers participated, landing on Gold and Sword beaches (plus air support) and over 21,000 Canadian soldiers who landed on Juno beach. Nearly 2,400 Americans died on Omaha (which is roughly equal to the losses at the other 4 beaches combined) but 34,000 had landed on the beach by nightfall. By the end of June, the Allies had landed over 850,000 men along with 149,000 vehicles and 570,000 tons of supplies. To ensure success, it is generally taken that the invader needs a 3:1 advantage in force to successfully penetrate enemy defenses. Germany surrendered less than a year later on May 7, 1945.

[@debnbhuy]

You would think that watching this film it was only US soldiers taking part. No mention of Brits or Canadians or anyone else. Not even a note in the credits. No wonder the USA gets a distorted image of itself !!

[@BlyatBlaster]

22:47 this whole story was improvised by Matt Damon. So Tom Hanks reaction is actually his own reaction. He’s not quite sure what’s happening.

[@NS1.]

Everyone is going to tell you to watch Band Of Brothers, which is a great series, one of the best actually. However, I prefer The Pacific. While BoB focuses on the brotherhood of men at war, The Pacific focuses on the individual, and all in all, is a more brutal/harrowing series. The men in Band of Brothers are generally good men and good soldiers doing the right thing. In The Pacific, it's not always clear.

[@Stuart_Cox1969]

The beach scene was the closest you will get to what actually happened that day.

[@VladSicoe]

The scene that haunts me from this movie is with that poor guy in the beginning, screaming for his mother, while holding his intestines....God, that's awful.

[@flashgordon10001]

Most excellent . Let's Go

[@gabrielclosson1699]

Cocoa Couch you need to watch the movie Unplanned. Real actual story of a woman named Abby Johnson who worked at Planned Parenthood for eight years but then watched an unborn baby on live ultrasound fight for its life in the womb against an abortion machine; she quit working at Planned Parenthood soon after and is now one of the most prominent anti-abortion activists in the United States.

[@J4ME5_]

excellent review... thank you. this yank appreciates you

[@thecocoacouch]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@FrancisXLord]

The first time I saw this film I turned it off half way through, and I have been a huge Spielberg fan since I started watching movies. However much I loved Spielberg, I couldn't shake the nausea from the beach landing scene. It's interesting to remember how more sensitive I was to graphic violence as a younger man, interesting to perceive how people generally were back then. This film would go on to influence how war films generally presented the action. After this they were far less gung-ho adventures and more visceral, in keeping with actual experiences of soldiers rather than Hollywood's glossy heroic interpretation like we had before. This ranks alongside Schindler's List and Empire of the Sun as one of my favourite WWII films ever, all Spielberg films and, of course, I'd recommend them all.

[@thecocoacouch]

I’ll write those both down then. And yeah anyone saying my generation isn’t desensitised because of movies and games is wrong. Like I don’t even notice it but just from what I’ve watched and played, seeing a film like this is a lot easier for sure.

[@iKvetch558]

Standard comment...hope you don't mind a little copy/paste action...I have seen a lot of reactions to this film.👍 Saving Private Ryan is incredibly realistic in most every way, with a very few exceptions...such as bullets not being able to kill you more than a few inches underwater. One thing to know, pay no mind at all to that man who took off his helmet at 3:14 and then got shot in the head...that next shot would have killed him even if he had kept his helmet on. The helmets of WW2 would almost never stop a bullet, except under very very rare circumstances. The movie is not a true story, and it differs from the actual history of D-Day in many ways...but the basic plot is loosely based on the 4 Niland Brothers, one of whom served with the 101st Airborne Division. However, when 3 Nilands were reported dead, no mission was sent to get the last brother, and it turned out that one brother that had been thought dead had actually only been captured. There really was a Company C of the 2nd Rangers that landed on Omaha Beach, but they were commanded by Captain Ralph Goranson, and they did not land quite where it was shown in the film. Probably the most important historical thing that Spielberg got wrong is that he had the boats that carried the Rangers to the beach being driven by Americans...they were not. On D-Day, the boats that carried the US Rangers to the beach were driven by UK sailors of the Royal Navy. There are many other things in the film that are not accurate to the real history of D-Day, but that one really fails to honor some of the men that fought and died at Omaha Beach, so it is definitely the one most worth noting.✌

[@thecocoacouch]

Thanks for all the info. It’s great learning more about what actually happened.

[@brycejensen5020]

4:29 I dont think people pick up on this scene. Mellish is weeping because he found out that they just waxed a bunch of kids. That is a hitler youth knife that Caparzo gave him from one of the dead. My wife and I went to the theater for this. We were sitting in the theater before it started. The theater was almost full. A guy walked in with what appeared to be a 4 and 6 year old kids. The theater went silent. All eyes on those kids. After what seemed like an eternity, a young man came in and said that the projector was busted and we needed to get refunded. I think everyone in that theater was relieved. We saw it the next week. The beach scene should really be viewed in a theater.

[@susanberrier5727]

Makes you wonder if they lied cuz they knew those kids were there. I know I wouldn't feel right letting those kids watch. That father deserves a bad parenting award.

[@ecervantesramirez]

This movie is a tearjerker

[@johntaylor7029]

So all the actors in this movie went through a grueling boot camp to prepare for the roll. Except Matt Damon. This was done intentionally to make sure everyone deeply resented Matt Damon and his character, and considered him an outsider. 😊

[@davehazel5632]

Hey dude, I really enjoy your reactions and this one was great. I don't know if you have seen The Green Mile or Forrest Gump, two more Tom Hanks movies and they're great. Another GREAT movie is Jojo Rabbit, or Only The Brave with Josh Brolin, or another war movie that is always overlooked is 12 Strong. Keep up the good reactions.

[@thecocoacouch]

I appreciate it man! I wanna see the green mile.

[@johnduval6377]

Nice reaction man.

[@thecocoacouch]

Cheers!

[@SSIronHeart]

Your day playing at the beach was thanks to there day at the beach. Also at 4:40 those men were Czech. They said that they didn't shoot anyone please don't kill us were Czech. Those men were forced into the German army against there will.

[@thecocoacouch]

Yeah I heard, makes it so much sadder.

[@sandybehanna7704]

Another great review!!

[@djlobato1590]

If you really wanna see something. Check out tom hanks in "The Green Mile". Cheers mate 👍 👌

[@thecocoacouch]

I will!! It’s on the schedule 😆

[@ScottMaresh]

Another Spielberg must see is Schindler's List, hard watch but necessary.

[@MaxxRemKing1]

I didn't know Will Poulter was doing reactions!

[@thecocoacouch]

My eyebrows are expressive but not THAT expressive 😆😆

[@brianmatthews1736]

@@thecocoacouch If you check out recent pictures Will Poulter's brows have either gotten better with age, or he has actually altered them himself...it is quite a difference these days (2023)....

[@oldgeezer3324]

Reaction was well done.

[@markoliver630]

Good review. You appreciate the sacrifice of the Greatest Generation. Boomers suck compared to these men.

[@jaytm6719]

Anyone else hate when they show the flamethrower guy explode? Like that didn't happen.

[@edgardofernandez7511]

In war if ur team squad has one medic u protect him at all coast n u dont put him in harms way i guess they didnt do that in this movie

[@parsifal40002]

2500 Americans died on the Omaha Beach landing.

[@WSTBrenden]

The amount of pure hatred I have for upham will never go away

[@JamesWilliams-ld2hq]

… more young people need to see this movie to understand what President Reagan said.. about us always being only one generation away from tyranny.. The freedoms with which we live are earned because of what the great men of that generation did for generations to come .. and could they see the mess we’re in today, they’d never stop crying over the mess that’s been made by so many who’ve learned nothing from history.

[@GloryGodAlmightygloryAlmightyg]

Sean Ryan Peter Ryan Daniel Ryan bothers Three 101st📖😔😞🤣📽️🎞️

[@ruhiger69]

Big Arms , Small Brain.

[@beautybysaranwrap]

You HAVE to watch band of brothers now!!

[@appleaday1508]

Please try mini series "Band of Brothers"

[@Nanashicae]

Because of this movie, Tom Hanks found out there was no memorial for WW2. He with Walmart Privately raised the money to build the most beautiful memorial in Washington DC. No Federal Funds were used. It moved me to tears when I first saw it.

[@catherinelw9365]

The DC WWII Memorial site was proposed and approved by Congress in 1994. Funds were raised by millions of Americans and corporate donations. It was completed in 2004.

[@Nanashicae]

@@catherinelw9365 yep, my 16 yr old self gave $100 for it. Congress has to approve the land grant but no taxpayer money was used.

[@Knightowl1980]

Matt Damon suggestion “ the talented mr ripley”

[@thecocoacouch]

Writing it down!

[@kennedylanglois6476]

Please watch Band of Brothers and Passchendaele