[I cannot think of a name]

“strange reason that I can’t remember I never saw it on the big screen”

One trip to your local theater and you will remember the reason - immediately.

Now that really big TV screens of high quality have gotten pretty cheap, I don’t miss going to the theater at all.

[KingLudd]

I stop watching after the landing scene because Hanks’ and the American translator’s characters are embarrassing as hell.

[treetopsandroofs]

To me it was worth seeing at least once, for the D-Day landing alone. No other movie I’ve seen comes close to that quality.

After that, it reminded me a bit of Bat 21, of which I felt the plot was about as equally stupid as Ryan’s, more so perhaps, because Bat 21 was true.

Just my opinion.

[BurgessKoch]

Thanks for sharing. My son is taking his family to France for this year’s D Day anniversary. His grandfather (my Dad) served in France (Marseille) during WWII.

[grobdriver]

Really looking forward to it, even though the wife is dreading it.....she hates blood and guts war movies.

Now that sounds like a fun date - take your beloved to something you know she will hate.

[real saxophonist]

Saving Private Ryan. Normandy landing, then absolute crap.

Full Metal Jacket. Boot Camp, then absolute crap.

But less crap than Saving Private Ryan. Everyone remembers 'Me so horny' and 'Get some!', but nobody remembers Edith Piaf or sticky bombs.

But those are movies. Full disclosure, my dad landed on Utah Beach, and a few decades later, I landed on Parris Island.

[central_va]

I saw (and heard it) in a huge screen theater with sense-surround. It is shocking the zipping supersonic bullet sounds. I kept wincing. Worth the money.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

blood and guts war movies.

I visited Normandy a couple of weeks ago. It was a package tour thru the National WWII Museum. Recommended, for those who can spare the time and the shekels. About 30 in the group, plus an expediter, and a tour guide who was a local who has a Master’s Degree in history. Very interesting.

But as to “blood and guts,” if you aren’t talking about the Falaise Pocket which in August, 1944 chewed up all the armor the Germans had in Normandy, you aren’t really taking blood and guts. The Germans had to pass through a valley about 10 km long and 1 km wide, with British and Canadians on one side, and Americans on the other - and the Poles trying to cork the exit of it. After the fight there was a huge cloud of flies feasting and breeding on the carrion of German soldiers. After the war, France sent the scrap of German tanks &c back to Germany - and they only finished the task in the 21st Century!

[Gay State Conservative]

Unlike many here I thought that Private Ryan was excellent.I never saw it as a documentary and don't recall it ever having been billed as a documentary.

And also unlike many Freepers I don't have any combat experience.Perhaps if I had I'd have a different opinion about the film.