Well below is a second hand review of SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, and there is a fairly big spoiler statement that I couldn't take out as it explains the feelings of the person that saw the film. But basically the person loved the film, but doesn't know if he could see it a second time because of how strong he felt seeing it. He describes the extremely bloody and gorey battle scenes as being just that. Limbs flying about. An unflinching look. It runs a bit over 3 hours at this stage, and will most likely be edited down. If you don't want the spoiler, then leave now.... "Fly away little butterfly, flutter away"---Six String Samurai.....
Working for a media company has its advantages. Like free movie screeings. Lots of 'em. And I have skipped screeings like "The Truman Show" "Mulan" "Godzilla" and "He got Game"-- I've been busy lately. But I marked my calendar for day this week for a screening of "Saving Private Ryan." The only movie besides "Out of Sight" that I've been dying to see. So what happens? The day of the screening I wake up dizzy, with a fever, a sore throat, a headache, and a horrible cough! I go to the hospital, am examined by my HMO robot who tells me I have Strep Throat, and that I was highly infectious. The robot prescribes antibiotics and bed rest. I take a taxi home depressed.
And a couple of days later, when I finally get back to work, what is everyone at the office still talking about? "Saving Private Ryan." And course, according to I spoke to, I missed a damn fine picture. Fuck me. I shoulda went sick.
Anyhow I started pumping my boss every bit of information about the movie. Just hearing about some of the things that happen in the movie actually got me a little teary eyed.
My boss told I if go expecting some summrerHollywood feel good flick I am going to be sorely disapointed, because just about every character who goes to rescue Ryan dies This movie is not for the squimish. The violence is very graphic. Exploding heads, severed arms, you name it. There was a lot things that happen that my boss said he had never seen in a war movie before. Spielberg apparantly doesn't go out of his way to glorify "The Last Good War" at all-- which in my boss' opinion wasn't a bad thing. He did mention that the one thing that bugged him was the film seemed to be tinted through the lens of a person who was more familiar with Vietnam than WWII. Other than than that he said enjoyed the movie, and that "Private Ryan" running at a little over 3 hrs zipped right by. Oh, and he mentioned that he didn't think he could endure another viewing.
Anyhow all I can hope for is that because so many people wanted to go the screening and couldn't get in, that they'll do another. And maybe then I can really give you a review you can post on your site. Anyhow, the joke around here is "It's the Feel Bad Movie of the Summer!" But they mean it in a good way.
