When Ryan's wife comes up and reads the name on the headstone, she doesn't recognize it. That's when you realize that Ryan has never told anyone the story.
Dang that's crazy. I've watched this movie million times, it's 1 of my fav movies and I didn't catch that. This makes me love the movie even more. Thanks for this comment or else I probably wouldn't have noticed
My dad did two tours in Vietnam. I took him to see this in the theater and asked him what he thought afterward. His response, “At least movies don’t incorporate smell. The smell is the worst.”
@@cheesetomato9140 I think he meant the smell of death in general. Death, Sulfur, gunpowder, rotting corpses. Yea. Napalm might smell like victory, still doesn't hide the smell of rotting/burning flesh.
He meant those VC in those Vills like 'who Staff Sgt Barns shot dead' that was Oliver Stones way of saying he hated The Village people singing that YMCA song.
Captain Miller made the mistake of allowing that Jerry prisoner to live before releasing him to walk back on his own and sure enough, he went straight back to his own side and was the very same Jerry that shot Captain Miller, it was left to corporal Uppum to gun him down ironic that he was the one that argued earlier against shooting him.
@@cheesetomato9140 That Jerry killed at least 4 to maybe 6 American soldiers including Capt Miller . That Corpl , I pity him, he will have to live with the dying screams of a comrade while he did nothing . That kind of guilt is rough.
"Earn this" is a lesson that so many people have forgotten these days. Now people take things for granted, but they don't know, and they don't want to know, that many people gave their lifes for them to have what they have now. And I'm not talking about material things, but liberty, free speech and so on.
But this movie is a cleverly designed pro-war movie with an anti-german propaganda agenda. Most German soldiers and conscripts during World War II were young teenage boys with long shoulder length hair. But this movie falsely portrays German soldiers as all mid thirties skinheads. Very misleading. You can even search for the photos of the young German soldiers during World War II.
This was Vin Diesel's first major motion picture role! Steven Spielberg himself saw a student film he did and was so impressed he asked him to audition
This is a good representation of why here in America, we consider them the greatest generation. They were not perfect but did power through the bad times while trying to maintain some Honor and Integrity. A character trait hard to find these days
The US mainland didn't come under attack but your comments are true of the US troops that fought overseas, most of them were based here in England, here all our population came under enemy fire infact we even had woman who brought down German bombers with their saucepans, & invalids who turned their wheelchairs into armoured fighting vehicles and boy scouts incharge of mustard gas.
@@cheesetomato9140 Salute to England in ww2 from the US and Yes, the United states homeland was attacked during pearl harbor but never boots on the ground.
I'm very grateful that these young women are watching. It means a lot to me. My dad fought in World War II, after 3 years of hell I was blessed that he came home to his family.
Their reactions are forced, and they watch the film because they know that this title will attract a lot of guys, and therefore also views and attention. But at least a few veteran family members came and we were reminded of a great film production from the years untainted by political correctness.😌
Apparently quite a few WW2 veterans walked out of the theater in the first five minutes of the movie due to the Omaha Beach scene and its realistic portrayal of D-Day. Steven Spielberg is a big WW2 history buff and wanted the scene to be as realistic of the assault as possible. Steven and his producers actually spoke to many veterans, having some on the set as advisors in order to keep historic integrity of many of the scenes. If the opening scene mortified you, then good. You have some sense of empathy and understand the gravity of the second world war. But just imagine what most of those boys felt on that day, being only 18, 19, and 20-year-olds, going through what seemed like a meat grinder.
The story of Private Ryan is inspired by the Sullivan brothers (who are mentioned in the movie, in the telegram scene). There were five of them: George, Frank, Joe, Matt, and Al, from Waterloo, Iowa. George and Frank, the oldest brothers, had served in the Navy in the 1930s, and after Pearl Harbor, they re-enlisted along with the younger three, on the condition that they serve together. They were assigned to the light cruiser USS _Juneau,_ and all five were killed when the ship was sunk in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, in November 1942. The US Navy named two ships USS _The Sullivans_ in their honor: a _Fletcher_-class destroyer (DD-537) in 1943 (decommissioned 1965), and an _Arleigh Burke_-class guided missile destroyer (DDG-68) in 1995 (which is still in service). The ships' official motto is "We stick together."
@@lyndoncmp5751 Yes but most people don’t know the historical details and probably only know the name of one German tank. I’ve read a few books about British tank crews from the Normandy invasion till VE Day. One was a bit ridiculous with almost every German tank encountered supposedly being a tiger. Wish I could remember the name of it. I think they ended up being issued a Comet which I think is the only book I’ve read about wartime experience with that tank.
Saving Private Ryan is not based on the Sullivan brothers. Fritz Niland became the basis for Private Ryan. He was dropped behind enemy lines on D-Day and spent five days in the French countryside, eventually earning a Bronze star in combat for taking a French. Robert Rodat first came up with the plot in 1994 when he saw a monument in a cemetery in Tonawanda, New York. The monument was to the Niland Brothers - 4 young American men who fought in the Second World War. When three of the Nilands were reported killed, the surviving brother - Fritz - was sent home. This inspired Rodat to write his movie.
There was a movie called The Fighting Sullivans, which came out shortly after the brothers died. (One of them actually survived, but he fell out of his lifeboat and was eaten by sharks).
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen this movie…….but every time I cry through it. Such a beautiful movie. Can’t even imagine what it was like to fight in such wars. Great video ladies.
Thank you for your reactions. Two years after this great film came out, my grandfather passed away from cancer in 2000. He enlisted in 1942 (age 20-21) & served in the 5th Ranger Battalion that trained in Tennesee. Eventually shipped out to Britain in late 1943/early 1944 in preparation for Operation Overlord. Trained in Special Cliff Operations in the Highlands of Scotland in early 1944 alongside his fellow Rangers (plus other Allied/UK Special forces) before D-Day. On June 6th, 1944, he subsequently climbed the cliffs of Point du Hoc. He had to carry his BAR into battle in rough terrain under heavy fire, search & eventually destroy the German Howitzers that greatly saved thousands of his fellow countrymen on the beaches. As history goes, the Rangers had to traverse miles of the French countryside for the repositioned guns after hours of naval & air bombardment prior to the invasion forced the Germans back from Point du Hoc. My grandfather was one man out of 75 men (out of 225 Rangers, 67% of the unit were wounded or killed) who was able to reach the top of Point du Hoc & keep on fighting beyond the Longest Day. Played a part of Operation Cobra in the breakout out of Normandy. Into the battle of Saint-Lo in July 1944, he got wounded when a piece of mortar shrapnel hit his leg (from his calf to above his ankle) & took him out of action. The 29th Infantry Battalion alongside another American division with small groups of Army Rangers (intermix of the remaining 2nd & 5th Ranger Battalions) took massive losses from German artillery destroying the town. My grandfather would have met his end at Saint-Lo, but thankfully he had a guardian angel over him. Over the years, I was told by my father & my aunt that after he got wounded, my grandfather was saved by a Sherman Tank Crew from the 747th Independent tank division that came to support the 29th Infantry division to take ruins of Saint-Lo & were attempting to gather all the wounded GIs during the course of the battle. It's still very unclear how many were saved on that day alongside my grandfather, but as a result of them saving lives, the Sherman Tank Commander was the only casualty while gathering up the wounded men under heavy fire. Due to their courageous actions, my grandfather lived, was able to go home to raise a family, & eventually serve as a police officer (SGT) for nearly 25 years until he retired in 1978. He got the Bronze Star for his heroic actions on D-Day & 2 Purple Hearts in the Fall of 1944. In both civilian life & his long days in law enforcement, he had to take small amounts of morphine (inside a capsule attached to a sliver neck chain around his neck) every day due to the wounds he received in the war until his last days on this earth. A reminder of the sacrifices he made in the defense of America, her people & the liberation of Europe. My grandfather's mother was a German immigrant & orphan who came to America in the 1890s when her homeland (early German Empire) was facing some social destabilization. My grandfather had no ill will against the majority of the German troops he fought against in the Liberation of France. He always respected the Germans (the Wehrmacht/cousins) for their military leadership, combat efficiency & historical discipline. He absolutely hated the Nazi idealogy, who only represented Hitler & a few thousand people in the SS divisions that committed the Holocaust. Side Note to RUclips Trolls: - (DO NOT PUT ALL GERMANS in the same category as the Nazi Party when in America right now almost everyone is painting all police officers as evil people who don't have a soul, and who rather defund them to promote unsafe communities & allow drug dealers to spread illegal drugs to our children. Whether it be a few to thousand bad apples, they do not represent a specific people nor a civilization. Blame ONLY the leaders & the creation of the ideology for the tragic atrocities) Like everyone else who first watched Saving Private Ryan, I began to truly understand & greatly appreciate the sacrifices my grandfather & the millions of soldiers made in WWII. That includes the common German Soldier (non-SS/Nazi) who fought not for Hitler, but for their family & their country. This film will always be one of my favorite films about WWII despite some of its flaws. I always got emotional at the end of the film when Miller tells Ryan that "Earn this" & it cuts to Ryan asking his wife if he was a good man. My grandfather never ever saw Saving Private Ryan in the last years of his life (did like the movie The Longest Day), but like most veterans, he would have attempted to avoid seeing the horrors of war again. I am immensely grateful to have known him before his passing & I am proud to be his grandson. This is a story I like to share with those who have first watched this film and Band of Brothers. If I had to create a title to describe his WWII story it would be called... "Liberation at the Gates"
My great-grandpa served in the same unit, 5th Rangers, Company E and likely served alongside your grandpa. Most folks never get to meet their great-grandparents But I got to meet mine. He passed in 1998. I met many of his friends from the Rangers in 2000 when they came up for a reunion in his memory. Good Men.
Thanks to your grandfather not being among that 67% of casualties, you are here. Thanks God for that. I read your text carefully. All I can say is that ideologies are the worst thing humans have ever made. Because of ideologies leaders are willing to waste people's life because they think that it is worth. You put it in your text very clear, "DO NOT PUT ALL GERMANS in the same category as the Nazi Party". Just for the record. The Germans were not fighting for their country, they were fighting for themselves to come alive of all that mess and for the guy next to them. There is no patriotism in war. Just the willing to survive and coming back to that girl. Just like your grandfather and so many others. Greeting from this Mexican neighbor. I truly appreciate what you Americans have done for the world. Sorry for my broken english.
I remember my husband taking me to this movie and I was completely speechless the first 15 minutes, it was so realistic that I felt like I was watching live coverage of the the Americans landing on Omaha Beach. This was imo the best war movie of all time!
I remember just wanting it to stop. There was no respite, just bullets whizzing by, explosions, limbs blown off, blood everywhere and soldiers screaming. It made it so realistic, you just want to get out of there.
Back when I was a teeenager, I would watch this movie from time to time. The scenes were very intense but I'd try to keep an unphased face as I watched it. Now a decade or so older, I can't not cry when watching certain scenes of this movie. It has some of the most moving moments in cinematic history. I'm glad that you guys watched it and let your real emotion come through. I"m crying with you guys. Thank you
After the first half hour the film is not great or even memorable. It's only well known for the beginning. The rest of it it basically a Kelly's Heroes remake, but without any great characters or dialogue. It pretends to be realistic but its historical nonsense.
1. Many WWII vets left the theaters because the D-Day battle scenes were so realistic. 2. The German Captain Miller was talked into letting go is the same one that killed him. Upham finally killed him. 3. The story Ryan tells Miller about the last time he saw his brothers and the ugly tree story was made up by Matt Damon. He was told to say something interesting, so he did, and it was kept in the movie. 4. There really was a USS Sullivans(DD 68) dedicated to the brothers lost on one ship. That's why all brother soldiers/sailors from one family can't be assigned to the same command. 5. I did 24 years in the US Navy. My favorite character is Private Jackson/sniper and my second favorite is Sargent Horvath.
The German captain miller let go was not the one who killed melish...they just looked a bit alike but then yeah they run into him at the end and upham ends up shooting the guy they let go earlier
Saw this in the theater. That was the first time I saw such a realistic war scene, that opening scene on the beach. That scene captured the chaos and insanity of war like I've never seen it before. I remember commenting at the time " war really is hell. " First time I ever began to think that war was not good at all.
My grandpa was Wehrmacht. (regular german army). He was a captain before the war started and not part of the SS. He fallow orders on the invasion of Poland until he was ordered to execute civilians on Poland. He refused. He was executed by the SS. His best friend a second lieutenant that was on leave when heard the news deserted and took my grandma out of Germany as well as my mom and my uncle. When trying to cross Belgium with out the proper permit a shooting begin, he was shot as well as my uncle by the german army and by a miracle the captain station on the boarder had pity of my grandma and mom crying for them that he kick them out of Germany into Sweden. They survive there until the war end.
Thank you for sharing your grandfather's experience and your families personal story, I've been told how some German soldiers refused to execute, assassinate civilians and were themselves put to the firing squad. I've heard of German soldiers releasing American and allied soldiers disobeying direct orders, heart touching knowing that some weren't cold blooded killers ❤
homies, you can tell you've changed so much because of movies... after you watch a hundred you start catching little details, the effects and violence are just noice.... and you keep attention to the character development, dialogues and music, maybe you even learn something new... now you see the casting, the scenery and everything that matters in this movies, and that is good
From a veteran(Different war. Same horror): The beach assault scene is as real as Hollywood gets. The reality is far worse. The only thing missing, are the smells. Something you never forget. After watching the film, I am convinced that each cut in the beach scene represented the actual eye witness account of the assault, as experienced by soldiers who survived Omaha Beach
When I was maybe 14 my Grandfather on my dads side just starting talking. I’m American but he fought in the British army. Before he talked about all the funny things they did and the good times. But that day he just starting talking about everything. How they fought in North Africa and then up through Sicily and Italy in his tank. The most powerful thing I remember is he said they called for air support because they were being overrun and then he just broke and said “The damn yanks hit us by mistake” I had never seen my grandpa cry before. My dad hadn’t even ever heard the stories. He talked for probably 8 hours straight no hold barred and we just listened. Maybe he figured I was old enough to understand. After that he never spoke about it again for the rest of his life. This movie was powerful for my dad too because he never really realized what his dad really went through.
I cried a little watching this movie too, especially when Captain breaks down when he was alone, so easy to become emotionally attached to a crucial turning point in history against a tyrant physco dictator. A wonderful yet sad movie with a solid all star cast. Thank you to all those that served and died for their countries when they united against the Germans and gave us what freedom we have today. "Lest we forget" My great uncles served in the New Zealand Maori Battalion in Gallipoli and Egypt tours, my father served in the New Zealand armed forces toured with the S.A.S, Territorials and regulars. I still have family serving today ❤ Always remembered, admired and loved. Fantastic group reaction Homies, your all so beautiful women, nice thank you 😊
My girlfriend at the time wanted to go to see the movie. She heard it was a really good movie, which it was. I knew the beginning was bad but I took her. In the movie theater, that beginning was pure insanity. I'll never forget the looks of horror on people's faces around me and my girlfriend ran out screaming. I left and all I could say was "I told you" and "It was much worse in real life" on the drive home. My neighbor was at Omaha beach in the second wave and he was a touched person. He never mentioned it but everyone knew. She was traumatized for days. I went to see it a few weeks later.
This is what we DO.....as Americans we expect this. As a movie, this was one of the best to SHOW what that landing was like. My great uncle was there. He had a flame thrower and as he hit the beach he was hit by gunfire and dropped burning his hand beyond recognition. Until the day he died, he wore a black glove over what what left of his hand....trying to HELP people. Yes. Vin Diesel was in it....lets set aside the actors for a moment and think about the actual men that made that landing and took that beach and those that lost their lives. Lets think about these people that dint want o have anything to do with this war. They just wanted to live their lives but were engulfed in it. For this woman that lost ALL of her sons, of course this country will fight to bring the last one back home. Thank you for this ladies...
Shame the film disrespects the British. First it belittles them in the dialogue, lies in the dialogue trying to bolster the importance of the American mission and finally it steals a real life German adversary that the British were facing (not the Americans) and shows the Americans defeating them. Typical Hollywood.
I remember this coming out and Veterans needing to leave because it was too real. War is horrifying. Every soldier in every country just wants to go home and live.
I don't think these lovely women realise what an experience they are about to have. The realities of everyday men, postmen, grocers, waiters, clerks, forced to fight and to kill, to see inhuman sights and do inhuman things. Then told to go home and carry on 'as normal'. Its been the lot of the common man for thousands of years. And they have done it to protect the women and their children, back home.
In the summer the ladies should take a short trip to Normandy France to see Omaha beach and the military graveyards of the soldiers. It's a very powerful and emotional place to see.
Just take five minutes to look up D Day and you’ll see five beaches were assailed, two by Americans, two by British troops and one by Canadian. It was impossible to land anywhere that there were no German troops! They were well informed of where they landed but no one can cater for what happens in war. It’s hard for your generation to understand what our fathers and grandfathers gave, but thank you for your reactions.
My Mother is from England and as a young teenager she saw the German bomber planes flying over to bomb London. This movie for me tells a pretty accurate tell of this war. It also has a lot about my family tree. My Mother being British and my Father's side is German. So needless to say I had relatives were shooting and blowing each other up.
the effort made by the Americans and the English to liberate the whole of Europe is something truly unique that will remain in the history books for years and years. For me, America will always be a Great Nation and I will always thank these men, or rather soldiers who they sacrificed every drop of their blood for us to make us free today you will always remain in my heart, I will never forget you may God always bless the United States of America and England🇬🇧❤🇺🇲
Well Homies, I’m happy you are expanding your minds. Seeing war depicted on screen as it is written in books should help you know it’s nothing to do with your gender when the policy was only men in combat. Women carry life with them whereas men do not. The reason was for preservation of humanity, not lack of respect for abilities. The unfortunate transformation of society and resentment of who should fulfill a role doesn’t change the truth about who should remain to carry on should the choice be needed. Women and children should always come first.
Of the times I’ve seen this movie, there was one time I saw a video of someone reacting to SPR. The scene where there was a mix up of the different Ryan’s. Of all the the reactions and comments I’ve seen and read. I think it’s an underrated scene. No one mentions about it at all. The reason why I say that is, is because it comes to show what these soldiers dealt with when they were in the war. Not knowing what’s going on back at home. They couldn’t send letters everyday. They never received letters everyday either. James wanted to go home, because of this mix up. Thinking about his little brothers. It’s sad moment to watch, because of what our soldiers go through when at war.
This is by far the greatest war film ever made because veterans said that this is the most accurate depiction of WWII on that horrific day. It was so realistic that many veterans who went to see it in theatres had to walk out in the first few minutes because it triggered their PTSD. The only thing that was missing were the smells. The smell of blood, feces, and human flesh was everywhere. These men walked right into the line of fire of a machine gun so their comrades could take over the beach and turn the tide of the war. Imagine all those long enduring months of training they did, all to die within 30 seconds. These men were the greatest generation and they should never be forgotten. Thank you to all of you who served on that day. 🇺🇸
Please girls, give a chance for these 3 movies, The blind side (2009), Somehere in time (1980) and The intouchables (2011), powerful and emotional movies, two of them is based on a true history, please i love you homies. Hugs from Brazil ❤️🇧🇷
He is a WWII veteran, and a veteran of D-Day landings at Omaha Beach, which was the worst of the 5 beach landings. He is visiting one of the dozen or so American Cemeteries in W. Europe where US soldiers were buried. The scenes on the beach were taken from accounts and interviews from survivors along with other historical facts.
Downfall is better than all the movies you mentioned, though all the movies you mentioned are good ones. If you have not seen Downfall I highly recommend it.
You should watch ‘Downfall’ (Der Untergang). Yes it’s in German with English subtitles, but it is an incredible movie about Hitler in his Bunker during WW2
I recently visited the National D-Day Memorial, located in Bedford, VA. The guide for the tour asked if anyone knew about the Bedford Boys. I answered correctly, saying they were members of A Company, of the Virginia Army National Guard, who got killed or wounded within the first five minutes of landing on Omaha Beach. If any of you noticed the shoulder patch Upham was wearing, on his sleeve, it was the insignia of the 29th Infantry Division, made up of National Guard units from NJ, DE, MD and VA. It looks like the taoist Yin and Yang symbol, with blue and gray colors, representing units from both North and South.
you have to see "Flags Of Our Fathers" and then "Letters from Iwo Jima". The idea of seeing the war from the two enemy points of view to understand that everyone loses in war except business...
The opening scene Ryan goes to the grave of his brother, at the end he's at the grave of Capt. Miller's grave. His family is directly behind him at the first grave site, at the end, his family remains at a respectful distance, except for his wife who has no idea who Miller is. Ryan went home and never told anyone about that day in Ramell. The opening scene Ryan goes to the grave of his brother, at the end he's at the grave of Capt. Miller's grave. His family is directly behind him at the first grave site, at the end, his family remains at a respectful distance, except for his wife who has no idea who Miller is. Ryan went home and never told anyone about that day in Ramell. Spielberg researched small details, for instance, Pvt Jackson's right thumb has a black mark on it. That's actually a bruise that many U. S. riflemen had caused from getting their thumb caught in the loading mechanism from not locking the bolt back properly when loading/reloading the M1 Garand rifle. It was called "Garand thumb". The Hitler Youth Knife is more literary liberty than fact. That knife is a hiking knife given to members of the Hitler Youth Corps, which was much like the Boy Scouts in training while being indoctrinated with the ideology of National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi). The only other group they were issued to were members of the SA. This knife was never part of a soldier of the Wehrmacht. As for the reaction of Carparzo and Mellish, it is highly unlikely an average G.I. would have known what that knife was and its symbolism. The matter of Mellish crying is also not likely as the Allies didn't find out about the fate of Jews in Europe until the first concentration camp was liberated April 4, 1945. The war in Europe ended May 7, 1945. So, following the real timeline, Mellish dies before the Allies knew anything about concentration and death camps. But, after-all, it is Hollywood. Saving Private Ryan is not based on the Sullivan brothers. Fritz Niland became the basis for Private Ryan. He was dropped behind enemy lines on D-Day and spent five days in the French countryside, eventually earning a Bronze star in combat for taking a French. Robert Rodat first came up with the plot in 1994 when he saw a monument in a cemetery in Tonawanda, New York. The monument was to the Niland Brothers - 4 young American men who fought in the Second World War. When three of the Nilands were reported killed, the surviving brother - Fritz - was sent home. This inspired Rodat to write his movie. The average age of a U. S. troops armed forces personnel during WW II was 26 years old. Selective Service draft age range was 18 years of age to 45 years. The average age in Vietnam War was 22, not 19 as any think. There are 26 military cemeteries across Normandy, but the most famous and visited site is the poignant Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer. The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in France is located in Colleville-sur-Mer, on the site of the temporary American St. Laurent Cemetery, established by the U.S. First Army on June 8, 1944 as the first American cemetery on European soil in World War II. The cemetery site, at the north end of its half mile access road, covers 172.5 acres and contains the graves of 9,387 of our military dead, most of whom lost their lives in the D-Day landings and ensuing operations. In real life with the Nilands, it actually turned out later that another of the brothers was alive - he’d been held captive in a Burmese POW camp. Attempts to point out the "discrepancies" between the stories of Fritz Niland and James Ryan are often misguided, as Ryan is only based on Niland, and is not meant to be (or claimed to be) a completely accurate representation of him. The differences in the two stories seem to stem in part from the fact that the true story of Sergeant Niland and his brothers is often reported inaccurately. The character of Private James Ryan is a mixture of fact and fiction, with some of the fictional elements coming from the erroneous stories about the Niland brothers. The German credited as "Steamboat Willie" who was released by Capt. Miller is not the German who engaged and killed Pvt Stanley "Fish Mellish during hand-to-hand combat. "Steamboat Willie" was in the Heer (Army) of the Wehrmacht and the other was in the Waffen SS which was a paramilitary organization and not part of the Wehrmacht. Originally, the SS uniform differed from the Wehrmacht uniform-whereas the regular army wore field grey, the SS wore black, head to toe (although later the SS did adopt field grey and often wore camouflage pattern uniform. American troops were brown and they didn't wear jackboots. The lightning bolt SS insignia can be seen on the right collar lapel of the German as he passes Upham and reaches the bottom of the staircase. During the Battle at Ramelle, Upham became shell shocked and was unable to save a .30 cal team from a German soldier because he was too frozen with fear to do anything about it. He carried all the .30 caliber ammo at the battle of Ramelle, but was unable to do his job because he was always either pinned down or too afraid to move. He signified the loss of innocence in war and thought that soldiers could be civil, but he later succumbed to the evils of war and made up for his cowardice when he shot Steamboat Willie for killing Miller even after the latter had shown Willie mercy earlier. Not only did Upham represent the loss of innocence of war but he also symbolized the "Every-man". His illusion of neutrality faded when he finally had to pick and side and kill Steamboat Willie, his character revelation being how he finally understood the horrors of war. It became clear that Upham had turned into a hardened and true soldier because of the whole experience. Upham's rank was Tech 5 Corporal (E-5), that meant he was technician in a specialty area. His was maps and translator, he was not a combat infantryman and was never trained for front-line duty. Gunnery Sergent Hartman explained it this way in the movie Full Metal Jacket: "It is your killer instinct which must be harnessed if you expect to survive in combat. Your rifle is only a tool. It is a hard heart that kills. If your killer instincts are not clean and strong you will hesitate at the moment of truth. You will not kill. "The way the next of kin was notified of their loved one was killed in action during WW II was by Western Union telegram delivered by a bicycle riding messenger. If you were being notified of multiple deaths as was the case in this film, notification was done in-person by a military officer, usually from the same branch of service as the deceased when possible. That's why the mother upon seeing the officer exit the car momentarily froze knowing that meant at least 2 of her boys were either KIA or MIA, as the priest exits the car, she staggers and completely collapsed. The mother speaks no lines in the movie, yet her breakdown brought a flood of tears form movie goers in theaters across the nation. Another important scene is it is clear from the few lines Ryan's wife speaks that she has never heard the name of Capt. John Miller, this means John has never spoken to her about what happened that day in Ramelle. What many missed is listening to Ryan speaking at the Miller's grave of how he thought about what those 8 men did for him every day was not guilt, but commitment. There are units assigned to recover, bury and mark graves. Usually these were temporary battlefield cemeteries. As hostilities moved farther away, a more permanent site would be selected, at the family's request, whenever possible, the remains would be returned to the United States. At the Normandy Cemetery Visitors Center, you'll find the following inscription: IF EVER PROOF WERE NEEDED THAT WE FOUGHT FOR A CAUSE AND NOT FOR CONQUEST, IT COULD BE FOUND IN THESE CEMETERIES. HERE WAS OUR ONLY CONQUEST: ALL WE ASKED … WAS ENOUGH … SOIL IN WHICH TO BURY OUR GALLANT DEAD.General Mark W. ClarkChairman, American Battle Monuments Commission, 1969-1984
We collecting the dirt from each land we have lost men in and spilled our brothers blood so not to be forgotten never ever forget what freedom they gave to the whole world !
Those MG nests/bunkers were supposed to be destroyed. The men found out the hard way that the planes that dropped 13,000 bombs before the landing completely missed their targets.
2:00 what a difference just over 75 years can make Back then, young people actively willingly joined to defend their homes, to protect the innocent… These days 18 year olds claim they need a “safe space” because WORDS ‘might’ hurt their feelings… We’ve made so much progress as a species and a society, with greatly improved awareness of social issues…it’s too bad we’ve ‘regressed’ as far as we’ve progressed in some areas of life. o7 to those who willingly volunteered to charge into this meat grinder, rest assured there are yet still some in this modern generation to look back with pride and admiration for their sacrifice so we could even be alive to complain about such trivial or irrelevant things.
From the first landing at Omaha, 0630 it was over 2 hours before they started breaking out, with 2-5000 casualties. The other 4 beaches suffered much less, due to Armour support and the "Funnies". This a fictional story, very loosely based on the 4 Niland’s brothers. Edward (PoW 16 May 44), Robert (KIA 6 June 44), Preston (KIA 7 June 44) and Frederick, with H Coy, 501st PIR, 101st Airborne - who was shipped back to England 9 days after D-Day - (but no special "rescue mission" ever happened). Edward was liberated in May 45.
Soldiers are sworn an oath. Leaving is what you call desertion which is capital offense in the military. Desertion is the abandonment of a military duty or post without permission (a pass, liberty or leave) and is done with the intention of not returning. Desertion carries various maximum sentences, depending on the circumstances surrounding the charge. For instance: Punishments for deserting but voluntarily returning to the military may include: 1) Reduction to the lowest enlisted grade 2) Forfeiture of all pay and allowances 3) Dishonorable discharge 4) Confinement for two years Punishments for deserting and then terminating the desertion due to apprehension may include: All of the above punishments Confinement for three years Punishments for deserting with the intent to avoid hazardous duty, deployment, or important service may include: All of the above punishments Confinement for five years Punishments for deserting during wartime may include: Life in prison Capital punishment Other punishments at the discretion of the court-martial Being absent without leave for more than 30 days is considered desertion, and missing movement is the failure to board an assigned ship, aircraft, etc. I don’t blame Upham. He’s the most human out of all of them. Only had basic training but isn’t enough to cope up the true nature of war. He said he only fired a weapon in basic training never in a real combat situation. He’s there as a translator only. He’s trying not be someone he isn’t. He’s no soldier. He’s nothing like anyone in the squad. That’s why we’re born different. Every one of us is special because no one is like anyone else. Not everyone asked to be hero yet we are. Upham didn’t asked to be a soldier & yet he did after learning the lesson the hard way. Both aspects of an individual are seen clearly when payed close attention to & not distracted by whatever which is common for many to misunderstood only to be quick to judge. One could say, are or were you soldier? Did you ever take a life? Where & how many battles did you partake in? How many different facial expressions have you seen before, during & after the battle? Do you see their eyes or gestures that showcases defiance, hate, scared, innocent? Could you still be the same person you were before that you are now after going through all that? We all have different reactions to war. Same could be said when taking a vaccine. Your friend got a headache after taking it while you didn’t experience any side effects. Choices have consequences & no one is free or above that regardless. Furthermore, rules of engagement for soldiers are as follows especially for Officers. POW (Prisoner of War) is part especially if the enemy surrenders. Others don’t give a crap cuz they murdered their friends, relatives, brothers, etc. in combat. Then again we have these rules of engagement for a reason but at the same time it’s questionable. The idea is to keep it professional & humane as possible to maintain as a “civilized being”.
As brutal as it was, it was way ahead of most of what was done in 1998 by many miles! To me, forever, one of the greatest movies to have ever existed/exist! Masterpiece of a movie!
For older Ryan appeared at Miller's grave, both Hanks and Spielberg looked for a marker for the storyline. They picked actual Captain Miller at the cemetery. Military enacted a policy called Sole Survivor Policy stated that brothers cannot serviced in same branch with one stay homebound. Family with only child, male and now, female cannot either volunteered or be drafted for service. This movie is loosely based on two major cases of brothers being wiped out even though there are others. Those two are Sullivan and Borgstrom Brothers.
I believe the Niland Brothers as well. 4 went to war, 3 died and the pulled the other one from service. I believe he was 101st Airborne because Sgt. Malarkey from BoB was friends with him. Believe Malarkey tells the story in his book.
Right! So lazy and comes off as a big grift. They lost me as a viewer because of this. Just find a new movie guys instead of rewatching blockbusters and playing it off like it's not happening.
35:13 Girl in purple mentions the ground shaking from the incoming tank, and all three of her friends at the exact same time go "MMHM." I love neat little idiosyncrasies like that. I bet they're good friends.
I would suggest watching the movies, Letters From Iwo Jima. As a Marine I know the history of one of our most famous battle sites. But getting a perspective from the Japanese side makes my understanding of what those Marines and Japanese troops had to fight for against each other makes it more definitive what the Marines had to endure, the determination of the Japanese to defend their homeland as tenaciously as they did on Iwo. I have some volcanic sand from Iwo Jima that a friend gave me when she was in the U.S. Coast Guard and got to tour the island. It is treasure to me as a Marine and the history of our great Corps.
They need to watch Apocalypse Now and/or Thin Red Line. I watch both those movies drunk as hell and on multiple tabs of acid. It was insane. It was like I were actually there. It also made me want to go swimming in a river/beach lol
The chain of command calls the soldiers fighting on the other side the "enemy". But take a closer look. Look at the corpses. Look the prisoners in the eyes. You will be able to see yourself.
Vicki, I also take stones from places I have been or want to remember. I took a stone from the hospital parking lot where my mother passed away. I still have it in my car.
I so happy to see you all watching this movie. I just want to add that I think you all are the finest, most beautiful group of ladies I have ever seen. Keep up the good work and I’m looking forward to spending many more hours enjoying your reactions, God bless you all.
This movie has so much insight into how men interact with each other. But the scene where they catch the names of the brothers in the typing pool always gets me.
Ladies, this movie is the closest thing to what actually happened that day at Omaha Beach. I have spoken to veterans who were there that day and they told me that it was much, much worse than anyone could imagine.
Matt Damon is best known for, (besides this movie) as you said, Good Will Hunting and also The Jason Bourne films, The Departed, Dogma, The Talented Mr Ripley and The Martian. These are some of his biggest ones.
When Ryan's wife comes up and reads the name on the headstone, she doesn't recognize it. That's when you realize that Ryan has never told anyone the story.
Dang that's crazy. I've watched this movie million times, it's 1 of my fav movies and I didn't catch that. This makes me love the movie even more. Thanks for this comment or else I probably wouldn't have noticed
Most combat vets never share their stories with anyone including family.
Most men don't
I’m sure there are vets who for their own reasons speak about their experiences but more times than not it’s the braggarts who concoct bs tales.
My wife’s father was a paratrooper in the war & you would never have heard it from him .
My dad did two tours in Vietnam. I took him to see this in the theater and asked him what he thought afterward. His response, “At least movies don’t incorporate smell. The smell is the worst.”
But Robert Duvul 'aka the mad chopper guy in Apocalypse Now' said "Napalm smells like victory" but he was mad?
your father is a killer
@@cheesetomato9140 I think he meant the smell of death in general.
Death, Sulfur, gunpowder, rotting corpses.
Yea. Napalm might smell like victory, still doesn't hide the smell of rotting/burning flesh.
@Дмитрий Киселев His Father might've only been in the US army catering corps, How would that make him a killer?
He meant those VC in those Vills like 'who Staff Sgt Barns shot dead' that was Oliver Stones way of saying he hated The Village people singing that YMCA song.
Hands down one of my favorite movies ever.
"Earn this" is not just for Private Ryan, but for everyone and the generations that followed.
I agree totally. “ Earn this “ was for Ryan & the audience watching.
Captain Miller made the mistake of allowing that Jerry prisoner to live before releasing him to walk back on his own and sure enough, he went straight back to his own side and was the very same Jerry that shot Captain Miller, it was left to corporal Uppum to gun him down ironic that he was the one that argued earlier against shooting him.
@@cheesetomato9140 That Jerry killed at least 4 to maybe 6 American soldiers including Capt Miller .
That Corpl , I pity him, he will have to live with the dying screams of a comrade while he did nothing . That kind of guilt is rough.
"Earn this" is a lesson that so many people have forgotten these days. Now people take things for granted, but they don't know, and they don't want to know, that many people gave their lifes for them to have what they have now. And I'm not talking about material things, but liberty, free speech and so on.
But this movie is a cleverly designed pro-war movie with an anti-german propaganda agenda. Most German soldiers and conscripts during World War II were young teenage boys with long shoulder length hair. But this movie falsely portrays German soldiers as all mid thirties skinheads. Very misleading. You can even search for the photos of the young German soldiers during World War II.
My grandad was at sword beach he received a medal for bravery and it still makes me proud to have known such a man.
o7
My paternal grandfather was from England, and actively wanted to enlist and help but was turned away for being too young to be eligible
@@trayolphia5756 that doesn't stop him from sounding like one hell of a man.
@@SpikeMichaels I completely agree.
My Grandad was at Juno.
legend
This was Vin Diesel's first major motion picture role! Steven Spielberg himself saw a student film he did and was so impressed he asked him to audition
Thanks for checking in, Vin.
Yeah the Jerry sniper in the church bell tower got him, sad scene from SPR
The Boiler Room must not have been much later. He was good in that and I liked the movie a lot.
@@richstrobel Saving Private Ryan and Pitch Black were the first movies I had ever seen Vin Diesel in.
Horrible actor.
This is a good representation of why here in America, we consider them the greatest generation. They were not perfect but did power through the bad times while trying to maintain some Honor and Integrity. A character trait hard to find these days
Tough times make tough men
@@NGHTMVRE No it literally doesn't, get that crap out of here.
The US mainland didn't come under attack but your comments are true of the US troops that fought overseas, most of them were based here in England, here all our population came under enemy fire infact we even had woman who brought down German bombers with their saucepans, & invalids who turned their wheelchairs into armoured fighting vehicles and boy scouts incharge of mustard gas.
@@NGHTMVRE Tough times create tough men, tough men create good times, good times create weak men, weak men create tough times.
@@cheesetomato9140 Salute to England in ww2 from the US and Yes, the United states homeland was attacked during pearl harbor but never boots on the ground.
I'm very grateful that these young women are watching. It means a lot to me. My dad fought in World War II, after 3 years of hell I was blessed that he came home to his family.
It's a Tom Hanks movie lol they're not going to visit where the battle happened they're just watching a movie lol
@@John-sr2hr ver la pelicula es una manera de no olvidar
Their reactions are forced, and they watch the film because they know that this title will attract a lot of guys, and therefore also views and attention. But at least a few veteran family members came and we were reminded of a great film production from the years untainted by political correctness.😌
Apparently quite a few WW2 veterans walked out of the theater in the first five minutes of the movie due to the Omaha Beach scene and its realistic portrayal of D-Day. Steven Spielberg is a big WW2 history buff and wanted the scene to be as realistic of the assault as possible. Steven and his producers actually spoke to many veterans, having some on the set as advisors in order to keep historic integrity of many of the scenes. If the opening scene mortified you, then good. You have some sense of empathy and understand the gravity of the second world war. But just imagine what most of those boys felt on that day, being only 18, 19, and 20-year-olds, going through what seemed like a meat grinder.
One of my high school teachers saw it in the theater and was sitting behind a vet. The opening scene kept making the vet visibly flinch.
The story of Private Ryan is inspired by the Sullivan brothers (who are mentioned in the movie, in the telegram scene). There were five of them: George, Frank, Joe, Matt, and Al, from Waterloo, Iowa. George and Frank, the oldest brothers, had served in the Navy in the 1930s, and after Pearl Harbor, they re-enlisted along with the younger three, on the condition that they serve together. They were assigned to the light cruiser USS _Juneau,_ and all five were killed when the ship was sunk in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, in November 1942. The US Navy named two ships USS _The Sullivans_ in their honor: a _Fletcher_-class destroyer (DD-537) in 1943 (decommissioned 1965), and an _Arleigh Burke_-class guided missile destroyer (DDG-68) in 1995 (which is still in service). The ships' official motto is "We stick together."
Most of it is historical nonsense though. Tigers in the Cotentin facing the Americans? 😂
@@lyndoncmp5751 Yes but most people don’t know the historical details and probably only know the name of one German tank.
I’ve read a few books about British tank crews from the Normandy invasion till VE Day. One was a bit ridiculous with almost every German tank encountered supposedly being a tiger. Wish I could remember the name of it. I think they ended up being issued a Comet which I think is the only book I’ve read about wartime experience with that tank.
I believe USS The Sullivans sailed with the UK Carrier Strike Group in 2021.
Saving Private Ryan is not based on the Sullivan brothers. Fritz Niland became the basis for Private Ryan. He was dropped behind enemy lines on D-Day and spent five days in the French countryside, eventually earning a Bronze star in combat for taking a French. Robert Rodat first came up with the plot in 1994 when he saw a monument in a cemetery in Tonawanda, New York. The monument was to the Niland Brothers - 4 young American men who fought in the Second World War. When three of the Nilands were reported killed, the surviving brother - Fritz - was sent home. This inspired Rodat to write his movie.
There was a movie called The Fighting Sullivans, which came out shortly after the brothers died. (One of them actually survived, but he fell out of his lifeboat and was eaten by sharks).
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen this movie…….but every time I cry through it. Such a beautiful movie. Can’t even imagine what it was like to fight in such wars. Great video ladies.
Thank you for your reactions. Two years after this great film came out, my grandfather passed away from cancer in 2000. He enlisted in 1942 (age 20-21) & served in the 5th Ranger Battalion that trained in Tennesee. Eventually shipped out to Britain in late 1943/early 1944 in preparation for Operation Overlord. Trained in Special Cliff Operations in the Highlands of Scotland in early 1944 alongside his fellow Rangers (plus other Allied/UK Special forces) before D-Day.
On June 6th, 1944, he subsequently climbed the cliffs of Point du Hoc. He had to carry his BAR into battle in rough terrain under heavy fire, search & eventually destroy the German Howitzers that greatly saved thousands of his fellow countrymen on the beaches.
As history goes, the Rangers had to traverse miles of the French countryside for the repositioned guns after hours of naval & air bombardment prior to the invasion forced the Germans back from Point du Hoc. My grandfather was one man out of 75 men (out of 225 Rangers, 67% of the unit were wounded or killed) who was able to reach the top of Point du Hoc & keep on fighting beyond the Longest Day. Played a part of Operation Cobra in the breakout out of Normandy.
Into the battle of Saint-Lo in July 1944, he got wounded when a piece of mortar shrapnel hit his leg (from his calf to above his ankle) & took him out of action. The 29th Infantry Battalion alongside another American division with small groups of Army Rangers (intermix of the remaining 2nd & 5th Ranger Battalions) took massive losses from German artillery destroying the town. My grandfather would have met his end at Saint-Lo, but thankfully he had a guardian angel over him.
Over the years, I was told by my father & my aunt that after he got wounded, my grandfather was saved by a Sherman Tank Crew from the 747th Independent tank division that came to support the 29th Infantry division to take ruins of Saint-Lo & were attempting to gather all the wounded GIs during the course of the battle.
It's still very unclear how many were saved on that day alongside my grandfather, but as a result of them saving lives, the Sherman Tank Commander was the only casualty while gathering up the wounded men under heavy fire.
Due to their courageous actions, my grandfather lived, was able to go home to raise a family, & eventually serve as a police officer (SGT) for nearly 25 years until he retired in 1978. He got the Bronze Star for his heroic actions on D-Day & 2 Purple Hearts in the Fall of 1944.
In both civilian life & his long days in law enforcement, he had to take small amounts of morphine (inside a capsule attached to a sliver neck chain around his neck) every day due to the wounds he received in the war until his last days on this earth. A reminder of the sacrifices he made in the defense of America, her people & the liberation of Europe.
My grandfather's mother was a German immigrant & orphan who came to America in the 1890s when her homeland (early German Empire) was facing some social destabilization. My grandfather had no ill will against the majority of the German troops he fought against in the Liberation of France. He always respected the Germans (the Wehrmacht/cousins) for their military leadership, combat efficiency & historical discipline.
He absolutely hated the Nazi idealogy, who only represented Hitler & a few thousand people in the SS divisions that committed the Holocaust.
Side Note to RUclips Trolls: - (DO NOT PUT ALL GERMANS in the same category as the Nazi Party when in America right now almost everyone is painting all police officers as evil people who don't have a soul, and who rather defund them to promote unsafe communities & allow drug dealers to spread illegal drugs to our children. Whether it be a few to thousand bad apples, they do not represent a specific people nor a civilization. Blame ONLY the leaders & the creation of the ideology for the tragic atrocities)
Like everyone else who first watched Saving Private Ryan, I began to truly understand & greatly appreciate the sacrifices my grandfather & the millions of soldiers made in WWII. That includes the common German Soldier (non-SS/Nazi) who fought not for Hitler, but for their family & their country.
This film will always be one of my favorite films about WWII despite some of its flaws. I always got emotional at the end of the film when Miller tells Ryan that "Earn this" & it cuts to Ryan asking his wife if he was a good man. My grandfather never ever saw Saving Private Ryan in the last years of his life (did like the movie The Longest Day), but like most veterans, he would have attempted to avoid seeing the horrors of war again.
I am immensely grateful to have known him before his passing & I am proud to be his grandson. This is a story I like to share with those who have first watched this film and Band of Brothers.
If I had to create a title to describe his WWII story it would be called...
"Liberation at the Gates"
My great-grandpa served in the same unit, 5th Rangers, Company E and likely served alongside your grandpa.
Most folks never get to meet their great-grandparents But I got to meet mine. He passed in 1998. I met many of his friends from the Rangers in 2000 when they came up for a reunion in his memory.
Good Men.
Hell of a story, they could make a million movies about WW2.
Thanks to your grandfather not being among that 67% of casualties, you are here. Thanks God for that. I read your text carefully. All I can say is that ideologies are the worst thing humans have ever made. Because of ideologies leaders are willing to waste people's life because they think that it is worth. You put it in your text very clear, "DO NOT PUT ALL GERMANS in the same category as the Nazi Party".
Just for the record. The Germans were not fighting for their country, they were fighting for themselves to come alive of all that mess and for the guy next to them. There is no patriotism in war. Just the willing to survive and coming back to that girl. Just like your grandfather and so many others.
Greeting from this Mexican neighbor. I truly appreciate what you Americans have done for the world. Sorry for my broken english.
I remember my husband taking me to this movie and I was completely speechless the first 15 minutes, it was so realistic that I felt like I was watching live coverage of the the Americans landing on Omaha Beach. This was imo the best war movie of all time!
Agreed!!
You should also watch All quiet on the western Front (2022) tragic and realistic depiction of the first world war
Most of the film is mediocre.
I remember just wanting it to stop.
There was no respite, just bullets whizzing by, explosions, limbs blown off, blood everywhere and soldiers screaming. It made it so realistic, you just want to get out of there.
Back when I was a teeenager, I would watch this movie from time to time. The scenes were very intense but I'd try to keep an unphased face as I watched it. Now a decade or so older, I can't not cry when watching certain scenes of this movie. It has some of the most moving moments in cinematic history. I'm glad that you guys watched it and let your real emotion come through. I"m crying with you guys. Thank you
RIP Tom Sizemore ( Sergeant First Class Mike Horvath) 1961-2023. Great role in this film.
Oh he died?
My Grandfather and my Great Uncles were WW2 U.S. Army veterans, they fought at D Day and the war in Europe.
when he Miller says "earn it", he's saying it to all of us. we always need to remember how much our way of life has cost
🇧🇷
The opening scene of saving private ryan will forever be one of the most shocking, stressful and violent scenes in cinema
The film is as real as Hollywood gets. The reality is far worse.
Yep, It will never be done better
That family walking in the cemetery? I think you mean the second scene on Omaha Beach, no?
Why this movie wasn't won best movie in 1998 is one of the biggest mysteries of cinema history.
Shakespeare In Love won best picture that year. What a travesty!
After the first half hour the film is not great or even memorable. It's only well known for the beginning. The rest of it it basically a Kelly's Heroes remake, but without any great characters or dialogue.
It pretends to be realistic but its historical nonsense.
Most movies I watch for entertainment, but this one I watch to remind myself of how bad war is and how we should do everything we can to prevent it.
1. Many WWII vets left the theaters because the D-Day battle scenes were so realistic.
2. The German Captain Miller was talked into letting go is the same one that killed him. Upham finally killed him.
3. The story Ryan tells Miller about the last time he saw his brothers and the ugly tree story was made up by Matt Damon. He was told to say something interesting, so he did, and it was kept in the movie.
4. There really was a USS Sullivans(DD 68) dedicated to the brothers lost on one ship. That's why all brother soldiers/sailors from one family can't be assigned to the same command.
5. I did 24 years in the US Navy. My favorite character is Private Jackson/sniper and my second favorite is Sargent Horvath.
The German captain miller let go was not the one who killed melish...they just looked a bit alike but then yeah they run into him at the end and upham ends up shooting the guy they let go earlier
@@adambriceland6588 I just said that he killed Miller
Saw this in the theater. That was the first time I saw such a realistic war scene, that opening scene on the beach. That scene captured the chaos and insanity of war like I've never seen it before. I remember commenting at the time " war really is hell. " First time I ever began to think that war was not good at all.
Capt. Miller's hand shaking is the sign of PTSD
My grandpa was Wehrmacht. (regular german army). He was a captain before the war started and not part of the SS. He fallow orders on the invasion of Poland until he was ordered to execute civilians on Poland. He refused. He was executed by the SS. His best friend a second lieutenant that was on leave when heard the news deserted and took my grandma out of Germany as well as my mom and my uncle. When trying to cross Belgium with out the proper permit a shooting begin, he was shot as well as my uncle by the german army and by a miracle the captain station on the boarder had pity of my grandma and mom crying for them that he kick them out of Germany into Sweden. They survive there until the war end.
Thank you for sharing your grandfather's experience and your families personal story, I've been told how some German soldiers refused to execute, assassinate civilians and were themselves put to the firing squad.
I've heard of German soldiers releasing American and allied soldiers disobeying direct orders, heart touching knowing that some weren't cold blooded killers ❤
homies, you can tell you've changed so much because of movies... after you watch a hundred you start catching little details, the effects and violence are just noice.... and you keep attention to the character development, dialogues and music, maybe you even learn something new... now you see the casting, the scenery and everything that matters in this movies, and that is good
Yes oooor because they have all already seen this movie on the channel...
From a veteran(Different war. Same horror): The beach assault scene is as real as Hollywood gets. The reality is far worse. The only thing missing, are the smells. Something you never forget. After watching the film, I am convinced that each cut in the beach scene represented the actual eye witness account of the assault, as experienced by soldiers who survived Omaha Beach
When I was maybe 14 my Grandfather on my dads side just starting talking. I’m American but he fought in the British army. Before he talked about all the funny things they did and the good times. But that day he just starting talking about everything. How they fought in North Africa and then up through Sicily and Italy in his tank. The most powerful thing I remember is he said they called for air support because they were being overrun and then he just broke and said “The damn yanks hit us by mistake” I had never seen my grandpa cry before. My dad hadn’t even ever heard the stories. He talked for probably 8 hours straight no hold barred and we just listened. Maybe he figured I was old enough to understand. After that he never spoke about it again for the rest of his life. This movie was powerful for my dad too because he never really realized what his dad really went through.
I cried a little watching this movie too, especially when Captain breaks down when he was alone, so easy to become emotionally attached to a crucial turning point in history against a tyrant physco dictator.
A wonderful yet sad movie with a solid all star cast.
Thank you to all those that served and died for their countries when they united against the Germans and gave us what freedom we have today.
"Lest we forget"
My great uncles served in the New Zealand Maori Battalion in Gallipoli and Egypt tours, my father served in the New Zealand armed forces toured with the S.A.S, Territorials and regulars.
I still have family serving today ❤
Always remembered, admired and loved.
Fantastic group reaction Homies, your all so beautiful women, nice thank you 😊
What a lovely bunch of ladies. Great to see different perspectives.
The first 20 min if this movie is hard to handle but probably as close to reality of war you'll ever see.
My girlfriend at the time wanted to go to see the movie. She heard it was a really good movie, which it was. I knew the beginning was bad but I took her. In the movie theater, that beginning was pure insanity. I'll never forget the looks of horror on people's faces around me and my girlfriend ran out screaming. I left and all I could say was "I told you" and "It was much worse in real life" on the drive home. My neighbor was at Omaha beach in the second wave and he was a touched person. He never mentioned it but everyone knew. She was traumatized for days. I went to see it a few weeks later.
This is what we DO.....as Americans we expect this. As a movie, this was one of the best to SHOW what that landing was like. My great uncle was there. He had a flame thrower and as he hit the beach he was hit by gunfire and dropped burning his hand beyond recognition. Until the day he died, he wore a black glove over what what left of his hand....trying to HELP people. Yes. Vin Diesel was in it....lets set aside the actors for a moment and think about the actual men that made that landing and took that beach and those that lost their lives. Lets think about these people that dint want o have anything to do with this war. They just wanted to live their lives but were engulfed in it. For this woman that lost ALL of her sons, of course this country will fight to bring the last one back home. Thank you for this ladies...
Shame the film disrespects the British. First it belittles them in the dialogue, lies in the dialogue trying to bolster the importance of the American mission and finally it steals a real life German adversary that the British were facing (not the Americans) and shows the Americans defeating them.
Typical Hollywood.
I remember this coming out and Veterans needing to leave because it was too real. War is horrifying. Every soldier in every country just wants to go home and live.
I absolutely love the emotion you all display in these critical movies that show the history of war. We don’t love it, but adore your generosity
I don't think these lovely women realise what an experience they are about to have. The realities of everyday men, postmen, grocers, waiters, clerks, forced to fight and to kill, to see inhuman sights and do inhuman things. Then told to go home and carry on 'as normal'. Its been the lot of the common man for thousands of years. And they have done it to protect the women and their children, back home.
In the summer the ladies should take a short trip to Normandy France to see Omaha beach and the military graveyards of the soldiers.
It's a very powerful and emotional place to see.
Far more to the Normandy battlefields than just Omaha Beach.
The worst fighting was inland.
Just take five minutes to look up D Day and you’ll see five beaches were assailed, two by Americans, two by British troops and one by Canadian. It was impossible to land anywhere that there were no German troops! They were well informed of where they landed but no one can cater for what happens in war. It’s hard for your generation to understand what our fathers and grandfathers gave, but thank you for your reactions.
My uncle, Harold Hibard of the 101st Airborne, was killed the first day jumping into Sainte Mere Eglise. RIP
My Mother is from England and as a young teenager she saw the German bomber planes flying over to bomb London.
This movie for me tells a pretty accurate tell of this war. It also has a lot about my family tree. My Mother being British and my Father's side is German. So needless to say I had relatives were shooting and blowing each other up.
Highly recommend the new rendition on All Quiet On The Western Front for you all to react to as well
the effort made by the Americans and the English to liberate the whole of Europe is something truly unique that will remain in the history books for years and years. For me, America will always be a Great Nation and I will always thank these men, or rather soldiers who they sacrificed every drop of their blood for us to make us free today you will always remain in my heart, I will never forget you may God always bless the United States of America and England🇬🇧❤🇺🇲
Well Homies, I’m happy you are expanding your minds. Seeing war depicted on screen as it is written in books should help you know it’s nothing to do with your gender when the policy was only men in combat. Women carry life with them whereas men do not. The reason was for preservation of humanity, not lack of respect for abilities. The unfortunate transformation of society and resentment of who should fulfill a role doesn’t change the truth about who should remain to carry on should the choice be needed. Women and children should always come first.
Of the times I’ve seen this movie, there was one time I saw a video of someone reacting to SPR. The scene where there was a mix up of the different Ryan’s. Of all the the reactions and comments I’ve seen and read. I think it’s an underrated scene. No one mentions about it at all. The reason why I say that is, is because it comes to show what these soldiers dealt with when they were in the war. Not knowing what’s going on back at home. They couldn’t send letters everyday. They never received letters everyday either. James wanted to go home, because of this mix up. Thinking about his little brothers. It’s sad moment to watch, because of what our soldiers go through when at war.
My father was a few miles inland and fighting for a while before those poor boys hit the beaches God bless them all
OMG I WAS IN TEARS THIS WHOLE REACTION YOU DID GOOD BY REACTING TO THIS ONE
How often can you react on one channel to the same movie over and over again?
The Homies: Yes!
This is by far the greatest war film ever made because veterans said that this is the most accurate depiction of WWII on that horrific day. It was so realistic that many veterans who went to see it in theatres had to walk out in the first few minutes because it triggered their PTSD. The only thing that was missing were the smells. The smell of blood, feces, and human flesh was everywhere. These men walked right into the line of fire of a machine gun so their comrades could take over the beach and turn the tide of the war. Imagine all those long enduring months of training they did, all to die within 30 seconds.
These men were the greatest generation and they should never be forgotten. Thank you to all of you who served on that day. 🇺🇸
Great Reaction Ladies To One Of My All Time Favorite Movie's
Please girls, give a chance for these 3 movies, The blind side (2009), Somehere in time (1980) and The intouchables (2011), powerful and emotional movies, two of them is based on a true history, please i love you homies. Hugs from Brazil ❤️🇧🇷
The US Armed Forces will move MOUNTAINS to find 1 Marine, 1 Sailor, 1 Airmen, 1 Soldier & bring them HOME
When Ww2 vets were asked what movie gets the closest to what it was like on D Day, they said the first 10 mins of this movie
This is what so many of ya'lls grandfathers and great grandfathers went through for your freedom
He is a WWII veteran, and a veteran of D-Day landings at Omaha Beach, which was the worst of the 5 beach landings. He is visiting one of the dozen or so American Cemeteries in W. Europe where US soldiers were buried. The scenes on the beach were taken from accounts and interviews from survivors along with other historical facts.
I highly recommend "Im Westen nichts Neues - All quiet on the Western Front", "Das Boot - Directors Cut" and "Under Sandet - Land of mine"
Downfall is better than all the movies you mentioned, though all the movies you mentioned are good ones. If you have not seen Downfall I highly recommend it.
(Feb 2024)
Vin Diesel gets shot 9:47
Dogtags 15:04
23:32 25:40
30:56 31:35
Bravo young ladies! Way to keep it classy and real AF❤
You should watch ‘Downfall’ (Der Untergang). Yes it’s in German with English subtitles, but it is an incredible movie about Hitler in his Bunker during WW2
I love Ellie , her reactions , how emotional is she
Men has been through hell shed blood and gave us all freedom and kept us safe. Respect Man
I recently visited the National D-Day Memorial, located in Bedford, VA. The guide for the tour asked if anyone knew about the Bedford Boys. I answered correctly, saying they were members of A Company, of the Virginia Army National Guard, who got killed or wounded within the first five minutes of landing on Omaha Beach. If any of you noticed the shoulder patch Upham was wearing, on his sleeve, it was the insignia of the 29th Infantry Division, made up of National Guard units from NJ, DE, MD and VA. It looks like the taoist Yin and Yang symbol, with blue and gray colors, representing units from both North and South.
you have to see "Flags Of Our Fathers" and then "Letters from Iwo Jima". The idea of seeing the war from the two enemy points of view to understand that everyone loses in war except business...
The opening scene Ryan goes to the grave of his brother, at the end he's at the grave of Capt. Miller's grave. His family is directly behind him at the first grave site, at the end, his family remains at a respectful distance, except for his wife who has no idea who Miller is. Ryan went home and never told anyone about that day in Ramell. The opening scene Ryan goes to the grave of his brother, at the end he's at the grave of Capt. Miller's grave. His family is directly behind him at the first grave site, at the end, his family remains at a respectful distance, except for his wife who has no idea who Miller is. Ryan went home and never told anyone about that day in Ramell.
Spielberg researched small details, for instance, Pvt Jackson's right thumb has a black mark on it. That's actually a bruise that many U. S. riflemen had caused from getting their thumb caught in the loading mechanism from not locking the bolt back properly when loading/reloading the M1 Garand rifle. It was called "Garand thumb".
The Hitler Youth Knife is more literary liberty than fact. That knife is a hiking knife given to members of the Hitler Youth Corps, which was much like the Boy Scouts in training while being indoctrinated with the ideology of National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi). The only other group they were issued to were members of the SA. This knife was never part of a soldier of the Wehrmacht. As for the reaction of Carparzo and Mellish, it is highly unlikely an average G.I. would have known what that knife was and its symbolism. The matter of Mellish crying is also not likely as the Allies didn't find out about the fate of Jews in Europe until the first concentration camp was liberated April 4, 1945. The war in Europe ended May 7, 1945. So, following the real timeline, Mellish dies before the Allies knew anything about concentration and death camps. But, after-all, it is Hollywood.
Saving Private Ryan is not based on the Sullivan brothers. Fritz Niland became the basis for Private Ryan. He was dropped behind enemy lines on D-Day and spent five days in the French countryside, eventually earning a Bronze star in combat for taking a French. Robert Rodat first came up with the plot in 1994 when he saw a monument in a cemetery in Tonawanda, New York. The monument was to the Niland Brothers - 4 young American men who fought in the Second World War. When three of the Nilands were reported killed, the surviving brother - Fritz - was sent home. This inspired Rodat to write his movie. The average age of a U. S. troops armed forces personnel during WW II was 26 years old. Selective Service draft age range was 18 years of age to 45 years. The average age in Vietnam War was 22, not 19 as any think.
There are 26 military cemeteries across Normandy, but the most famous and visited site is the poignant Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer. The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in France is located in Colleville-sur-Mer, on the site of the temporary American St. Laurent Cemetery, established by the U.S. First Army on June 8, 1944 as the first American cemetery on European soil in World War II. The cemetery site, at the north end of its half mile access road, covers 172.5 acres and contains the graves of 9,387 of our military dead, most of whom lost their lives in the D-Day landings and ensuing operations. In real life with the Nilands, it actually turned out later that another of the brothers was alive - he’d been held captive in a Burmese POW camp. Attempts to point out the "discrepancies" between the stories of Fritz Niland and James Ryan are often misguided, as Ryan is only based on Niland, and is not meant to be (or claimed to be) a completely accurate representation of him. The differences in the two stories seem to stem in part from the fact that the true story of Sergeant Niland and his brothers is often reported inaccurately. The character of Private James Ryan is a mixture of fact and fiction, with some of the fictional elements coming from the erroneous stories about the Niland brothers.
The German credited as "Steamboat Willie" who was released by Capt. Miller is not the German who engaged and killed Pvt Stanley "Fish Mellish during hand-to-hand combat. "Steamboat Willie" was in the Heer (Army) of the Wehrmacht and the other was in the Waffen SS which was a paramilitary organization and not part of the Wehrmacht. Originally, the SS uniform differed from the Wehrmacht uniform-whereas the regular army wore field grey, the SS wore black, head to toe (although later the SS did adopt field grey and often wore camouflage pattern uniform. American troops were brown and they didn't wear jackboots. The lightning bolt SS insignia can be seen on the right collar lapel of the German as he passes Upham and reaches the bottom of the staircase. During the Battle at Ramelle, Upham became shell shocked and was unable to save a .30 cal team from a German soldier because he was too frozen with fear to do anything about it. He carried all the .30 caliber ammo at the battle of Ramelle, but was unable to do his job because he was always either pinned down or too afraid to move. He signified the loss of innocence in war and thought that soldiers could be civil, but he later succumbed to the evils of war and made up for his cowardice when he shot Steamboat Willie for killing Miller even after the latter had shown Willie mercy earlier.
Not only did Upham represent the loss of innocence of war but he also symbolized the "Every-man". His illusion of neutrality faded when he finally had to pick and side and kill Steamboat Willie, his character revelation being how he finally understood the horrors of war. It became clear that Upham had turned into a hardened and true soldier because of the whole experience. Upham's rank was Tech 5 Corporal (E-5), that meant he was technician in a specialty area. His was maps and translator, he was not a combat infantryman and was never trained for front-line duty. Gunnery Sergent Hartman explained it this way in the movie Full Metal Jacket: "It is your killer instinct which must be harnessed if you expect to survive in combat. Your rifle is only a tool. It is a hard heart that kills. If your killer instincts are not clean and strong you will hesitate at the moment of truth. You will not kill.
"The way the next of kin was notified of their loved one was killed in action during WW II was by Western Union telegram delivered by a bicycle riding messenger. If you were being notified of multiple deaths as was the case in this film, notification was done in-person by a military officer, usually from the same branch of service as the deceased when possible. That's why the mother upon seeing the officer exit the car momentarily froze knowing that meant at least 2 of her boys were either KIA or MIA, as the priest exits the car, she staggers and completely collapsed. The mother speaks no lines in the movie, yet her breakdown brought a flood of tears form movie goers in theaters across the nation. Another important scene is it is clear from the few lines Ryan's wife speaks that she has never heard the name of Capt. John Miller, this means John has never spoken to her about what happened that day in Ramelle. What many missed is listening to Ryan speaking at the Miller's grave of how he thought about what those 8 men did for him every day was not guilt, but commitment.
There are units assigned to recover, bury and mark graves. Usually these were temporary battlefield cemeteries. As hostilities moved farther away, a more permanent site would be selected, at the family's request, whenever possible, the remains would be returned to the United States. At the Normandy Cemetery Visitors Center, you'll find the following inscription: IF EVER PROOF WERE NEEDED THAT WE FOUGHT FOR A CAUSE AND NOT FOR CONQUEST, IT COULD BE FOUND IN THESE CEMETERIES. HERE WAS OUR ONLY CONQUEST: ALL WE ASKED … WAS ENOUGH … SOIL IN WHICH TO BURY OUR GALLANT DEAD.General Mark W. ClarkChairman, American Battle Monuments Commission, 1969-1984
Ellie is so good and genuine. Keep it up Ellie!
Thank you Homies 💕💕💕💕 This movie is what real war looks like.
We collecting the dirt from each land we have lost men in and spilled our brothers blood so not to be forgotten never ever forget what freedom they gave to the whole world !
They gave their lives for you and me never forget that
Never thought watching 4 beautiful women could make me cry like a little girl.
I'm really glad that I stumbled upon this video. Western women have no idea how hard us guys really have it! Thanks ladies
Those MG nests/bunkers were supposed to be destroyed. The men found out the hard way that the planes that dropped 13,000 bombs before the landing completely missed their targets.
2:00 what a difference just over 75 years can make
Back then, young people actively willingly joined to defend their homes, to protect the innocent…
These days 18 year olds claim they need a “safe space” because WORDS ‘might’ hurt their feelings…
We’ve made so much progress as a species and a society, with greatly improved awareness of social issues…it’s too bad we’ve ‘regressed’ as far as we’ve progressed in some areas of life.
o7 to those who willingly volunteered to charge into this meat grinder, rest assured there are yet still some in this modern generation to look back with pride and admiration for their sacrifice so we could even be alive to complain about such trivial or irrelevant things.
From the first landing at Omaha, 0630 it was over 2 hours before they started breaking out, with 2-5000 casualties. The other 4 beaches suffered much less, due to Armour support and the "Funnies". This a fictional story, very loosely based on the 4 Niland’s brothers. Edward (PoW 16 May 44), Robert (KIA 6 June 44), Preston (KIA 7 June 44) and Frederick, with H Coy, 501st PIR, 101st Airborne - who was shipped back to England 9 days after D-Day - (but no special "rescue mission" ever happened). Edward was liberated in May 45.
Soldiers are sworn an oath. Leaving is what you call desertion which is capital offense in the military. Desertion is the abandonment of a military duty or post without permission (a pass, liberty or leave) and is done with the intention of not returning. Desertion carries various maximum sentences, depending on the circumstances surrounding the charge. For instance:
Punishments for deserting but voluntarily returning to the military may include:
1) Reduction to the lowest enlisted grade
2) Forfeiture of all pay and allowances
3) Dishonorable discharge
4) Confinement for two years
Punishments for deserting and then terminating the desertion due to apprehension may include:
All of the above punishments
Confinement for three years
Punishments for deserting with the intent to avoid hazardous duty, deployment, or important service may include:
All of the above punishments
Confinement for five years
Punishments for deserting during wartime may include:
Life in prison
Capital punishment
Other punishments at the discretion of the court-martial
Being absent without leave for more than 30 days is considered desertion, and missing movement is the failure to board an assigned ship, aircraft, etc.
I don’t blame Upham. He’s the most human out of all of them. Only had basic training but isn’t enough to cope up the true nature of war. He said he only fired a weapon in basic training never in a real combat situation. He’s there as a translator only. He’s trying not be someone he isn’t. He’s no soldier. He’s nothing like anyone in the squad. That’s why we’re born different. Every one of us is special because no one is like anyone else. Not everyone asked to be hero yet we are. Upham didn’t asked to be a soldier & yet he did after learning the lesson the hard way. Both aspects of an individual are seen clearly when payed close attention to & not distracted by whatever which is common for many to misunderstood only to be quick to judge.
One could say, are or were you soldier? Did you ever take a life? Where & how many battles did you partake in? How many different facial expressions have you seen before, during & after the battle? Do you see their eyes or gestures that showcases defiance, hate, scared, innocent? Could you still be the same person you were before that you are now after going through all that? We all have different reactions to war. Same could be said when taking a vaccine. Your friend got a headache after taking it while you didn’t experience any side effects. Choices have consequences & no one is free or above that regardless.
Furthermore, rules of engagement for soldiers are as follows especially for Officers. POW (Prisoner of War) is part especially if the enemy surrenders. Others don’t give a crap cuz they murdered their friends, relatives, brothers, etc. in combat. Then again we have these rules of engagement for a reason but at the same time it’s questionable. The idea is to keep it professional & humane as possible to maintain as a “civilized being”.
As brutal as it was, it was way ahead of most of what was done in 1998 by many miles! To me, forever, one of the greatest movies to have ever existed/exist! Masterpiece of a movie!
Two of the Friends actors were in this movie, Phoebe's brother Frank, and Chandler's crazy roommate Eddie!
For older Ryan appeared at Miller's grave, both Hanks and Spielberg looked for a marker for the storyline. They picked actual Captain Miller at the cemetery. Military enacted a policy called Sole Survivor Policy stated that brothers cannot serviced in same branch with one stay homebound. Family with only child, male and now, female cannot either volunteered or be drafted for service. This movie is loosely based on two major cases of brothers being wiped out even though there are others. Those two are Sullivan and Borgstrom Brothers.
I believe the Niland Brothers as well. 4 went to war, 3 died and the pulled the other one from service. I believe he was 101st Airborne because Sgt. Malarkey from BoB was friends with him. Believe Malarkey tells the story in his book.
They keep watching the same movies with a different combination of people. It’s like 4 or 5 reactions to this movie already.
Right! So lazy and comes off as a big grift. They lost me as a viewer because of this. Just find a new movie guys instead of rewatching blockbusters and playing it off like it's not happening.
I waited this so much finally its here !! ❤❤❤❤ thank you very much gorgeous babies 😍
The doctor Wade die always hit me with 😭. I was 7 watching this film and till this day always hit me 😭😭
From a U.S. Army Veteran. Thank you for the reaction video.
Amazing film, done perfectly. So emotional
Luv you girls. Keep watching
As I read somewhere, Ben Affleck was chosen first to play the character of Pvt. Ryan. But he was in the middle of shooting "Armageddon" at that time.
35:13 Girl in purple mentions the ground shaking from the incoming tank, and all three of her friends at the exact same time go "MMHM." I love neat little idiosyncrasies like that. I bet they're good friends.
I would suggest watching the movies, Letters From Iwo Jima. As a Marine I know the history of one of our most famous battle sites. But getting a perspective from the Japanese side makes my understanding of what those Marines and Japanese troops had to fight for against each other makes it more definitive what the Marines had to endure, the determination of the Japanese to defend their homeland as tenaciously as they did on Iwo. I have some volcanic sand from Iwo Jima that a friend gave me when she was in the U.S. Coast Guard and got to tour the island. It is treasure to me as a Marine and the history of our great Corps.
They need to watch Apocalypse Now and/or Thin Red Line. I watch both those movies drunk as hell and on multiple tabs of acid. It was insane. It was like I were actually there. It also made me want to go swimming in a river/beach lol
The chain of command calls the soldiers fighting on the other side the "enemy". But take a closer look. Look at the corpses. Look the prisoners in the eyes. You will be able to see yourself.
Vicki, I also take stones from places I have been or want to remember. I took a stone from the hospital parking lot where my mother passed away. I still have it in my car.
Think they realize, the sacrifices of our older generations. The lose, sadness, the doubt, ptsd.
You ladies rock.
My favorite movie
What heavier burden could you possibly carry when told, "Earn this." Every single day of your life you would think of that
The first 20 minutes of the movie was so realistic and genuine My grandfather told me he knew because he was there
A true classic.
Now women realize what men go though in war lol. I’m the son of a Vietnam war vet, my older brother died in Iraq in 2004.
Ellie you always get me crying when you cry
The first 20 minutes of this film have yet to be topped
I so happy to see you all watching this movie. I just want to add that I think you all are the finest, most beautiful group of ladies I have ever seen. Keep up the good work and I’m looking forward to spending many more hours enjoying your reactions, God bless you all.
I always couldn’t handle the part where the medic get shot and saying he wants to go home and momma. I just can’t handle it.
This movie has so much insight into how men interact with each other. But the scene where they catch the names of the brothers in the typing pool always gets me.
I love you guys! Always brightens my day when I see your reactions. Its always a reliable serotonin dump for me lol. Well done y’all 💯💖
Ladies, this movie is the closest thing to what actually happened that day at Omaha Beach. I have spoken to veterans who were there that day and they told me that it was much, much worse than anyone could imagine.
Unfortunately the rest of the film is historical nonsense.
Matt Damon is best known for, (besides this movie) as you said, Good Will Hunting and also The Jason Bourne films, The Departed, Dogma, The Talented Mr Ripley and The Martian. These are some of his biggest ones.
Thanks for watching. It means alot. (US Army- Retired)
Thank you and all the others including my own father for your service! My Father started in the Army and ended up in the Air Force. 🇺🇸