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Saving Private Ryan (War)

Saving Private Ryan is an intense movie that puts viewers right in the middle of the action. The second scene, in which American soldiers storm the beach at Normandy on D-Day, is truly stunning, and I would recommend it be watched in surround sound, if possible, for the full effect. This scene is a lot to take in, as it really feels like there are bullets whizzing all around you, bodies flying, and bombs being detonated everywhere you look. It is full of violence, but this is in no way gratuitous, as it helps make the war more realistic. During battle scenes like this, the film uses techniques like a shaky camera, which can be rather disorienting, to create the effect of being scared and confused, like the soldiers.
            The movie is not one long action sequence, however. At nearly three hours long, it has plenty of quieter parts, which may even seem to drag on a bit at times. However, these sections are important because the juxtaposition between these scenes and the action scenes mimic the nature of war, in which soldiers can be bored one minute and under attack the next. Moreover, it is largely during these parts of the movie that the character development is really emphasized and the actors, such as Tom Hanks, really have a chance to shine. The reason this movie is so sad and powerful is that it humanizes the soldiers, creating an emotional connection between the viewers and the characters. The soldiers aren’t cold hard killing machines, they’re people with lives and families and jobs. Knowing this about the characters, like Captain Miller, who is a schoolteacher who just wants to get home to his wife, makes their deaths even sadder. Captain Miller’s memorable final line haunts Private Ryan for the rest of his life, and I liked how the movie returns in the end to the same scene from the very beginning.
Overall, Saving Private Ryan is a must-see that truly captures the nature of war and will not soon be forgotten.
4.5/5

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