I saw this movie in a screening w/Dr. Dolittle, so it's not hard to guess
which the better one was. Jay Leno called it the best movie you'll see all
summer. I don't know about that, but it was pretty good.
It's very well shot, sometimes almost too well, and there are a few
overpolished scenes that aren't very believable. Generally, it did a very
good job of portraying the war. Even I was touched. The style is similar to
All is Quiet on the Western Front; bittersweet, nostalgic, with very real
attitudes towards war. Lots of death, blood and guts.
The characters were believable and had a group chemistry. But something
bothers me about this movie. I cannot wholeheartedly say that it is good.
This is what really bothers me because the elusive quality is almost there.
So close, yet so far. What's wrong with it? Is it the whole ridiculousness of
the idea of saving one man when countless others are dying? No, the movie
actually turned that into a strength - the characters knew and discussed how
ridiculous it was.
Here's what I think was wrong with it. It all started out very emotional,
very real. Then after about an hour you get kind of tired, and you start
becoming desensitized to the whole horror of war. This is where the movie is
supposed to bring in a new idea/thought to the plot. Which it sort of does.
The real problem is the ending. It is too redundant and repeats what was
established in the beginning of the movie. The new twist it introduces is the
idea of self-sacrifice for the good of one man. The characters willingly
forfeit their right to life for Private Ryan. This would be fine, except it
is completely incongruous - who is this Private Ryan and what makes him
worthy of this?
Well, it almost made it to my good movies list.
|
