My dad's brother died in WWII and is buried in the American Military Cemetery in Margraten, Netherlands. The families who live there adopt all the graves to take care of them, and they pass down the responsibility to their children and grandchildren . They keep photos of "their" soldier in their home and decorate their graves for all the holidays--as much or even more than what you see here in the USA. They are just so grateful to those who lost their lives so they could be free. 💔
Naw, if you listen to these two, the only cemetery they know is in Austin. They claim to both be teachers, for the school kids sake, hope neither of them teach history?
My grandfather served in France in 1944. Which is significant for an African American in WWII. My father's father served stateside in the Navy. His father enlisted in the Army and also served in WWI. We need to keep these stories alive.
If it wasn't for Republicans, you wouldn't even have this life story. Say thank you to the Republicans who ended slavery and Jim Crow. Democrats didn't end any of this. History matters.
The army was segregated back then , & there were a lot of Black troops in France , they operated the Red Ball Express among other units . They were also fighter pilots in the Red Tails that flew P-51 Mustangs . It was President Truman that said this is bull shit , we’re 1 nation , with 1 army .
I once, asked a WWII Vet about this movie (who fought at Omaha Beach and Battle of the Bulge). He paused for a few seconds then gave me a stern look and said: "It wasn't bloody enough." I still remember the chills going down my spine!
@@Jtkdashthat’s strange because D-Day veterans who were invited to the premiere of this film actually had to walk out of the cinema during the opening scene because of how accurate it was. They said it took them straight back there and that it was as if a cameraman had followed them up that beach….🤔
The cemetery the start and end of the movie is in France, in Normandy at Colleville, literally just yards from Omaha Beach. It is the principal US cemetery in Normandy, and holds over 9800 fallen soldiers who lost their lives during the battle for Normandy in 1944. I've visited it several times, and also the German cemetery at La Cambe, as well as several British ones, at Ranville, Bayeux and Jerusalem, which is one of the smallest British cemeteries and holds just 47 graves, including the grave of Pte Jackie Banks, who was the youngest British soldier be killed in Normandy, and who was aged just 16. The cemeteries are all very different in character, and style, but they are all immaculately cared for and maintained by the French people. They are beautiful, peaceful places, quiet, tranquil grounds where the fallen soldiers, whatever their nationality, rest in peace.
Gen Colin Powel stated "We have gone forth from our shores repeatedly over the last hundred years and we’ve done this as recently as the last year in Afghanistan and put wonderful young men and women at risk, many of whom have lost their lives, and we have asked for nothing except enough ground to bury them in."
I am glad that you had included that factoid, because it actually bothered me a little when she said "Men and WOMEN, that have fought for us." When in reality; none of the grave markers are of women in that cemetery.
@@Johnnybomb1The families of Mary Bankston , Mary Barlow, Dolores Browne and Elizabeth Richardson would definitely disagree with you! Although they were not ‘ combat soldiers’ they were killed in Normandy while on active duty in a combat zone and are in fact buried in that cemetery
@@Johnnybomb1 Normandy American Cemetery: The site covers 172.5 acres and contains the graves of 9,387 American War Dead, most of whom died during the landings and ensuing operations. Altho there were few women in combat in WW2, and especially for the Normandy landings, there probably are some women among those 9000 + graves - who may have worked in intelligence, espionage, medical, clerical, religious, radio operators, photographers, drivers, etc.
The sniper was Barry Pepper, one of the guards in the green mile. There are so many talents in this movie. This movie was so well done in portraying the atrocities of War. It gives you a sinking feeling, but also makes you appreciate our men and women in the military that much more. And they deserve to be held in the highest regard. We thank you all for your service.
Most people feel pride.gratitude, and a sense of humbleness when viewing this movie, not a sinking feeling? You must be confusing this with that Titanic movie?
@@terrybeaton2000 Sorry but No,,, the actor who played the Older Private Ryan was Harrison Young and the Actor who played the Older Paul Edgecome was Dabs Greer...
My grandfather enlisted near the end of the war. He landed in France sometime after D-Day and was captured in September of 1944 by the Germans after being wounded and falling into a foxhole. He spent the remainder of the war in a prison camp (Stalag III-C in what is now western Poland) and was liberated in January of 1945. Unfortunately he died before I was born but I’ve read some of the documents about his capture from the government as well as telegraphs he sent and an article that was written about him once he was liberated. This movie is so well done, I watch it every Veterans Day.
The theater was silent during this opening sequence. Some men left. One gentleman next to us was weeping. I just tried to breathe. I don’t watch this often. War is hell. In that , hell is very real. Complete respect to all Veterans.
I remember when this film was released, ABC's Nightline did an episode with a group of World War II vets who had seved at Normandy and who had watched the film. They said this film the most realistic dipiction of the battle of any movie ever made. When I went to the theater to see the film, when it ended it was like leaving a funeral. EVERYBODY was silent as we exited the theater, stunned into silence. I have never experienced that kind of reaction to a movie before or since
The Reason Pvt. Reiban tapped his magazine against his helmet before loading his B.A.R. (Browning Automatic Rifle) was so the cartridges get knocked to the rear of the magazine putting them in the proper position to be fed into The Chamber without jamming.
When I was a teen, I gave my grandfather (a WWII vet) a Thank You For Your Service card. After looking at it, all he said was - in a quiet voice - "No one ever thanked me before." Our vets deserve our best and every good thing this country can provide for them. I guarantee, there's no way anyone came back from war without PTSD. :(
Your last statement is highly inaccurate as most soldiers who have gone to war don't develop PTSD. It's is remarkably high for those in combat roles with 15-20%, whilst those in support roles are 5-10%. These figures may seem extremely high, but considering the civilian population has a PTSD rate of just under 5% means these figures aren't surprising. People have a tendency to assume that PTSD is based on what you saw or experienced. That’s not entirely true. PTSD is really about how the individual processes what they experienced. Due to this, two people can go through the exact same event, and one might be fine while the other suffers from PTSD. It’s also why one person can see mutilated corpses and move on while another person freaks out after a single mortar lands near the base where they are at but they personally are never in any imminent danger.
The last scene makes me cry every time. "Am I a good man?" The first and final scene is filmed in a American cemetery in France. It overlooks Omaha Beach where all those soldiers were killed. Those men who tried to surrender and were shot. ("Look, I just washed my hand for supper!") Except they weren’t speaking German, they were speaking Czech, pleading: “Please don’t shoot me! I am not German, I am Czech, I didn’t kill anyone! I am Czech!" "FUBAR" is an acronym for "F**cked Up Beyond All Repair"
This movie was so realistic that it was reportedly very very hard for veterans to watch. I love how they started with the D-day landing and just threw the audience right into it. Relentlessly. Really gave the viewer a whole new perspective on how traumatic war is & how terribly inhumane. You guys should watch Born on the Fourth of July next because it deals with what happens when these guys come home. I can’t even imagine what our veterans go through trying to live with what they were made to do. Like you said, most of us have never had to really think about what war is like & how costly our freedoms really are.
- From what I understand, they actually did a lot of accurate study and co-operative consultation with actual veterans in the creation of the Normandy Beach scene, making sure the veterans helped to correct and augment details for the sake of realism out of respect - they didn't just want to make it an "Action" scene, but wanted to show respect for the accuracy of the true event. I think that in itself shows a significant level of respect that they would consult with actual witnesses of the historical event for the sake of realism, rather than for just entertainment.
This was hard to watch for most people. I was never in the military but the idea of teenagers having to go through this blows my mind. I've never made it through the whole movie. I had to leave the theater when the kid was dying crying for his mom.
As a combat infantry veteran, this movie has always hit hard. It’s as close as civilians can get to seeing real combat. It has always made me so grateful for those who have went before me. We all sleep under the blanket of freedom that those brave souls have provided. Never forget.
@@paulleach3612 Yes. Not all infantry see combat. Some get hurt and have to watch all their friends deploy. Some are infantry in times of no conflict, they just train and then reclass to something else because they’re not getting what they want out of their role.
Tom Hanks along with Spielberg produced the most expensive tv documentary series about the 101. Airborne during WWII, called "Band of Brothers", an absolute must watch. Each episode intro is by a surviving member telling his story. Amazing amount of actors as well, that rose to stardom, just as with this movie.
I’ll second that. Band of Brothers is incredible and heartbreaking at the same time. Over here in the UK we have our Remembrance Day and there are always old guys who served handing out Poppies. Whenever I buy one they say thank you, but I always turn around, shake their hand, and say “no, thank you.” I cannot thank them enough for everything they gave us.
The series was based off Stephen Ambrose’s book, “Band of Brothers”. I still have my copy - I read it when it came out since I liked some of his other books including “Citizen Soldiers”.
The last scene of this movie, when Ryan talks to his wife, makes me tear up every time. It's one of the most powerful scenes in cinematic history ever.
My late dearest sweet neighbor Bob who I will miss the rest of my life, was at Omaha beach. My ex took him and my father-in-law who was a Marine in the Pacific to see the movie. Bob told us that the depiction of the landing of Normandy was exactly accurate. The only depiction he’d ever seen of it that showed how it really was. My young daughter made a sign for them that said “welcome home veterans”. I made them a wonderful lunch and we watch the Tom Brokaw documentaries Where the vets were interviewed and talked about their experiences for the first time. They said it was the best Veterans Day they ever had❤
Most people know by now but just in case.. This was supposed to be Matt Damon's break out role and no one would have guessed he is Ryan on first sight. He was in Good WIll Hunting before and it blew him up which gave him away to most of the audience.
Today my son celebrated his first Veterans Day as a Marine Corps. veteran. I’m so grateful that I have him home and he’s safe. Thank you to all that serve! 🇺🇸
Spielberg gave a private show of this movie to WW2 veterans who were at normandy(the beach), before the movie came out. He researched and asked vets for input heavily so much so that the WW2 vets that watched this told media that it was as close to what happened to them in real life as possible. This sets the standard for what war movies need to be like. As a soldier I cry every time I watch this.
They apparently had to stop it for a while after the Omaha beach scene as so many were in tears and I think a few needed some air due to the realism of that scene just put them right back there on that beach. I cannot imagine that fear..
Me 2. I was A M-60 Machine Gunner. When I saw The Opening Scene in'98, My Adrenaline Glands ACHED. The Last 5 Minutes of The Movie ALWAYS, brings tears to my eyes, very hard to keep it together.
It’s not “at Normandy” it’s in Normandy, and Normandy is region of France there are five different allied beaches …the landings took place on a 55 mile ride front and up to 75 miles if you include the Airborne so please stop saying Normandy Beach …which one are you talking about? I guess it’s Omaha right? Don’t forget Juno sword gold and also Utah. I’m here to let you know because you don’t know obviously and I live in Normandie, I also happen to be a tour guide and I’ve been doing this for 14 years so I know the subject well😊
I was on the Honor Guard, Firing Squad, for a funeral of a Desert Storm casualty. His mother was making it through as well as could be expected until the first note of Taps. She collapsed right there.
This movie single-handedly changed the way war films were made. Everyone who saw this movie in the theaters when it first came out was absolutely blown away by its level of realism. We were all stunned and in awe of the production. The most shocking thing of all was when this movie failed to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards. No one in their right mind thought Shakespeare in Love was better than Saving Private Ryan.
I saw this in a theater when it first came out. It was literally the only movie I’ve ever gone to see where there was absolute silence and stillness at the end. The entire audience just sat there. No scrambling to leave. No chatting on the way out. It was profound.
Had the exact same experience...saw this in the theatre when it came out...there were 12 people in the theatre, it was a Thursday afternoon...we just sat there for at least 5 minutes...dead silence....when he saluted the grave stone my heart was ripped out...that was tough
The same for me. My wife didn't want to see it, so I went alone. When the movie finished, It was quiet, and I walked outside, into a beautiful, sunny day. I remember standing there looking at everyone going about their day, and thinking.. if there was a veteran here right now, I'd hug him and tell him "thank you for all that you did for us". I'll never forget that feeling.
I’m a proud Army veteran i went to see this when it was released in the theater. Only time I have ever walked out of a movie with tears in my eyes. I was lost in my thoughts feeling stunned, speechless and somber I guess you could say. It’s a surreal feeling that no other movie I’ve ever seen can duplicate. Happy Veterans Day along with all the other days of your lives to my brothers and sisters who served. For those who never made it home Rest In Peace.
@@JM-zb2ip Thank you for your service. Have you seen the new film adaption of the WWI book All Quiet On The Western Front? Conveys the brutality and emptiness of war much more strongly imo. It gave me a much broader perspective about war in general, seeing the perspective of other sides.
There are few experiences of watching a film in the theater that I remember. This was one of them, particularly how I was a young 22-year-old in a daytime matinee, surrounded by much older men and couples, some of whom I'm sure were veterans. At the end of the movie, everyone quietly stood up and left, no one saying a word. Just the echoes of muffled tears from guys in their 70s and 80s that lived through WW2.
I saw this in the theater with my husband (Vietnam vet). There were only 3 women in the packed theater and at the end all the men around me were crying. It really was a profound moment for me. I told my uncle (Korean War vet) he should see this movie but he said no because the VA was full of men suffering from PTSD after watching this film. This movie was so well done and as close to war as I ever want to get.
When I started to watch this reaction and when you said "it's the sounds" I swear it took me back to Afghanistan 2008-2009. There's sounds you hear that you just don't forget. I can understand why a lot of WWII vets couldn't watch it in theaters and had to leave because of its accuracy. I have the same reaction when I watch Iraq and Afghanistan war documentaries, because I lived it and lost brothers and a sister (term for our military family) who I lived with, suffered and bickered with, trained and partied with.. People I had a closer relationship with than that of my own family.. People I loved. War has a sound, even when it's quiet, that someone who has never experienced it can never understand.
My grandpa was in the Normandy invasion and got a purple heart pushing through France/Rhineland. He talked about it openly and I have cherished memories of him telling me stories about his childhood and WW2. He lived from 1918 to 2009, so you can only imagine all the changes and new things he got to see. He inspired me to join the military and I miss him every day. After the war he got a masters degree and worked to preserve national forests and enjoyed gardening. All he wanted was a modest lifestyle, his plants, and a small family.
I read Band of Brother’s and that was such a common thing with those that returned home. They often got into careers that focused on building things or something involved with helping others or being involved with nature.
@@29_lets_go it was the only thing he struggled with putting into words. The war, Berlin, tank battles, death… he was very articulate. But, Buchenwald he was speechless. Said you could smell it from miles away.
My father was an Army medic in the Pacific for 3 years, and he and my mom retired to Ft. Lauderdale in 1991 and lived in a retirement community. When they went to see this on opening weekend, the entire theater was filled with nothing but retirees....and almost every man there was a veteran. And every woman there lived through the Home Front or served as a nurse or similar. My mom said that when the movie ended, the entire theater was silent, except for the sound of weeping old men. Watching this movie actually inspired my father to finally tell us some of his wartime experiences. Before that, all you could get out of him were funny little anecdotes. After this, his stories got a bit more grim.
Fun fact: Apparently Matt Damon improvised that entire story off script about the last memory with his brothers and the barn etc. Also it literally breaks my heart watching Amber cry. Jay you got a golden heart in your girl and that's not easy to find in today's culture, don't let her go haha. Ya'll do some of the best movie reactions!
The actor that played the first "Ryan" they came across, Nathan fillion, plays a Captain in another fav series that i love called "Firefly". One of my fav quotes (and i have so many from that series) was; "Everybody dies. Hell, someone is carrying a bullet for you right now and doesn't even know it. The trick is to die of old age before it finds you." When i think of how the captain let that man go and in the end was shot by him, it reminds me of that quote. You never know how life is going to play out. How one decision paves the way for a reault in the future you could never predict. Another thing that also kills me, is that they stayed for both battles when it went againt their mission. Both because "It is the right thing to do". In both intances they saved people in the future but ended their own. Nothing else impacts greater then that. The duty and absolute conviction, by ordinary men doing extordinafy things, for people they'll never meet. P.s. you kinda asked in the review, why he was shaking. From someone who suffers ptsd, its because the mind cant compute the horrors experienced. He doesnt shake when in battle because he is running off adrenaline, his brain, and experience to stay alive. When things become quiet and he tries to process, he cant. It is too much to process. And then you try and block it out. Shut it down, so you can function. But it leaks through. For people it differs. I too shake. The more i try and supress, the more i shake. And when i finally break, and the walls crash down, it takes days to stop. The shaking is the physical representation of the trauma leaking through.
My Grandfather was in the Army during WWII and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge. This movie is the only movie that ever made my Father (a Vietnam War Vet) cry. And the third in line, my son is a Navy Veteran at only 30. Brilliant Movie.
I have been binging your channel and I am OBSESSED! You definitely need to react to Band of Brothers. It is a masterpiece from start to finish. (This is the 1st time I've ever commented on a video lol)
If you can handle Saving Private Ryan, you may LOVE the "Band of Brothers" mini-series. It has interviews with the combat veterans the actors portray and you really get to know each one over the course of the series. It is some of the best TV I have ever watched. The action begins with the paratroopers' perspective on D-Day.
Fantastic series. I glued myself to my couch to watch that mini series, created by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, who also collaborated on Saving Private Ryan.
Indeed, BoB is probably one of the best war "movies" made. Absolutely fantastic mini-series and I also highly recommend. Thanks you two for your passionate review of this classic movie. 🙂❤
The thing about Upham that people miss is the tragedy of his character. Everybody cheered when he shot the German soldier that he originally saved from earlier in the movie, but that was the tragedy. Upham went through the entire movie as the one character that kept his humanity, until the very end when he lost it. Compassion, forgiveness, everything that made Upham left him when he pulled the trigger. That shows how war is hell.
Stories like this one are morality plays, and morality plays need an "everyman" character, someone who represents the point of view of the layman audience, and of humanity in general. The everyman is a stock character in morality plays, and Upham is the everyman in this one. As someone in the audience would be in his situation, he is at first lost, nervous, terrified, and finally, profoundly transformed by the experience. He gives the audience someone to identify with.
Every man, yes and no? Upham let the other Germans go, again! This time, he could have made pow's out of them since he was no longer part of a long range patrol near or behind enemy lines! He did not have to sacrifice his humanity to end their role in the war!
My Dad served in Europe in WW2. He rarely talked about it. So when I saw the opening 20 minutes or so in the theater, I sat there stunned with tears just running down my face at the horror of what he faced. This more than any other experience brought home to me the unspeakable horrors of war.
I saw this when it first came out...the theaters made people aware that no one would be let in during the 1st 20 minutes, so you made sure to be in your seat on time. It honestly felt and sounded like bullets were flying by your head. It was one of the most intense starts to any movie I've ever seen. People were crying and covering their eyes, it was incredible. I felt like I was holding my breath for the entire movie...I was exhausted when it was over. Like others have said here, as the credits rolled, there was complete silence as people slowly made their way out.
My great-grandfather was German, but he renounced his citizenship when the war broke out. After the war, the family visited Berlin as part of a European trip. The city was torn to pieces, there was no hot water, food was scarce and you needed your passport with you at all times. It goes to show how the horrors of war don't end when the war ends, it takes a lot to build everything back up including the human spirit.
One of the most realistic depictions of the chaos of war ever put on film . That first half hour was horrific. I saw this on a big screen at the DGA theatre in Los Angeles and cried and cried for those men… My uncle was with an anti aircraft unit that made the push through France.. his unit shot down the last German plane of the European war… he died last year on Labor Day at 97 years old
"The Best Years of Our Lives" is a great older (1946) World War II movie. It does not show the horrors of combat, rather it deals with servicemen returning home after the war and their difficulties readjusting to civilian life. It's emotionally powerful, even after all these years.
I have to agree! I had not thought of this movie for years but it is one of the best movies dealing with the aftermath of World War II. Harold Russell brought so much authenticity to the movie. Definitely an oldie but a goodie!
I'm an Army veteran of 6 years. I look forward to your movie reviews on Mondays and Fridays more than any TV show. I love your personalities, and your compassion for the characters of the movies you react to. I genuinely hope you react to movies for years to come. ❤❤
My son was in high school when he and I went to the theater to see this movie. Prior to the movie starting an elderly gentleman with a young lady sat in front of us. He turned around to ask if I could see okay. How nice of him. Then the movie started and on the big screen it was so tough to watch. Then the gentleman in front of me started crying and the young lady held him. I then heard my son and turned to see him bawling. All four of us just cried and cried. Now you know how thankful we need to be for those who fought for the freedom of everyone.
My son saw this film in school, along with another called "Glory" (1989), based on a true story about the 54th Massachusetts all-Black regiment in the Civil War. "Earn this....EARN IT!!" Those words are spoken to every single person who watches this film down throughout the ages. We all have the responsibility to earn the freedom that so many sacrificed for. That graveyard is actually the American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France. There are 9,387 graves here spread over 172 acres. This includes soldiers, sailors, airmen, women, and war correspondents. There is also a Wall of the Missing that lists 1,557 men that went missing in action, with rosettes next to the names of those that have since been recovered and identified. France has gifted the United States a concession to the land. This means that while the land remains French, the cemetery and memorial belong to the US Government. The Star Spangled Banner flies overhead at all times.
This should be required for every American to watch. What our servicemen and women go through and sacrifice to keep us safe should never be forgotten. This portrayal of the Normandy invasion has to be so close to the way war really is. And when the General quotes Lincoln’s letter it is so eloquent and has always touched me so. This movie is able to show the inner thoughts and fears, the regrets of these soldiers. There is just so much to appreciate here, one of the greatest movies ever. Btw, the sniper is Barry Pepper, Dean from The Green Mile. I love him, his character in this. I love the way he prays for God’s help to make him a weapon. 💔💔♥️🇺🇸🇺🇸
Believe it or not, watching this movie was a requirement when I was in boot camp. The drill instructor said, “This is a representation of what you could be called upon to do for your country.” , and then started the movie. We watched in silence (of course) and we remained silent for some time even after the credits rolled.
@@dillbilly5903 Silence and awe is how I would describe my reaction also. Thank you so much for your service and I pray God’s blessings for you my friend! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
My great grandfather was in 1st infantry division during wwii and was apart of the 1st ID that stormed Omaha beach and survived it. I joined and deployed to Iraq twice myself starting in 08… I wouldn’t know until I got out of the army after two combat deployments that my great grandfather and I both by fate served in the exact same unit and division of the Big Red One (1st infantry division) as a kid I knew he served but didn’t know much about it. Long story short, my grandmother waited to make sure I got completely out before telling me anything about how wild of a coincidence it was. Not just the same division but battalion as him to not alter my mind and reasoning for choosing to be infantry. She always told me “we don’t need no hero’s in our family, but we sure need you to come back home”.
Thanks for reacting to Saving Private Ryan" and for your kind words and thoughts about our veterans! Barry Pepper, who played the sniper (as well as one of the guards in the "Green Mile") did an excellent job. He also played a great part in "We Were Soldiers" that you may want to check out at some point. It is another modern war movie that is known for its grit and intensity. So, you may want to give yourselves some time to catch your breath before considering it.
Pretty sure if this had the effect on them it did, We Were Soldiers would be far beyond their comfort zone. But yeah, it's definitely worth checking out for anyone interested who hasn't seen it yet.
Class act for you two to watch and react to this on Veterans Day. The greatest respect we can give those who fought for us all to have all the great things we now enjoy is to never, ever forget what they did, and to tell the next group coming up all about them. You doing this reaction helps that process along. Thank you!
When I saw this in the theater, before the movie started they had a veteran that had been on the beach that day and he told his story. They had World War II tanks and ambulances outside the theater. It was such a moving experience. That is why they are called the greatest generation.
The man saying he was clearing the beach was a Navy man mostly likely UTD. Their job was is blow clearings through the obstacles. I had an uncle who did that at Normandy. Also, the Wrong Pvt. Ryan was Nathan Fillion.
My grandfather hid under the floorboards of his home from the Germans when they came to the Netherlands. My father's aunt, uncle and cousins were all killed because they were hiding Jewish people. I had family in the concentration camps that didn't make it out. This film is so important, thank you for reacting to it! My thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Ukraine today. Slava Ukraine!
My Dad and Uncles fought in Europe to liberate the world from Fascist. The most unfortunate thing now is we seem to be moving towards this type of world again however this time nuclear weapons are in the mix which means as Einstein said if there was a WWIII then WWIV would be fought with sticks and stones.
My dad was a runner in WWII in New Guinea. He ran through the jungles at night delivering messages and ended up getting malaria that affected him for years. My four uncles were in WWII also and my cousin was a Green Beret who died in Vietnam. War is hell on earth.
As a Vietnam-Era army vet, this movie makes me cry every time. I lost two uncles in WW2, and most of my commanding officers were WW2 veterans and I heard so many stories. This was truly the greatest generation.
You either think of the Vietnam War as either yesterday or ancient history. I was born in 1963 so I can remember the news reports and watching about the fall of Saigon. Since I think of this as Yesterday it blows my mind to realize that all of this happened around Half a Century ago. All of those 18 year old kids are at least 65 now. Everyone should spend some time watching videos like these (and many others): The Fall of Saigon: 40 years later ua-cam.com/video/vHLKFSWzImk/v-deo.html "Our flight deck will only take one helicopter at a time…" ua-cam.com/video/zWN6XGUAhZU/v-deo.html
This is a masterpiece. Reading the comments affected me just as much as watching your reaction. So many stories and families that have been affected by the horrors of war. We should all live our lives to honor them. Thank you veterans! Thank you Amber and Jay.
This is one of the greats. I know how hard it is to watch, but thank you for honoring our veterans today. It reminded me of another great, but very emotionally hard movie to watch, "Schindler's List" from 1993. Without giving too much away, it is about the holocaust. It's one of those historical movies everyone should see at least once in their life to remind ourselves of what man is capable of in both atrocities and in grace. Highly recommend, just be sure to have tissues at the ready.
Couldn't agree more. Schindler's List is the next Spielberg movie you should see. It's WWII from a different angle, and equally great. True that you should see it at least once. And this one was a perfect Veterans Day choice! Great reaction, so glad you appreciated it.
My best friend and I get lost in DC all the time. Just out for midnight drives, best time to see the monuments. My husband got us a compass, we still get lost all the time!😅 we don't do GPS just fun without it.
You guys picked a very heroic movie for Veterans Day. This is complete service to your country . Yeah, the cemetary is above the beaches where the troops landed in France.
My grandfather was in the Normandy Invasion (the horrific opening scene). He eventually got shot but survived with a lot of psychological trauma. I always think of him when I see this movie. Thank you for watching ❤
When I saw this at the theaters at the beginning I cried like a baby. My dad was there for the D day invasion. Just seeing what he went through was overwhelming. He was injured in France a short time after that but by the grace of God made it home alive. This type of movie really gives you appreciation of what those boys went through.
Many thanks to your father, and all veterans, for their service! When we think of WW2 veterans now, we tend to visualize them as old men, but they were in fact "boys". Scared, young kids who didn't think twice about making the ultimate sacrifice to stop a horrendous evil from overtaking the world.
When I saw this at the cinema with my Wife I was in a bit of a state after it finished and went into the toilets for some tissue paper and found half a dozen grown men in tears. I was not alone.
You guys now need to watch the next two WWII miniseries Spielberg & Hanks did after this film. Band of Brothers (European theater) & The Pacific (Pacific theater). One shows the incredible bond and friendship these men had (B.O.B.), and the other shows the insanity & hell that war really is and how it affects these brave men during and after the war (Pacific). Intense.
Band of Brothers is incredible. Its a 10 part series based on WWII and the relationships with the guys. Tom Hanks produced it and I think he wrote large chunks of it. He also did "the pacific'
Spielberg wasn’t involved in the pacific I don’t believe. You can tell too because the pacific plays like a bloody TV show with cheesy music and camera angles that kind of let you guess what’s about to happen. Whereas band of brothers plays like a long movie split up into parts. People will disagree but it’s obvious
I never went to see this in the theater but caught it one night on cable when I was home alone. I am not a big war movie fan but love Tom Hanks and Spielberg so decided to investigate. The second this scene started I immediately became upset and reached for the remote to change the channel. Before I could a little voice in my head pointed out to me that if I found simply watching a reenactment in the safety of my own home too distressing, then imagine what the people there went through? I immediately felt that I OWED it to the men there to watch this and get SOME appreciation for their sacrifices. So I grabbed a pillow to bury my face in and sobbed my way through the entire thing.
My Father in law was a prisoner of war for three years in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp. He helped to build the bridge over the river Kwai. He eventually escaped and had to swim through shark-infested waters during the escape with his close friend. His buddy never made it. He went on to have 5 children, one of whom I've been married to for 34 years. A big thank you to all our vets and the brave men from Canada, America, and the U.K who landed on Normandy that fateful day and turned the tide of war.
I've got news for you, there are no rivers in the world that are shark infested, and in reality, there was a bridge built, but not over the river Kwai.
@@Orange-Jumpsuit-Time So what. The bridge is still known as the Bridge on the River Kwai though the waters beneath it were not but it did eventually connect. As for, the “shark infested rivers.” Bull Sharks are known to migrate up rivers, and they are the most aggressive sharks to humans, so who knows could have been sh*t luck.
@@biggreen9845 Sure, sure, if any of what she said were true, she would have provided his name and he most certainly have written a book. Only rubes like you would believe such a story.😆😅🤣😂
@@Orange-Jumpsuit-Time Is it anyone’s business on the internet the name of her father-in-law. Not everyone ends up writing a book. You really think an ally prisoner of war would know the name of a river in which he was forced to build a bridge over, in Siam(Thailand today) at the time? So what if the water underneath was not the river, it’s still known as the Bridge on the River Kwai. Calling me names does not change that.
The scene with Wade the medic getting killed. So heartbreaking. I remember reading The Longest Day a long time ago. And there's this part about a German medic trying to get away, and stumbling across two lifeless American paratroopers in a field near a hedge. He checks on them, one is dead, one is not. So he does what he can to patch that guy up. And when he is done, someone throws a pack of cigarettes to him, which scares him a lot. There's more American paratroopers in the hedgerow next to him. And they've been watching him. And since he is a medic and did good, he is allowed to go on his merry way, with a pack of smokes. Medics were that well liked, and loved. Even an enemy medic would get respect. That novel is basically just a long row of interviews with war veterans from D-day, June 6th 1944, so that story is not fiction. So Wade the medic getting killed would be a major loss for everyone in the unit.
It's just too bad that scene never made it into the movie. Thanks for sharing that. In horrifying contrast, I remember seeing a video about Iwo Jima in the Pacific theatre. During that conflict, the Japanese troops learned to mimic the term "medic". They would shout out when American troops were nearby and pick off anyone who would respond to the call for help, including any real medics. The American troops responded by cleverly using a code word; instead of shouting "medic", they would call out "Tallulha". This was a reference to a popular stage actress at the time (Tallulha Bankhead) and the Japanese could not speak her name properly.
I was in the Army for a few years. Medics and other medical specialties nowadays are regulated by the Geneva Conventions. They are not allowed to engage in offensive warfare. Someone in the higher echelons decided it was a good idea to ensure medics kept being well liked so they could do their jobs, and I'm glad. I was medical admin, which doesn't even treat people, and I didn't know about my special status going in. Chaplains are also covered, and their assistants.
From a veteran of Desert Storm and the family of military that have served since the Civil War. Thank you very much for your words of respect for our vet's and military serving today. Love your videos guys
The Cemetery featured in The Movie is in Normandy France, which has been lovingly maintained by The People Of France as an expression of National Pride and Gratitude since The End Of WW2.
I took my grandad to see this at the cinema when it first come out, I wasn't aware how realistic this movie would be, on exiting the cinema my grandad said never to take him to a war film again, first time I ever saw him cry 😢 rip grandad 💜
my grandfather and his 5 brothers all served in the military, he lost two brothers in berma, and in the south pacific. My grandfather went to the Philippines where he was a paratrooper. Thank you to all the veterans and to everyone else for your service. This movie in my honest opinion is the closest to War that you can watch without actually being there.
My wife's grandfather served at the Battle of the Bulge in WW2. He was stationed out of Fort Bragg/ Camp Mackall. Over 60 years later I found myself there. He opened up to me about his experiences like he hadn't with his children and grandchildren because of what we had in common. I'm a day late it's not memorial day but I gotta say rest in peace Ryan Knauss. The last U.S. soldier killed in Afghanistan and my friend, always.
My father was in the Third Army under Patton. He was part of the forces that marched over 100 miles in two days in the dead of winter to relieve Bastogne.
D-day, June 6, 1944. Some drown because they were weighed down by their gear😢 they were 17 and up. 4,415 men died that day. 2,501 were American deaths. This is why our flag should never be disrespected. Ever!!!
I'll NEVER forget when my wife and I saw this movie in the theater. The place was packed and when it ended everyone was obviously as shell-shocked (no pun intended) as we were. When the house lights came on everyone quietly stood up and shuffled to the exits as if they were in a stupor. I've never experienced anything like that after a movie.
The only other one that I had that same experience was 'American Sniper'. Same solemn exit and silence. Some movies aren't entertaining per se, but they're important.
I went to see this movie with my dad. He said this was the closest representation of what it was like in real life. At the end, where Tom Hanks character tells him to “Earn this”, it touched my heart so much because my dad was with Patton - pretty much the worst parts of the war, freed concentrations camps and still became the best man I’ve ever known - on purpose.
Susan, my dad was in the armored division attached to Patton. I was too stupid not to listen to his stories more closely, and now he's gone. One of the biggest regrets of my life.
My Dad was a medic on that beach, he then worked across France into Belgium for the battle of the bulge. After it was over he was sent to the Netherlands to wait for a slow boat back to the states. Medics didn't carry weapons, how he made it I have no idea, but I'm glad he did. He never talked about the things he saw or did while there. I just retired after 40 years in the Air Force. He taught me that we all serve, because even the people that stayed in the states did their part to help those overseas, just like we do today.
Haven't watched one second of this reaction. Letting the ads play. Amber is going to be absolutely done. When old Matt Damon asks his wife to tell him he is a good man....I cry like a toddler. My grandfather was at the battle of the bulge and he was part of freeing a death camp. I can't help to see this movie through his eyes. So much respect for him and all of them
Please watch Hacksaw Ridge and Unbroken. Both are WW2 movies based on true stories and beyond inspiring. As a GenX kid we grew up hearing our grandparents stories first hand about the war, but your generation is further removed therefore not as directly familiar with their stories. I am so glad these movies help tell their stories and you appreciate their sacrifice. BTW, my husband's grandfather fought in the European theater, apparently he and a lot of other vets said the movie was so realistic they couldn't watch it all because they didn't want to relive the trauma. Also the Sullivan brothers were what this story was based on, they lost all of their sons in the war...
Good suggestions ( I've seen both) My true WW2 Movie suggestion was Empire of the Sun ( another Spielberg...if you haven't seen it watch it) 12 yr old Christian Bale's performance ( in his 1st movie) is Unbelievable !!!!
I am part of a military family and served for 20+ years myself, and this movie brings me to tears at the end every time. It captures the realities of war so well, the viewer really feels like they're on this journey with them. There's definitely a reason this is often called one of the best war movies ever made. There's also a reason that more than 20 years later, many of us are still so outraged this movie lost the Oscar for Best Picture to Shakespeare in Love...
My two beloved uncles served in the European theater WW2 ~ between them, they came home with a Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart ~ but we never knew any of that until after they died decades later. That generation was truly one of the greatest. They remain my heroes, not just for their service to this country, but for the way they took care of their families and served their communities even after the war. They gave all for everyone, and kept little for themselves. God bless them.
I watched this in the movie theater and this was the first and only time people walked out of the movie theater and didn’t say one word. Truly an amazing movie. God bless the veterans who were there first hand to experience this. ❤️
Another note: You had voiced a question about the balloons above the invasion beach. These are what were called "barrage balloons." They're tethered balloons used to prevent against attacks by low flying aircraft. Also, each balloon was usually anchored by a number of steel cables so that even if a plane tried to fly underneath them, the plane would hit the cables and crash.
And a lot of those barrage balloons were in fact brought on shore by African-American soldiers...and to be able to control and handle these balloons, they carried no weapons...when historians refer to these all these men and their families as "the Greatest Generation," they mean it.
It is the American Cemetery at Colleville France. It overlooks Omaha Beach and is the largest allied burial ground in Normandy. This is where 'Saving Private Ryan' begins.
I remember coming out of the theater when this movie came out and seeing a couple WW2 veterans come out with tears in thier eyes. Even though so many years had passed, they still carried the pain of what they experienced. I'm a (cold war) veteran myself and when I went to Arlington national cemetery it was an emotional experience for me looking over the acres and acres of white tombstones at all the people that died for this country.
I have been to the cemeteries in Normandy it is moving to see all the graves of the Allied Soldiers who paid the ultimate price for the lives we live today I had to remove my hat to show respect to these men so proud of my Grandpa for being part of this although he never talked about it and we found a ton of letters and other stuff he had in big chest in the basement after he died in 1985 it was locked and we could never touch it as kids. Grandpa did the same thing with collecting dirt and other things from the places he was at I think a lot of the guys did that
The scene between Tom Hanks and Matt Damon right before the final battle was supposedly improvised. Matt Damon just started the story and you can see Tom Hanks looks up he's actually looking at Spielberg to see if he wanted to keep this going. And my dad was in WW2, also Korea and Vietnam, 30 year man. Never talked about any of it.
This was a great movie! My mother had 5 brothers serving in WWII at the same time. It was very difficult for my grandmother, but she was so fortunate. Not one of her sons (my uncles) passed away. They all survived that war and made it home safely. So, it was truly a miracle for those guys to find the one surviving son who was then able to be there for his mother and the future generations after him.
Thank you for watching this today on Veterans Day. It's so hard to watch, but so important. We all have to thank the men that fought in this war. The greatest generation. They're almost all gone now. We owe them so much.
That cemetery in the opening sequence is the Normandy American Cementery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France. The cemetery honors Americans who died during invasion in World War 2 and contains 9,387 gravesites. It's the only authentic filming location in the movie.
Such a difficult, but necessary movie to watch simply to comprehend a small part of what it was like for those who fought and died for us. We all need to “earn this” everyday.
This is, by far, the hardest first 20 minutes of a film I have ever had to watch. It was so real that my grandfather left the theatre within the first 5 minutes because it was too much for him to relive. The next Tom Hanks film you should watch is Philadelphia. He and Denzel Washington give a powerful performance.
I was a reenactor at a veterans day parade one year, and an elderly vet came over to compliment us on the authentic uniforms and gear we had, we noticed he had the bronze star and asked him about it. He simply said he earned it that D- day morning, but refused to talk any further. After seeing this, now you know why
That opening battle scene, probably the most intense, realistic war scene ever shot. This movie also had an outstanding cast, like the Dr played by Giovanni Ribisi, who in my mind, is woefully underrated. But in a movie with this cast, hard to notoce everybody.
I've been watching ya'll for a minute now and would like to say that the way you speak, the slang you use and other little euphemisms, etc truly make me feel like you're one of the family. You both are very well spoken, grounded, and your outlook and openness to everything is very refreshing. I can relate to you guys on so many levels even though I'm 63 years old. You're doing a bang up job on these videos and I for one am so happy to have discovered some "Normal " people on UA-cam. Stay safe, keep the kids safer, and have a great day. :)
My dad's brother died in WWII and is buried in the American Military Cemetery in Margraten, Netherlands. The families who live there adopt all the graves to take care of them, and they pass down the responsibility to their children and grandchildren . They keep photos of "their" soldier in their home and decorate their graves for all the holidays--as much or even more than what you see here in the USA. They are just so grateful to those who lost their lives so they could be free. 💔
Never have heard of that. It's just beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Amazing!
That’s beautiful ❤
Naw, if you listen to these two, the only cemetery they know is in Austin. They claim to both be teachers, for the school kids sake, hope neither of them teach history?
Market garden?
The scene with the mother getting the letters is so moving that no words need to be spoken one of the best scenes ever put on film.
My grandfather served in France in 1944. Which is significant for an African American in WWII. My father's father served stateside in the Navy. His father enlisted in the Army and also served in WWI.
We need to keep these stories alive.
Thanks to your father and grandfather for fighting for all our freedoms. They all bled red. 😢
@@BenLapke well said
Heavy props to a bad-ass grandfather. USA USA USA!
If it wasn't for Republicans, you wouldn't even have this life story.
Say thank you to the Republicans who ended slavery and Jim Crow. Democrats didn't end any of this.
History matters.
The army was segregated back then , & there were a lot of Black troops in France , they operated the Red Ball Express among other units . They were also fighter pilots in the Red Tails that flew P-51 Mustangs . It was President Truman that said this is bull shit , we’re 1 nation , with 1 army .
I once, asked a WWII Vet about this movie (who fought at Omaha Beach and Battle of the Bulge). He paused for a few seconds then gave me a stern look and said: "It wasn't bloody enough." I still remember the chills going down my spine!
Jesus man I can’t imagine
@@Jtkdashthat’s strange because D-Day veterans who were invited to the premiere of this film actually had to walk out of the cinema during the opening scene because of how accurate it was. They said it took them straight back there and that it was as if a cameraman had followed them up that beach….🤔
Everyone experience was different @@YorkshiremanReacts26
The cemetery the start and end of the movie is in France, in Normandy at Colleville, literally just yards from Omaha Beach. It is the principal US cemetery in Normandy, and holds over 9800 fallen soldiers who lost their lives during the battle for Normandy in 1944. I've visited it several times, and also the German cemetery at La Cambe, as well as several British ones, at Ranville, Bayeux and Jerusalem, which is one of the smallest British cemeteries and holds just 47 graves, including the grave of Pte Jackie Banks, who was the youngest British soldier be killed in Normandy, and who was aged just 16. The cemeteries are all very different in character, and style, but they are all immaculately cared for and maintained by the French people. They are beautiful, peaceful places, quiet, tranquil grounds where the fallen soldiers, whatever their nationality, rest in peace.
Gen Colin Powel stated "We have gone forth from our shores repeatedly over the last hundred years and we’ve done this as recently as the last year in Afghanistan and put wonderful young men and women at risk, many of whom have lost their lives, and we have asked for nothing except enough ground to bury them in."
I am glad that you had included that factoid, because it actually bothered me a little when she said "Men and WOMEN, that have fought for us."
When in reality; none of the grave markers are of women in that cemetery.
Next HAS to be Schindler's List. Another Spielberg film, and another important classic.
@@Johnnybomb1The families of Mary Bankston , Mary Barlow, Dolores Browne and Elizabeth Richardson would definitely disagree with you! Although they were not ‘ combat soldiers’ they were killed in Normandy while on active duty in a combat zone and are in fact buried in that cemetery
@@Johnnybomb1 Normandy American Cemetery: The site covers 172.5 acres and contains the graves of 9,387 American War Dead, most of whom died during the landings and ensuing operations. Altho there were few women in combat in WW2, and especially for the Normandy landings, there probably are some women among those 9000 + graves - who may have worked in intelligence, espionage, medical, clerical, religious, radio operators, photographers, drivers, etc.
The sniper was Barry Pepper, one of the guards in the green mile. There are so many talents in this movie. This movie was so well done in portraying the atrocities of War. It gives you a sinking feeling, but also makes you appreciate our men and women in the military that much more. And they deserve to be held in the highest regard. We thank you all for your service.
Most people feel pride.gratitude, and a sense of humbleness when viewing this movie, not a sinking feeling? You must be confusing this with that Titanic movie?
Another great film starring Barry Pepper to check out is "61"...the guy is a dead ringer for Roger Maris!
He also was the war correspondent Joe Gallagher in " We were Soldiers" and Mike Strank in " Flags of our Fathers"
another great film... one thing Platoon and saving Private Ryan Have in Common is that Dale Dye was the Military Advisor for both...
@@terrybeaton2000 Sorry but No,,, the actor who played the Older Private Ryan was Harrison Young and the Actor who played the Older Paul Edgecome was Dabs Greer...
My grandfather enlisted near the end of the war. He landed in France sometime after D-Day and was captured in September of 1944 by the Germans after being wounded and falling into a foxhole. He spent the remainder of the war in a prison camp (Stalag III-C in what is now western Poland) and was liberated in January of 1945. Unfortunately he died before I was born but I’ve read some of the documents about his capture from the government as well as telegraphs he sent and an article that was written about him once he was liberated. This movie is so well done, I watch it every Veterans Day.
My grandpa was in stalag 12a
The American Sniper is played by Barry Pepper…who played Dean, the young prison guard in “Green Mile”…superb in both roles.
Figured they would Recognize Vin Diesel ... The Soldier that gets the little girl down and then is shot by the sniper.. around 17:45 mark
He was my favorite. Always quoting Bible scripture before a shot. ♥
Barry Pepper was in We Were Soldiers as the journalist Joseph Galloway
@@spike3082 that was a great movie! Depressing though
@@jonathanmoon86 yes it was I watched it for the first time when I was in basic training at of all places Fort Benning GA
This needs to be shown in all high school history classes in this country.
The sacrifice this generation gave needs to be understood and appreciated
Congratulations you're the lucky winner of the ongoing giveaway text me on telegram to claim your package🎁
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They do
This generation would want a safe space...
@@skipvillanueva9927 Not everywhere and certainly Not everyday.
The theater was silent during this opening sequence. Some men left. One gentleman next to us was weeping. I just tried to breathe. I don’t watch this often. War is hell. In that , hell is very real. Complete respect to all Veterans.
I remember when this film was released, ABC's Nightline did an episode with a group of World War II vets who had seved at Normandy and who had watched the film. They said this film the most realistic dipiction of the battle of any movie ever made. When I went to the theater to see the film, when it ended it was like leaving a funeral. EVERYBODY was silent as we exited the theater, stunned into silence. I have never experienced that kind of reaction to a movie before or since
The Reason Pvt. Reiban tapped his magazine against his helmet before loading his B.A.R. (Browning Automatic Rifle) was so the cartridges get knocked to the rear of the magazine putting them in the proper position to be fed into The Chamber without jamming.
In the movie Heat, Val Kilmer does the same to his magazine, to the bumper of the car that he ducked behind to change mags.
Every Vietnam movie has at least one guy that does that
I heard it was also supposed to be good luck
When I was a teen, I gave my grandfather (a WWII vet) a Thank You For Your Service card. After looking at it, all he said was - in a quiet voice - "No one ever thanked me before." Our vets deserve our best and every good thing this country can provide for them. I guarantee, there's no way anyone came back from war without PTSD. :(
if you grandfather is still around please give him my thanks
Your last statement is highly inaccurate as most soldiers who have gone to war don't develop PTSD. It's is remarkably high for those in combat roles with 15-20%, whilst those in support roles are 5-10%. These figures may seem extremely high, but considering the civilian population has a PTSD rate of just under 5% means these figures aren't surprising.
People have a tendency to assume that PTSD is based on what you saw or experienced. That’s not entirely true. PTSD is really about how the individual processes what they experienced. Due to this, two people can go through the exact same event, and one might be fine while the other suffers from PTSD. It’s also why one person can see mutilated corpses and move on while another person freaks out after a single mortar lands near the base where they are at but they personally are never in any imminent danger.
@@uwotm8 i will add to it, WW1 was way worse, with the gassing, trech war etc etc
The last scene makes me cry every time. "Am I a good man?"
The first and final scene is filmed in a American cemetery in France. It overlooks Omaha Beach where all those soldiers were killed.
Those men who tried to surrender and were shot. ("Look, I just washed my hand for supper!") Except they weren’t speaking German, they were speaking Czech, pleading: “Please don’t shoot me! I am not German, I am Czech, I didn’t kill anyone! I am Czech!"
"FUBAR" is an acronym for "F**cked Up Beyond All Repair"
Actually it's f up beyond all recognition not repair
Servicemen that were on Omaha beach said that it was the most accurate portrait of D-day they had ever scene in a movie.
That scene made my father cry; the only time he ever cried from a movie.
This movie was so realistic that it was reportedly very very hard for veterans to watch. I love how they started with the D-day landing and just threw the audience right into it. Relentlessly. Really gave the viewer a whole new perspective on how traumatic war is & how terribly inhumane. You guys should watch Born on the Fourth of July next because it deals with what happens when these guys come home. I can’t even imagine what our veterans go through trying to live with what they were made to do. Like you said, most of us have never had to really think about what war is like & how costly our freedoms really are.
- From what I understand, they actually did a lot of accurate study and co-operative consultation with actual veterans in the creation of the Normandy Beach scene, making sure the veterans helped to correct and augment details for the sake of realism out of respect - they didn't just want to make it an "Action" scene, but wanted to show respect for the accuracy of the true event. I think that in itself shows a significant level of respect that they would consult with actual witnesses of the historical event for the sake of realism, rather than for just entertainment.
This was hard to watch for most people. I was never in the military but the idea of teenagers having to go through this blows my mind. I've never made it through the whole movie. I had to leave the theater when the kid was dying crying for his mom.
I heard many veterans had to leave the theater due to how realistic it was.
As a combat infantry veteran, this movie has always hit hard. It’s as close as civilians can get to seeing real combat. It has always made me so grateful for those who have went before me. We all sleep under the blanket of freedom that those brave souls have provided. Never forget.
thank you for your service. God bless you.
Combat infantry - is there any other sort?
Thank you for your service 🇺🇸🇺🇸
@@paulleach3612 Yes. Not all infantry see combat. Some get hurt and have to watch all their friends deploy. Some are infantry in times of no conflict, they just train and then reclass to something else because they’re not getting what they want out of their role.
@@paulleach3612 You asked: "Combat infantry - is there any other sort?"
"Is that the dad from Malcom in the Middle? I used to love that show" yeah most reactors recognize him from Breaking Bad
Tom Hanks along with Spielberg produced the most expensive tv documentary series about the 101. Airborne during WWII, called "Band of Brothers", an absolute must watch. Each episode intro is by a surviving member telling his story. Amazing amount of actors as well, that rose to stardom, just as with this movie.
I’ll second that. Band of Brothers is incredible and heartbreaking at the same time. Over here in the UK we have our Remembrance Day and there are always old guys who served handing out Poppies. Whenever I buy one they say thank you, but I always turn around, shake their hand, and say “no, thank you.” I cannot thank them enough for everything they gave us.
YES! Band of Brothers is so f'ing amazing, and while not %100 percent accurate, as close as any form of media could be....heartbreaking and inspiring
It is a masterpiece.
The series was based off Stephen Ambrose’s book, “Band of Brothers”. I still have my copy - I read it when it came out since I liked some of his other books including “Citizen Soldiers”.
Band of Brothers is amazing. Pulls your heart out but does such an awesome job of drawing you into the stories.
The last scene of this movie, when Ryan talks to his wife, makes me tear up every time. It's one of the most powerful scenes in cinematic history ever.
"Tell me I've lead a good life. Tell me I'm a good man." Kills me every time. Right in the feels.
@@jackastor5265 it’s the questions all men ask themselves at some point. That is why it hits so hard.
i refuse to rewatch that scene. Waaaaay too hard to watch. This entire movie was a 1-and-done for me, but that last scene especially.
My late dearest sweet neighbor Bob who I will miss the rest of my life, was at Omaha beach. My ex took him and my father-in-law who was a Marine in the Pacific to see the movie. Bob told us that the depiction of the landing of Normandy was exactly accurate. The only depiction he’d ever seen of it that showed how it really was.
My young daughter made a sign for them that said “welcome home veterans”.
I made them a wonderful lunch and we watch the Tom Brokaw documentaries Where the vets were interviewed and talked about their experiences for the first time.
They said it was the best Veterans Day they ever had❤
Most people know by now but just in case.. This was supposed to be Matt Damon's break out role and no one would have guessed he is Ryan on first sight. He was in Good WIll Hunting before and it blew him up which gave him away to most of the audience.
Today my son celebrated his first Veterans Day as a Marine Corps. veteran. I’m so grateful that I have him home and he’s safe. Thank you to all that serve! 🇺🇸
Happy Veterans Day and Happy belated Birthday to the Marine Corps!
@@fowledanchor1141 Thank you for your service! Semper Fi!
Thank you for your son's service and I'm so happy that he is home and safe ❤️
Ooh Rah
Spielberg gave a private show of this movie to WW2 veterans who were at normandy(the beach), before the movie came out. He researched and asked vets for input heavily so much so that the WW2 vets that watched this told media that it was as close to what happened to them in real life as possible.
This sets the standard for what war movies need to be like.
As a soldier I cry every time I watch this.
They apparently had to stop it for a while after the Omaha beach scene as so many were in tears and I think a few needed some air due to the realism of that scene just put them right back there on that beach. I cannot imagine that fear..
Same here brother..
Me 2. I was A M-60 Machine Gunner. When I saw The Opening Scene in'98, My Adrenaline Glands ACHED. The Last 5 Minutes of The Movie ALWAYS, brings tears to my eyes, very hard to keep it together.
It’s not “at Normandy” it’s in Normandy, and Normandy is region of France there are five different allied beaches …the landings took place on a 55 mile ride front and up to 75 miles if you include the Airborne so please stop saying Normandy Beach …which one are you talking about? I guess it’s Omaha right? Don’t forget Juno sword gold and also Utah.
I’m here to let you know because you don’t know obviously and I live in Normandie, I also happen to be a tour guide and I’ve been doing this for 14 years so I know the subject well😊
Sveral veterans of modern war (Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria) still say the opening scene is as close as a movie ever got to the real deal.
Mrs Ryan's knees buckling when she sees the chaplain is the most heart wrenching bit of film making ever.
Yes, that scene makes me cry every time.
Same thoughts about that part. Just think of her pain and anguish. I cry every time.
I was on the Honor Guard, Firing Squad, for a funeral of a Desert Storm casualty. His mother was making it through as well as could be expected until the first note of Taps. She collapsed right there.
@@lynnhettrick7588 me too
This movie single-handedly changed the way war films were made. Everyone who saw this movie in the theaters when it first came out was absolutely blown away by its level of realism. We were all stunned and in awe of the production. The most shocking thing of all was when this movie failed to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards. No one in their right mind thought Shakespeare in Love was better than Saving Private Ryan.
I saw this in a theater when it first came out. It was literally the only movie I’ve ever gone to see where there was absolute silence and stillness at the end. The entire audience just sat there. No scrambling to leave. No chatting on the way out. It was profound.
Had the exact same experience...saw this in the theatre when it came out...there were 12 people in the theatre, it was a Thursday afternoon...we just sat there for at least 5 minutes...dead silence....when he saluted the grave stone my heart was ripped out...that was tough
This movie and Schindler's List had the same effect. You sat there in tears, speechless.
Same. Absolute silence for several moments after it ended
Freedom isn't Free. Semper Fi
The same for me. My wife didn't want to see it, so I went alone. When the movie finished, It was quiet, and I walked outside, into a beautiful, sunny day. I remember standing there looking at everyone going about their day, and thinking.. if there was a veteran here right now, I'd hug him and tell him "thank you for all that you did for us". I'll never forget that feeling.
I’m a proud Army veteran i went to see this when it was released in the theater. Only time I have ever walked out of a movie with tears in my eyes. I was lost in my thoughts feeling stunned, speechless and somber I guess you could say. It’s a surreal feeling that no other movie I’ve ever seen can duplicate. Happy Veterans Day along with all the other days of your lives to my brothers and sisters who served. For those who never made it home Rest In Peace.
From one soldier to another, thank you for your service my brother
@@tactical-daddy Thank you also brother 👍
@@JM-zb2ip Thank you for your service. Have you seen the new film adaption of the WWI book All Quiet On The Western Front? Conveys the brutality and emptiness of war much more strongly imo. It gave me a much broader perspective about war in general, seeing the perspective of other sides.
There are few experiences of watching a film in the theater that I remember. This was one of them, particularly how I was a young 22-year-old in a daytime matinee, surrounded by much older men and couples, some of whom I'm sure were veterans. At the end of the movie, everyone quietly stood up and left, no one saying a word. Just the echoes of muffled tears from guys in their 70s and 80s that lived through WW2.
Happy Veteran's Day and thank you for your service.
I saw this in the theater with my husband (Vietnam vet). There were only 3 women in the packed theater and at the end all the men around me were crying. It really was a profound moment for me. I told my uncle (Korean War vet) he should see this movie but he said no because the VA was full of men suffering from PTSD after watching this film. This movie was so well done and as close to war as I ever want to get.
When I started to watch this reaction and when you said "it's the sounds" I swear it took me back to Afghanistan 2008-2009. There's sounds you hear that you just don't forget. I can understand why a lot of WWII vets couldn't watch it in theaters and had to leave because of its accuracy. I have the same reaction when I watch Iraq and Afghanistan war documentaries, because I lived it and lost brothers and a sister (term for our military family) who I lived with, suffered and bickered with, trained and partied with.. People I had a closer relationship with than that of my own family.. People I loved. War has a sound, even when it's quiet, that someone who has never experienced it can never understand.
My grandpa was in the Normandy invasion and got a purple heart pushing through France/Rhineland. He talked about it openly and I have cherished memories of him telling me stories about his childhood and WW2. He lived from 1918 to 2009, so you can only imagine all the changes and new things he got to see. He inspired me to join the military and I miss him every day. After the war he got a masters degree and worked to preserve national forests and enjoyed gardening. All he wanted was a modest lifestyle, his plants, and a small family.
I read Band of Brother’s and that was such a common thing with those that returned home. They often got into careers that focused on building things or something involved with helping others or being involved with nature.
My uncle was a tank Sgt with Patton. Freed the German concentration camps and was first in Berlin. I interviewed him for my college thesis.
@@BadgerBJJ My grandpa said he was thankful he never saw a concentration camp.. can't imagine.
@@29_lets_go it was the only thing he struggled with putting into words. The war, Berlin, tank battles, death… he was very articulate. But, Buchenwald he was speechless. Said you could smell it from miles away.
@@29_lets_go I imagine part of him could still smell it until the day he died
My father was an Army medic in the Pacific for 3 years, and he and my mom retired to Ft. Lauderdale in 1991 and lived in a retirement community. When they went to see this on opening weekend, the entire theater was filled with nothing but retirees....and almost every man there was a veteran. And every woman there lived through the Home Front or served as a nurse or similar. My mom said that when the movie ended, the entire theater was silent, except for the sound of weeping old men. Watching this movie actually inspired my father to finally tell us some of his wartime experiences. Before that, all you could get out of him were funny little anecdotes. After this, his stories got a bit more grim.
Fun fact: Apparently Matt Damon improvised that entire story off script about the last memory with his brothers and the barn etc. Also it literally breaks my heart watching Amber cry. Jay you got a golden heart in your girl and that's not easy to find in today's culture, don't let her go haha. Ya'll do some of the best movie reactions!
The actor that played the first "Ryan" they came across, Nathan fillion, plays a Captain in another fav series that i love called "Firefly". One of my fav quotes (and i have so many from that series) was;
"Everybody dies. Hell, someone is carrying a bullet for you right now and doesn't even know it. The trick is to die of old age before it finds you."
When i think of how the captain let that man go and in the end was shot by him, it reminds me of that quote.
You never know how life is going to play out. How one decision paves the way for a reault in the future you could never predict.
Another thing that also kills me, is that they stayed for both battles when it went againt their mission. Both because "It is the right thing to do".
In both intances they saved people in the future but ended their own. Nothing else impacts greater then that.
The duty and absolute conviction, by ordinary men doing extordinafy things, for people they'll never meet.
P.s. you kinda asked in the review, why he was shaking. From someone who suffers ptsd, its because the mind cant compute the horrors experienced. He doesnt shake when in battle because he is running off adrenaline, his brain, and experience to stay alive. When things become quiet and he tries to process, he cant. It is too much to process. And then you try and block it out. Shut it down, so you can function. But it leaks through. For people it differs. I too shake. The more i try and supress, the more i shake. And when i finally break, and the walls crash down, it takes days to stop.
The shaking is the physical representation of the trauma leaking through.
My Grandfather was in the Army during WWII and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge. This movie is the only movie that ever made my Father (a Vietnam War Vet) cry. And the third in line, my son is a Navy Veteran at only 30. Brilliant Movie.
Tom Hanks and Spielberg made the HBO series Band of Brothers and The Pacific. They are well worth watching.
Tom Hanks has a cameo in Band of brothers. In the episode where they liberated the concentration camps he is a stretcher bearer.
At this point, it should be the law to watch these three WWII masterpieces; Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers, and The Pacific.
I have been binging your channel and I am OBSESSED! You definitely need to react to Band of Brothers. It is a masterpiece from start to finish. (This is the 1st time I've ever commented on a video lol)
If you can handle Saving Private Ryan, you may LOVE the "Band of Brothers" mini-series. It has interviews with the combat veterans the actors portray and you really get to know each one over the course of the series. It is some of the best TV I have ever watched. The action begins with the paratroopers' perspective on D-Day.
Fantastic series. I glued myself to my couch to watch that mini series, created by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, who also collaborated on Saving Private Ryan.
YES. THIS RIGHT HERE. Band of Brothers and then SOUTH PACIFIC. You will be very glad you did and we will be so watching with you.
Best of best mini-series af all times.
Same with “The Pacific”
Indeed, BoB is probably one of the best war "movies" made. Absolutely fantastic mini-series and I also highly recommend. Thanks you two for your passionate review of this classic movie. 🙂❤
The thing about Upham that people miss is the tragedy of his character. Everybody cheered when he shot the German soldier that he originally saved from earlier in the movie, but that was the tragedy. Upham went through the entire movie as the one character that kept his humanity, until the very end when he lost it. Compassion, forgiveness, everything that made Upham left him when he pulled the trigger. That shows how war is hell.
Speilberg said that Upham was who he most identified with and that would have been him in WWII.
Stories like this one are morality plays, and morality plays need an "everyman" character, someone who represents the point of view of the layman audience, and of humanity in general. The everyman is a stock character in morality plays, and Upham is the everyman in this one. As someone in the audience would be in his situation, he is at first lost, nervous, terrified, and finally, profoundly transformed by the experience. He gives the audience someone to identify with.
Upham failed to kill when it was necessary and could have saved lives, and DID kill when it was unnecessary.
Every man, yes and no? Upham let the other Germans go, again! This time, he could have made pow's out of them since he was no longer part of a long range patrol near or behind enemy lines! He did not have to sacrifice his humanity to end their role in the war!
Realistically, the German would have killed him on the steps as he saw he wasn't a threat and wouldn't have thought twice about it.
When Private Ryan says that line about “standing with his brothers I have left” it just gets me every time.
My Dad served in Europe in WW2. He rarely talked about it. So when I saw the opening 20 minutes or so in the theater, I sat there stunned with tears just running down my face at the horror of what he faced. This more than any other experience brought home to me the unspeakable horrors of war.
I saw this when it first came out...the theaters made people aware that no one would be let in during the 1st 20 minutes, so you made sure to be in your seat on time. It honestly felt and sounded like bullets were flying by your head. It was one of the most intense starts to any movie I've ever seen. People were crying and covering their eyes, it was incredible. I felt like I was holding my breath for the entire movie...I was exhausted when it was over. Like others have said here, as the credits rolled, there was complete silence as people slowly made their way out.
My great-grandfather was German, but he renounced his citizenship when the war broke out. After the war, the family visited Berlin as part of a European trip. The city was torn to pieces, there was no hot water, food was scarce and you needed your passport with you at all times. It goes to show how the horrors of war don't end when the war ends, it takes a lot to build everything back up including the human spirit.
One of the most realistic depictions of the chaos of war ever put on film . That first half hour was horrific. I saw this on a big screen at the DGA theatre in Los Angeles and cried and cried for those men… My uncle was with an anti aircraft unit that made the push through France.. his unit shot down the last German plane of the European war… he died last year on Labor Day at 97 years old
"The Best Years of Our Lives" is a great older (1946) World War II movie. It does not show the horrors of combat, rather it deals with servicemen returning home after the war and their difficulties readjusting to civilian life. It's emotionally powerful, even after all these years.
The Best Years of Our Lives is one of my favorite films!
It's on TCM Tonight .... I'm Watching!
I have to agree! I had not thought of this movie for years but it is one of the best movies dealing with the aftermath of World War II. Harold Russell brought so much authenticity to the movie. Definitely an oldie but a goodie!
Great recommendation. I’d forgotten about that one.
@@melanie62954 Mine too.
I'm an Army veteran of 6 years. I look forward to your movie reviews on Mondays and Fridays more than any TV show. I love your personalities, and your compassion for the characters of the movies you react to. I genuinely hope you react to movies for years to come. ❤❤
@ 5:01 The combat engineer was referring to clearing the landing obstacles in order to allow tanks and equipment to come to shore
My son was in high school when he and I went to the theater to see this movie. Prior to the movie starting an elderly gentleman with a young lady sat in front of us. He turned around to ask if I could see okay. How nice of him. Then the movie started and on the big screen it was so tough to watch. Then the gentleman in front of me started crying and the young lady held him. I then heard my son and turned to see him bawling. All four of us just cried and cried. Now you know how thankful we need to be for those who fought for the freedom of everyone.
My son saw this film in school, along with another called "Glory" (1989), based on a true story about the 54th Massachusetts all-Black regiment in the Civil War.
"Earn this....EARN IT!!"
Those words are spoken to every single person who watches this film down throughout the ages. We all have the responsibility to earn the freedom that so many sacrificed for.
That graveyard is actually the American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France. There are 9,387 graves here spread over 172 acres. This includes soldiers, sailors, airmen, women, and war correspondents. There is also a Wall of the Missing that lists 1,557 men that went missing in action, with rosettes next to the names of those that have since been recovered and identified.
France has gifted the United States a concession to the land. This means that while the land remains French, the cemetery and memorial belong to the US Government. The Star Spangled Banner flies overhead at all times.
I’ve been there and it’s guarded by American soldiers as well
This should be required for every American to watch. What our servicemen and women go through and sacrifice to keep us safe should never be forgotten. This portrayal of the Normandy invasion has to be so close to the way war really is. And when the General quotes Lincoln’s letter it is so eloquent and has always touched me so. This movie is able to show the inner thoughts and fears, the regrets of these soldiers. There is just so much to appreciate here, one of the greatest movies ever. Btw, the sniper is Barry Pepper, Dean from The Green Mile. I love him, his character in this. I love the way he prays for God’s help to make him a weapon. 💔💔♥️🇺🇸🇺🇸
Believe it or not, watching this movie was a requirement when I was in boot camp. The drill instructor said, “This is a representation of what you could be called upon to do for your country.” , and then started the movie. We watched in silence (of course) and we remained silent for some time even after the credits rolled.
@@dillbilly5903 Silence and awe is how I would describe my reaction also. Thank you so much for your service and I pray God’s blessings for you my friend! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
My great grandfather was in 1st infantry division during wwii and was apart of the 1st ID that stormed Omaha beach and survived it. I joined and deployed to Iraq twice myself starting in 08…
I wouldn’t know until I got out of the army after two combat deployments that my great grandfather and I both by fate served in the exact same unit and division of the Big Red One (1st infantry division) as a kid I knew he served but didn’t know much about it. Long story short, my grandmother waited to make sure I got completely out before telling me anything about how wild of a coincidence it was. Not just the same division but battalion as him to not alter my mind and reasoning for choosing to be infantry. She always told me “we don’t need no hero’s in our family, but we sure need you to come back home”.
Thanks for reacting to Saving Private Ryan" and for your kind words and thoughts about our veterans! Barry Pepper, who played the sniper (as well as one of the guards in the "Green Mile") did an excellent job. He also played a great part in "We Were Soldiers" that you may want to check out at some point. It is another modern war movie that is known for its grit and intensity. So, you may want to give yourselves some time to catch your breath before considering it.
I absolutely love Barry Pepper. He is an amazing actor. A quiet force.
He's also in one of the greatest pieces of cinema ever made - Battlefield Earth.
Swap "cinema" for a word about feces and you'll be correct.
@@jchan5210 How dare you! I am shooketh.
Pretty sure if this had the effect on them it did, We Were Soldiers would be far beyond their comfort zone. But yeah, it's definitely worth checking out for anyone interested who hasn't seen it yet.
Class act for you two to watch and react to this on Veterans Day. The greatest respect we can give those who fought for us all to have all the great things we now enjoy is to never, ever forget what they did, and to tell the next group coming up all about them. You doing this reaction helps that process along. Thank you!
When I saw this in the theater, before the movie started they had a veteran that had been on the beach that day and he told his story. They had World War II tanks and ambulances outside the theater. It was such a moving experience. That is why they are called the greatest generation.
The man saying he was clearing the beach was a Navy man mostly likely UTD. Their job was is blow clearings through the obstacles. I had an uncle who did that at Normandy. Also, the Wrong Pvt. Ryan was Nathan Fillion.
My grandfather hid under the floorboards of his home from the Germans when they came to the Netherlands. My father's aunt, uncle and cousins were all killed because they were hiding Jewish people. I had family in the concentration camps that didn't make it out. This film is so important, thank you for reacting to it! My thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Ukraine today. Slava Ukraine!
Damn
Respect and love to your family.
My Dad and Uncles fought in Europe to liberate the world from Fascist. The most unfortunate thing now is we seem to be moving towards this type of world again however this time nuclear weapons are in the mix which means as Einstein said if there was a WWIII then WWIV would be fought with sticks and stones.
My mother in law hid under the floorboards from the Japanese. Floorboards seem to be a common thing.
I’ve read so many stories like yours, so many people trying so hard to help others, respect to you and your family
These men gave their lives so that we can enjoy the little things like enjoying watching a reaction. We owe them so much for their sacrifice.
My dad was a runner in WWII in New Guinea. He ran through the jungles at night delivering messages and ended up getting malaria that affected him for years. My four uncles were in WWII also and my cousin was a Green Beret who died in Vietnam. War is hell on earth.
As a combat veteran with ptsd i thank you for showing this to many dont know why we come home broken
As a Vietnam-Era army vet, this movie makes me cry every time. I lost two uncles in WW2, and most of my commanding officers were WW2 veterans and I heard so many stories. This was truly the greatest generation.
You either think of the Vietnam War as either yesterday or ancient history. I was born in 1963 so I can remember the news reports and watching about the fall of Saigon. Since I think of this as Yesterday it blows my mind to realize that all of this happened around Half a Century ago. All of those 18 year old kids are at least 65 now.
Everyone should spend some time watching videos like these (and many others):
The Fall of Saigon: 40 years later
ua-cam.com/video/vHLKFSWzImk/v-deo.html
"Our flight deck will only take one helicopter at a time…"
ua-cam.com/video/zWN6XGUAhZU/v-deo.html
Absouletly
This is a masterpiece. Reading the comments affected me just as much as watching your reaction. So many stories and families that have been affected by the horrors of war. We should all live our lives to honor them. Thank you veterans! Thank you Amber and Jay.
Couldn’t have said it better. These stories are gut wrenching. Every American should have to watch this movie. ❤😢🪖🇺🇸
This is one of the greats. I know how hard it is to watch, but thank you for honoring our veterans today. It reminded me of another great, but very emotionally hard movie to watch, "Schindler's List" from 1993. Without giving too much away, it is about the holocaust. It's one of those historical movies everyone should see at least once in their life to remind ourselves of what man is capable of in both atrocities and in grace. Highly recommend, just be sure to have tissues at the ready.
Couldn't agree more. Schindler's List is the next Spielberg movie you should see. It's WWII from a different angle, and equally great. True that you should see it at least once. And this one was a perfect Veterans Day choice! Great reaction, so glad you appreciated it.
My best friend and I get lost in DC all the time. Just out for midnight drives, best time to see the monuments. My husband got us a compass, we still get lost all the time!😅 we don't do GPS just fun without it.
You guys picked a very heroic movie for Veterans Day. This is complete service to your country . Yeah, the cemetary is above the beaches where the troops landed in France.
My grandfather was in the Normandy Invasion (the horrific opening scene). He eventually got shot but survived with a lot of psychological trauma. I always think of him when I see this movie. Thank you for watching ❤
When I saw this at the theaters at the beginning I cried like a baby. My dad was there for the D day invasion. Just seeing what he went through was overwhelming. He was injured in France a short time after that but by the grace of God made it home alive. This type of movie really gives you appreciation of what those boys went through.
Congratulations you're the lucky winner of the ongoing giveaway text me on telegram to claim your package.. 🎁
Glad that he made it home to you.
Many thanks to your father, and all veterans, for their service! When we think of WW2 veterans now, we tend to visualize them as old men, but they were in fact "boys". Scared, young kids who didn't think twice about making the ultimate sacrifice to stop a horrendous evil from overtaking the world.
Same, I was 14 years old when it released and my father took me to see it. We both came out stunned with the realism.
When I saw this at the cinema with my Wife I was in a bit of a state after it finished and went into the toilets for some tissue paper and found half a dozen grown men in tears. I was not alone.
You guys now need to watch the next two WWII miniseries Spielberg & Hanks did after this film. Band of Brothers (European theater) & The Pacific (Pacific theater). One shows the incredible bond and friendship these men had (B.O.B.), and the other shows the insanity & hell that war really is and how it affects these brave men during and after the war (Pacific). Intense.
I agree. Band of Brothers would be a good follow-up with this
Totally agree,BOB to this day still the best out there !
Band of Brothers is incredible. Its a 10 part series based on WWII and the relationships with the guys. Tom Hanks produced it and I think he wrote large chunks of it. He also did "the pacific'
Please.
Spielberg wasn’t involved in the pacific I don’t believe. You can tell too because the pacific plays like a bloody TV show with cheesy music and camera angles that kind of let you guess what’s about to happen. Whereas band of brothers plays like a long movie split up into parts. People will disagree but it’s obvious
The sniper wasn't in shawshank redemption, he was in the green mile. He played Dean, one of the guards. Great reaction 👍🏼
And we were soldiers, the reporter
I was going to say it, but I figured someone already had on the comments 😂
Barry Pepper
Dale Earnhart in 3
I never went to see this in the theater but caught it one night on cable when I was home alone. I am not a big war movie fan but love Tom Hanks and Spielberg so decided to investigate. The second this scene started I immediately became upset and reached for the remote to change the channel. Before I could a little voice in my head pointed out to me that if I found simply watching a reenactment in the safety of my own home too distressing, then imagine what the people there went through? I immediately felt that I OWED it to the men there to watch this and get SOME appreciation for their sacrifices. So I grabbed a pillow to bury my face in and sobbed my way through the entire thing.
Las mujeres lloran por todo xd
One Of My All Time Favorite Movie's, Great Reaction Guy's
My Father in law was a prisoner of war for three years in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp. He helped to build the bridge over the river Kwai. He eventually escaped and had to swim through shark-infested waters during the escape with his close friend. His buddy never made it. He went on to have 5 children, one of whom I've been married to for 34 years. A big thank you to all our vets and the brave men from Canada, America, and the U.K who landed on Normandy that fateful day and turned the tide of war.
Thank you for sharing, what an amazing story. Wishing you and him all the best
I've got news for you, there are no rivers in the world that are shark infested, and in reality, there was a bridge built, but not over the river Kwai.
@@Orange-Jumpsuit-Time So what. The bridge is still known as the Bridge on the River Kwai though the waters beneath it were not but it did eventually connect. As for, the “shark infested rivers.” Bull Sharks are known to migrate up rivers, and they are the most aggressive sharks to humans, so who knows could have been sh*t luck.
@@biggreen9845 Sure, sure, if any of what she said were true, she would have provided his name and he most certainly have written a book. Only rubes like you would believe such a story.😆😅🤣😂
@@Orange-Jumpsuit-Time Is it anyone’s business on the internet the name of her father-in-law. Not everyone ends up writing a book. You really think an ally prisoner of war would know the name of a river in which he was forced to build a bridge over, in Siam(Thailand today) at the time? So what if the water underneath was not the river, it’s still known as the Bridge on the River Kwai. Calling me names does not change that.
The scene with Wade the medic getting killed. So heartbreaking. I remember reading The Longest Day a long time ago. And there's this part about a German medic trying to get away, and stumbling across two lifeless American paratroopers in a field near a hedge. He checks on them, one is dead, one is not. So he does what he can to patch that guy up. And when he is done, someone throws a pack of cigarettes to him, which scares him a lot. There's more American paratroopers in the hedgerow next to him. And they've been watching him. And since he is a medic and did good, he is allowed to go on his merry way, with a pack of smokes. Medics were that well liked, and loved. Even an enemy medic would get respect. That novel is basically just a long row of interviews with war veterans from D-day, June 6th 1944, so that story is not fiction. So Wade the medic getting killed would be a major loss for everyone in the unit.
It's just too bad that scene never made it into the movie. Thanks for sharing that. In horrifying contrast, I remember seeing a video about Iwo Jima in the Pacific theatre. During that conflict, the Japanese troops learned to mimic the term "medic". They would shout out when American troops were nearby and pick off anyone who would respond to the call for help, including any real medics. The American troops responded by cleverly using a code word; instead of shouting "medic", they would call out "Tallulha". This was a reference to a popular stage actress at the time (Tallulha Bankhead) and the Japanese could not speak her name properly.
I was in the Army for a few years. Medics and other medical specialties nowadays are regulated by the Geneva Conventions. They are not allowed to engage in offensive warfare. Someone in the higher echelons decided it was a good idea to ensure medics kept being well liked so they could do their jobs, and I'm glad.
I was medical admin, which doesn't even treat people, and I didn't know about my special status going in. Chaplains are also covered, and their assistants.
Great book as is ABridge Too Far. Same authour.
From a veteran of Desert Storm and the family of military that have served since the Civil War. Thank you very much for your words of respect for our vet's and military serving today. Love your videos guys
The Cemetery featured in The Movie is in Normandy France, which has been lovingly maintained by The People Of France as an expression of National Pride and Gratitude since The End Of WW2.
I took my grandad to see this at the cinema when it first come out, I wasn't aware how realistic this movie would be, on exiting the cinema my grandad said never to take him to a war film again, first time I ever saw him cry 😢 rip grandad 💜
my grandfather and his 5 brothers all served in the military, he lost two brothers in berma, and in the south pacific. My grandfather went to the Philippines where he was a paratrooper. Thank you to all the veterans and to everyone else for your service. This movie in my honest opinion is the closest to War that you can watch without actually being there.
My wife's grandfather served at the Battle of the Bulge in WW2. He was stationed out of Fort Bragg/ Camp Mackall. Over 60 years later I found myself there. He opened up to me about his experiences like he hadn't with his children and grandchildren because of what we had in common. I'm a day late it's not memorial day but I gotta say rest in peace Ryan Knauss. The last U.S. soldier killed in Afghanistan and my friend, always.
My father was in the Third Army under Patton. He was part of the forces that marched over 100 miles in two days in the dead of winter to relieve Bastogne.
D-day, June 6, 1944. Some drown because they were weighed down by their gear😢 they were 17 and up. 4,415 men died that day. 2,501 were American deaths. This is why our flag should never be disrespected. Ever!!!
I'll NEVER forget when my wife and I saw this movie in the theater. The place was packed and when it ended everyone was obviously as shell-shocked (no pun intended) as we were. When the house lights came on everyone quietly stood up and shuffled to the exits as if they were in a stupor. I've never experienced anything like that after a movie.
I know what you mean. I had to set there and compose myself for a while.
As opposed to 300 lol, craziest movie reaction I’ve ever seen personally.
Yes no one said a thing same for us
The only other one that I had that same experience was 'American Sniper'. Same solemn exit and silence. Some movies aren't entertaining per se, but they're important.
Cause it's so fuckin sad...
I went to see this movie with my dad. He said this was the closest representation of what it was like in real life. At the end, where Tom Hanks character tells him to “Earn this”, it touched my heart so much because my dad was with Patton - pretty much the worst parts of the war, freed concentrations camps and still became the best man I’ve ever known - on purpose.
Susan, my dad was in the armored division attached to Patton. I was too stupid not to listen to his stories more closely, and now he's gone. One of the biggest regrets of my life.
My Dad was a medic on that beach, he then worked across France into Belgium for the battle of the bulge. After it was over he was sent to the Netherlands to wait for a slow boat back to the states. Medics didn't carry weapons, how he made it I have no idea, but I'm glad he did. He never talked about the things he saw or did while there. I just retired after 40 years in the Air Force. He taught me that we all serve, because even the people that stayed in the states did their part to help those overseas, just like we do today.
GREAT VIDEO GUYS. FYI, THE SNIPER WAS A PRISON GUARD IN "THE GREEN MILE" NOT "shawshank redemption"
Haven't watched one second of this reaction. Letting the ads play. Amber is going to be absolutely done. When old Matt Damon asks his wife to tell him he is a good man....I cry like a toddler. My grandfather was at the battle of the bulge and he was part of freeing a death camp. I can't help to see this movie through his eyes. So much respect for him and all of them
Please watch Hacksaw Ridge and Unbroken. Both are WW2 movies based on true stories and beyond inspiring. As a GenX kid we grew up hearing our grandparents stories first hand about the war, but your generation is further removed therefore not as directly familiar with their stories. I am so glad these movies help tell their stories and you appreciate their sacrifice. BTW, my husband's grandfather fought in the European theater, apparently he and a lot of other vets said the movie was so realistic they couldn't watch it all because they didn't want to relive the trauma. Also the Sullivan brothers were what this story was based on, they lost all of their sons in the war...
Good suggestions ( I've seen both) My true WW2 Movie suggestion was Empire of the Sun ( another Spielberg...if you haven't seen it watch it) 12 yr old Christian Bale's performance ( in his 1st movie) is Unbelievable !!!!
I watched Hacksaw Ridge for the first time last year and I was blown away by how good that movie was. I thought about it for days after.
I am part of a military family and served for 20+ years myself, and this movie brings me to tears at the end every time. It captures the realities of war so well, the viewer really feels like they're on this journey with them. There's definitely a reason this is often called one of the best war movies ever made. There's also a reason that more than 20 years later, many of us are still so outraged this movie lost the Oscar for Best Picture to Shakespeare in Love...
(NaVVy was a squirrel, I am NOT a Navy Mom) Yeah, well, HollyWeird . . . Great example of why we shouldn't give a flying frell about the Oscars.
My God. Tom Hanks is such a great actor 👏 👌
My two beloved uncles served in the European theater WW2 ~ between them, they came home with a Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart ~ but we never knew any of that until after they died decades later. That generation was truly one of the greatest. They remain my heroes, not just for their service to this country, but for the way they took care of their families and served their communities even after the war. They gave all for everyone, and kept little for themselves. God bless them.
I watched this in the movie theater and this was the first and only time people walked out of the movie theater and didn’t say one word. Truly an amazing movie. God bless the veterans who were there first hand to experience this. ❤️
Another note: You had voiced a question about the balloons above the invasion beach. These are what were called "barrage balloons." They're tethered balloons used to prevent against attacks by low flying aircraft. Also, each balloon was usually anchored by a number of steel cables so that even if a plane tried to fly underneath them, the plane would hit the cables and crash.
Was about to bring up this very thing but didn't need to. Cheers. :)
And a lot of those barrage balloons were in fact brought on shore by African-American soldiers...and to be able to control and handle these balloons, they carried no weapons...when historians refer to these all these men and their families as "the Greatest Generation," they mean it.
@@johnnygnoneeded so…Americans? I’m tired of people like you.
This is why I like the comments section.
Thanks so much for sharing this info.
You were faster than me by months
It is the American Cemetery at Colleville France. It overlooks Omaha Beach and is the largest allied burial ground in Normandy. This is where 'Saving Private Ryan' begins.
The record player with a big horn is a "gramophone." That's why the award for musicians is called a "grammy."
I remember coming out of the theater when this movie came out and seeing a couple WW2 veterans come out with tears in thier eyes. Even though so many years had passed, they still carried the pain of what they experienced. I'm a (cold war) veteran myself and when I went to Arlington national cemetery it was an emotional experience for me looking over the acres and acres of white tombstones at all the people that died for this country.
I remember EVERYBODY with years.
To keep our imperial overlords rich
@@patrickmartell9907 As opposed to communist, marxist, and fascist overlords?
I have been to the cemeteries in Normandy it is moving to see all the graves of the Allied Soldiers who paid the ultimate price for the lives we live today I had to remove my hat to show respect to these men so proud of my Grandpa for being part of this although he never talked about it and we found a ton of letters and other stuff he had in big chest in the basement after he died in 1985 it was locked and we could never touch it as kids. Grandpa did the same thing with collecting dirt and other things from the places he was at I think a lot of the guys did that
The scene between Tom Hanks and Matt Damon right before the final battle was supposedly improvised. Matt Damon just started the story and you can see Tom Hanks looks up he's actually looking at Spielberg to see if he wanted to keep this going. And my dad was in WW2, also Korea and Vietnam, 30 year man. Never talked about any of it.
This was a great movie! My mother had 5 brothers serving in WWII at the same time. It was very difficult for my grandmother, but she was so fortunate. Not one of her sons (my uncles) passed away. They all survived that war and made it home safely. So, it was truly a miracle for those guys to find the one surviving son who was then able to be there for his mother and the future generations after him.
I give them all the respect in the world for watching this. I know they don't handle violence well, let alone realistic gore from a real event.
Thank you for watching this today on Veterans Day. It's so hard to watch, but so important. We all have to thank the men that fought in this war. The greatest generation. They're almost all gone now. We owe them so much.
That cemetery in the opening sequence is the Normandy American Cementery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France. The cemetery honors Americans who died during invasion in World War 2 and contains 9,387 gravesites. It's the only authentic filming location in the movie.
Such a difficult, but necessary movie to watch simply to comprehend a small part of what it was like for those who fought and died for us. We all need to “earn this” everyday.
This is, by far, the hardest first 20 minutes of a film I have ever had to watch. It was so real that my grandfather left the theatre within the first 5 minutes because it was too much for him to relive. The next Tom Hanks film you should watch is Philadelphia. He and Denzel Washington give a powerful performance.
I was a reenactor at a veterans day parade one year, and an elderly vet came over to compliment us on the authentic uniforms and gear we had, we noticed he had the bronze star and asked him about it. He simply said he earned it that D- day morning, but refused to talk any further. After seeing this, now you know why
That opening battle scene, probably the most intense, realistic war scene ever shot. This movie also had an outstanding cast, like the Dr played by Giovanni Ribisi, who in my mind, is woefully underrated. But in a movie with this cast, hard to notoce everybody.
I've been watching ya'll for a minute now and would like to say that the way you speak, the slang you use and other little euphemisms, etc truly make me feel like you're one of the family. You both are very well spoken, grounded, and your outlook and openness to everything is very refreshing. I can relate to you guys on so many levels even though I'm 63 years old. You're doing a bang up job on these videos and I for one am so happy to have discovered some "Normal " people on UA-cam. Stay safe, keep the kids safer, and have a great day. :)