A Critic’s Review of Saving Private Ryan

Right from the start, Steven Spielberg displayed an almost supernatural gift for film making and specifically the use of suspense and special effects. This was a skill that moviegoers responded to in droves. Successful early films such as Jaws (1975) and Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) were massive hits. In some ways these movies hurt Steven Spielberg’s reputation. He was interested in earning respect, but he knew his movies would be viewed as mere pop-culture entertainment and technical exercises.

Despite this, Spielberg tried to broad his horizons with movies such as The Color Purple (1985) and Empire of the Sun (1987), but it wasn’t until the emotive holocaust film Schindler’s List (1993) that he finally made a movie that really appealed to both the public and the critics. Saving Private Ryan was another serious movie that was set in a nearby location during the same time period. In his later years, Steven Spielberg tended towards more serious movies.

Saving Private Ryan was the most intense and violent movie that this director had ever made, in fact it was one of the most intense movies anyone had ever made. It’s depictions were believable, highly realistic, incredible, and easy to follow and understand. Spielberg had dealt with violence before, of course, but never in this style or extremity. The opening battle sequence of the movie is totally relentless. IN a very memorable depiction, as soon as boats land on the coast of Normandy men are taken down by machine-gun fire, and bullets are flying everywhere. Soldiers are torn to pieces, body parts fly through the air and blood is everywhere. Death is evident everywhere the camera looks, and the action never stops.

Even after all the years, Spielberg insists that his film have a message and a tender side. There are several moments when the movie takes a softer turn, and he always makes use of his composer John Williams. The movie portrays a very powerful good vs. evil conflict. This is culminated in the conclusive final battle of the movie. The film clearly has an anti-war message that is very effective. It also demonstrates how wondrous a victory can be, showing how the victor starts to demonstrate the rules of morality. The movie has been accused of sending the wrong message sometimes, perhaps overly promoting nationalism and patriotism. However, I feel that theses accusations fall weak because there is enough of a noble message associated with several scenes (that are very thought provoking).