Siskel & Ebert Saving Private Ryan (1998) Review

[@mirandac8712]

So touching - Siskel visibly fighting the cancer, Ebert's love for his friend equally visible.

[@markdodson5866]

miranda c exactly what I was thinking.

[@samslick9000]

Gene was dead in less than a year after this review

[@gregpelfrey9506]

You are so right. Being a fan of these two guys and watching this show every week as a kid, this clip is actually hard for me to watch because there is no doubt that Siskel is really struggling here.

[@prezidenttrump5171]

You're just gay.

[@grungefreak10]

It really is saddening. Gene Siskel passed away in early 1999. Roger Ebert passed away 14 years later. They got to do what they loved until the very end and they will always be remembered fondly.

[@helmerrudrogen1]

I miss these guys, Siskel and Ebert.

[@HEAD3455]

the lord acts in mysterious ways!!!

[@AlwaysHalloween000]

that cliche is sooooooooo lame

[@rabidtrumpazee5204]

say what? why? film critics are douches

[@bryansarracino8623]

MrBrenman21 I miss that show too. They had a great dynamic together

[@Falton911]

Rabid Trumpazee anybody with any sort of profession is a douche

[@ShadyNJ]

The fact this lost to Shakespeare in Love tells you the Oscars don't mean shit.

[@darkl3ad3r]

Oh shit ShadyNJ, you're on Liveleak too right? Coincidence man. And agree with what you said. Oscars are a joke.

[@ShadyNJ]

***** Haha! Yeah man. Sometimes we need a break from all the murder and mayhem... talk about some high quality entertainment on YT. :) It's a small world bro, good running to you.

[@emmaduncan2991]

up until Schindler's List the Oscars were never a fan of Spielberg

[@darkl3ad3r]

I hear that man. Seriously small world indeed. I don't even know what made me want to look through all these Siskel and Ebert clips, or what made me look at the comments on this particular one, but yeah coincidence to the extreme lol

[@TheLCinema]

Because Saving Private Ryan is a dreadful film and SIL is at least decently made. Same goes for Schindler's List. Spielberg is a hack. And Lincoln... Jesus that was bad. The very fact that the man has even one oscar and is thought of along side true masters like Kurosawa, Kubrick, Scorsese, Polanski and Leone does in fact show how much of a joke The Oscars are.

[@squamish4244]

Saving Private Ryan came out at the right time, when many of the veterans of World War Two were still alive. It instilled in us the horror of what they went through and was like a final salute to them. And Band of Brothers.

[@dnasty312]

My great-grandpa, a WWII veteran, sadly passed in 1996. I often wonder what he would have thought of this film

[@marklewen9384]

Sasha & kumani..

[@squamish4244]

@@dnasty312 My grandfather didn't know why we wanted to watch it. For him, it wasn't a movie, it was real-life brutality.

[@ronniebishop2496]

When that military car is driving out to that farm to tell that mother one of her sons has been killed in action and she sees the car coming and just sets down on the floor of the porch knowing what's happened and overwhelmed. It caught the horrible feeling of losing a child without saying a word. It brought tears to this Cowboys eyes.

[@thed.z.a.4658]

No matter how many times I watch it........I am brought to tears

[@ge2623]

Me too

[@charleybarley939]

@@ge2623 There was the similar case of the Sullivan's in WWII. So the plot is plausible.

[@ge2623]

@@charleybarley939 I believe there was a case in The Civil War that Lincoln had to address also.

[@tomsampson8084]

@@charleybarley939 The Sullivan's all served on the same ship. After that the military made a point of keeping brothers in different units.

[@reagalbeagle1]

I remember watching this in the theater and how much anxiety I got right before the last battle scene. The theater was shaking and the sound of the tanks moving slowly through the streets was so eerie. That was by far the most intense moment I ever experienced watching a movie.

[@Mario_N64]

That "camera shake" effect was so unsettling. Later I read they actually screwed up the camera intentionally to get it.

[@cjwright79]

Gene Siskel didn't have long to go after this was recorded. 6 months.

[@AnimuLLLL]

This film is a masterpiece. The fact that it didn't win Best Picture is outrageous.

[@jasonraczkowski6001]

It did win for best director

[@markburnsworth3591]

I agree whole heartedly

[@adambrydges1040]

apparently it was supposed to win Best Picture but Harvey Weinstein campaigned behind the scenes and was able to convince the academy to vote for Shakespeare in Love

[@markbraverman9622]

I agree. The biggest rip off in Oscar history

[@markshaw7253]

absolutely!

[@davidevans3175]

My Dad was in WW2, he refused to see the movie because he heard it was so realistic. He landed one town north of Normandy 6 months after the invasion, marched all the way through Europe to Leipzig in the winter of '44. He has told me many times it was constant confusion and chaos just like the first 25 minutes of the film.

[@natskivna]

+David Evans My father also served in WWII as a Glider trooper 194th Glider Infantry Regiment of the 17th Airborne Div. His unit began action in the Battle of the Bulge late December 1944 then on to the Rhineland Campaign, the Operation Varsity Glider drop and finally mop up and policing activity till he was released to go home in July 1945. He was lucky to go home early since he didn't have enough points but because his unit was supposed to take part in the invasion of Japan was allowed to go home on leave. The Atom Bombs probably saved his life. What I know of his combat experience is nothing. Never spoke of it to myself, my brother, or sister nor even my mother from 1945 till his death in 1999. But he did apparently speak of it one time at a family gathering where he had 2 much to drink and spoke of watching friends of his being torn apart and killed in front of his eyes. I thank Mr. Hanks and Mr. Spielberg for their dedication in showing the public what that war was really like. May we never have one like it ever again.

[@davidevans3175]

natskivna Thanks for this. My dad was just south when the Battle of the bulge occurred. He too was assigned to the Japanese theater after Hitler, was about to leave London for Japan when news of the bomb changed those plans and he come home on the Queen Mary with 1800 other troops.

[@natskivna]

I was able to take a tour of the Queen Mary in April 2013. She is a museum now in Long Beach, CA. If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend taking that tour especially since your dad was on her. They have tours focusing on her days as a troop carrier during WWII.

[@davidevans3175]

+natskivna Thanks, that's a great idea. I live about 1/2 hour north of that. I haven't been because I generally shy away from touristy stuff. They turn it into a haunted ship every Halloween. But you're right, I should find out from my dad where he bunked and go check it out (he's 91).

[@BlackpeopleSuck-pi8zf]

how many German babies did your dad kill or was ordered to kill? did he even tell you?

[@3000dora]

Why this movie lost to "Shakespeare In Love" at the Oscars is unthinkable, and a travesty.

[@Ajourneyofknowing]

Yes but the 90s Oscar best picture winners is a debated topic in the film community People say that Ghost and Goodfellas were robbed by Dances with Wolves in 1990 People also say that The Shawshank Redemption and Pulp Fiction were robbed by Forrest Gump in 1994 People argue about weather Babe and Apollo 13 should've won instead of Braveheart in 1995 And the mixed opinions and views on American Beauty for 1999

[@RomTankin]

I hear all those arguments, but no way should Shakepeare In Love have won.

[@jediknight73]

Absolutely agree

[@sha11235]

Two reasons why: 1. This was released in July, while Shakespeare was released in December. The Shakespeare film was fresher in the voters' asshole minds. 2. Most of these asshole uncle fuckers didn't go to college and feel that Shakespeare is classy to vote for. Same reason why they picked English Patient over Fargo, or Dances With Wolves over Goodfellas. At least in these later years, they have gotten a little better with choices.

[@CelestialWoodway]

The Oscars have a history of getting shit wrong.

[@Xayjohns]

I watched this one week ago, in its entirety for the first time. This is one of the greatest movies that I've ever seen.

[@27519]

Long time coming, have you seen Schindeler's List? If not, that one is gonna fuck you up.

[@Xayjohns]

Justin Schreiner Yeah, I saw it in high school. Depressing, but excellent.

[@timpatjoe]

+XRJ92. You should have a look at the wind that shakes the barley and Hunger

[@suzycreamcheesez4371]

absolutely true

[@ahappyguy7324]

Band of Brothers is also an amazing tv mini series

[@hellogoodbye4061]

Siskel and Ebert, to their credit, never sold out to Hollywood...always reviewed from their heart and expertise.

[@tedcity5861]

Yes. Todays reviewers have no credibility with their PC / Feminist agendas .

[@GeorgeZimmermen]

@@tedcity5861 fucking liberals!

[@steveleeart]

@@GeorgeZimmermenfucking conservatives

[@mclink99]

​@@GeorgeZimmermenI know, right?

[@ferox965]

The opening sequence is one of the scariest things I've ever seen in a movie...and I'm a huge horror addict.

[@Thunderbolt8296]

This film doesn't just have an excellent beginning. The whole movie is a masterpiece.

[@denroy3]

No it's not...it's a bunch of of message horsecrap after the initial beginning. Good special effects.

[@Thunderbolt8296]

@@denroy3 I disagree. And I really don’t know what you mean by “message horsecrap”

[@vr2k8]

Movie is a great movie for it's time.

[@stevereynolds5684]

I don’t know about message horsecrap, but it is the most stereotypical cliched war movie ever made. You name the cliche and it’s in here, coward gets guy who just wants to go home killed then kills guy who killed him because shame is courageous. Plus many more. First 45 minutes are excellent though.

[@Thunderbolt8296]

@@stevereynolds5684 Agree to disagree, I guess

[@1995a1995z]

saving private ryan was one hell of a movie

[@danielphanover6936]

+1995a1995z Nowhere near as good as Hogan's Heroes tho, I'm sure we can all agree ! :)

[@870Rem12gauge]

+Daniel P Hanover "Hogan!!!!!!"

[@BlackpeopleSuck-pi8zf]

for jew lovers

[@sha11235]

Best film of the year.

[@bigoldinosaur]

One of the greatest movies ever.

[@mousehead2000]

the best movie Vin Diesel has ever appeared in.

[@bigbabysld]

But if you wanna see Diesel's best performance check out BOILER ROOM

[@Tommy1977777]

his best role by far.

[@mamalannightshyaman]

@@bigbabysld I hate that movie because I was recruited as a stock broker and hated every fucking person I met. Bunch of arrogant coke heads.

[@mikeaylward4521]

Riddick movies are Diesel's best

[@XerxezsX]

He should have won the oscar for a random cheap actor category 😂😂😂

[@danielhurley2894]

When this movie ended as I watched it at the Brooklyn Center Minnesota multiplex, I clearly remember saying to myself: "How is it possible for someone to make a movie this good"? I still feel that way.

[@JaxonSmithers]

Mn kid myself, south metro. I know that theatre though.

[@robdykes3659]

Not like the woke shit of today

[@marcusharjo8081]

I remember this episode and had to see this movie. I saw SPR at the local movie theater and before the movie started, audience were all just laughing and talking. Then the movie starts and when it was over, I'd never seen a crowd of people walking out of the theater so quiet and, like me, wiping tears from our eyes. Spielberg is a genius.

[@sandranorman5469]

When it was run in my hometown they had counselors sitting in the lobby aide WWII and Korea and Vietnam to refer the men to places that they could get help. BTW my father was in the first wave of D-Day and he only lived to be 39.

[@1suaveguy]

this is the greatest movie ever made, watching siskel and ebert talk about it the last 2 minutes made me choke up a little, RIP to them both :(

[@winkzmusic1]

“One of the big movies we’ll be reviewing this week on Siskel and Ebert... along with the parent trap” 😂😂😂🤣

[@ElvishShellfish]

Lindsay Lohan's own war movie

[@nailersrule]

two great films

[@sw3aty_forte]

@@ElvishShellfishLMAO

[@montemccarty6512]

I remember having to pee an hour into movie...needless to say i waited til movie is over. Afterwards, we all made a bee line to the bathroom. I was next to a gentleman old enough to be in the war with a veterans hat on. As i was walking away..he turned to me and said..that was the most realistic war movie I've ever seen...as tears were rolling down his cheeks. As powerful as the movie itself.

[@michaelb1761]

I don't think there was a dry eye in the theater at the end of that movie.

[@sandranorman5469]

My father was in the first wave of D-Day. So was my husbands. So very proud.

[@lanceheaps581]

I remember having to make that same decision many years later watching Dunkirk in theaters. I was hoping that movie would be as good as Saving Private Ryan a movie I had seen many years before with my Korean War vet grandfather in the theatre. I was watching Dunkirk having become myself a combat veteran since watching Saving Private Ryan as a teen. Long story short Dunkirk was a poor movie nowhere near as good as Saving Private Ryan and I went and took a piss.

[@sburns2421]

Think about Hanks in the 1990's. Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, Apollo 13, Toy Story, Saving Private Ryan, The Green Mile, Castaway. Amazing run of movies from him. 100 years from now though people will still watch SPR. History will remember this as Hank's decade.

[@virajkanbur4371]

True, the 1990s was ruled by Hanks. Tom Cruise was right up there too. A close 2nd place

[@anunusualironiccircumstanc2108]

@@virajkanbur4371 nah, what about Gary Oldman? State of Grace, JFK, Dracula, Romeo is bleeding (criminally underrated film) True Romance ( A small role but probably the best performance in the film) Leon, Fifth Element, Murder in the first, Air Force one. I’m not knocking at Cruise though, he starred in some very good movies throughout the 1990’s. I just think Oldman had a more variety of roles, many of which should have won best actor. It just shows how many amazing films were made in that decade. Possibly second behind the 1980’s?

[@nizloc4118]

Very well put

[@quatore-5886]

I think frozen buddies versus pastoral

[@andrewjacksonbr]

I miss these two. 👍🏼👍🏼

[@outlawwales959]

So do we not get the review of "The Parent Trap"? Come on, I need to know if it's any good!

[@ge2623]

Lol

[@Stogie2112]

I lived in Normandy for four months. Spring 1998. Came home in June, and a couple of months later, this film was released. Talk about chills up and down my spine! I saw it four times in the theater.

[@SamIAm-kz4hg]

Best movie I've ever seen. I saw it with my friends at the theatre. Afterwards we all just sort of wandered away, lost in our own thoughts. The theatre was eerily silent on the way out. I've not had the guts to see it again since then.

[@robertm7889]

Beautiful work by the two best movie critics who ever lived.

[@markburnsworth3591]

As a veteran, and the grandson of a veteran that was on that beach, this movie affects me emotionally unlike any other film ive ever seen. At the grave site, when he asks "am i a good man?" oh man....the reading of the Lincoln letter, the mother on the porch, the german that was captured, and then met again....

[@davidleary7393]

I saw this when it came out and when the end credits rolled I sat in my seat unable to move. No other movie,not even Schindler's List, had that effect on me.

[@theyellowlightsaber3193]

You and me both, I was just 18 when I saw this in the theatre, before the film Id been into war as a topic and watched alot of war films, after this screening I never wanted to think about war again, speilberg effectively gave me ptsd, thats the job this film does.

[@davefullmer8669]

@@theyellowlightsaber3193 I took my 16 year old son with me to see it in the theater. Afterward, sitting in the car, I just sat there and bawled for 5 minutes, I had been so emotionally drained. I'm sure my son thought "Holy Cow dad!"

[@amlafrance1918]

This is the only movie I can remember balling at. Very moving

[@theyellowlightsaber3193]

@@davefullmer8669 I was too traumatised to cry, I was suffering from phantom shellshock but yes there were plenty of moments you could cry at in this film. Tom Hanks crying by himself in a corner is cryworthy, you dont usually see tom as an actor breaking down like that in his films but the fact Miller privately blames himself for getting Wade killed is pretty sad

[@edschober917]

Same here, David, only I was sobbing uncontrollably and was frozen in my seat until the crew came in to clean the theater. Cried all the way home, and now, in 2021, I still can’t watch the movie because of the emotional impact it still has on me. I’m 76 years old, and grew up loving war and cowboy movies and saw almost all of them. Since Ryan, not so much. This movie is a masterpiece in every sense of the word, and when it didn’t win the Oscar for Best Picture, I decided the Oscars were bullshit, and have never watched another one since.

[@nativewizard]

roger didn't want to get into another argument about full metal jacket so he brushed it off as quick as he could

[@MidniteSon]

It's an incredible film and a great work of art. It is or IS Speilberg's greatest accomplishment.

[@lesternapoleongreen7543]

Schindlers List and Munich are actually a bit better. Although that's only my opinion )

[@MidniteSon]

gregg mikulla I have to sort of disagree with you there. Yes there are fine movies, but Schindler's list is the kind of movie you only want to see once, and Munich doesn't really have the wide reaching appeal as a World War II film. I've seen SPR so many times and you really get a perspective the soldiers went through that I haven't seen in any war film with the same emotional connection.

[@davidferrara1105]

gregg mikulla Munich is good

[@gordonsteadman9889]

keithrig Watch the mini-series "Band Of Bothers". Saving Private Ryan pales in comparison.

[@TheDude90100]

many people seem to forget "empire of the sun"

[@MrBEATTITUDE]

The first 25 minutes alone should have won best picture. Most Intense realistic war scene I've ever seen.

[@breal8484]

Glad siskel got to see some good classics before he passed.

[@harrystuart4724]

It is also very interesting, and enlightening to view the Allied Cemeteries in Normandie. To this day they are kept every bit as beautifully as is our own Arlington National Cemetery. To this day, French survivors of the German occupation and their liberation speak with great love, respect and appreciation for the sacrifice of the fighting men of the Allied Forces.

[@josephthebobcat5085]

Such brilliant analysis. Really miss these guys. Nice to see these episodes that I missed

[@micahnewman]

"I am so impressed that we are talking about ideas." Good for you, Gene.

[@jerseymike7946]

Tom Hanks is the modern Jimmy Stewart. Abe Lincoln's mom was Nancy Hanks, her brother is Tom's direct ancestor. He is Lincoln's 3rd cousin, 4 times removed. Maybe he should avoid doing a play at Ford's Theater. By the way, there is a fine museum in the basement of the theater, they have many Lincoln items. Also the derringer the vermin Booth murdered him with. The vast majority of tourists visiting DC have no idea the museum is there, which is a shame as visiting Ford's is a moving experience.

[@toddgrogg2810]

Shakespeare, got the oscar, but Ryan, got all the love.

[@alexius23]

The historical consultant was Stephen Ambrose. Spielberg showed Ambrose the rough cut of Omaha Beach. After it was over Ambrose left & said he would return. Spielberg was filled with self doubt. Ambrose returned & told him it was the best he had ever seen. My best friend’s Dad fought & was nearly killed in Normandy. She was thinking to take him to see Private Ryan. Then she read of Internet stories of WW2 veterans being overwhelmed by the battle scenes. She decided not to take him. Today, she wonders if she made the correct choice or not... He passed several years later... She & I have visited Pointe du Hoc, Utah & Omaha Beach. It was very emotional for us....We also visited the American Cemetery too....

[@danhenderson9382]

I noticed that Siskel had hair extensions. I wonder if he was already undergoing treatment for his brain tumor. The movie was released in late Summer 1998 and Siskel died the following February.

[@gc3k]

you can hear him struggling to finish the segment

[@davidquinn5429]

agreed. in 2021 who remembers Shakespeare in Love? Everyone remembers Saving Private Ryan

[@rasalghul9331]

SO sad to think Siskel would die a few months later.

[@tinderbox218]

They were so good. I forgot they were together until that late. Miss them both, a notable part of the American culture during my youth.

[@hlywdplayer]

Though "Saving Private Ryan" was a brilliant film , it completely drained me , I could not watch it a second time, I remember sitting in the theatre & noticed during the grueling first 28 minutes , a family entered with toddlers, suffice to say , they did not stay, what were those parents thinking ?, this was not Disney. So many Images of that first part still cross my mind, one in particular was the young soldier walking around listless searching for his arm that had just been blown off....

[@jpkillibrew1638]

I loved listening to these two men talk about movies, may they both rest in Paradise

[@MontyQueues]

a movie that shows the true chaos of war war is hell

[@PatrickOCnMD]

Really miss both these guys. And their great reviews.

[@magicbus63]

My 15 favorite movies from the 1990's 15. Dances With Wolves 14. The Green Mile 13. Fargo 12. Total Recall 11. Back To The Future Part III 10. In The Line Of Fire 9. Titanic 8. The Lion King 7. Unforgiven 6. Jurassic Park 5. Heat 4. Goodfellas 3. Schindler's List 2. Terminator 2 Judgement Day 1. Saving Private Ryan

[@bigzach7778]

Replace hop dreams with last of the mohicans

[@jamescarr4662]

open range was 2003

[@Hollywood42081]

Crazy u don't have Heat in this list

[@rahlohmcdonogh280]

RIP guys,Me and brother were with you since Sneak Previews on PBS.The first movie we remember was North Dallas Forty.I really hope you're in a good place,THANX so!

[@hanscombe72]

SPR 16 years later is such a special film.

[@thomassullivan4742]

Growing up in NW Indiana and Chicago. These were always the guys....Miss them both!!!

[@charleswayne7442]

Even after 20 years, this is the definitive WW2 movie. It is like Schindler's List. Epic, moving and horrific, and so well made and acted in. Superiour film making that sadly, doesn't come that often from demented Hollywood these days.

[@Grandizer8989]

When I saw SPR, two older gentlemen were behind me. When Hanks hit the beach, one of them said to the other, ‘That’s not how John Waine did it’. Fast forward 20+ years, I’m on a Zoom call with Dale Dye and was able to tell him that story.

[@hlywdplayer]

I applaud Steven Spielberg for this film, more importantly , to all the american men who were a part of WW2, the ones who survived and to the ones who's fate was not as fortunate , I salute you , and give my deepest thank you's and gratitude for your courage and patriotism .

[@jerseymike7946]

They don't fight for democracy or the USA or any of that, go to your VFW and ask anyone. You fight for your buddies in your squad and to eventually get home after the job is done, period. Anybody standing up and saying "I'm here to support freedom, apple pie, and baseball" would be shunned and deemed a dope who might get you killed in combat by being too gung ho instead of soberly considering the tactical situation.

[@tomf429]

My father drove a truck off a landing craft on D-Day and got stuck in the surf. He said he was more scared of the sergeant yelling at him then the Germans. Obviously, he was not in the first wave. He drove a truck pulling a trailer with a bulldozer on it. He said the hardest part was driving hours across Europe at night following the red light on the truck ahead of him (no headlights allowed) and having to urinate on the floor because they never stopped.

[@Gromit801]

The mission wasn’t to save a mother’s feelings. It was policy after the five Sullivan brothers were killed when the USS Juneau was sunk in the southwest Pacific. That family effectively died then and there. No becoming husbands, fathers, no descendants. So the “Surviving Son” policy was put into effect.

[@ge2623]

I caught that too.

[@thegr8n84ever6]

Just imagine a Dad bringing a ten year old boy and his sisters at 8 and 9 to see this in a theater. That was my old man and my sisters still talk about the sound and images of the Normandy scene. They had their hands over their ears and their heads in between their knees.

[@uchibenkei]

If you didn't get to see this on the big screen, you missed out. Very powerful film. There have been a couple good war movies since, but nothing compares to this.

[@Mr.Goodkat]

Watch Come And See from 1985 (the whole way through).

[@axgreenious9400]

Full Metal Jacket is the ultimate war movie; nothing comes close.

[@gregshock]

SPR is the only movie I ever went to see at the theater multiple times in a row. Every single time I watched that opening battle scene, I had to cry for those guys, because those things actually happened to real people in that battle.

[@faithplus1588]

Same here. i went to see it 4 times. Amazing movie

[@KahlessTheUnforgettable]

I feel the same way about “Virgin Vaginas IV.” I saw it at least 6 times. Every single time I watched that opening M-F-M scene, I had to “spill a little fluid” myself; because those things actually were happening to that woman in this movie. The power of cinema.

[@JohnDoe-qu7gm]

The greatest war movie ever. And that’s saying something. Most accurate, heart wrenching portrayal of war. I mean if I ever see the actor who played Oppum I think I’ll smash his face.

[@timlevis3630]

Why?

[@JohnDoe-qu7gm]

@@timlevis3630 wasn’t literal. Basically he was a coward and let his fellow servicemen die while he sat there crying like a liberal.

[@timlevis3630]

@@JohnDoe-qu7gm If he was a conservative , he could have cried bone spurs, and avoided the war.

[@JohnDoe-qu7gm]

@@timlevis3630 lol. That’s pretty good.

[@KeithCooper-Albuquerque]

It's great when these two both get it right. This is one of the best war movies IMHO.

[@thekingofcool2105]

The more I kill... The further away from home I feel...

[@raymoles]

The first 30 min. and the last 30 min. are absolutely realistic and breathtaking.

[@NA86737]

The issue with Private Ryan is that the opening is so brilliant that everything after it pales in comparison.

[@tiffsaver]

+GregB1986 Comparing a modern war flick with old, pre- CGI flick is not really judging them on a level playing field, is it?

[@NA86737]

+tiffsaver I did neither. I mean that the film itself was never able to get passed its opening and it's what keeps it from being a great film all the way through. It's a very good film instead of being a great film.

[@tiffsaver]

+GregB1986 Ok. But I think it's important for a lot of reviewers here to realize that CGI and digital technology in film and sound gave SPR a leg up from it's many predesessors.

[@NA86737]

CGI means nothing for quality of the films narrative.

[@tiffsaver]

+GregB1986 Who said anything about "narrative"?? I was relating strictly to the opening battle sequence at Dunkirk. Not the dialogue.

[@cjwright79]

One of the best reviews I've ever seen them do, along with the 1997 re-issue of The Empire Strikes Back.

[@ExodusPessoa]

+Chris Wright You're right he described the movie brilliantly R.I.P Siskel and Ebert.

[@07foxmulder]

The Thin Red Line was great, but it wasn't anywhere near the greatness of Saving Private Ryan. Sorry, film snobs.

[@MontyQueues]

i had a problem with that movie i couldnt get past the first half cause it's weird and boring as fuck

[@ScreaminModelKits]

+07foxmulder Platoon is the most realistic war movie

[@07foxmulder]

360SRH 2 Platoon was garbage, just like the rest of Stone's films. He's nothing but a hack constantly trying to create controversy.

[@ScreaminModelKits]

07foxmulder A hack? U mean a combat veteran.. He understands war, not a pretentious flag waver like Spielberg.

[@07foxmulder]

360SRH 2 Sure, Spielberg is guilty of being a bit of a flag-waver, but he's far from pretentious. Stone, on the other hand, is the pretentious one. Whether it's Platoon, JFK or Natural Born Killers, he does nothing but attempt to make the audience gasp. I don't care if he's a vet, Platoon was a bad movie. It was almost laughable at how hard he was trying to be controversial.

[@Oof-DahReviews-bf4hv]

Spot on review of the movie. So glad the filmmakers did that opening scene. Sets the tone for the entire narrative of the film after that.

[@Independentfellow]

I think this movie can be for younger viewers. I always think realistic consequences to violence (blood, wounds, agony, etc) in movied is better than the sanitized action of a pg-13 flick, such as mission impossible.

[@patrickorourke41]

Amen! I have to say this is one of the greatest war films alongside Platoon and Patton.

[@gimme2utah1]

Hands down, my favorite Memorial Day movie.

[@tomsampson8084]

I saw this film when it first came out. It is brilliant. Like Schindler's List it is a movie I just can't get myself to watch again. Everyone should see both of these films at least once.

[@DavidL14]

Tom Hanks should have won the Oscar for this role

[@dnasty312]

Nominated

[@sha11235]

He had 2 already.

[@mr.balloffur]

sha11235 That has nothing to to do with it. Edward Norton should've won.

[@anthonyweston630]

What about the parent trap review? That’s what we are all waiting for

[@ace-x6m]

i own saving private ryan and the thin red line on DVD. i couldn't watch half of the thin red line without turning it off. saving private ryan is the true winner. It captures war at the highest level a movie can.

[@joestewart-paul7181]

At this stage you could see Gene's health beginning to deteriorate. RIP Siskel and Ebert

[@funnyguy7574]

flawless film. amazing

[@andrewzenn1719]

One of my top 5.

[@kmvoss]

I remember watching it live as a 13 year old boy and being utterly shocked and pissed off. It forever tainted my view of those awards.

[@bra-balllegend3940]

My moment was when freakin' Annie Hall beat Star Wars for Best Pic in 1978. That decision sure didn't age well! La-dee-fuckin'-da, I guess.

[@KahlessTheUnforgettable]

Christ brother; I know this comment is a decade old but I’m praying you recovered. No 13 year old should have to go through that 😂

[@curtc2194]

Remember seeing this movie with my family...didn't realize I was digging my fingers into my seat during that first 25 minutes.

[@peterpiper47]

That wasn’t your seat....

[@Avalyn_Wu]

Rest in Peace Roger Ebert

[@allenanderson4911]

That scene where they're storming the beach!

[@Fermifire]

Siskel & Ebert were classy af

[@07foxmulder]

@mikeyanagita1 i have a hard time understanding what you don't like about this movie. the characters are very interesting and far from being stock. what cliches are you talking about? may i ask what WW2 movie you would consider great?

[@slaythegodz]

I love Shakespeare in Love, but no way should it have won best picture over Saving Private Ryan.

[@TooLooze]

SPR, although not of my generation (I was drafted in 1969), is a movie so good and so moving that I remain unable to watch it again. Even so, I am still haunted by almost every scene still vivid in memory.

[@ImJustSayin81]

omg "Along with the parent trap"

[@adamb.8112]

“Did you fire your weapon in basic training?” Interesting foreshadowing, because that characters main conflict is whether or not he can bring himself to do that.

[@powderfinger6597]

SPR was great, but, hands down (for me) best war drama is HBO's "Band of Brothers" and "Pacific." Both based on real people and their experiences in WW2 and both done with Spielberg & Hanks as producers.

[@ChaostheClown]

+Powderfinger Well of course those were great, but they had so many more hours to tell their story with! Different format. I love those miniseries' too, but it doesn't take anything away from this movie.

[@billbuster3115]

+Powderfinger Grant it, band of brothers and the pacific were miniseries instead of a movie and thus had more time to tell more stories.

[@SuperToombs]

+Powderfinger band of brothers was great, personally i think spr is over rated...long..boring give or take a few scenes

[@SuperToombs]

+Powderfinger don't get me wrong spr is a good movie that tackles a lot of issues, but there are other war movies i like better.

[@powderfinger6597]

+SuperToombs yes, SPR is boring in some areas. What other war movies would you suggest?

[@corpsmanup5498]

I cried the first time I saw this.

[@2HRTS1LOVE]

Not a fan of SPR, but it led to Spielberg and Hanks producing Band of Brothers for HBO, and I watch that entire series at least once a year. Love, love, love. If you've never watched it, do it soon, you're welcome.

[@SparksDrinker]

well most people watched this review because they love the movie. but you dont like the movie, so we probably wont love band for brothers. thank you

[@EarendilUndomiel]

***** What the hell kind of reasoning is that? Band of Brothers is _amazing_.

[@SparksDrinker]

EarendilUndomiel why should i believe you? you don't like saving private ryan, but you want me to check out another war movie/series? no way, i bet it sucks. hey i don't like the movie goodfellas, but you should check out this other show about the mafia.

[@EarendilUndomiel]

***** When did I ever say that I didn't like Saving Private Ryan? And I don't care if you don't like GoodFellas, it's still my favorite movie of all time.

[@SparksDrinker]

EarendilUndomiel sry its the dude you are sticking up for, but my logic is valid.

[@kunalandshorya]

This movie was movie of the decade & yet doesn't win best picture at the Oscars?

[@doublestrokeroll]

Thin Red Line IS a much better movie......but Saving is still pretty amazing.

[@HEAD3455]

if that's the movie with sean penn not great but fair

[@ivanbelinsky7596]

Lay off the drugs, son

[@doublestrokeroll]

I suppose if you're a simplistic person who can only handle straight forward "right/wrong" plot lines then yeah...for you saving private ryan would be the "better" movie. For people who like a movie to challenge them a little bit...Thin Red Line is much better. No drugs needed.

[@ivanbelinsky7596]

doublestrokeroll I was kidding, man

[@johnprice8201]

I remember seeing this. Siskel was gone for a while and when he came back he really looked different. He would die just 7 months after this show.

[@1suaveguy]

BEYOND outrageous...is anybody even talking about shakespeare in love?

[@steveleeart]

Saw this again last week, so good on the big screen.

[@sinclairjg]

I miss Gene Siskal!

[@frankchukwumah9477]

This film is a masterpiece.

[@michaelterry6143]

Saving Private Ryan was a milestone in film making. There were war films made before Saving Private Ryan and war films made after Saving Private Ryan. When this film was released it automatically made all previously made WWII pictures look dated.

[@NelsonMontana1234]

The film also avoids the cliche's of the "anti-war" film. The plot is basically an episode of "COMBAT!" but the telling of the story is masterful. Speilberg's greatest triumph.