You may not believe this, but I do hate repeating myself. And it’s not because I’ve run out of things to say; it’s because similar comments still apply to certain movies, because they have the same problems. With SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, it’s a great movie for the first half but then very gradually becomes less and less likable. Not to the point where it’s bad, but not as good as it was. The story just loses steam and Spielberg’s overuse of shaky P.O.V. shots is a real headache. And then there’s the ending. Sure it’s emotional, but it still could have been better. Spielberg decided to focus on just one of the people who made it, and not tell us what happened to the others. The problem is, you want to know what happened to all of them. And the one they showed us is the one you care least about. So when all is said and done, you leave the theater entertained, which is good, but not ever wanting to see it again, which is bad.

      Spielberg does do an excellent job at the battle sequences. He certainly, and rightfully, doesn’t hold back in depicting the horrors of war. The first half-hour is especially brutal. Let’s put it this way, if you don’t cringe even a little bit, then congratulations. You have been desensitized to the point of rigor mortis.

      After that lame sequel to JURASSIC PARK, Spielberg is climbing his way back up again. He almost made it with this movie, but not all the way. At least he’s in the right direction. In all honesty, SAVING PRIVATE RYAN is still one of the better summer movies of 1998. But to some though, that’ll seem like a huge understatement. :-)