My dad's old man grew up riding horseback wars in South Africa & then moved to Australia to eventually be a commando in ww2. You know what that tingle is :)))
My father in law drove an LCVP first wave on Omaha. Blown out of the water and fished out later that afternoon. First time I met him and asked him what that shit was like and all he said “it was loud.”
@robertpotts2164 We have 4th and 5th may in the netherlands to remember the day we were freed, and to remember everyone who helped, fought and died in the war. Freedom: to stand and go where you want to be, and be as you are.
Greets from Germany. My grandfather was forced to fight for a dictatorship he didn't agreed with. He was on of the few that survived the battle of Stalingrad on the eastern front, and one of the even fewer who came back from russian imprisonment. I think about only 6.000 men came back. I only remember him as a broken man, who woke up screaming almost every night until he died. He never spoke to me about it. I have seen pictures of him as a young, strong, proud man, before the war. I can't put those two people together as the same person. RIP granddad and RIP to everyone who fought and lost his life in this tragedy. And thanks to all allied soldiers, for freeing my country from the Nazi-Dictatorship. Great reaction. Thank you!
Hello! Thank you so much for your comment! That makes us so sad for your poor grandfather! You are absolutely right it’s a tremendous tragedy! So many innocent people losing their lives or suffering like your grandfather for their rest of his days it’s truly heartbreaking and I’m so sorry to hear it. Thank you so much for sharing your comment with us and for being here! ❤️
As an American, I grew up believing that the entire German Army was "evil" because of the things I was told by many of the adults in my life. I was programmed to have a very "black and white" view of reality. As I have gotten older though, I have realized that the world isn't that simple. Many of the people that fought on the axis side were just simply following orders for fear of being imprisoned or executed. Many were scared, young kids that didn't want to be involved with war anymore than the ones who fought on the side of the allies. I have heard stories of German soldiers sparing or saving the life of an American and vice-versa, because they were not killers at heart and they were not evil. God bless you, my friend and thank you for sharing about your grandfather. May he forever rest in peace.
My wife & I worked at a cinema where this played. One day, I came across an older man w/ his wife and adult children sitting, gathering himself afterwards. Turns out, he was German (American, now). He was there, on the hill firing at our boys. He said they went to see it so he could show them "What really happened" that day. He was happy to have been captured. He has his family as proof of that. The scars run deep on both sides. Many stories were told to me during the run of the film....
Seen a documentary on this and German soldiers who were as young as 17 at the time said they were absolutely terrified and were firing for their lives when they seen the Allies coming onto the beach. Different perspective and one that should be told.
I knew an Italian veteran who became a POW of the Germans when the Italian Army switched to join the Allies. He was put into a support labor unit to bake bread (!) for the Germans in Normandy and was captured by the Allies. Through the Church and the Red Cross, he was allowed to return to Italy to rejoin his family (who had already assumed he was dead). I can only imagine his shock at seeing the landings.
Many forget the first country the Nazi's invaded was Germany. Just because a soldier was on the wrong side of history does not diminish their hardships and sacrifices in defense of their home and country. As long as they fought with honor and humanity they are worthy of our understanding and respect.
My grandfather fought the entire war 1939-1945 in Africa, Belgium, France and Germany. He never really spoke about it but one thing he said that stuck with me is "If you can live your life without seeing war. It was all worth it." The man was a true legend.
@Reactsandgames On a happier note, he was a very spontaneous man. Nothing was ever planned. He'd just decide to do things on the fly. Always made staying with him a non-stop adventure as a child 😁
My father and uncles were volunteers in WW2, my grandfather a doughboy in France during the First World War, and others dating back to the French and Indian War of the 1750's They all would have said exactly the same thing, hoping their children might live in peace.
Yea, that last line by Ryan to his wife, jesus christ. On rewatches I don't cry until that scene. Also the Wade death scene. Cried so much the first time I watched this as a kid.
Having served in 2 wars, my thoughts drift back and my mind becomes numb and black. Trying to hide the demons, my wife told me once "You're a good man" OMG.... what that means to hear from your wife.
@@johannesvalterdivizzini1523 It's why at the end of the Film, if you count the members of James Ryan's family, including James they number Eight... the same number as in Captain Miller's squad.
My father was a WWII P51-D fighter pilot for the USA flying out of a base in England, shot down twice over Germany in a 5 day span and captured POW. If he hadn't survived, my family and I wouldn't be here. Thank you for your bravery and survival Dad! I cannot begin to imagine the sacrifices you made and what you had to endure at such a young age.
Be thankful that the german wehrmach followed the genfer convention...regarding pow and their treatment, unlike the americans, brits and russians and japanese
26:36 "Is that just to ease the pain?" Not really. When Wade asked for more morphine, he was asking them to kill him by morphine overdose. He would have died anyway. 1 or 2 ampules of morphine might have eased the pain while he bled to death over the next 5 or 10 minutes (no way he could know for sure). But he asked for more so the morphine would kill him quickly AND painlessly. And all of them knew it. You can see it in the looks they give each other.
He didn't WANT them to kill him by overdose. He didn't want to die at all. He was just aware there wasn't anything that could be done and wanted more morphine for the pain and terror he was feeling.
@@Gunnar001 I disagree. Yeah, he wanted to live, but once he saw the massive amount of blood loss and felt his destroyed liver, he knew he would die. So he requested euthanasia to end it quickly rather than slowly. He knew he was asking for the amount that would kill him. So did the rest of them. That's why Jackson asked permission from Capt. Miller, who nodded, then that's why he looked so miserable administering the morphine ampule - he knew he was euthanizing his friend.
When this movie came out in 1998, several World War II veterans who participated in D-Day went to see the movie. Many of them were let out, crying halfway through the battle. The depiction was real. Very real.
@@Reactsandgames Because in that situation soldiers from any country should be "Oh, well, okay, we'll take you at your word." Few if any prisoners could be taken on the beach. And many German soldiers when captured claimed to be conscripts who "didn't do anything" in order to try to escape penalty. Has nothing to do with those soldiers being American.
The Fighting Sullivans. After that brothers weren’t allowed to serve in the same unit. It’s also why the military won’t allow all brothers, or sisters, to serve. They don’t want the family to die out.
@@derekray2683 Not true. There is no regulation preventing siblings from serving together in the U. S. armed forces. It is done upon request of one of the siblings. My brother and I served together during the Vietnam War.
@@Nomad-vv1gk is it still the same in the current armed forces. Vietnam wasn’t yesterday, it was over 50 years ago. They used to supply cigarettes to our soldiers, not anymore, it’s unhealthy 🤦🏻♂️
Don’t apologize for not knowing history too well, only one way to make it better, and it seems you’re more than willing to do so. Lots of respect for anyone who can put themselves out there.
Yes, one of the reasons why this film has real value is because it helps to invigorate people's interest in history. Learning something about the past is a real step forward.
I just wrapped up your reaction video, I am a history teacher and veteran. On one hand, I want to BLAST you for being ignorant of the history but truth be told so many people are in your boat. This should be a wake up call to learn more WWII history. Particularly, D-Day, the free world hung in the balance and while this film is NOT part of a true story, that opening scene is as good as it gets. Stephen Ambrose wrote a number of books about WWII and more specifically D-Day. The follow up to this is the mini series, Band of Brothers. It follows Easy Company, 1/501st, 101st Airbone. It's not a "film" but it follows a real unit throughout Europe, from D-Day to V-E Day and V-J Day. I hope you work to learn more and POW is Prisoner of War! There are so many great historical films. I did appreciate your vulnerability during the reaction. Well thought out.
A great follow up to this is the 10 episode series Band of Brothers. Unlike SPR which is a fictional story Band of Brothers follows the men of Easy Company of the 101st Airborne Div from D-Day through to the end of the war. Each episode includes comments from many of the actual veterans portrayed in the series. It absolutely the best thing ever put on television.
@@Reactsandgames "Best thing ever" typically is a bold statement. Band of Brothers is a masterpiece. The fact they tie the real life in people hits undeniably different. Should be taught in schools.
Thank you. This was one of the best responses of this film. I like how you respected them and the emotion that you had shown. I remember watching this when it came out and when the lights came on the entire theatre was in silence as if no one was there.
Exactly. I'm not a fan of blood and guts in movies, but the brutality of the movie IS DONE IN RESPECT of what these men were asked to do. Like other commenters, when I saw this in a theater, at the end it was the most silent theater I've ever heard. Emotionally drained, a bit shaken, and deep reverence for those they hadn't thought about in a while or before.
They're called the greatest generation for a reason. This is the single greatest thing ever put on film. The detail involved is next level. They literally shot the weapons (used in the movie) into dead cows to make sure the sounds of people being shot sounded like a human being shot. That's insane.
One thing that got me after watching this film many times is when Ryan's wife at the end did not know anything about Capt. Miller. That man bottled it all up and never spoke of it, while he suffered in silence. That is so sad to me. I'm sure that was the case for many men that went to war and came back to never speak of it again.
Back in the mid 1990 when I was 7 or 8 my grandfather would tell me some stories about his time as a POW and how he earned his 3 purple hearts and they were so brutal. He would show me his service pistol and his bayonet that still was caramelized with blood. Years later I would bring them up to my mom and the rest of my family, no one else knew what I was talking about. They didn't believe me about the stories, even to this day they think I somehow constructed these stories, but I know what he told me, where we were, and everything.
Same sound but yeah just one headphone. Not ideal for me personally but looking into the whole set up of how you have headphones on, with a mic and all that good stuff lol.
I believe even your 80's Walkman headphones would be a better solution than listening to one stereo channel. You'll still hear eachother, no need for audio backtalk loops and the software it requires, they're not expensive and you'll have your stereo hearing. Anything on-ear instead of over-ear, and in-ear is just a pain both literally and figuratively.
My grandpa was on Omaha beach. A colonel in the Army. Not the first wave but immediately after so he came ashore while they were just starting to clean up. He immediately began pushing out to start securing surrounding areas. He lived to 89. He never spoke a word to anyone about his experiences except for one cousin... a year before he died. He would just ignore you if you asked. He clearly saw things that traumatized him. The stories he did share were incredible and matched very closely with the things seen in this film. This came out a year after he died. I saw it opening night wanting to have a better understanding. There are no words. Sometimes the R rating means Real. Because that's what this was. That bond they firm as a unit... it is tighter even than family bonds often. They literally prote t your life every moment and you theirs. You tell each other everything. That bond doesn't go away. Especially because you're the only ones who can really understand the trauma you've been through. The ability to shit your mind off and do the job is terrifying. And comes with a price. Deepest respect and honor to everyone who has ever served and suffered a war.
@Reactsandgames of course. It is impossible to say what you would or wouldn't do if you were there. I have no idea. Maybe I'd dig deep and just go. Maybe I'd wet myself and find a hole to crawl into. It is an unthinkable ask to send people to war. It's even worse to not do everything in our power for those who return. Because they destroy their own humanity a little to defend and protect others. They will never be themselves ever again. Upham is that example. He had mercy and trying to understand at first. Then he was running in front of tanks. And then he faced the fear... and heard two of his new friends die while he physically could not make his body move. That's not cowardice. That's raw unfiltered fear very few ever feel. Many reactors blame him. He is a human put into a situation where to survive you have to push your humanity away. Your r reaction to this film was spot on. Respectful, grasping a tiny fraction of the hell. So thank you. For taking it seriously.
When this movie was released in theaters back in 98, Many WW2 vets who were at the Normandy landings were at the early screening & had to leave the auditorium for the lobby do to PTDS flashbacks, many said it was like going back to the most terrifying time in their life. The flashbacks so intense that they could smell the cordite & diesel fuel in the air, just like back then. Even Pacific vets had flashbacks of their time in the Pacific theater due to the realism displayed on screen.
Thats gotta be tough for the Colonel to probably have just given a brief to his units and prepare them for the assault. Then to see all those men you gave your speech to dead on the beaches
when I joined the military my friends dad a Vietnam Vet took me to lunch and he talked about his tour, When he passed my friend asked me what his dad told me. I told my friend I'll take it to my grave. only Vets will understand
Our dad served in North Africa, then the Invasion of Anzio Beach and the months long battle of monte cassino. Finally marching into Rome. He was a quiet man barley 5'2" while overseas his first born son died of an illness but he was not told till he returned. He is our hero. That's why I served 20, my oldest 5 in the Navy, my youngest over 15 and a Major in the Army. Both sons Afghanistan and Iraq veterans. I cry everytime I see this movie.
@JackelinHyde he started out anti aircraft artillery. Stationed in England. Then sent to North Africa as infantry fought there was with the 5th Army. Under Patton I believe. Afterwards sent to Anzio, monte cassino, and I think Rome.
@@nigelgarcia2432 ah, yes. 5th army and 3rd division chewed a lot of the same dirt.... Especially at Anzio. I think 5th army was commanded by Major general Clark. But I do know that Patton Commanded several armies and divisions at one time or another in WW2, so it's very possible.
Great reaction, you two. This is one of the greatest movies of all time, and is SO important. The entire allied effort saved the world from true tyranny. My grandfather served in the US Army in WW2 in France and N Africa. This film gives us a bit of perspective as to what they went through for all of us.
@@Reactsandgamesthis is just a hint - in reality it was even more brutal and horrible - also the beach wasn’t taken „that easy“ as shown in the movie at the beginning… the first hundreds of boats everybody died, tens of thousands died in a few hours just to be able to take that beach… crazy to think about that… A veteran that I knew once said to me that even though this movie gives him flashbacks and it is hard to watch especially for younger generations that never had to endure so much pain - this is just a walk in the park compared to how it really went… think about that - makes especially those first scenes in the movie even more meaningful…
Excellent reaction! This is my first time watching you, and you're doing so many things right that even more established bigger channels often get wrong. The video was a nice length (not cut down too aggressively) and you stayed totally focused on the film instead of getting distracted by things like phone notifications etc. (which a lot of other reactors seem to do). Also, you were large enough within the frame to be able to clearly see your facial expression (which is kinda the whole point of watching a reaction) and you didn't talk over critical dialogue. When you did comment, it stayed on topic and was always relevant to the film. You'd be surprised how many other reaction channels fail on these basic elements. You did a great job, and I am really looking forward to see more of your reactions in future.
Really appreciate that! We love watching films together and being able to share that experience with other people, getting different opinions and perspectives has been really amazing! Thank you for watching with us and for the feedback. Genuinely means a lot to us!❤️
No grown man can watch this movie without crying. There's a brotherhood that is understood amongst all men of military age - knowing that once you're in that situation, those people become your new extended family. Losing them is unbearable. There's also an understanding, especially here in the US where we are taught all about this war, that the men of that time gave EVERYTHING so that we could simply continue living free.
As a Corpsman attached to the Marines i took honor when they called me Doc. I have ptsd from treating my brothers, but i would give my life to save theirs. I felt like i did my job even though my Devil Dogs call me a hero.
45:57 When he glances down and Captain Millers hand is finally still…. Subtle scene there. It’s just the little things that this movie did so well. Small things sprinkled in with the absolute carnage of fighting. I feel like I notice something new every time I watch this movie. Great reaction video. Keep up the good work!
It's not really important, but I always wondered if that was a suggestion Captain Miller had a degenerative disease and he wasn't going to make it to old age in any case? Also, and I don't mean to suggest something you've already noticed, but the fact that Ryan's wife doesn't know who Captain Miller is, is a neatly dropped piece of evidence of how these guys just didn't talk about the war. Ever.
Saving Private Ryan was Spielberg's love letter to the greatest generation and probably the the closest any movie could hope to get to capturing what that time in history was like for US soldiers in the European theater. I always tear up at the end when older Ryan is looking for redemption at Captain Miller's grave, showing how deeply survivors guilt has haunted him his entire life.
My grandfather was in the 116th Infantry, he landed as the first waive on Omaha Beach. The division took over 90% casualties within the first ten minutes. You think the movie is brutal, it was 100 times worse in real life. He made it up the beach, was wounded later on in France. He only spoke of D-Day once to my grandmother and vowed to never speak of it again. My hero.
I am a combat veteran. I have been ridiculed before for saying things this way but I don't care. You can not possibly know the good you have both done. you both doing this has helped a lot of combat veterans heal. Thank you both for this and God bless you both.
That moment when he said ''' earn this....earn it;'', it gets me every time i watch the movie and makes me fall in tears just because in similar situations some people like (fathers) and others sacrifice their lives to make sure you can have the oportunity to be alive, they go through hell so you can have education, health, tools to survive, and the only way to honor that is being grateful and being a good person.
My grandfather was in the Army in WWII, and was shot by a German sniper in France, but he lived to come home. I am an Army combat veteran, too, and so is my son is, and we both know that nothing either of us saw compared even remotely to what my grandfather saw. WWII veterans were a very special breed.
Rest in peace my soldiers of America. We paid 10 fold for the French who saved us during the revolutionary war. I cry every day for that war. Europe you have been paid back for our nation thank you
As a military war vet I can say, when the end is near, all I want to hear is that I am a good man, and I led a good life.. that I was so gifted to come back home
When he was interviewed for a Band of Brothers retrospective podcast show commemorating the 20th anniversary of that show, Tom Hanks was asked what it was he hoped the production of the show had accomplished and he said he hoped that when viewers saw the show, he hoped that the viewer was able to see themselves in the characters on screen and if not, then they (the creators and the producers). had failed. Powerful words and totally in line with your comment
The price of freedom can be very high but it's the one thing that unites people all over the world freedom is something most of us are not willing to give up we die free if needed but we'll never be slaves
24:45 You' are right. Miller's hand was shaking from "shell-shock". What we refer to as PTSD today., that occurs after you experience some kind of traumatic or life-threatening event.
The dog tag scene at the glider crash is what first responders and combat veterans use as a coping mechanism. It is called "gallows humor". They are not callous or unfeeling, It is quite literally "we have to find a way to laugh or we will be crying". When you see a police officer laughing about something with a co-worker next to a crime scene or accident this is what they are doing. They are quite literally detaching themselves from the reality which is too painful to deal with on a constant basis year after year. Later in life this when memories or images are triggered they will feel the pain. It is literally how PTSD works. It's bottled up but it is always there. This is often misunderstood by people fortunate enough to not have exposure to trauma and violence on a regular basis. A brilliant example of how PTSD works in that scene. The humor is forced ....the pain will come later.
Shawshank is actually one of my all time favourite films. I watched it in high school and was seriously blown away with how good they made a prison movie
I saw this at the movies in 1998. It was a hectic and a very emotional experience. I also cried when Miller died. I walked out of the cinema in awe and respected what our forefathers did for us.
I'm a baby Boomer born after the war. My Dad and uncles joined the Airforce and we're based in England. Dad was a turret gunner in a bomber and flew in the decoy mission to keep the Germans from knowing where the exact D-Day landing would occur. When Dad's mission was done, they flew over the beaches and saw the bloody ocean and the dead. He and his buddies volunteered to pick up the dead from the beaches. It was just like in the opening of the movie. He never talked much about the war and never picked up his ribbons or medals bc he said the dead were the real heros. He drank a lot. I love our Democracy even more here in the US. These fallen men are not sucker's and losers like some here say.
Where a lot of movies romanticized war, this movie shows what war is, absolute hell! Having been a medic, the wounds you see throughout this movie look accurate, a little too accurate. The sounds of the bullets whizzing by is exactly what it sounds like in reality, and it is absolutely terrifying when you are being shot at. Good movie and allows each of us to see that our freedoms aren't free. Enjoyed your video and your reactions to the film.
I am a combat veteran of OIF 4.5. & 6 and fought in the battle of Ramadi as a Scout Sniper in the armored Cavalry. Many people have given me a very high level of respect and it is highly appreciated. Being a Veteran and watching movies like this can be really rough, triggering PTSD and alot of other psychological and emotional responses. Many times I often fade away into my mind remembering? Then I do my best to forget so I can carry on. I salute both of you for your very honest and kind comments. It was very poignant and I just want you to know equally appreciated. Love from America!
I retired from the Army about 8 years ago and have numerous tours to the Middle East. I can tell you from experience that there are 2 lines in this movie that hit home. The first is when Tom Hanks is worried if his wife will recognize him when he gets home. This is a great concern for a lot of Vets coming home. We understand that war changes people and sometimes for the worse, and worried that our loved ones will not understand and help us through the difficult process of readjusting to a somewhat normal life. The second line, was when said to Ryan “Earn this”. I take this to heart and try to live the best life possible for my Brothers and Sisters that sacrificed everything. This includes those of the past, present and future. We should all strive to make the world a better place for those that sacrificed so much, and not just our military but anyone that is selflessly serving our communities and countries for the betterment of everyone.
My grandfather fought for the British army aged 15. He lied about his age to get in. Never spoke about it, all he mentioned is that he lost some good friends in that war. 🇬🇧❤️🏴
As a veteran, I appreciate your reaction. Nothing can prepare you for the loss of someone you care about in action, but your honest reaction to that reality meant a lot to me. Thank you.
The 1st Infantry assault experienced the worst ordeal of D- Day operations (Normandy landings). The Americans suffered 2,400 casualties ON Omaha Beach on D-Day, but 34,000 Allied troops landed by nightfall.
Minor correction...I am almost positive that the number killed on Omaha Beach was about 2400, but there were another few hundred wounded, so the casualty number was around 3000..."casualty" includes killed, wounded, missing and other things that take a man out of combat. Also, 34k were landed on D-Day, but that number is just for Omaha Beach...the total number of men landed on D-Day at all 5 beaches was just under 160k.
One thing to remember is that the average age of the men involved in the invasion was 26. That means that many were considerably younger. My uncle, a navigator in Bomber Command, was killed at the age of 21, when his plane was brought down by flak off the coast of the Netherlands in 1944. The pilot of his aircraft was 22 and of the rest of the crew of seven, the oldest was 32. My father, who was in the Royal Engineers, rarely spoke about his younger brother. 40 years after the end of the war, he received a letter from somebody who had been researching the history of Bomber Command and who gave him details of what had happened. Dad was utterly devastated and broke down completely. It was only shortly before his death in 2010 that he told me of how he was informed and was given two days compassionate leave to go to his parents in Liverpool. Seeing your dad, as an old man in his 90s, in tears and still grieving is something that isn't soon forgotten. I'm pleased that you were able to learn something more about the history of the war and the lives of those who fought. Ordinary people placed in extraordinary situations. It's worth remembering, too, that the invasion force was made up of soldiers from many allied countries, each playing their part in defeating the Nazis.
I don't know if anyone else in the comments mentioned this little fun fact but the sniper shot through the scope of the enemy sniper was actually done in real life by a United States Marine corps sniper in Vietnam!! Sergeant Carlos Hathcock, one of the best snipers ever, was being hunted by the Vietnamese top sniper!! They both had a fix on each other's position and Hathcock caught a reflection of sunlight off the scope of the enemy sniper and shot at it probably a split second before the sniper was going to shoot at him, and it went directly through the scope without touching the sides!!! The scope was kept as proof but somewhere down the line was stolen by someone!! But there is definitely documentation of that shot!!
@@twohorsesinamancostume7606 I'm watching it now!! No doubt Hathcock was a legend!! American sniper Chris Kyle named Carlos Hathcock as one of his main influences and reasons why he became a sniper himself!!!
Carlos was amazing. Hunted down every Vietnamese sniper who dared to try to kill him for the bounty that the Vietnamese put on his head. He even went 3 days without sleep to slowly crawl into an enemy encampment to kill an infamous Vietnamese female soldier who had a reputation of torturing US soldiers. Once he was finished with his tour, he re-enlisted. An armored vehicle he was in was struck by a mine. He ended up pulling wounded soldiers out of the vehicle and didn't even notice he was partly on fire while doing so. Definitely a man who was just "built different" lol.
R.I.P. Jay Bowman KIA Normandy France 101st Airborne. 18 years old. Killed by sniper. Buried in Chicago. My dad's cousin. My father was in the 82nd Airborne sent to France and was briefly in Hugteten Forest battle.
RIP. My grandfather was in the Hurtgen Forest with the 28th Infantry Division. If your father was there too, he must have also went through hell. It was truly awful from what I've read.
@@Reactsandgames I wish I could have spent a lot more time with him. He had more to offer than I ever realized. He, like so many others, didn't talk much about the war. It must have been much too painful to try and express.
Opening scene. The plastic bags on the rifles was to keep sand out of the rifle, not water. Water flows right out of a barrel and internal mechanisms. Sand can cause malfunctions. “Keep those actions clear!”, said Hanks. The bag would be kept on just before going in to action.
you might already be aware of this but just to be clear because its easy to get this part confused: the german soldier they captured and released earlier is not the same soldier as the one who stabs Mellish during the final battle. they look similar but they are two different people. the soldier on the bridge during the final battle that Upham kills however, IS the soldier they released earlier
Ohhhhh! Thanks for clarifying that. I thought it was the same guy on the last 2 occasions! Completely forgot about the guy they let go….and it was HIM!!! 🤯 appreciate it!
I disagree… why would the soldier who stabs Mellish leave an American on the stairs alive?… except if he recognized him as the American soldier who gave him a smoke. … this is how great scripts are written… consequences of your actions… it’s why he killed him after he watched him kill Miller. He realized his hesitancy and fear got two of his brothers killed by the man he helped.
Omaha is regarded as the worst experience of 5 beaches assaulted some 2,000 of the day's 4,000 dead were there. Utah and Omaha-American , Sword and Gold- British , Juno-Canadian. The Commonwealth forces had learned painful lessons at Dieppe incursion two years before a raid with 60% (2,853) casualty rate for Canadians assaulting a French beach. Remember despite Hollywood,13 countries contributed to the landings as they could. WW II was won by the "Allies" especially the merciless Russians. A masterful film with universal impact in displaying the horrors of war.
Oh, look, another anti-American bigot. This movie isn't claiming America won D-Day, you ignorant bigot. And it's not Hollywood. This is a movie about the American landing at one of the beaches. There are British and Canadian films and documentaries that focus almost entirely, if not entirely, on the experiences of their forces at their beaches, without so much as a mention of any other country's forces. And while the Russians paid dearly in lives and were critical in defeating Germany, American-made materiel was indispensable to victory in Europe.
Everyone always gets mad at Upham but I love that Spielberg included his character. I do think it’s realistic that not every soldier is going to have that fighting bone in him. It’s natural to want to protect yourself and lots of people do freeze in stressful situations. Plus there’s a good arc to show just how much the war did change him as a person by having him kill the German soldier at the end.
none of us knows how we would respond in that type of situation. We like to think we would act heroically. Some may, some won't. It's easy to say I would act bravely while sitting in our loungers with some jr mints and a coke...
They say loads of soldiers never actually fire their rifle and if they do they don't aim it at people. People drafted into the army are not all made for it. It's human to want to save yourself and just get through it.
Note at the end his wife of probably 50 years by then had obviously never heard the name of Captain John Miller... All that time and he'd never talked about it even with his own wife...
Saving Private Ryan is incredibly realistic in most every way, with a very few exceptions...such as bullets not being able to kill you more than a few inches underwater, and flamethrowers not really exploding that way in 1944. One thing to know, pay no mind at all to that man who took off his helmet on the beach at 5:10 and then got shot in the head...that next shot would have killed him even if he had kept his helmet on. The helmets of WW2 would almost never stop a bullet, except under very very rare circumstances. The movie is not a true story, and it differs from the actual history of D-Day in many ways...but the basic plot is loosely based on the 4 Niland Brothers, one of whom served with the 101st Airborne Division. However, when 3 Nilands were reported dead, no mission was sent behind enemy lines to get the last brother, and it turned out that one brother that had been thought dead had actually only been captured. The 4th brother was found and notified by an Army Chaplain, and was sent home, but as far as the brothers none of what happened in this movie happened in real life. There really was a Company C of the 2nd Rangers that landed on Omaha Beach, but they were commanded by Captain Ralph Goranson, and they did not land quite where it was shown in the film. Probably the most important historical thing that Spielberg got wrong is that he had the boats that carried the Rangers to the beach being driven by Americans...they were not. On D-Day, the boats that carried the US Rangers to the beach were driven by UK sailors of the Royal Navy. There are many other things in the film that are not accurate to the real history of D-Day, but that one really fails to honor some of the men that fought and died at Omaha Beach, so it is definitely the one most worth noting.
Great first half hour but the rest is pedestrian mediocre stuff, turning into kind of a Kelly's Heroes remake, but without the great characters and dialogue. The Americans facing Tiger tanks in the Cotentin Peninsula? 😂.
My brother in laws father was in the 101st Airborne. He jumped on D-day said when he hit the ground he was alone and took him several hours to find friendly troops. He also day he had a frozen turnip for Christmas ant Bastogne. Other than that he didn't talk much about the war and I didn't press him.
Eh, tanks were overrated. Good gun and armor but gas guzzling, unreliable, hard to fix and maintain. Logistics wins wars not tactics and American tanks were logistically superior
So much to say about this movie - perhaps the most gut wrenching scenes in all of cinema: 1) when the mom collapses on the front porch anticipating the devastating news and when the medic dies asking for his mama and " i wanna go home...i wanna go home"
One thing to mention - Spielberg is an absolute genius and the first 20 minutes of a lot of his films - including this and Raiders of the Lost Ark - are always epic.
I remember going to see this film with my Dad and his freind and its the only time i seen him weep in his life he was severely wounded in a different battle but he never talked or mentioned anything that went on during the war so i never pushed it ,he was English but he was in an American feild hospital were he made friends with an American medic who he stayed friends with until his death he went to visit him in Chicago a couple of times and he came to Liverpool with his family and me and my sister are still in touch with his two sons ,we all travelled to the war graves in France together wich was harrowing and amazing at the same time ,we shall remember them ,Good night God bless lads and thank you for the sacrifices you all made for us YNWA 😢
Band of brothers. I cried immensely. My absolute favorite miniseries ever. The hardest one to watch. Episode 2 i seriously sobbed. I will watch that series over and over and over and over again. Recommend.
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 Ramelle. 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 Ramelle. 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. 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 Capt. Miller. 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. Unfortunately, you didn't include that in your video presentation. That is one of the most important scenes in the movie. 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 The blimps flying over the beach area were barrage balloons to prevent German planes from attacking the landing force. The 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion was the only unit that stormed the beaches on D-Day that was made up entirely of Black Americans. They displayed unmatched bravery during the 48 hours it took to secure the beaches. Members of 320th, unlike the other units, had to remain on the beaches with no relief units, exposed to continuous enemy fire during the 2 days it took to secure the area. Because they were Black, the photographers never show them in the photos taken on the beaches that day. All shots showing the barrage balloons are taken at far away distances. Following the end of the war, like the Tuskegee Airman and the 761st Tank Battalion, their bravery under fire was intentionally kept from the public for decades.
I’ve watched so many reactions to this film and I very much enjoyed yours. Your perspective and empathy was fantastic. I actually saw this film in 1998 a couple months before I got out of the Army. I hadn’t noticed that I literally dug my fingers into my thighs. I’m lucky to have never seen combat but the thought of watching my brothers go through that was intensely visceral.
..hello guys..mate..I have to be honest..I cried again watching this with you Liam & Steph..films like this makes us understand the horror our brave beautiful strong young troops went through so that we can live our lives the way we do..and its so hard to understand why there is so much war going on now days..it breaks my heart...on a happier note..i'am so happy to see you both again it has been a while between movies..I look forward watching more from your channel..till then be safe and be happy..Liam & Steph all the best to you both..Adam..
Thanks Adam! Appreciate you watching so much! Yeah hoping to get another movie out MUCH sooner this time lol. Thanks again for watching with us and I totally agree! Makes you appreciate our troops and all that they have to deal with
Well. You've won my subscription. Thanks for being so attentive and respectful to the film. And it's a hard film. But as you said, it's important. And i really enjoyed your reactions. 'Looking forward to seeing more from you -
Just stumbled on you. I almost left the cinema within the first 5 minutes, but stayed, and so glad that I did. Watching you experience this has been like closing a circle.
Enjoyed both of your reactions to one of the best war movies ever made on D-Day, and also enjoyed listening to your accents. I have been born & raised in America,and it's nice to listen to different accents from different countries every once in awhile.👍 Glad to hear that you enjoyed the movie. Thanks to ALL of these ally soldiers who participated on D-Day so that we can enjoy the freedom that we have today. THANK YOU!!!👍
Thank you for a thoughtful and respectful reaction. You guys get it. Freedom is never "free". In fact, it's one of (if not THE) most costly things this side of paradise.
It gives you a reality check what the men went through for our freedom. The bravery of the men to endure such horror we must always remember them and thank them 🫡 prayers for all in the service then and now that still fight for us to be free of the enemy we must go through each day to be safe.
The obstacles on the beach (some are hedgehogs) are underwater at high tide to prevent or sink boats, so they have to land at low tide which give the defenders that much more time to stop or kill since the landing force has that much more ground to cover
I respect the respect and sympathy you showed for this generation of incredible young men.Just think,your grandparents probably knew people that went through this!!
Well, you two did a great job reacting to this Film. But first, hats off to Spielberg directing this masterpiece and to Hanks as well. Also to the supporting cast. So, I've watched a couple of reactions from you guys and always a splendid job. You deserve a reward and a standing ovation. Also, you two deserve a lot more subscribers. Thanks a lot. 😎👍💙🇺🇲🇬🇧
I'm sure I've read this some where, don't remember from where nor whom... "Earn this..." Is a message to all of us whom are alive and are enjoying the freedom and rights we have by exercising and using them! Thank you for sharing with us!!!
I've watched several ,reactions to this film, and this one, is by far, my favorite. It was truly, honest, sincere, and from the heart. Thank you for your amazing reaction and respect. Aultman, William T. SMSgt, USAF, Ret. (RAF Bentwaters, 1988-1991).
My grandpa survived Utah Beach, D-DAY, and lived to age 97. My hero. RIP Grandpa. Great reaction. Thanks.
👍🏼🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
That’s amazing❤️
My dad's old man grew up riding horseback wars in South Africa & then moved to Australia to eventually be a commando in ww2. You know what that tingle is :)))
My father in law drove an LCVP first wave on Omaha. Blown out of the water and fished out later that afternoon. First time I met him and asked him what that shit was like and all he said “it was loud.”
🫡 🇺🇸 BALLS OF STEEL!!
The message "Earn this" is not just for Ryan. Its a message for all of us.
Totally agree!
Excellent excellent point
True
Well said. That time in history can not be forgotten and that generations sacrifice can be forgotten.
@robertpotts2164 We have 4th and 5th may in the netherlands to remember the day we were freed, and to remember everyone who helped, fought and died in the war.
Freedom: to stand and go where you want to be, and be as you are.
Greets from Germany. My grandfather was forced to fight for a dictatorship he didn't agreed with. He was on of the few that survived the battle of Stalingrad on the eastern front, and one of the even fewer who came back from russian imprisonment. I think about only 6.000 men came back. I only remember him as a broken man, who woke up screaming almost every night until he died. He never spoke to me about it. I have seen pictures of him as a young, strong, proud man, before the war. I can't put those two people together as the same person. RIP granddad and RIP to everyone who fought and lost his life in this tragedy. And thanks to all allied soldiers, for freeing my country from the Nazi-Dictatorship. Great reaction. Thank you!
Hello! Thank you so much for your comment! That makes us so sad for your poor grandfather! You are absolutely right it’s a tremendous tragedy! So many innocent people losing their lives or suffering like your grandfather for their rest of his days it’s truly heartbreaking and I’m so sorry to hear it. Thank you so much for sharing your comment with us and for being here! ❤️
@@Reactsandgames ❤
As an American, I grew up believing that the entire German Army was "evil" because of the things I was told by many of the adults in my life. I was programmed to have a very "black and white" view of reality. As I have gotten older though, I have realized that the world isn't that simple. Many of the people that fought on the axis side were just simply following orders for fear of being imprisoned or executed. Many were scared, young kids that didn't want to be involved with war anymore than the ones who fought on the side of the allies. I have heard stories of German soldiers sparing or saving the life of an American and vice-versa, because they were not killers at heart and they were not evil. God bless you, my friend and thank you for sharing about your grandfather. May he forever rest in peace.
War is evil my friend, R.I.P your grandfather. Much love from 🇬🇧
@@wetpanther99 Thank you mate!
My wife & I worked at a cinema where this played. One day, I came across an older man w/ his wife and adult children sitting, gathering himself afterwards. Turns out, he was German (American, now). He was there, on the hill firing at our boys. He said they went to see it so he could show them "What really happened" that day. He was happy to have been captured. He has his family as proof of that. The scars run deep on both sides. Many stories were told to me during the run of the film....
Seen a documentary on this and German soldiers who were as young as 17 at the time said they were absolutely terrified and were firing for their lives when they seen the Allies coming onto the beach. Different perspective and one that should be told.
Nobody's fault being born where we're born and even more proof today that we have no control over what our governments do.
Wow what an experience!
I knew an Italian veteran who became a POW of the Germans when the Italian Army switched to join the Allies. He was put into a support labor unit to bake bread (!) for the Germans in Normandy and was captured by the Allies. Through the Church and the Red Cross, he was allowed to return to Italy to rejoin his family (who had already assumed he was dead). I can only imagine his shock at seeing the landings.
Many forget the first country the Nazi's invaded was Germany. Just because a soldier was on the wrong side of history does not diminish their hardships and sacrifices in defense of their home and country. As long as they fought with honor and humanity they are worthy of our understanding and respect.
My grandfather fought the entire war 1939-1945 in Africa, Belgium, France and Germany. He never really spoke about it but one thing he said that stuck with me is
"If you can live your life without seeing war. It was all worth it."
The man was a true legend.
That’s made me feel so emotional! What a wonderful man! ❤️
@Reactsandgames On a happier note, he was a very spontaneous man. Nothing was ever planned. He'd just decide to do things on the fly. Always made staying with him a non-stop adventure as a child 😁
He sounds wonderful! I bet you had such happy times together! Thank you for sharing! ❤️
My father and uncles were volunteers in WW2, my grandfather a doughboy in France during the First World War, and others dating back to the French and Indian War of the 1750's They all would have said exactly the same thing, hoping their children might live in peace.
Wonderful men! Thank you for sharing! ❤️
It's one of the most realistic depictions of D-Day, hell on earth. When Ryan asks his wife to tell him he is a good man it gets me every time.
Yea, that last line by Ryan to his wife, jesus christ. On rewatches I don't cry until that scene.
Also the Wade death scene. Cried so much the first time I watched this as a kid.
Heartbreaking
Having served in 2 wars, my thoughts drift back and my mind becomes numb and black. Trying to hide the demons, my wife told me once "You're a good man" OMG.... what that means to hear from your wife.
Beginning and end get me. The graves!!! Those people are why you are free today!!!
Right? Makes you think about earning it as well.
Ryan lost three brothers , he served honorably and didn't want to leave his brothers in arms...He earned it before he came home...
You can see the respect in the faces of the other airborne guys when they see that Ryan doesn’t want to leave them
@@SosaBoii-t1c And also the respect in the faces of the Rangers when Ryan wanted to know the names of the two who died trying to find him.
@@johannesvalterdivizzini1523 It's why at the end of the Film, if you count the members of James Ryan's family, including James they number Eight... the same number as in Captain Miller's squad.
Wrong
My father was a WWII P51-D fighter pilot for the USA flying out of a base in England, shot down twice over Germany in a 5 day span and captured POW. If he hadn't survived, my family and I wouldn't be here. Thank you for your bravery and survival Dad! I cannot begin to imagine the sacrifices you made and what you had to endure at such a young age.
Wow!! That’s incredible! Thank you so much for telling us about your father! ❤️
The howl of the Merlin turbo charger is iconic and beautiful, the sound of freedom!
Be thankful that the german wehrmach followed the genfer convention...regarding pow and their treatment, unlike the americans, brits and russians and japanese
@@hruthgardahne822 LOL nice bait
respect to your dad and all of our awesome vets!
26:36 "Is that just to ease the pain?"
Not really.
When Wade asked for more morphine, he was asking them to kill him by morphine overdose.
He would have died anyway.
1 or 2 ampules of morphine might have eased the pain while he bled to death over the next 5 or 10 minutes (no way he could know for sure).
But he asked for more so the morphine would kill him quickly AND painlessly.
And all of them knew it.
You can see it in the looks they give each other.
One of the hardest scenes💔
He didn't WANT them to kill him by overdose. He didn't want to die at all. He was just aware there wasn't anything that could be done and wanted more morphine for the pain and terror he was feeling.
@@Gunnar001 I disagree.
Yeah, he wanted to live, but once he saw the massive amount of blood loss and felt his destroyed liver, he knew he would die.
So he requested euthanasia to end it quickly rather than slowly.
He knew he was asking for the amount that would kill him.
So did the rest of them.
That's why Jackson asked permission from Capt. Miller, who nodded, then that's why he looked so miserable administering the morphine ampule - he knew he was euthanizing his friend.
@@blakewalker84120 Totally disagree with you and agree with @Gunnar001
He didn't OD. A shot of morphine was administered to mortally injured soliders.
When this movie came out in 1998, several World War II veterans who participated in D-Day went to see the movie. Many of them were let out, crying halfway through the battle. The depiction was real. Very real.
💔😢
6:15
"Please don't shoot me, I am not German, I am Czech, I didn't kill anyone, I am Czech!"
💔😢
Fuck ‘em he was Wehrmacht
@@Reactsandgames Because in that situation soldiers from any country should be "Oh, well, okay, we'll take you at your word." Few if any prisoners could be taken on the beach. And many German soldiers when captured claimed to be conscripts who "didn't do anything" in order to try to escape penalty. Has nothing to do with those soldiers being American.
@Objectified killing a surrendering soldier is a war crime.
@@oliviero46depends on the facts!🙄
Sullivan brothers. All 5 on the same ship, all went down in the Pacific.
Waterloo Iowa ❤
The Fighting Sullivans. After that brothers weren’t allowed to serve in the same unit. It’s also why the military won’t allow all brothers, or sisters, to serve. They don’t want the family to die out.
@@derekray2683 Not true. There is no regulation preventing siblings from serving together in the U. S. armed forces. It is done upon request of one of the siblings. My brother and I served together during the Vietnam War.
@@Nomad-vv1gk is it still the same in the current armed forces. Vietnam wasn’t yesterday, it was over 50 years ago. They used to supply cigarettes to our soldiers, not anymore, it’s unhealthy 🤦🏻♂️
USS Juneau. Sunk off Guadalcanal 13 November 1942.
Don’t apologize for not knowing history too well, only one way to make it better, and it seems you’re more than willing to do so. Lots of respect for anyone who can put themselves out there.
Thank you so much for your lovely comment and for watching with us! ❤️
Yes, one of the reasons why this film has real value is because it helps to invigorate people's interest in history. Learning something about the past is a real step forward.
I just wrapped up your reaction video, I am a history teacher and veteran. On one hand, I want to BLAST you for being ignorant of the history but truth be told so many people are in your boat. This should be a wake up call to learn more WWII history. Particularly, D-Day, the free world hung in the balance and while this film is NOT part of a true story, that opening scene is as good as it gets. Stephen Ambrose wrote a number of books about WWII and more specifically D-Day. The follow up to this is the mini series, Band of Brothers. It follows Easy Company, 1/501st, 101st Airbone. It's not a "film" but it follows a real unit throughout Europe, from D-Day to V-E Day and V-J Day. I hope you work to learn more and POW is Prisoner of War! There are so many great historical films. I did appreciate your vulnerability during the reaction. Well thought out.
A great follow up to this is the 10 episode series Band of Brothers. Unlike SPR which is a fictional story Band of Brothers follows the men of Easy Company of the 101st Airborne Div from D-Day through to the end of the war. Each episode includes comments from many of the actual veterans portrayed in the series. It absolutely the best thing ever put on television.
Agree 💯% 👍
Just ignore episode 4. It's not particularly accurate and historically correct.
Oh wow okay! Bold statement! It’s 100% on our list.
@@Reactsandgames "Best thing ever" typically is a bold statement. Band of Brothers is a masterpiece. The fact they tie the real life in people hits undeniably different. Should be taught in schools.
@@Reactsandgames Do this Marine a favor and add The Pacific as well.
Thank you. This was one of the best responses of this film. I like how you respected them and the emotion that you had shown. I remember watching this when it came out and when the lights came on the entire theatre was in silence as if no one was there.
Appreciate it. Thank you very much!
The D-Day vets said this scene was very accurate, and lauded Spielberg for not sugar-coating it
Exactly. I'm not a fan of blood and guts in movies, but the brutality of the movie IS DONE IN RESPECT of what these men were asked to do. Like other commenters, when I saw this in a theater, at the end it was the most silent theater I've ever heard. Emotionally drained, a bit shaken, and deep reverence for those they hadn't thought about in a while or before.
They're called the greatest generation for a reason.
This is the single greatest thing ever put on film. The detail involved is next level. They literally shot the weapons (used in the movie) into dead cows to make sure the sounds of people being shot sounded like a human being shot. That's insane.
Wow! That’s a crazy detail!
One thing that got me after watching this film many times is when Ryan's wife at the end did not know anything about Capt. Miller. That man bottled it all up and never spoke of it, while he suffered in silence. That is so sad to me. I'm sure that was the case for many men that went to war and came back to never speak of it again.
So sad! Bless them! 💔
Back in the mid 1990 when I was 7 or 8 my grandfather would tell me some stories about his time as a POW and how he earned his 3 purple hearts and they were so brutal. He would show me his service pistol and his bayonet that still was caramelized with blood. Years later I would bring them up to my mom and the rest of my family, no one else knew what I was talking about. They didn't believe me about the stories, even to this day they think I somehow constructed these stories, but I know what he told me, where we were, and everything.
Nice reaction folks. We owe these vets so much.
Totally agree! Thank you for watching with us! ❤️
As a Canadian combat veteran, I want to thank you two for response to this great film. Your feelings seem very genuine!
Thank you for watching and for your lovely comment! ☺️❤️
@2:25 A man admitting to not knowing something or acknowledging his uncertainty is a GOOD MAN. Great self awareness, especially for a young one.
Erm, are you guys listening to one Left channel and one Right channel ? That breaks my heart.
Same sound but yeah just one headphone. Not ideal for me personally but looking into the whole set up of how you have headphones on, with a mic and all that good stuff lol.
I believe even your 80's Walkman headphones would be a better solution than listening to one stereo channel. You'll still hear eachother, no need for audio backtalk loops and the software it requires, they're not expensive and you'll have your stereo hearing. Anything on-ear instead of over-ear, and in-ear is just a pain both literally and figuratively.
Apparently, U.K. education system is just as crappy as the U.S. education system. It's embarrassing for both of us. 🤦♂️
My grandpa was on Omaha beach. A colonel in the Army. Not the first wave but immediately after so he came ashore while they were just starting to clean up. He immediately began pushing out to start securing surrounding areas. He lived to 89. He never spoke a word to anyone about his experiences except for one cousin... a year before he died. He would just ignore you if you asked. He clearly saw things that traumatized him. The stories he did share were incredible and matched very closely with the things seen in this film. This came out a year after he died. I saw it opening night wanting to have a better understanding. There are no words. Sometimes the R rating means Real. Because that's what this was.
That bond they firm as a unit... it is tighter even than family bonds often. They literally prote t your life every moment and you theirs. You tell each other everything. That bond doesn't go away. Especially because you're the only ones who can really understand the trauma you've been through. The ability to shit your mind off and do the job is terrifying. And comes with a price. Deepest respect and honor to everyone who has ever served and suffered a war.
Thank you so much for sharing! We are really enjoying reading every story! ❤️☺️
@Reactsandgames of course. It is impossible to say what you would or wouldn't do if you were there. I have no idea. Maybe I'd dig deep and just go. Maybe I'd wet myself and find a hole to crawl into. It is an unthinkable ask to send people to war. It's even worse to not do everything in our power for those who return. Because they destroy their own humanity a little to defend and protect others. They will never be themselves ever again. Upham is that example. He had mercy and trying to understand at first. Then he was running in front of tanks. And then he faced the fear... and heard two of his new friends die while he physically could not make his body move. That's not cowardice. That's raw unfiltered fear very few ever feel. Many reactors blame him. He is a human put into a situation where to survive you have to push your humanity away. Your r reaction to this film was spot on. Respectful, grasping a tiny fraction of the hell. So thank you. For taking it seriously.
When this movie was released in theaters back in 98, Many WW2 vets who were at the Normandy landings were at the early screening & had to leave the auditorium for the lobby do to PTDS flashbacks, many said it was like going back to the most terrifying time in their life. The flashbacks so intense that they could smell the cordite & diesel fuel in the air, just like back then. Even Pacific vets had flashbacks of their time in the Pacific theater due to the realism displayed on screen.
Thats gotta be tough for the Colonel to probably have just given a brief to his units and prepare them for the assault. Then to see all those men you gave your speech to dead on the beaches
when I joined the military my friends dad a Vietnam Vet took me to lunch and he talked about his tour, When he passed my friend asked me what his dad told me. I told my friend I'll take it to my grave. only Vets will understand
Our dad served in North Africa, then the Invasion of Anzio Beach and the months long battle of monte cassino. Finally marching into Rome. He was a quiet man barley 5'2" while overseas his first born son died of an illness but he was not told till he returned. He is our hero. That's why I served 20, my oldest 5 in the Navy, my youngest over 15 and a Major in the Army. Both sons Afghanistan and Iraq veterans. I cry everytime I see this movie.
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That would have put him in the 3rd Infantry division with my grandfather.... If he was infantry.
@JackelinHyde he started out anti aircraft artillery. Stationed in England. Then sent to North Africa as infantry fought there was with the 5th Army. Under Patton I believe. Afterwards sent to Anzio, monte cassino, and I think Rome.
@@nigelgarcia2432 ah, yes. 5th army and 3rd division chewed a lot of the same dirt.... Especially at Anzio. I think 5th army was commanded by Major general Clark. But I do know that Patton Commanded several armies and divisions at one time or another in WW2, so it's very possible.
@JackelinHyde yes in North Africa. My dad got moved a lot. I think I saw a picture of him with a Red 1 patch and definitely the A5 patch
Great reaction, you two. This is one of the greatest movies of all time, and is SO important. The entire allied effort saved the world from true tyranny. My grandfather served in the US Army in WW2 in France and N Africa. This film gives us a bit of perspective as to what they went through for all of us.
Thank you! Very powerful film! Definitely hard to watch at times! To think this was what it was like is truly eye opening
@@Reactsandgamesthis is just a hint - in reality it was even more brutal and horrible - also the beach wasn’t taken „that easy“ as shown in the movie at the beginning… the first hundreds of boats everybody died, tens of thousands died in a few hours just to be able to take that beach… crazy to think about that…
A veteran that I knew once said to me that even though this movie gives him flashbacks and it is hard to watch especially for younger generations that never had to endure so much pain - this is just a walk in the park compared to how it really went… think about that - makes especially those first scenes in the movie even more meaningful…
@@Reactsandgames
And the film still finds time to get in a gratuatous dig at Montgomery.
Excellent reaction! This is my first time watching you, and you're doing so many things right that even more established bigger channels often get wrong.
The video was a nice length (not cut down too aggressively) and you stayed totally focused on the film instead of getting distracted by things like phone notifications etc. (which a lot of other reactors seem to do). Also, you were large enough within the frame to be able to clearly see your facial expression (which is kinda the whole point of watching a reaction) and you didn't talk over critical dialogue. When you did comment, it stayed on topic and was always relevant to the film. You'd be surprised how many other reaction channels fail on these basic elements.
You did a great job, and I am really looking forward to see more of your reactions in future.
Exactly.
Same.
Really appreciate that! We love watching films together and being able to share that experience with other people, getting different opinions and perspectives has been really amazing! Thank you for watching with us and for the feedback. Genuinely means a lot to us!❤️
Agreed.
Agree!
No grown man can watch this movie without crying. There's a brotherhood that is understood amongst all men of military age - knowing that once you're in that situation, those people become your new extended family. Losing them is unbearable. There's also an understanding, especially here in the US where we are taught all about this war, that the men of that time gave EVERYTHING so that we could simply continue living free.
As a Corpsman attached to the Marines i took honor when they called me Doc. I have ptsd from treating my brothers, but i would give my life to save theirs. I felt like i did my job even though my Devil Dogs call me a hero.
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This past June 6th was the 80th anniversary of the Normandy invasion. Many surviving veterans, now around 100 years old, returned for the ceremonies.
45:57 When he glances down and Captain Millers hand is finally still…. Subtle scene there. It’s just the little things that this movie did so well. Small things sprinkled in with the absolute carnage of fighting. I feel like I notice something new every time I watch this movie. Great reaction video. Keep up the good work!
Appreciate it. Thank you! I did notice that! Heartbreaking detail
It's not really important, but I always wondered if that was a suggestion Captain Miller had a degenerative disease and he wasn't going to make it to old age in any case? Also, and I don't mean to suggest something you've already noticed, but the fact that Ryan's wife doesn't know who Captain Miller is, is a neatly dropped piece of evidence of how these guys just didn't talk about the war. Ever.
Saving Private Ryan was Spielberg's love letter to the greatest generation and probably the the closest any movie could hope to get to capturing what that time in history was like for US soldiers in the European theater. I always tear up at the end when older Ryan is looking for redemption at Captain Miller's grave, showing how deeply survivors guilt has haunted him his entire life.
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My grandfather was in the 116th Infantry, he landed as the first waive on Omaha Beach. The division took over 90% casualties within the first ten minutes. You think the movie is brutal, it was 100 times worse in real life. He made it up the beach, was wounded later on in France. He only spoke of D-Day once to my grandmother and vowed to never speak of it again. My hero.
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Truly sincere and heartfelt reaction from both of you. Brilliant!
Thank you so much for watching! ☺️
I am a combat veteran. I have been ridiculed before for saying things this way but I don't care. You can not possibly know the good you have both done. you both doing this has helped a lot of
combat veterans heal. Thank you both for this and God bless you both.
What a lovely comment! Thank you! You will never be ridiculed by us! We are so grateful to you! ❤️
WW2 was truly worldwide and there is so much to learn about it. So many suffered so much and so many gave all for our freedom.
That moment when he said ''' earn this....earn it;'', it gets me every time i watch the movie and makes me fall in tears just because in similar situations some people like (fathers) and others sacrifice their lives to make sure you can have the oportunity to be alive, they go through hell so you can have education, health, tools to survive, and the only way to honor that is being grateful and being a good person.
Such a powerful 2 words
Gotta love the emotionality of this dude
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Real men cry
My grandfather was in the Army in WWII, and was shot by a German sniper in France, but he lived to come home. I am an Army combat veteran, too, and so is my son is, and we both know that nothing either of us saw compared even remotely to what my grandfather saw. WWII veterans were a very special breed.
Wow three generations! My grandad also served in WW2! He passed when I was five sadly so I didn’t get to ask him about it. (Steph)
Rest in peace my soldiers of America. We paid 10 fold for the French who saved us during the revolutionary war. I cry every day for that war. Europe you have been paid back for our nation thank you
As a military war vet I can say, when the end is near, all I want to hear is that I am a good man, and I led a good life.. that I was so gifted to come back home
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Thank you both for this reaction. You both are real, don't change. Don't hide your emotions 😢, I don't. God bless you both!
Thank you so much for watching! We promise to never change! We love being true to ourselves! ☺️
Women are sad because so many men die in the movie; men are sadder because they can see themselves and their best friends in the faces.
When he was interviewed for a Band of Brothers retrospective podcast show commemorating the 20th anniversary of that show, Tom Hanks was asked what it was he hoped the production of the show had accomplished and he said he hoped that when viewers saw the show, he hoped that the viewer was able to see themselves in the characters on screen and if not, then they (the creators and the producers). had failed. Powerful words and totally in line with your comment
The price of freedom can be very high but it's the one thing that unites people all over the world freedom is something most of us are not willing to give up we die free if needed but we'll never be slaves
His wife didn't know who Captain Miller was, which means Ryan never talked about it.
24:45 You' are right. Miller's hand was shaking from "shell-shock". What we refer to as PTSD today., that occurs after you experience some kind of traumatic or life-threatening event.
Bless his heart! Xx
As someone who had both TBI (traumatic brain Injury) and still has PTSD, I can tell you it isn't easy.
We are so sorry to hear that! ❤️
The dog tag scene at the glider crash is what first responders and combat veterans use as a coping mechanism. It is called "gallows humor". They are not callous or unfeeling, It is quite literally "we have to find a way to laugh or we will be crying". When you see a police officer laughing about something with a co-worker next to a crime scene or accident this is what they are doing. They are quite literally detaching themselves from the reality which is too painful to deal with on a constant basis year after year. Later in life this when memories or images are triggered they will feel the pain. It is literally how PTSD works. It's bottled up but it is always there. This is often misunderstood by people fortunate enough to not have exposure to trauma and violence on a regular basis. A brilliant example of how PTSD works in that scene. The humor is forced ....the pain will come later.
I’ve heard of people doing that! I don’t blame them! Having a coping mechanism is so important!
Shawshank redemption is considered one of the highest rated movies on IMDb and a must watch
I wish I could tell you that....
But IMDb is no fairytale world 😂❤😂
Shawshank is actually one of my all time favourite films. I watched it in high school and was seriously blown away with how good they made a prison movie
@@Reactsandgames I take it you've also seen 'The Green Mile'?
I saw this at the movies in 1998. It was a hectic and a very emotional experience. I also cried when Miller died. I walked out of the cinema in awe and respected what our forefathers did for us.
Emotional experience for sure!
I'm a baby Boomer born after the war. My Dad and uncles joined the Airforce and we're based in England. Dad was a turret gunner in a bomber and flew in the decoy mission to keep the Germans from knowing where the exact D-Day landing would occur. When Dad's mission was done, they flew over the beaches and saw the bloody ocean and the dead. He and his buddies volunteered to pick up the dead from the beaches. It was just like in the opening of the movie. He never talked much about the war and never picked up his ribbons or medals bc he said the dead were the real heros. He drank a lot. I love our Democracy even more here in the US. These fallen men are not sucker's and losers like some here say.
I can’t even imagine seeing what they saw! Bless them! 💔
Where a lot of movies romanticized war, this movie shows what war is, absolute hell! Having been a medic, the wounds you see throughout this movie look accurate, a little too accurate. The sounds of the bullets whizzing by is exactly what it sounds like in reality, and it is absolutely terrifying when you are being shot at. Good movie and allows each of us to see that our freedoms aren't free. Enjoyed your video and your reactions to the film.
This broke our hearts but it’s so important to see! Thank you! ☺️
I am a combat veteran of OIF 4.5. & 6 and fought in the battle of Ramadi as a Scout Sniper in the armored Cavalry. Many people have given me a very high level of respect and it is highly appreciated. Being a Veteran and watching movies like this can be really rough, triggering PTSD and alot of other psychological and emotional responses. Many times I often fade away into my mind remembering? Then I do my best to forget so I can carry on. I salute both of you for your very honest and kind comments. It was very poignant and I just want you to know equally appreciated. Love from America!
Thanks so much! Appreciate you and what you must have experienced.
I retired from the Army about 8 years ago and have numerous tours to the Middle East. I can tell you from experience that there are 2 lines in this movie that hit home. The first is when Tom Hanks is worried if his wife will recognize him when he gets home. This is a great concern for a lot of Vets coming home. We understand that war changes people and sometimes for the worse, and worried that our loved ones will not understand and help us through the difficult process of readjusting to a somewhat normal life. The second line, was when said to Ryan “Earn this”. I take this to heart and try to live the best life possible for my Brothers and Sisters that sacrificed everything. This includes those of the past, present and future. We should all strive to make the world a better place for those that sacrificed so much, and not just our military but anyone that is selflessly serving our communities and countries for the betterment of everyone.
I totally agree with you! We owe them so much! ❤️
My grandfather fought for the British army aged 15. He lied about his age to get in. Never spoke about it, all he mentioned is that he lost some good friends in that war. 🇬🇧❤️🏴
Bless him! My grandad also fought! We owe them so much! 😊❤️
As a veteran, I appreciate your reaction.
Nothing can prepare you for the loss of someone you care about in action, but your honest reaction to that reality meant a lot to me. Thank you.
Thank you so much for watching! We are so glad you liked our reaction! ☺️❤️
The 1st Infantry assault experienced the worst ordeal of D- Day operations (Normandy landings). The Americans suffered 2,400 casualties ON Omaha Beach on D-Day, but 34,000 Allied troops landed by nightfall.
Minor correction...I am almost positive that the number killed on Omaha Beach was about 2400, but there were another few hundred wounded, so the casualty number was around 3000..."casualty" includes killed, wounded, missing and other things that take a man out of combat. Also, 34k were landed on D-Day, but that number is just for Omaha Beach...the total number of men landed on D-Day at all 5 beaches was just under 160k.
One thing to remember is that the average age of the men involved in the invasion was 26. That means that many were considerably younger. My uncle, a navigator in Bomber Command, was killed at the age of 21, when his plane was brought down by flak off the coast of the Netherlands in 1944. The pilot of his aircraft was 22 and of the rest of the crew of seven, the oldest was 32. My father, who was in the Royal Engineers, rarely spoke about his younger brother. 40 years after the end of the war, he received a letter from somebody who had been researching the history of Bomber Command and who gave him details of what had happened. Dad was utterly devastated and broke down completely. It was only shortly before his death in 2010 that he told me of how he was informed and was given two days compassionate leave to go to his parents in Liverpool. Seeing your dad, as an old man in his 90s, in tears and still grieving is something that isn't soon forgotten.
I'm pleased that you were able to learn something more about the history of the war and the lives of those who fought. Ordinary people placed in extraordinary situations. It's worth remembering, too, that the invasion force was made up of soldiers from many allied countries, each playing their part in defeating the Nazis.
Thank you so much for watching and for taking the time to comment! ☺️
I don't know if anyone else in the comments mentioned this little fun fact but the sniper shot through the scope of the enemy sniper was actually done in real life by a United States Marine corps sniper in Vietnam!!
Sergeant Carlos Hathcock, one of the best snipers ever, was being hunted by the Vietnamese top sniper!! They both had a fix on each other's position and Hathcock caught a reflection of sunlight off the scope of the enemy sniper and shot at it probably a split second before the sniper was going to shoot at him, and it went directly through the scope without touching the sides!!! The scope was kept as proof but somewhere down the line was stolen by someone!! But there is definitely documentation of that shot!!
Wow! So interesting!!
The Fat Electrician just did a video on Hathcock and it's absolutely excellent.
@@twohorsesinamancostume7606 I'm watching it now!! No doubt Hathcock was a legend!! American sniper Chris Kyle named Carlos Hathcock as one of his main influences and reasons why he became a sniper himself!!!
Carlos was amazing. Hunted down every Vietnamese sniper who dared to try to kill him for the bounty that the Vietnamese put on his head. He even went 3 days without sleep to slowly crawl into an enemy encampment to kill an infamous Vietnamese female soldier who had a reputation of torturing US soldiers. Once he was finished with his tour, he re-enlisted. An armored vehicle he was in was struck by a mine. He ended up pulling wounded soldiers out of the vehicle and didn't even notice he was partly on fire while doing so. Definitely a man who was just "built different" lol.
@@Hadrian9707 you can check out the fat electricians video that he did on Hathcock!!
Every day we should spend living for those who gave us so much.
Totally agree! ❤️
R.I.P. Jay Bowman KIA Normandy France 101st Airborne. 18 years old. Killed by sniper. Buried in Chicago. My dad's cousin. My father was in the 82nd Airborne sent to France and was briefly in Hugteten Forest battle.
RIP. My grandfather was in the Hurtgen Forest with the 28th Infantry Division. If your father was there too, he must have also went through hell. It was truly awful from what I've read.
My cousin was in the Ardennes and the Battle of the Bulge. He carried shrapnel in his leg until he passed in his late eighties.
Bless him! ❤️
@@Reactsandgames I wish I could have spent a lot more time with him. He had more to offer than I ever realized. He, like so many others, didn't talk much about the war. It must have been much too painful to try and express.
Opening scene. The plastic bags on the rifles was to keep sand out of the rifle, not water. Water flows right out of a barrel and internal mechanisms. Sand can cause malfunctions. “Keep those actions clear!”, said Hanks.
The bag would be kept on just before going in to action.
Thank you for the info! ☺️
you might already be aware of this but just to be clear because its easy to get this part confused:
the german soldier they captured and released earlier is not the same soldier as the one who stabs Mellish during the final battle. they look similar but they are two different people.
the soldier on the bridge during the final battle that Upham kills however, IS the soldier they released earlier
Ohhhhh! Thanks for clarifying that. I thought it was the same guy on the last 2 occasions! Completely forgot about the guy they let go….and it was HIM!!! 🤯 appreciate it!
I disagree… why would the soldier who stabs Mellish leave an American on the stairs alive?… except if he recognized him as the American soldier who gave him a smoke. … this is how great scripts are written… consequences of your actions… it’s why he killed him after he watched him kill Miller. He realized his hesitancy and fear got two of his brothers killed by the man he helped.
Omaha is regarded as the worst experience of 5 beaches assaulted some 2,000 of the day's 4,000 dead were there. Utah and Omaha-American , Sword and Gold- British , Juno-Canadian. The Commonwealth forces had learned painful lessons at Dieppe incursion two years before a raid with 60% (2,853) casualty rate for Canadians assaulting a French beach. Remember despite Hollywood,13 countries contributed to the landings as they could. WW II was won by the "Allies" especially the merciless Russians. A masterful film with universal impact in displaying the horrors of war.
Oh, look, another anti-American bigot. This movie isn't claiming America won D-Day, you ignorant bigot. And it's not Hollywood. This is a movie about the American landing at one of the beaches. There are British and Canadian films and documentaries that focus almost entirely, if not entirely, on the experiences of their forces at their beaches, without so much as a mention of any other country's forces. And while the Russians paid dearly in lives and were critical in defeating Germany, American-made materiel was indispensable to victory in Europe.
Everyone always gets mad at Upham but I love that Spielberg included his character. I do think it’s realistic that not every soldier is going to have that fighting bone in him. It’s natural to want to protect yourself and lots of people do freeze in stressful situations. Plus there’s a good arc to show just how much the war did change him as a person by having him kill the German soldier at the end.
none of us knows how we would respond in that type of situation. We like to think we would act heroically. Some may, some won't. It's easy to say I would act bravely while sitting in our loungers with some jr mints and a coke...
They say loads of soldiers never actually fire their rifle and if they do they don't aim it at people.
People drafted into the army are not all made for it. It's human to want to save yourself and just get through it.
Note at the end his wife of probably 50 years by then had obviously never heard the name of Captain John Miller... All that time and he'd never talked about it even with his own wife...
That’s crazy isn’t it. Somethings are just to painful to talk about
Really good genuine and heartfelt reaction. Thank you for sharing. Hacksaw Ridge is another must see about WWII you guys should react to.
Thank you so much for your lovely comment and for watching with us! It has been added to our list! ☺️
Definitely Hacksaw Ridge
The helmets don’t stop direct shots, it’s mostly for shrapnel, falls or deflections/ricochets.
Saving Private Ryan is incredibly realistic in most every way, with a very few exceptions...such as bullets not being able to kill you more than a few inches underwater, and flamethrowers not really exploding that way in 1944. One thing to know, pay no mind at all to that man who took off his helmet on the beach at 5:10 and then got shot in the head...that next shot would have killed him even if he had kept his helmet on. The helmets of WW2 would almost never stop a bullet, except under very very rare circumstances.
The movie is not a true story, and it differs from the actual history of D-Day in many ways...but the basic plot is loosely based on the 4 Niland Brothers, one of whom served with the 101st Airborne Division. However, when 3 Nilands were reported dead, no mission was sent behind enemy lines to get the last brother, and it turned out that one brother that had been thought dead had actually only been captured. The 4th brother was found and notified by an Army Chaplain, and was sent home, but as far as the brothers none of what happened in this movie happened in real life.
There really was a Company C of the 2nd Rangers that landed on Omaha Beach, but they were commanded by Captain Ralph Goranson, and they did not land quite where it was shown in the film. Probably the most important historical thing that Spielberg got wrong is that he had the boats that carried the Rangers to the beach being driven by Americans...they were not. On D-Day, the boats that carried the US Rangers to the beach were driven by UK sailors of the Royal Navy. There are many other things in the film that are not accurate to the real history of D-Day, but that one really fails to honor some of the men that fought and died at Omaha Beach, so it is definitely the one most worth noting.
Great first half hour but the rest is pedestrian mediocre stuff, turning into kind of a Kelly's Heroes remake, but without the great characters and dialogue.
The Americans facing Tiger tanks in the Cotentin Peninsula? 😂.
POW - Prisoner of War
Thank you!😀❤️
First time on the channel. Breath of fresh air you two. One of the best war movies ever.
Really appreciate that, thank you. And thanks for checking us out, means a lot to us❤️
My brother in laws father was in the 101st Airborne. He jumped on D-day said when he hit the ground he was alone and took him several hours to find friendly troops. He also day he had a frozen turnip for Christmas ant Bastogne. Other than that he didn't talk much about the war and I didn't press him.
Wow. Can’t imagine what he witnessed
I'd just like to add how impressed I was with your genuine heartfelt reaction to this movie.. compliments to you both.. thank you!
Thank you so much for your lovely feedback! ❤️
@@Reactsandgames no problem! I only wish all reactions were as thoughtful and genuine.. keep up the good work!
Please make a reaction to Hacksaw Ridge! Awesome reaction btw
It’s on our list! ☺️
I really appreciate people from different cultures watching this. Great reaction, thanks!
Thank you so much for watching and for your comment! ☺️
Germans had the best machine guns, best artillery and best tanks of the war.
Yep. MG42s were feared by the Allies for a reason and just the sound of it firing could threaten to route a whole unit of Allied troops.
@@Ender7j Keep heads down!
Eh, tanks were overrated. Good gun and armor but gas guzzling, unreliable, hard to fix and maintain. Logistics wins wars not tactics and American tanks were logistically superior
Best didn't mean a lot when capable (and in some cases almost as good) and far more reliable weapons started being mass produced for the Allies.
@@Objectified agreed
Could be the greatest film ever produced. You two are an awesome couple! Very genuine heart felt reactions.
Thank you for your lovely comment! We really appreciate you watching! ☺️
another beautiful reaction (my 2nd time watching your videos). You 2 have lots of empathy. You are perfect for doing this kind of videos.
Thank you! That’s so kind of you! ☺️
So much to say about this movie - perhaps the most gut wrenching scenes in all of cinema: 1) when the mom collapses on the front porch anticipating the devastating news and when the medic dies asking for his mama and " i wanna go home...i wanna go home"
So so sad! 😢💔
From USA. Love you guys. Great reaction. I cried with you.
One thing to mention - Spielberg is an absolute genius and the first 20 minutes of a lot of his films - including this and Raiders of the Lost Ark - are always epic.
I remember going to see this film with my Dad and his freind and its the only time i seen him weep in his life he was severely wounded in a different battle but he never talked or mentioned anything that went on during the war so i never pushed it ,he was English but he was in an American feild hospital were he made friends with an American medic who he stayed friends with until his death he went to visit him in Chicago a couple of times and he came to Liverpool with his family and me and my sister are still in touch with his two sons ,we all travelled to the war graves in France together wich was harrowing and amazing at the same time ,we shall remember them ,Good night God bless lads and thank you for the sacrifices you all made for us YNWA 😢
Thank you for sharing! Bless your dad! ❤️
In the Army the fist thing you were taught was keep your head down... ...Dallas, Texas
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Band of brothers. I cried immensely. My absolute favorite miniseries ever. The hardest one to watch. Episode 2 i seriously sobbed. I will watch that series over and over and over and over again. Recommend.
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 Ramelle. 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 Ramelle.
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. 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 Capt. Miller.
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. Unfortunately, you didn't include that in your video presentation. That is one of the most important scenes in the movie. 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
The blimps flying over the beach area were barrage balloons to prevent German planes from attacking the landing force. The 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion was the only unit that stormed the beaches on D-Day that was made up entirely of Black Americans. They displayed unmatched bravery during the 48 hours it took to secure the beaches. Members of 320th, unlike the other units, had to remain on the beaches with no relief units, exposed to continuous enemy fire during the 2 days it took to secure the area. Because they were Black, the photographers never show them in the photos taken on the beaches that day. All shots showing the barrage balloons are taken at far away distances. Following the end of the war, like the Tuskegee Airman and the 761st Tank Battalion, their bravery under fire was intentionally kept from the public for decades.
I’ve watched so many reactions to this film and I very much enjoyed yours. Your perspective and empathy was fantastic. I actually saw this film in 1998 a couple months before I got out of the Army. I hadn’t noticed that I literally dug my fingers into my thighs. I’m lucky to have never seen combat but the thought of watching my brothers go through that was intensely visceral.
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“Tell me I’m a good man” always hits hard
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..hello guys..mate..I have to be honest..I cried again watching this with you Liam & Steph..films like this makes us understand the horror our brave beautiful strong young troops went through so that we can live our lives the way we do..and its so hard to understand why there is so much war going on now days..it breaks my heart...on a happier note..i'am so happy to see you both again it has been a while between movies..I look forward watching more from your channel..till then be safe and be happy..Liam & Steph all the best to you both..Adam..
Thanks Adam! Appreciate you watching so much! Yeah hoping to get another movie out MUCH sooner this time lol. Thanks again for watching with us and I totally agree! Makes you appreciate our troops and all that they have to deal with
Well. You've won my subscription.
Thanks for being so attentive and respectful to the film.
And it's a hard film. But as you said, it's important. And i really enjoyed your reactions. 'Looking forward to seeing more from you -
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Just stumbled on you. I almost left the cinema within the first 5 minutes, but stayed, and so glad that I did. Watching you experience this has been like closing a circle.
Thanks for watching! It is a tough watch but an important one!
This was such a good reaction. So good. So respectful, so polite and well reserved.
Thank you so much for your lovely comment! We really appreciate you watching with us! ❤️
When Ryan asks his wife to tell him he is a good man, it devastates me every time.
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Enjoyed both of your reactions to one of the best war movies ever made on D-Day, and also enjoyed listening to your accents. I have been born & raised in America,and it's nice to listen to different accents from different countries every once in awhile.👍
Glad to hear that you enjoyed the movie. Thanks to ALL of these ally soldiers who participated on D-Day so that we can enjoy the freedom that we have today. THANK YOU!!!👍
Thanks for watching! Means a lot!
Thank you for a thoughtful and respectful reaction. You guys get it. Freedom is never "free". In fact, it's one of (if not THE) most costly things this side of paradise.
Thank you for your lovely comment and for watching with us! ☺️
It gives you a reality check what the men went through for our freedom. The bravery of the men to endure such horror we must always remember them and thank them 🫡 prayers for all in the service then and now that still fight for us to be free of the enemy we must go through each day to be safe.
The obstacles on the beach (some are hedgehogs) are underwater at high tide to prevent or sink boats, so they have to land at low tide which give the defenders that much more time to stop or kill since the landing force has that much more ground to cover
I respect the respect and sympathy you showed for this generation of incredible young men.Just think,your grandparents probably knew people that went through this!!
Well, you two did a great job reacting to this Film. But first, hats off to Spielberg directing this masterpiece and to Hanks as well. Also to the supporting cast. So, I've watched a couple of reactions from you guys and always a splendid job. You deserve a reward and a standing ovation. Also, you two deserve a lot more subscribers. Thanks a lot. 😎👍💙🇺🇲🇬🇧
Thank you so much for your lovely comment! Thank you for watching with us too! ❤️
I enjoyed watching with you. You found it as gritty and heart-wrenching as I did when I first saw it.
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Outstanding you two 👏👏👏,enjoyed watching with Y’all, thanks for sharing with us😊👍✌️🇺🇸
Thank you so much for your lovely comment and for watching with us! ☺️❤️
I'm sure I've read this some where, don't remember from where nor whom... "Earn this..." Is a message to all of us whom are alive and are enjoying the freedom and rights we have by exercising and using them! Thank you for sharing with us!!!
Thanks for watching. Such a simple line but there is soooo much weight behind it!
I've watched several ,reactions to this film, and this one, is by far, my favorite. It was truly, honest, sincere, and from the heart. Thank you for your amazing reaction and respect. Aultman, William T. SMSgt, USAF, Ret. (RAF Bentwaters, 1988-1991).
Massively appreciate that. Thank you so much. Means a lot that you watched with us.
I love your analysis and review of this movie. Outstanding!!!
Thank you so much for watching! ☺️