Saving Private Ryan

Wading ashore, Hanks is tasked to lead a small team to probe behind enemy lines in search of a Private Ryan Matt Damon the last of the three Ryan brothers, all killed within days of each other during the war.

Hanks and his small six-man squad begin their voyage into hell, even questioning their mission. Not allowing our attention to falter for even a minute, Spielberg builds up toa terrifying blood-splattered climax as the vastly outnumbered men dig in for their last stand in a bombed-out town. The approach of the German Tiger tanks is remniscient of the ground-shaking arrival of the T-Rex in Jurassic Park.

Janusz Kaminski8217;s cinematography is brilliant and the use of hand-held cameras to cover the war sequences is a master stroke. Film deservedly scooped Oscars for direction, cinematography, film editing, sound and sound effects.

Film is backed by superlative performances from the entire cast especially Hanks, delivering what should have been another Oscar winning act.

With its one-two punch of The Thin Red Line and now Ryan, Hollywood is rediscovering the war genre. But while, Terence Malik8217;s film was an out-and-out anti-war film, Ryan8217;s anti-war rhetoric is more cautious. Plain and simple, Ryan is the mother of all war films. Don8217;t miss it.