Review of Saving Private Ryan (1998) by Matt M — 16 Jan 2015

Set in World War Two after the Normandy Landings, a group of group of soldiers go looking to retrieve a paratroopers whose brothers have died in the war. Spielberg's war drama is full of humanity and faithful in its representation of male bonding behind enemy lines.

But what is truly remarkable, apart from the visual spectacle that this film has, is how Spielberg managed to modernise the war genre and shape the similar films that followed it not only with the structure of story and distinctive style of cinematography but also with its realist, if undoubtedly patriotic, view on warfare.

It is in fact the usual heavy handed patriotism and patriarchy exhibited by Spielberg before that slightly taints the experience of an otherwise flawless and remarkable feature.