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For Sale Mar 29, 2026 at 9:20 PM

Saving Private Ryan

Posted by erikoortin08

So a week ago I decided to watch Saving Private Ryan, and damn, what a movie. This movie has BY FAR the best war scenes of any war movie that I've ever seen, as they are recorded in a way that makes you feel the ambiance. For example, the D-Day scene is soooo good and tense! I now understand why veterans left the movie when this scene was playing... The plot and the pace of the movie are wonderfully done and Tom Hanks is great in this movie. If you like war movies, Saving Private Ryan is a must-watch.
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petethecanuck Mar 29, 2026 +473
You need to watch Band of Brothers next. 10 part mini-series.
473
Flababulous Mar 29, 2026 +79
In to say the same, and BoB is always broadcast around Memorial Day. Late 90's into the early 00's really brought a revived cinematic interest in WWII, introducing new generations to the sacrifices made by the greatest...
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kittencuddles08 Mar 29, 2026 +27
For some reason Christmas time is when we always rewatch BoB. It's so well done.
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honkeydora Mar 29, 2026 +37
Definitely a must watch, and from much of the same creative team, with both Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks being involved as producers I believe. HBO's *The Pacific* is also good, not BoB, but still very enjoyable. But Apple TV's *Masters of the Air* is not so good. I don't know if I'd call it bad, but I wouldn't argue with anyone who did.
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PM_ME_UR_FAKE_NEWS Mar 29, 2026 +28
Masters of the air felt so disjointed. Very odd series. It had some really great moments… but overall felt like a lot was left on the table
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deanmass Mar 30, 2026 +4
I was somdisappointed in how nice this looked and how bad it was….
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Missile_Lawnchair Mar 29, 2026 +10
Agreed on MotA. I can never really put my finger on what it was that made it less compelling than the other two. Obviously the premise is fine, and so is the acting...at times it sort of just felt like it was trying to cover too much with too many characters? In BoB every episode was so distinct but with MotA I couldn't really recall any specific episode.
10
[deleted] Mar 29, 2026 +7
As a pilot and ww2 history nerd I was exceptionally disappointed in Masters of the Air. It’s not bad, but it’s not close to BoB or The Pacific.
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Hit_it_Rowdy Mar 29, 2026 +4
This is such a good way to describe Masters of the Air.
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Hiphoppapotamus Mar 29, 2026 +3
The Pacific was visually spectacular, but felt far too flashy to have any real depth.
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lkn240 Mar 30, 2026 +14
I thought the Pacific did a better job of showing just how shitty the war was and how bad it fucked people up. I totally get why it's probably less popular though
14
TheJibs1260 Mar 30, 2026 +8
The Pacific's strong suit is the unflinching depiction of the brutality and hatred both sides had for each other. I liked that it also dabbled with more "after the war" material, towards the end with Sledge & Leckie. Band of Brothers is the best portrayal of the camaraderie and brotherhood. You truly get so attached to those soldiers.
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Arizonagaragelifter9 Mar 30, 2026 +1
Yeah, Band of Brothers is the best of the three, but I think The Pacific does a better job at showing how brutal combat can be. I'm not saying Band of Brothers intentionally romanticizes the war by an means, but I could see how someone watching it might kind of accidentally let that happen because at least between the actual combat scenes you see them walking through green fields or "relaxing" in French/English towns, or when they first get to Holland and they are so warmly greeted by the locals, or just with how much emphasis is put on the special relationship all the men formed during the war. The Pacific on the other hand is just *brutal* the whole time. I think the invasion scene from the Peleliu is more intense than anything in Band of Brothers. You can just feel the tension as they are slowing drifting towards the beach and then as soon as he gets off the craft you just see bodies everywhere and that one Marine right in front of Sledge takes a direct hit and his head essentially just disappears from his body. Just the zero to one hundred brutal chaos of that scene really sets the tone for what the rest of the war is going to be. Even between the battles they are constantly fighting the brutal conditions of the island itself and every night if you slip up for just a second you might be the one that lets the Japanese sneak into your or your buddies foxhole to have to fight for your life in the pitch black. I also recently finished the With The Old Breed audiobook and it's wild just how much more nasty stuff didn't make it into the show. I think the biggest fault of The Pacific is all the scenes that take place either back in the US or in Australia. It would have been interesting to see how it affected the men back home a couple of times, but I just felt like they showed too much of it and it got kind of boring. I think Masters of the Air is good too, but it's definitely in a distant third imo. I think Masters is at least good at showing how hopeless some of those guys must have felt and the tole it took on the one's who made it. I think the best scene that really drive it home is the scene after they had a particularly bad mission and they are doing the after action report trying to get a timeline of who went down and when. After like the 4th or 5th name gets read out and no one can even say when they went down the commander (not sure what his actual position/rank is) just slams his chair down and has to leave the room and you can tell he just can't stand listening to the names of all the men he just had to send to their deaths. Sorry that turned into more of a ramble than I meant lol, I just love all three of them and think they are all good at their own thing. I guess the summary is that Band of Brothers is the best, but it gives a sort of "the war was terrible, but it gave us this special bond we wouldn't have had otherwise" kind of feel to it. The Pacific on the other hand is just 24/7 misery and shows just how hard those men had to fight to not let the conditions they were in push them to madness. Masters of the Air doesn't quite live up to the other two, but I still think it's worth a watch because it shows the mental toll the war took on those bomb crews who basically knew their chances of making it were not good right from the start.
1
Dayzlikethis Mar 29, 2026 +21
also, Greyhound.
21
TrueLegateDamar Mar 29, 2026 +17
I love how straightfoward that movie is, no subplots, no romances, just 90 minutes of naval action.
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Moonveil Mar 29, 2026 +11
I love competence p*** movies, just people who are good at their jobs being good at their jobs.
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TheJibs1260 Mar 30, 2026 +3
Yes, I love that too! There's very light exposition about Hanks' partner, which isn't really explained or expanded on at all. It's a very concisely told story and intense for almost every moment of it.
3
Cherry_Crusher Mar 30, 2026 +6
Maybe I need to give this a rewatch. I remember being so hyped for this movie and then felt like it was terrible, I was very disappointed. Everyone on listnook seems to find it great and given the people behind it, the least I could do is give it a second shot.
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lkn240 Mar 30, 2026 +2
I thought it was just fine. Enjoyed it but then kind of forgot about it.
2
petethecanuck Mar 29, 2026 +2
Yes, Greyhound is fantastic!!
2
sevargmas Mar 30, 2026 +1
Never even heard of this one. I’ll give it a shot tho.
1
lkn240 Mar 29, 2026 +40
The Pacific is very good too, in some ways I prefer it.
40
Shad0wF0x Mar 30, 2026 +13
I like the Pacific but I have to space that one out more. It feels way too heavy to watch it consecutively.
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LeftSky828 Mar 30, 2026 +6
It’s very violent and the hatred level is high. The books it was based on discussed the sheer anger the two sides had for each other.
6
FighterJock412 Mar 29, 2026 +11
And Masters of the Air to complete the trifecta.
11
hnglmkrnglbrry Mar 29, 2026 +35
Masters of the Air should not be mentioned in the same breath as the other two. It is a pointless and shallow overly-written and still somehow unfinished mess.
35
Pictrus Mar 29, 2026 +20
My dad and I were looking forward to Masters of the Air so much and wanted to like but you're correct. There are definitely some great scenes in it but it's not even close to as good as Band of Brothers or The Pacific.
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eclectictaste1 Mar 30, 2026 +5
Better to watch Memphis Belle
5
HumaDracobane Mar 30, 2026 +3
Is a good miniseries but not like the other two. If you want to watch something closer, Generation Kill. I absolutely love that miniserie.
3
MountainMan17 Mar 29, 2026 +10
It's embarrassing schlock. It represents the bad end of a descending continuum that runs from SPR, to BoB, to The Pacific, and then to MotA. Profit motive ruins everything. And yes, Saint Hanks and Father Spielberg got their pieces of the pie along the way...
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grachi Mar 29, 2026 +3
Better to just read the book instead
3
hnglmkrnglbrry Mar 29, 2026 +5
The book is great and provides all the missing context from the show which doesn't even try to help the viewer understand the point - or rather pointlessness - of the bombers.
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Kayjaywt Mar 30, 2026 +2
The one thing I would give it is how awful it showed those massive air raids were, the huge losses and state of the air crews who made it back (barely). That's the only key parts I remember.
2
SpeedRacerWasMyBro Mar 29, 2026 +1
One Jillion percent! I was wanting something to show the Air Force's side of WW2 and boy was I disappointed! Not good in the slightest
1
um_yeahok Mar 29, 2026 +14
BOB is very slightly better than saving private Ryan IMHO. But they are both fantastic.
14
caligaris_cabinet Mar 29, 2026 +7
I think that’s because SPR leans more into fiction than BOB. It’s very historically authentic but after Omaha there isn’t much else of the movie that’s historically accurate. BOB is more historically accurate and authentic (though I still can’t believe they got Hitler’s death date wrong).
7
tonesloe Mar 30, 2026 +8
Hate to break it to you, but BoB got more than that wrong. Blithe continued to serve in the Army and served in Korea. Cobb was a veteran, having served for 9 years prior to the events depicted, and was with the 1st Armored Division during the African campaign. His training as a paratrooper did not happen with the 506th as depicted. He joined them in England. The book that this series was based on was written by Stephen Ambrose, who is not a historian, and therefore took the men at their word and did not actually fact check anything. This is not to take away anything from the series overall, and the bravery of the men depicted and the sacrifices they made.
8
Moonveil Mar 29, 2026 +5
It's also crazy how many actors in that show went on to become really big actors. When I watched it, it was a constant stream of "wait, HE'S in this show too??" haha.
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Jmohill Mar 29, 2026 +4
I’d add the Das Boot miniseries if you can find it. The external shots of the sub are dated, but otherwise it holds up and is fantastic. It’s below BoB but above The Pacific and Masters of Air IMO https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081834/
4
Orin02 Mar 30, 2026 +2
It’s the best submarine movie ever.
2
Felis_bieti Mar 29, 2026 +2
Just binged it. It should be said that the battle sequences are nearly as brutal as in Saving Private Ryan, and there will be at least one in most episodes. A little rough to take. Hate to say it, but the last couple of battles I fast forwarded through.
2
Convergentshave Mar 30, 2026 +2
What are you talking about? Hacksaw ridge is pretty great is you just want to see war p***. I mean it’s Melly Gibson. That mad understands violence. Why Stallone and Mel Gibson never teamed up to make a movie is beyond me. Could you image? It would just be the most sanctimonious violent movie ever made. It’s just “Jesus Christ.. and than stallone in his angry voice “yea.. you can say that again!”
2
petethecanuck Mar 30, 2026 +4
Are you high lol I don't understand a word of what you just wrote aside from Mel Gibson directed Hacksaw Ridge (which is a great movie)... and he understands violence (I guess? lol)
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tk-093 Mar 29, 2026 +1
Came here to say this as well.
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redmostofit Mar 30, 2026 +1
I’m on ep 10 right now..
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imanAholebutimfunny Mar 30, 2026 +1
The opening score is absolutely amazing
1
grigg674 Mar 30, 2026 +1
Catch 22 is also great. Not as serious as band of brothers though.
1
Lanky_Fudge_9967 Mar 29, 2026 +129
totally agree, that D-Day scene is insane and super impactful. it really nails the chaos and brutality of war, plus tom hanks is just a legend in this one.
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Saskatchewon Mar 29, 2026 +103
Tom Hanks was a legend in the 90s in general. - A League of Their Own (1992) - Sleepless in Seattle (1993) - Philadelphia (1993) - Forrest Gump (1994) - Apollo 13 (1995) - Toy Story (1995) - That Thing You Do! (1996) - Saving Private Ryan (1998) - You've Got Mail (1999) - Toy Story 2 (1999) - The Green Mile (1999) Genuinely the most impressive stretch of movies any actor in history has ever had honestly.
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eskimospy212 Mar 29, 2026 +22
My god that is a murderers row. What a legend. 
22
Saskatchewon Mar 29, 2026 +12
Crazy right? Ten movie run, where the arguably worst film in the batch (You've Got Mail, in my humble opinion) is still a perfectly serviceable 7/10 romcom.
12
Catmanx Mar 30, 2026 +4
What about Casta........ah Castaway was 2000
4
silverlegend Mar 30, 2026 +3
This is *That Thing You Do!* erasure!
3
Saskatchewon Mar 30, 2026 +1
Good call! Edited my comment to include it.
1
Mentalfloss1 Mar 30, 2026 +2
Not from the 90s, but *Greyhound* is excellent, and a war movie.
2
-Bk7 Mar 30, 2026 +2
also.. that thing you do!!
2
erikoortin08 Mar 29, 2026 +28
Man, that scene where Tom Hanks is dragging a wounded soldier just to look back and seeing him turned into a Jean Paul Gaultier...
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Laboom7 Mar 29, 2026 +9
The sniper scene…. 🎬
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erikoortin08 Mar 29, 2026 +17
"PARKER, GET DOWWNNNNN!!!"
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EggstaticAd8262 Mar 29, 2026 +8
Yeah? The KNIFE SCENE. *"shhhhhh"... "it's fine"*
8
idjsonik Mar 29, 2026 +10
"Were in buisness"
10
Empty-Salad-9989 Mar 29, 2026 +112
Still can’t believe it lost out to Shakespeare in Love for best picture that year.
112
letdogsvote Mar 29, 2026 +47
Harvey Weinstein.
47
Fickle-Lavishness858 Mar 29, 2026 +18
I’m still bitter about that.
18
collierar Mar 30, 2026 +5
I was just about to type this... F*** Shakespeare In Love.
5
Own-Librarian-9699 Mar 29, 2026 +10
Spielberg won best director Oscar. 
10
Empty-Salad-9989 Mar 30, 2026 +2
Rightfully so.
2
erikoortin08 Mar 29, 2026 +8
No way
8
Nekajed Mar 29, 2026 +15
Epstein made that happen
15
Enkiduderino Mar 29, 2026 +12
I hate that I can’t even tell if this is a joke or not.
12
Jon-INFP Mar 29, 2026 +22
Not Epstein, but the notorious Harvey Weinstein was the producer of Shakespeare in Love and the "mastermind" of its Oscar campaign, which included sowing the seed of doubt in voters' minds by pushing the view that Saving Private Ryan was only great for the first 20 minutes. Plus he had the Academy eating out of his hands generally back then.
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-SideshowBlob- Mar 29, 2026 +9
It's worthy of an Oscar for that first 20 minutes alone
9
Jon-INFP Mar 30, 2026 +12
Well, exactly. But it's also a fallacy that the way the rest of the movie unfolds isn't just as great in its own way. And the entire final "Battle of Ramelle" is also an absolutely masterful piece of film making.
12
siryoda66 Mar 29, 2026 +4
Not a joke. One of the greatest miscarriages in Oscar history.
4
ErixWorxMemes Mar 29, 2026 +36
To create authentic on-screen resentment, Steven Spielberg sent the main Saving Private Ryan cast(Hanks, Vin Diesel, Barry Pepper, Ed Burns, Tom Sizemore, Giovanni Ribisi, Adam Goldberg) to a brutal 6-day, 1944-style military boot camp run by former Marine Captain Dale Dye, who often works with directors to bring authenticity to war films. The training was extremely difficult; 5:00 a.m. wake-ups, constant rain, five-mile runs in gear, minimal sleep (roughly 3 hours a night), and intense, character-based training. The goal was to force the actors to "respect what it was like to be a soldier". Meanwhile, Matt Damon was kept separate to foster genuine tension between him and the others: The actors who endured the intense training bonded together and developed genuine frustration with Damon's character, whom they were risking their lives to find, which translated directly into their acting performances.
36
Haydzo Mar 30, 2026 +1
"My dear boy, why don't you try acting?"
1
TrueLegateDamar Mar 29, 2026 +33
I saw this movie in the theatre with my dad, and while I loved it I was probably way too young at 10 years of age. The knife fight is still too rough to watch.
33
DoctorCrook Mar 29, 2026 +10
Man I watched it around the same age with my best buddy. It definitely scarred us both, but I still find that viewing important to my view on life. It was f****** harrowing. We didn’t talk about it for years.
10
lojafan Mar 29, 2026 +3
I was also 10 when my parents bought me the 2 VHS set for my birthday.
3
JoeThrilling Mar 29, 2026 +6
lol bet your mum gave your dad a lot of shit for that, and rightfully so.
6
Pvt_cluckins Mar 30, 2026 +1
My dad showed it to me on dvd when I was eight and it proceeded to foster an obsession with WW2 that exists to this day!!
1
YoungKeys Mar 29, 2026 +42
Yea it sorta ruined every WW2 movie for me. There just hasn’t been anything since that has come close to Saving Private Ryan for me even though it came out so long ago.
42
HanSoloHeadBeg Mar 29, 2026 +16
Dunkirk is probably my second favourite WW2 movie. I don't think it neatly fits into the definition of a 'war' movie like SPR, Platoon, Apocalypse Now but it's an excellent film partly because it is so, so different to those films.
16
IBarricadeI Mar 29, 2026 +12
I think Fury is also very solid with excellent acting and writing and has a different enough perspective from Saving Private Ryan that I find both worth a rewatch.
12
ItsAllLoveNow_ Mar 30, 2026 +2
Norman surviving that ending battle is kind of whacky, but other than that I totally agree. It’s a great movie.
2
benjam3n Mar 29, 2026 +10
nothing really the same no. thin red line came out the same year and is amazing but spr over shadowed it for sure
10
gw17252009 Mar 30, 2026 +3
Overshadowed yes, but each film was a different part of the same war.
3
FighterJock412 Mar 29, 2026 +3
You should watch Company of Heroes. It's total c*** but it's fun.
3
USSZim Mar 30, 2026 +6
I wish a war movie would take itself as seriously as SPR. Fury started off that way but derailed in the 2nd half with over-the-top action. Hacksaw Ridge seemed more interested in old-school war movie cliches with each character filling a generic stereotype. Even Greyhound, directed by Tom Hanks, kind of ruins the atmosphere with the cheesy German taking over their radio frequency.
6
MavMIIKE Mar 30, 2026 +3
Have you seen Come and See?
3
pherebus Mar 30, 2026 +1
Warfare on Amazon prime has this realistic atmosphere and writing, although of course it's a different context. 13 hours has realistic visual effects (IMO), not sure I would call it an atmosphere though.
1
USSZim Mar 30, 2026 +1
Warfare was good, and a unique movie. I did feel it was held back a bit by the production design (due to budget). 13 Hours also was impressive for a Michael Bay movie. That said, it was still subject to the Michael Bay tendencies and was more of a macho-man movie than I would have liked. It also had some weird sound effects for the small arms.
1
silverfox762 Mar 30, 2026 +2
Not "since", but as good- *Das Boot* (it's available dubbed in English but much better in the original German with English subtitles).
2
aufdie87 Mar 29, 2026 +5
It feels the most authentic out of every other war movie. The uniforms are worn and gritty, the weapons sound and act real, there's no exaggerated explosions and action. It all feels very real. When I see other war movies where the soldiers have crisp, clean uniforms - it kind of diminishes the kind of authenticity I'm yearning for.
5
Yammyohnine Mar 29, 2026 +14
I thought band of brothers did this really well. You almost don't even notice it until the last few episodes where new guys show up and their uniforms are super clean and maintained and the other characters you've followed are filthy by comparison.
14
caligaris_cabinet Mar 29, 2026 +6
Fury did a good job carrying that torch.
6
Orin02 Mar 30, 2026 +1
Fury is pretty good too,
1
Newone1255 Mar 30, 2026 +1
Only one that comes close is Letters From Iwo Jima
1
kuikuilla Mar 30, 2026 +1
Try The Unknown Soldier (2017, finnish movie).
1
Key-Monk6159 Mar 29, 2026 +19
It’s always fun when someone sees a classic movie for the first time when we just assume that everyone has already seen it. Now I think I’ll watch it again because you’re right, it really is great on every level.
19
thedrizztman Mar 29, 2026 +38
>If you like war movies, Saving Private Ryan is a must-watch ....if you like movies at all, you should watch this movie. It's one of the best movies ever produced. Also, characterizing "Saving Private Ryan" as a 'horror' movie is......not correct.
38
dinksnake Mar 29, 2026 +6
You could argue the first 20 minutes are a horror movie. It scares the shit out of me more than any horror movie I've ever seen.
6
lkn240 Mar 29, 2026 +4
The beginning actually did basically cause some vets to have panic attacks IIRC... which is pretty understandable
4
erikoortin08 Mar 29, 2026 +2
I realized that mistake hahah. Btw, I absolutely agrre with you. Saving Private Ryan war scenes are depicted in a magnificent way.
2
digidave1 Mar 29, 2026 +8
Fun fact: Nathan Fillions first film role was playing the other Private Ryan.
8
Reiep Mar 29, 2026 +7
Watching the D-Day scene as a teenager at the theater was one of my few WTF moments at the movies. I literally forgot to breath a few times, I was breathless when things cooled down a bit. A real experience, trance-like in a way. I'd pay big bucks to experience this again in IMAX.
7
longjumpingtote Mar 29, 2026 +12
> This movie has BY FAR the best war scenes of any horror movie that I've ever seen Did you mean war film?
12
erikoortin08 Mar 29, 2026 +3
Oh, just corrected it, thx man
3
jsakic99 Mar 29, 2026 +13
Vin Diesel’s best work
13
mgrunner Mar 29, 2026 +8
Tom Sizemore, too.
8
jsakic99 Mar 29, 2026 +4
I think that would be Heat.
4
mgrunner Mar 30, 2026 +4
I mean, I love Heat, so I won’t argue that.
4
goddamnitwhalen Mar 29, 2026 +2
RIP
2
vurun Mar 29, 2026 +12
Try The Pacific
12
garrisontweed Mar 29, 2026 +11
Rami Malek character just casually throwing stones in to the dead solider that had the top of their head blown off. Fifteen years ago? When it came out. That image stuck with me.
11
vurun Mar 29, 2026 +4
Yeah, pretty wild guy
4
Enkiduderino Mar 29, 2026 +5
That’s the only specific thing I remember from the show.
5
Tokemon12574 Mar 30, 2026 +2
Me too. I watched it when it forst aired and never since - I only remember that scene, and the fact that the kid from Jurassic Park is in it. 
2
your_grammars_bad Mar 30, 2026 +2
This is the real horror WW2 spectacle. Even coming home these guys were taking shots.
2
RevanFlash Mar 29, 2026 +20
If you ever have any interest in Gangster movies you should really check out, "The Godfather"
20
caligaris_cabinet Mar 29, 2026 +12
I hear “Fellowship of the Ring” is really good if you’re into fantasy movies.
12
your_grammars_bad Mar 30, 2026 +2
I also believe "When Harry Met Sally" is a decent romcom.
2
Staninator Mar 29, 2026 +13
Many years ago, I was teaching high school English, and the class were studying depictions of war...think Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, Journey's End etc. I wanted to show them a modern depiction of war, to contrast its use of visual language as a comparison with written language and poetry. I had to get permission signatures from the kid's parents for them to be allowed to watch the Omaha beach scene. The rumour went around that I was going to show them this and it caused quite a stir amongst the kids. They all had quite a chip on their shoulders going into that lesson, they were quite boisterous. At the end of that scene, they were completely silent and sombre. We then proceeded to have one of the most rewarding and in depth discussions I ever had in class, about how that scene portrayed the horrors of war in comparison to Wilfred Owen's Dulce et Decorum Est. I hope those kids remembered that lesson, because I sure do.
13
erikoortin08 Mar 29, 2026 +8
Wow... that is a way of showing war to children
8
your_grammars_bad Mar 30, 2026 +2
Dulce et Decorum Est was the best they could do at the time to communicate the horrors of that war... film wasn't really the way then yet.
2
capnscratchmyass Mar 30, 2026 +3
I did a very similar lesson on the holocaust and showed a senior history class the part of the Band of Brothers episode “Why We Fight” where the troops liberate the concentration camp.  It’s a horrifying showcase of how regular people in the US had NO idea what the f*** was happening there.  And also a good portrayal of how the local populace turned a blind eye to it.  It ended up as a very good discussion over human nature and the need for everyone to stay informed on what’s happening around them while advocating and standing up for your neighbors.  I deeply miss teaching sometimes. 
3
catgotcha Mar 29, 2026 +7
Imagine seeing it in the cinema when it first came out. My generation was subject to very basic old black and white WW2 films from the 1950s and 1960s with John Wayne and so on, and then we had all the Vietnam movies throughout the 1980s as the US started to come to terms with that war. And then... D-Day in all its graphic detail. I was just shaking after that first 15 minutes, and the last 15-20 minutes as well. I was only about 25 watching that, and was feeling a bit shell shocked and ready to just say, "ok, ok guys - we get it, it's horrible, now can we stop?" And my realization then was that this was not a luxury that the actual soldiers had. I could barely stomach it as a movie; can't even imagine what it was like that day.  The big deal was mostly that we only ever talked about PTSD for Vietnam veterans but hardly ever did for Korea and WW2 vets. This was one of the first movies that really showed how horrible it was, even if it was a huge step forward for the Allies. 
7
GuyMcFellow Mar 30, 2026 +1
My parents took me and my sister to see it in theaters when we were young teenagers. I don’t think they had any idea how realistic and gruesome it was before taking us. And I can’t imagine their conversations afterwards. “Do you think that was too much for them? Will they be okay”. But now, as a grown man, I can say I have never had a cinematic experience that comes close to that. I still believe it’s the greatest cinematic achievement of all time.
1
Enthusiasms Mar 29, 2026 +7
I rewatched Saving Private Ryan for the first time in probably over a decade the other night. To caveat this, my dad f****** loves Saving Private Ryan. He probably saw it over 20 times in theaters and I was there, as an 8 year old, for half of them. I've probably watched it a handful of times before this last rewatch. I hate to admit it but I tend to scroll the internet including this Listnook while I'm watching movies. I hate that I do it and I'm doing my best to stop. I turned on Saving Private Ryan at midnight after a night out which is almost a 99.999% guarantee that I stop it mid-way and go to sleep. Turned it on at midnight, didn't touch my phone or laptop. Sat there and just took it all in and goddamn if it isn't one of the finest movies ever made.
7
LaughingGravy13 Mar 29, 2026 +3
I've never heard of Omaha Beach having an "ambiance."
3
AfroMidgets Mar 29, 2026 +7
Completely different vibe, but I watched Warfare today and I would highly recommend it. So visceral in it's realism and despite it's much smaller scale it has amazing tension and memorable moments
7
blakhawk12 Mar 30, 2026 +2
I watched that a few weeks ago and had to pause it a few times to walk around and grab some water because I felt like I was gonna throw up.
2
capnscratchmyass Mar 30, 2026 +1
The crushing boredom followed by an absolute chaotic clusterfuck is pretty in line with what my buddies that have seen combat have told me about it. 
1
succsforever Mar 29, 2026 +8
I think original All Quiet on the Western Front is the best war movie, because he goes home and realizes no one understands them anymore
8
lkn240 Mar 29, 2026 +5
That kind of happens in the Pacific too.
5
caligaris_cabinet Mar 29, 2026 +2
If you really want a depressing trip, watch BOB or Pacific, then watch The Best Years of Our Lives
2
succsforever Mar 29, 2026 +1
Now that is on my list
1
Abtino11 Mar 30, 2026 +2
I was so sad with the most recent remake and how much extra c*** they added in, plus the ending. The actual war scenes were intense and I loved them but the original story had so much more character
2
USSZim Mar 29, 2026 +6
Saving Private Ryan was so far ahead of its time in terms of cinematography, direction, acting, and production design. If it were not for the prologue and epilogue dating it with the 90s clothing, you could release it today and it would still hold up as a modern movie, nearly 30 years after it was made. It does not have the same look many other movies of the era did, and it still has not been matched IMO. Black Hawk Down comes the closest, perhaps. A lot of other war movies can't help themselves and often end up inserting some cliches, over-the-top action, or quippiness that detracts from the authenticity.
6
PageVanDamme Mar 29, 2026 +6
I recommend Warfare(2025)
6
yourghost367 Mar 29, 2026 +3
Possibly the most realistic war movie ever made
3
Hour-Cheetah3764 Mar 29, 2026 +4
Except for the Bradley Fighting Vehicles. It got the feeling right and that's tougher.
4
PageVanDamme Mar 29, 2026 +3
I call it anti-Act of Valor
3
MF_CEO Mar 30, 2026 +1
Wonder how many enlisted people have seen that and then get news about being deployed to Iran and think “oh f***”
1
IronyElSupremo Mar 29, 2026 +2
The main actors in *Saving Pvt Ryan* were trained by retired Marine Cpt Dale Dye, who started doing this type training in *Platoon* (1986) - in both movies he had a small role btw. As both were filmed, when a character died on screen, they left the production too which adds to the emotion (eat that *Tropic Thunder*) The D-Day beach battle, filmed in Ireland, had the added benefit of using 1000 actual soldiers for extras though (volunteers from the Irish army in period clothing).
2
goddamnitwhalen Mar 29, 2026 +1
Many of whom were amputees (to help sell the realism).
1
BIGxBOSSxx1 Mar 29, 2026 +2
The only war film to come close to the feeling of that D-Day scene is Warfare, but even still I think SPR does it better.
2
gr8d4ne Mar 29, 2026 +2
The German movie called The Tank (Der Tiger) is actually pretty damn good too!
2
tadwent5 Mar 29, 2026 +3
Buddy of mine - now deceased - who did several landings in WW2 said the beach landings shown in SPR were spot on accurate. He also said Band of Brothers was true to reality.
3
Fallenangel152 Mar 30, 2026 +1
Apart from the feel and chaos of the beach landing, nothing from SPR is historically accurate apart from 'some soldiers landed on a beach'.
1
erikoortin08 Mar 29, 2026 +5
Damn, was he at D-Day? If so, what beach?
5
tadwent5 Mar 29, 2026 +1
Gold first. Then hit the Med and Sicily.
1
blakhawk12 Mar 30, 2026 +4
Med and Sicily were before D-Day.
4
SurviveDaddy Mar 29, 2026 +3
[Hamburger Hill](https://boxd.it/1VIU) (1987)
3
socivitus Mar 29, 2026 +5
Truly overlooked movie because there were so many other Vietnam movies in the late 80s. Dylan McDermott's monologue to the green troops was so well written and performed! It also has a ton of great one-liners.
5
JustSomeFregginGuy Mar 29, 2026 +2
Man Platoon set the bar too high for me for vietnam movies. Hamburger Hill's tone seems so "pro america" ... who were kinda the bad guys IRL, makes it hard for me to take it seriously.
2
AlbaMcAlba Mar 29, 2026 +2
Band of Brothers.
2
barkeepnd Mar 29, 2026 +3
Glad I saw it in a theater when I could. The dday scene had been ducking behind my seat .
3
letdogsvote Mar 29, 2026 +2
I saw it in the theater when it came out. Was bowled over by how good it was. Haven't wanted to see it again because...f***. Parts of that movie were rough.
2
BenAfleckIsAnOkActor Mar 29, 2026 +3
Hit take
3
FighterJock412 Mar 29, 2026 +2
Dude watched a great movie and wants to talk about it, here on this sublistnook for talking about movies. Why be a d***?
2
Jaydo08 Mar 29, 2026 +2
Might simply be surprised someone is watching this for the first time. I mean I watched this in the theater in high school and I’m 46 now. You’re not wrong though.
2
webelieve414 Mar 29, 2026 +4
The fact it didn't win best picture is the day I decided to never watch the Oscars again. Losing to Shakespeare is Love makes this an even greater insult to injury
4
Upset-Transition-593 Mar 29, 2026 +2
Favorite war movie of all time!
2
exig Mar 29, 2026 +3
Seeing it in the theaters was intense. For real more than one old person got up and left before the Normandy invasion scene ended
3
horsewitnoname Mar 29, 2026 +1
Windtalkers was enjoyable too. Nowhere near as good as SPR, but if you have a WW2 kick it’s a good one to throw in.
1
JustSomeFregginGuy Mar 29, 2026 +8
personally the action scenes and tone seemed like B action movie to me, especially compared to SPR
8
0peRightBehindYa Mar 30, 2026 +1
I miss that movie. I haven't seen it in over 23 years.
1
CakeDayisaLie Mar 30, 2026 +1
The special effects in this movie have held up really good. It still looks amazing.
1
theoldgirl13 Mar 30, 2026 +1
Bof.. À l’époque il était très puissant oui, mais en y réfléchissant, Platoon, Hamburger Hill, La ligne rouge, ou même Full métal jacket sont plus intéressants car moins patriotiques. Ne pas m’engueuler
1
BlacksmithSolid645 Mar 30, 2026 +1
Other considerations: Black Hawk Down for another more straightforward war movie Apocalypse Now and The Deer Hunter for absolutely bonkers 1-of-1/wont be repeated movies
1
Clean-Ambassador-824 Mar 30, 2026 +1
Its on my top three favorite movies of all time.
1
kostac600 Mar 30, 2026 +1
I borrowed the Blu-ray of saving Private Ryan just to play the D-Day segment on the home theater and it did not disappoint
1
blakhawk12 Mar 30, 2026 +1
If you haven’t seen it, Black Hawk Down is probably the only other war movie I would put on the same level as Saving Private Ryan and definitely worth a watch.
1
rooster6662 Mar 30, 2026 +1
It's even better if you watch it with surround sound because it feels like bullets are flying past your head and the tanks are coming into your living room.
1
Xenomorph_kills Mar 30, 2026 +1
It’s just a good movie in general too. The characters are so memorable.
1
_pinklemonade_ Mar 30, 2026 +1
A lot of horror movies I'd rather watch than the opening scene of SPR
1
HoneybucketDJ Mar 30, 2026 +1
Saw it in the theatre. That was the first and only movie where I completely forgot to eat my popcorn.
1
EnderCN Mar 30, 2026 +1
The first scene was amazing. The rest of the movie was super lazy and inaccurate. Watch Band of Brothers it us so much better than the movie..
1
pinewind108 Mar 30, 2026 +1
Masters of the Air is absolutely terrifying. It's probably the best portrayal of the B-17 bombing runs. There's no way a lot of that could have been done before cgi.
1
MF_BREW_ Mar 30, 2026 +1
The more you watch it the sadder it gets
1
epac2000 Mar 30, 2026 +1
I saw this at the movie theater when it first came out. Completely blown away with the first 20mins of the movie. At the time there was nothing like it.
1
Signal-Yesterday7247 Mar 30, 2026 +1
Yeah, when it comes to the pure combat aspects, SPR is easily the best. Scenes like the D-Day scene and the scene with the knife managed to feel so dirty and visceral that you might as well be in the scene with the characters. I haven't seen a single movie that manages to capture that same brutal feel.
1
SixInTheStix Mar 30, 2026 +1
Band of Brothers might be the greatest mini-series I ever exist. It feels and looks like Saving Private Ryan, but it's about real people and real events.
1
ChodWad Mar 30, 2026 +1
It's great you've caught up to the rest of the western world!
1
Grimlock_1 Mar 30, 2026 +1
I think I watch this movie once a year since it has come out. Never get bored of it.
1
No-Gas-1684 Mar 30, 2026 +1
Watch Band Of Brothers next, and then The Pacific, and then The Thin Red Line. In that order. I'm jealous lol getting these all for the 1st time is a wild thought
1
pressieguy Mar 30, 2026 +1
The knife scene is the one that gets me every time. Sends chills down to my core for some reason and I enjoy thrillers and horror
1
Rainbowborn Mar 30, 2026 +1
I See
1
Drummal Mar 30, 2026 +1
I interviewed ( for history class project) a vet who landed on Omaha beach and that was exactly how he described his landing craft. Said he was 1 of 3 guys to got off it cause the machine guns mowed them down as they landed. So when I saw this movie I was greatful that Spielberg did it total justice
1
mac-n-cheese13 Mar 30, 2026 +1
There’s no other war sequence that makes you feel the chaos and fear quite like it. Total masterclass in filmmaking.
1
HanSteveO Mar 30, 2026 +1
For those who haven’t seen Saving Private Ryan, (and I’m aware this isn’t possible for everyone), please withhold from seeing this film until you’re able to do so on a somewhat large or bigger screen, and accompanied by a high quality sound system. And I would probably prioritize sound quality over picture quality/screen size. If you have the time, the means, and the patience to see Saving Private Ryan on a large screen with good audio, it’s a life-changing experience. Cinematically speaking.
1
veryblessed123 Mar 30, 2026 +1
Band of Brothers and the Ken Burns Docu-series The War are great companion pieces to Saving Private Ryan.
1
pnoisebored Mar 30, 2026 +1
im born early 1990s when the first time i saw thii film i instantly become an anti war dude. every highschooler in the world need to watch this film.
1
Leather-Estate-9079 Mar 30, 2026 +1
I can still remember the intensity of watching the landing scene at the cinema when it came out. I could hear the bullets hitting the wall behind us. I watched it again last summer and it's as awesome as ever.
1
Few-Worldliness2131 Mar 30, 2026 +1
I remember watching it when it first came out, opening sequence on the beach left me breathless.
1
Double_Height_9087 Mar 30, 2026 +1
About the comments for Fury.... The SS Panzers were nowhere near as stupid as the Tiger 1 commander and crew portrayed in the duel. He would have taken out Fury first with its 17 pounder /long barrel high velocity 75 as Fury was the greatest threat. Also, the Waffen SS had panzerfaust and panzerschreck, they would have just blown Fury to bits after the initial resistance
1
PAXICHEN Mar 30, 2026 +1
Wait until you learn that while very accurate, the real beach they landed on was a lot larger and the distance between waterline and German positions was a lot longer in real life.
1
MomusSinclair Mar 30, 2026 +1
And they were on it for 12 hours, not 25 minutes.
1
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