If you like Saving Private Ryan, you will like Band of Brothers. Speilberg and Hanks took everything they leaved from the movie and used those lessons while making Band of Brothers.
The two surrendering soldiers on D-Day that they shot and made that “Washed for Supper” joke about were not actually German soldiers. One of them was yelling in Czech “Please don’t shoot me! I am not German, I am Czech, I didn’t kill anyone! I am Czech!” The German military had a history of forcibly conscripting POWs from other countries, mainly from the Eastern Front, to replace the unsustainable losses they were suffering. The Americans would have no way to know that those men were actually on their side which makes it so much more tragic.
@@kaliwali Many German soldiers also lied about not being German in hopes of being spared. Also, most of the first wave of US troops were ordered not to take prisoners because they had to focus on moving forward. Such was the case in Band of Brothers, which you need to watch next!
I think the craziest example of this, which also took place on Omaha beach, was the young Korean man, who was drafted into the Japanese army, who was captured by the soviets and forced into their armed forces, captured by the Germans and forced into service with them which wound up captured by the Americans following the capitulation of the Omaha beachhead. The scope and human cost of the war will never be able to be fully comprehended.
Miller’s admonition to Ryan to “earn this” wasn’t just meant for Ryan, but for all of us. The sacrifices made by our troops obligates each of us who enjoy our freedom.
Even more than that, Captain Miller's squad represents the American vets who went overseas to save Europe and the rest of the free world (Pvt. Ryan). Those soldiers has little to gain for themselves or their families by fighting in France. There was no real threat that German could or would invade the USA. Yet still, the Americans went and sacrificed themselves to save Europe. When Miller says "Earn this." he's talking to the audience who are free to live in a Europe or America free from fascism.
As a former fireman, on 9/11 the first time I broke down was when I saw footage of the firemen getting the last rites. That was what made it real for me because I was a fireman. I knew the significance of that moment. I just wanted you to know your connection to Wade matters because you knew who he was as a person...as a medic because of your connection to the medical field. I totally get it.
I worked for the Legal Department of the Port Authority a few years before 2001. My office had been 66th floor of the South Tower, WTC. I was stunned to see how many faces I recognized among the dead in the newspapers. Turned out that the lawyers I worked with volunteered to guard the stairwells "helping the civilians exit" until they were relieved by the NYPD or FDNY. Some of those brave lawyers and other members of my old Department stuck it out and were crushed. Nobody knows their story.
As a veteran, I want to say thank you for taking the time to watch and appreciate what you witnessed. Your emotions and reaction struck me as genuine and though it was difficult for you to watch, your empathy and understanding for what these men did is appreciated. The most difficult aspect of our service for many of us is the prospect of being forgotten by our fellow citizens. These movies keep these memories alive, and you honor them by watching and reflecting. Thank you so very much.
Thank you for your service Frank. Yes, there's some good young people just waiting to be taught patiently about what their forebears did for them. This is an intelligent woman who grasps the messages. One who will remember.
Never could I let sink from my mind the memory of Veterans. I genuinely love you guys/ gals to pieces and just wish all the happiness one could upon another. Much love and eternal respect ~ ❤
Thank you for your service My Brother! As a US Army combat retired veteran, I want you to know if you ever need a hand or an ear, reach out. I did 4 tours in Iraq and 3 in Afghanistan I've lost, took and seen way to much death but I will go through hell and back for my Brothers and Sisters in arms. I have 3 siblings and as much as I love them, the people I served with are more connected to me than actual siblings. So, in closing, If any veterans need anything, im here for you. I love you all!
Upham is in the movie to symbolize the average citizen and how they really don't understand the craziness/brutality of war. Upham shooting Steamboat Willie at the end symbolizes the point where the average citizen realizes sometimes war is necessary to stand up to evil. He learned.
I would say that upham not going up the stairs to help and instead letting his brother die is symbolic of the fact that there are no hero’s in war. And then later when he sees the same German soldier who killed his fellow brother surrendering, he shoots him out of hate. Because killing him is not stopping evil nor is it going to bring his friend back. Upham has just become a victim of hate that war instills into people.
I think that this movie has several messages, but I'm not sure "Sometimes war is necessary to stand up to evil" is one of them. The movie does not delve into the causes, ideology, or ultimate goals of the war -- these are "ordinary" people who were thrust through no choice of their own into an awful, hellish situation. They are each dealing with it in their own ways (thus the well-drawn differences among the characters), with Miller (Tom Hanks) at the center -- he just wants to get through the war and back to his wife and home. But the war has scarred all of them badly (symbolized in Miller, for example by his hand tremor), and Upham killing "Steamboat Willie" is a sign that he, now, has also been terribly scarred. No apologies, by the way, for the U.S. fighting against Naziism in World War II -- but the way this movie is framed, it could be about any war, against almost any enemy, for almost any reason. It is not a World War II movie, it is a war movie.
-Minor point- Steamboat Willie wasn't the same guy that killed Mellish. That guy was wearing a different uniform. That's the one that Upham shoots at the end. Willie does shoot Captain Miller at the end though.
The scene with Wade in the church where he tells the story of his mother I think hits all of us as veterans. When you realize that you might never see your loved ones again it changes your perspective on alot of things. With what he's been through he can't possibly imagine passing up an opportunity to talk to his mother.
You are such an empath, too sweet for this world. Thank you for your candid and thoughtful reaction. Freedom is never “free”. In fact, it’s one of (if not THE) most costly things this side of paradise.
The Mrs. Bixby letter was a very real letter about a mother that lost all 5 of her sons during the Civil War. I also had it memorized by the time I went to Parris Island and started my Marine Corps career. It's a good example of what you must be willing to sacrifice so everyone can sleep soundly at night, and maybe the next mother's children may never have to worry
Man I always cry in this movie. I'm an Afghanistan combat veteran and I'm impressed with your knowledge of WWII history. Most people don't know a damn thing about it.
My Great Grandma would have got a telegram to say her 19 year old son, had been killed in WW2. My Great Uncle was killed in North Africa after surviving Dunkirk.😢😢😢
Welcome to the rabbit hole. Band of brothers will tear your guts out and then the Pacific will make you question everything about the human condition. And you will walk away from it saying you can't believe you had not watched them before regardless of how much it screwed with your pshychy
Band of brothers is the natural follow up to this 10 episode mini series with an 11th unofficial episode being the documentary that is a must watch after you finish the series. Blackhawk down and we were soldiers are also fantastic movies
Sounds crazy but I would consider the HBO series the unofficial episodes considering we stand alone together was made first and that’s where the interviews come from.
@@tomkapa they were both made in 2001. You can watch in either order but given the show doesn’t tell you who’s who it’s better for a new viewer to watch the series first. Also for those of a non military background seeing the show first and then hearing what the men have to say makes it resonate more imo. At least for those who struggle to visualize when they are being told a story.
Having watched this movie for the first time myself this week, I have to say it went in a very different direction than I was expecting, and that's not a bad thing at all. I actually enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. It wasn't a glamorized story of a hero's victory or a valiant redemption arc, but was just very.... real, and brutal, and tragic. Through the story, with all the deep questions about sacrifice. What is a life worth? Is one person's life worth more than another's? How do we honor those who sacrifice for us? Questions that I feel the more we think about, the more additional questions are created. Through the characters very raw emotions and decisions, with Upham's cowardice, Wade's bravery, and Miller's mercy.... and all the costs and consequences that come from each. And through the cinematography, with the omission of music during combat scenes, and the shaky hand-held camera effect that followed everyone around. I think that real-ness is part of what made this film hit so hard. Really made us feel like we were there, and built a greater attachment toward all the characters This was an incredible reaction video! By now, I know the level of quality to come to expect from your content, but this one actually blew me away. And did not at all feel like only your second movie react. Was SO well edited, and flowed together so smoothly. And despite all the heaviness and emotions, you continued to articulate your thoughts so well and picked up on all the little details. Well done! And thank you so much for this. Looking forward to the next one!
I definitely agree and understand your 'thoughts going into it vs. what you got'. I went in expecting a very heroic story about a Private Ryan that got rescued during WWII and came out with a whole new outlook on sacrifice, mental health, war and worth. I knew this movie was good based on how people raved about it, but this one is in a whole other category. The real-ness is definitely what made this film hit differently than any others I've watched about war (but I'm also only drawing from American Sniper and Land Of Bad, so far lol). I'm glad you loved the editing and flow of it all- even if it was the most difficult I've done so far LOL. I'm glad you enjoyed it 💚
@@kaliwali You definitely need to watch Band of Brothers and The Pacific. Band of Brothers has been widely hailed as the greatest miniseries ever made and the greatest presentation of WW2 on the big screen. You really get invested in those characters. Spielberg and Hanks took everything they learned about this film, did some more research and made BoB.
One thing that doesn't get mentioned very often is the fact that Ryan's wife had to ask Brian who Captain Miller was. That small thing tells you that Ryan, like so many other vets, just didn't talk details about what they experienced. 😮
What happened at Omaha Beach is an example of Murphy’s Law: everything that can go wrong will go wrong and at the worst possible time. There were preparations made before the landings on the Normandy coast. The Navy was shelling the coastline. The 8th Air Force was also sent in to bomb the German defenses. And if all else failed, the US had a new invention: DD tanks, basically amphibious tanks that could help in taking out the enemy defenses and provide some cover for the infantry coming ashore. However, the 8th Air Force missed their targets when dropping the bombs. This is because the American bombers were not all that accurate (bombing from 20,000 ft in the air isn’t easy given the 1940s technology) and fearing hitting the infantry landing at sea, the bombadiers dropped the bombs further inland. This did prevent friendly casualties, but left the coastline defenses in tact. The Naval bombardment was faring no better. The German bunkers at Omaha were made of reinforced concrete. They could take a beating from the US naval guns and most of the time, a direct hit through the open slit in the bunker was required to demolish it. The weather didn’t help out the Navy either. Due to the fog off of the coastline, the Navy couldn’t find their targets, so they were blindly shelling the coastline. It wouldn’t be until much later in the day when the naval gun fire could be properly directed for effective fire. Finally, the DD tanks. At the neighboring Utah Beach, they worked out with minimal problems. However, the same couldn’t be said at Omaha. Because of the high tide, many landing crafts dropped their tanks in too deep of water and the majority of them sank to the bottom of the channel. Out of 30 launched, only 3 made it ashore. All of these things combined together led to the slaughter at Omaha Beach. It took the Americans 6 hours to gain a foothold and attack the German positions.
Originally the Navy were ordered to hold fire as their primary concern was protecting the transport ships carrying the men that would head for the beaches, and it wasn't until the destroyers chose to disobey orders and began firing on the beachheads that the Navy would finally unleash Hell on the German defenses.
The invasion at Omaha commenced at low tide, that's why the Czech Hedgehogs on the beach were exposed and offered shelter for a few instead of becoming obstacles for the landing crafts.
A very thoughtful and beautiful reaction. Unlike so many others, you knew it was D-Day the minute you saw the date and, because of your background, you had some understanding of the medic's mind-set. Veterans never forget. In 1990 I was at a tourist spot in New Zealand and met an older Canadian couple. We had lunch together. As soon as I said my name the fellow said, "Did you have a relative in Canadian medical corps?" "Yes, my dad. Same name as me." "I served with him for 6 months in the Korean War. Haven't seen him since." Dad was kind of like the older private Ryan in that he never talked about his time in Korea. I didn't find out that he'd been a field medic until long after his death.
Just one note though, the family trying to give their children to the U.S. soldiers are French. I think that Kiliwali thinks they are German when they are actually French as we are in France during the invasion.
This was hard for me to watch this movie. I was in desert storm and iraqi freedom and enduring freedom. I lost friends and felt the heartache of losing a brother. I never spoke about my experiences to my wife because i didnt want to traumatize her. So you keep it inside. Its hard sometimes. Thank you for your appreciation of what some of us combat vets go through. Sometimes i can still see their faces. God Bless them. ❤️🇺🇸
"Twister" as crew member Brian Laurence (operator of the video camera) of Bill Paxton's Storm Chasers, and "Helter Skelter" (the second made-for-TV movie version) doing his turn as Charles Manson.
I've seen this movie so many times now that it has almost lost it's emotional weight to me. I've seen the documentaries, making of, how it was made, etc so many times that it turned it into "just" an incredible movie. Watching it through your eyes was devastating. Wow. Thank you for bringing the emotional weight back.
I'm just the opposite... watching when initially I didn't really react as I was numb to war. I was in my 30s then. But now having seen it easily over 100x and get emotional from beginning to end .... 😢
I remember seeing this in a youtube comment somewhere, but it’s worth repeating. The three rules of a combat medic: 1. Good people will die. 2. Doc can not save everyone. 3. Doc will go through hell and back to break rules 1 and 2.
I heard something very similiar in a M.A.S.H. episode about 45 years ago...a close friend of 'Hawkeye' Pierce,surgeon,dies on the table.Col.Blake his C.O. says to his upset collegue that there are "certain rules about a war..rule number one..young men die..rule number two..doctors can't do a thing about rule number one..".Both sobering things..your rules and these.
I am glad people of your age are watching this and expanding your knowledge. It gives me hope that the sacrifices of the greatest generation will not be forgotten. As others have stated, you must watch BoB, The Pacific, and Masters of the Air.
Band Of Brothers is a definite must watch after this movie. produced by Spielberg, it is a deeper look at Easy Company, The very 1st Airborne paratroopers that dropped into Germany. 10 masterpiece episodes.
Plus, with her connection to medics, there's E6, Bastogne--which is from the company medic, Eugene's POV. One of the most powerful episodes in a life-changing series.
Thank you for your reaction to this movie and thank you for you sharing your experiences. Doctors, nurses, EMT’s our police officers and firefighters hold a special place in my heart. As a veteran I really appreciate when war movies that’s true to history are shown. there are so many people that do not know what those young men went through and in all other wars. They’re all hell but especially that one. I seen a reporter not to long ago on Independence Day asking college students about our country and the wars we’ve had. Their answers were appalling ! Answers like who fought in the civil war, they answered Vietnam and the answers got worse. So you doing reactions to them will probably be the closest to learning history they ever get. I appreciate you, I know it was a tough one but can’t wait till your next. 😊
Great reaction like always, love this masterpiece. My grandfather serve with Sergeant Frederick Niland in 501 company, Sergeant Frederick Niland was the inspiration for this movie he had 3 brothers that were killed in action. This movie is based on a book. Robert Rodat (screen writter) was first inspired to craft the narrative upon reading Stephen Ambrose’s nonfiction retrospective D-Day: June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II. Rodat was fascinated by an honorary memorial dedicated to families who had lost multiple sons in the war. Rodat began writing Saving Private Ryan after studying the true story of Sergeant Frederick “Fritz” Niland. Fritz Niland’s brothers Preston and Robert had enlisted for service, and his brother Edward had volunteered. In May 1944, Edward was shot down over Burma and presumed dead. In June, Robert was killed on D-Day and Preston was killed on Omaha Beach. Frederick had gone missing during the Normandy Invasion, and the U.S. Army commissioned him to be rescued and sent home. An army unit under chaplain Fr. Francis Sampson identified Frederick’s location and sent him back to his parents Michael and Augusta Niland. Frederick’s brother Edward was also discovered to be alive and was rescued from a Burmese POW camp and also returned home safely. The rescues were the result of the U.S. War Department’s “sole survivor” policy, which was adopted in 1942 after the four Sullivan brothers who served in the U.S. Navy had all been killed during the sinking of the USS Juneau during the Battle of Guadalcanal. So, while Saving Private Ryan is unquestionably inspired by true events, the film's story of Captain Miller's risky mission to save one man is entirely fictional. And congrats for not mistaken some characters. A lot of reactors confuse the guy who was let go, and later shot Capt. Miller and then was shot by Upham, with the soldier who stabbed Mellish. They wore different uniforms: the prisoner who was released and later returned was regular Wehrmacht, and the guy who stabbed Mellish was SS, They chosen two actors for those roles that looked so similar they did that literally to tell the viewers that war is confusing. Steven Spielberg explained this. He most likely didn't kill Upham because he instantly recognized he wasn't a threat. Upham even takes his hands off of his gun and holds them up in surrender to the SS soldier. Not a lot of satisfaction in killing someone who's basically curled up in the fetal position. And Keep in mind, Upham was likely drafted for his translation skills, so he is A: not a volunteer, and B: not meant as a primary combatant. I don't blame him for freezing in that moment, no one knows how they'd react in a situation like that until they're actually in it. I like to think I'd do the right thing and go charging up those stairs to the rescue, but I could just as easily be shell-shocked in pants-shitting terror like he was. Our military today is an all volunteer service, no one is pressed into service like he was, so it's easier for people today to see his actions and just label him a dirty coward without understanding there is nuance to this story and that things were very different then. Soldiers today CHOOSE that life, he didn't, he just wanted to get back home without getting blood on his hands. Keep up the good work.
Many people don't realize how much hair provides us with distinct feature. Two German guys side by side from the same region with their heads shaved will tend to look very similar. It's not a surprise that many people confused the Steamboat Willie (the guy they let go) with the SS soldier. Also, Upham was most likely a volunteer. At the time, people fought to enlist and many turned away from service committed suicide. Many men were in critical roles and were not allowed to enlist. The Draft pulled a lot of those guys from their critical roles and only a portion were those that didn't want to join. Even then the Draft made up a very small number of total servicemembers. Translators were a special resource and not many were sent into frontline combat especially if they spoke multiple languages. However, he would have received the same training as everyone else. D-day was the first time most of those guys saw combat. Tom Hank's group were a special case as they were literal survivors of an entire company of men lost over time but never reinforced to full strength. In reality he would have been rolled up into another Ranger company or had remnants of other companies meshed together into a full strength company. A Capt. with only a squad worth of men is an oddity.
Seriously. Every reaction you got someone going "Did you see that? The guy Capt. Miller let go stabbed Mellish!"☝️🤓 Nooo, not unless he had a spare SS uniform lying around and enough time to change into it between killing Mellish and shooting Miller.
I've watched this movie and reactions to it dozens of times. Your perspective from having a medical background brought the impact home that much more. This is one of the most impactful movies about the realities of war ever made.
What makes the landing even harder to grasp is that, in the movie, it takes about 20-25 minutes. In reality, it took them about 45 minutes to an hour to cross the beach under constant fire. The first two waves were destroyed so badly that when the third wave arrived, they expected the beach to be taken, but instead found the survivors shell shocked and hiding behind obstacles, trying to move forward. And that was just to get to the shingle (that sort of berm where Tom Hanks is talking to shore party). It took even longer to get over the shingle and towards their objective.
I saw this movie the first showing of opening night. I've never been to a movie that was almost complete silence for the duration. Not a word was said until we got to the car. Bless you for watching this. As difficult as it can be, it's something that everyone needs to watch.
Kaliwali, yours was the very best reaction to this movie I’ve ever seen…BECAUSE you knew the history of WWII going into it. Most people your age haven’t got a clue what WWII was let alone the battles that took place. You’ve been taught well. Thanks for the reaction and keep it going.
Absolutely love your reaction, your respect for the message, your respect for our troops. To many make these off handed comments, or never have taken the time to learn the smallest bit about what our soldiers went through in WWII prior, thank you for this
The character Jackson from TN with a southern accent was created for a reason. Most of the most decorated snipers were county boys/girls who grew up on farms and had been shooting firearms since they were young. This is true of snipers from other nations as well. Look up the famous girl Russian and Finnish snipers who of course were farm girls.
Regarding the end cemetery scene, as a veteran, there is no way to explain to anyone outside of another vet exactly WHAT you've seen, felt, smelled or did during combat. It's been forever for me YET it still is so very fresh in my head. I walk out my door, catch a certain odor and I'm immediately back in the desert in the burring oil fields. Ryan never told his wife this story because he knew she could never truly comprehend the depth of violence and inhuman things he saw and did. The wound heals but the scar never goes away.
This makes a lot of sense, but is already really hard to think about because I can't imagine suffering alone with something so heavy. Thank you for your service 💚
@@kaliwaliI would like to also suggest that you watch the series Band of Brothers!! It's about the paratroopers, just like Private Ryan!! I thought of this when you talked about the camaraderie that these soldiers would have and that's EXACTLY what the series is about!!
I would recommend "Hacksaw Ridge" next, It's probably my favorite because it's a true story about a hero medic.Has a great love story too. "1917" is an amazing story taking place in WW1 (obviously), lol. With those two plus this you'll have seen not just great war movies, but three masterpieces.👍👍
Couldn't agree more. Also, a war movie of another order. the movie: The Pianist. It's a great movie from the side of a civilian. I won't say more as to not spoil it, but be assured it is well worth it to watch it.
I watched this as a kid at 10 when it came out, my grandpa had passed away a few months before and he was a medic who was on omaha beach when they landed. He got many medals including the bronze star with oak leafs. I joined the Army in 2006 also as a medic and did 3 combat tours before getting out in 2014. My goal was to get a small understanding of what he went through since he never spoke about it but one time to my mom and briefly. I now understand why he never spoke of it but once and why he never cared for his medals. He was a good man who I will always admire and look up to and lived peacefully after the war to the day he passed away. The greatest generation sacrificed everything for the world we live in today and should always be remembered. 🇺🇲
It always reassures me to see the profound emotional impact that this movie has on young viewers. I have seen this movie at least 5 times and I never come away from it without tears on my cheeks. The bond of brotherhood that service during wartime forges is something that only very a very selfish man would not understand.
Normally I tune out when somebody talks this much. But gotta say, your brilliant. Your understanding and comprehensive of REAL life is the best I've ever seen on U Tube. Your husband and children are VERY blessed.
I was sitting in church when I got this notification. I thought you only did gaming stuff, but was pleasantly surprised to see this. I love this movie!
From someone who enjoys watching a lot of reaction videos, I’ve gotta say you’re really good at this. Your insight, empathy, and genuineness was great to see. Looking forward to your next movie reaction. Thank you
Oh man, I wanted to give you a hug at times during this reaction. It's a really heavy movie. Also a clasic. This movie hits hard for me, because I live in central Europe. We have American cementaries like the one in the opening scene all over the place, and I've visited two of them in my country multiple times.
I've seen this movie countless times, and I tend to forget what the first experience was like. It wasn't until the 5th or so rewatch that I finally sympathized with Upham. No soldier chooses to be a coward anymore than the heroes choose theirs. Some constitutions are weathered and tempered to be stalwart in those key moments, but ultimately anyone who hasn't been in that situation that claims they wouldn't be shocked to the point of inaction is very ignorant. Some amazing people had breaking points resulting in dramatic consequences for many, and no one knows how they will act until it is time. All the training in the world cannot prepare you for combat, and any time spent away from it will only compound the problem. Upham was a soft soul, yet to be exposed to the true chaos of death and destruction, and all the while he was fully aware that his hesitation was killing his squad. There are few things I can think of worse than knowing your cowardice had killed your friends, and you were almost rendered powerless to change it. It can be relieving to know that the plot was fictional, but it is a small glimpse into the world of war that still continues today.
Very well said. It's sad to think of all the veterans who spent the rest of their lives in guilt-ridden agony and self-hatred because of an experience like Upham's.
I was in an Army Reserve Infantry unit, but I never served in combat, thank God. I totally sympathize with Upham. He was trying to force himself up the stairs, but just couldn't do it. I'll never forget what I heard Jordan Peterson say about veterans who are traumatized with PTSD. To paraphrase- "Most combat veterans with PTSD aren't traumatized by what they saw, but rather by what they did." Or in Upham's case, by what they failed to do.
You made a comment about how close you get with your fellow Soldiers during war because you fight for them. It's so amazingly true. It's one of the things that makes war kind of addictive. You are constantly surrounded by people who would die for you and for whom you would die for in return. Then you come home, and all go your separate ways. I never felt loneliness so viscerally then when I returned home.
Other good war movies/series to watch: -Band of Brothers (2001) -The Pacific (2010) -Masters of the Air (2024) -Generation War (2004) -Hacksaw Ridge (2017) -Fury (2015) -Come and See (1986) -Enemy at the Gates (2004) -Midway (2019) -Flags of Our Fathers/Letters From Iwo Jima (both 2003) -TORA! TORA! TORA! (1971) -A Bridge Too Far (1976) -All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) -1917 (2019) -War Horse (2011) -Joyeux Noel (2005) -The Lost Battalion (2001) -Glory (1989) -Gettysburg (1993) -Gods and Generals (1994) -We Were Soldiers (2002) -Apocalypse Now (1979) -Platoon (1985) -Full Metal Jacket (1983) -Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan (2017) -Devotion (2022) -Blackhawk Down (2002) -Generation Kill (2017) -American Sniper (2015)
Many soldiers never really talked about their experiences in the war. My father was a soldier in WWII. He got there after the Battle of the Bulge (which was way after this), but he barely ever talked about the war. I still have a baseball-sized crystal paperweight that he brought back to the U.S. from a ruined French farmhouse that his squad stayed in overnight one time while the Germans were shelling the field in front of them. Your genuine and emotional reaction to this amazing but very tough to watch movie made me appreciate the film with fresh eyes again. And, also to remember time I spent with my dad whether talking about the war, or watching sports, or the evening news, or working with him in the summer when I was home from college. Thank you.
I knew I followed you all that time ago for a reason. What a journey! ME1, ME2, ME3. God of War. D:BH. I haven't gone through Witcher yet. That's something for later enjoyment! So, here we are watching "Saving Private Ryan"....??? YES!! Thanks Kali. You're a sweety and your content make me happy! I lost one Uncle and had one returned to me and my family in that bloody war. Yes, I'm an old bloke!
Thank you for watching! It's good to see you again commenting! :) I'm sorry you lost an Uncle during WWII. I can't even imagine what it was like knowing you have family out there fighting for your country in such a turbulent time.
Most people in WW 2 did not talk about the true horrors of what humans can do to each other, My Grandfather only told his own son about 9 months before he passed. He was in North Africa, Sicily and up throughout Europe and saw two of his own platoons almost all but wiped out by Messerschmitt Bf 109's and he also was injured. No words are enough to say Thanks for such an absolutely enormous sacrifice for others by our military. His brother was at Omaha Beach and I was able to talk with him. I am Thankful, honored and humbled to be related to such amazing men. Great video review, you're such an angel. 😊👍
Awesome to see you doing more reactions… thorough this is such a heavy movie today, I haven’t seen in forever, looking forward to seeing your reaction soon! Anyhow, maybe we’ll see a full fledged independent reaction channel from you some day, which from what I understand works better with UA-cam’s algorithms… I’ll throw in one suggestion for a movie for the hell of it, (to go with your love of western games of late) Little Big Man, starring Dustin Hoffman, It’s quite an epic tale, I’d describe it, but going in blind is I think the best way to experience it.
If you want a classic war movie with an insanely stacked cast, I recommend Glory. Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes and Morgan Freeman. It's based on the Civil War and a true event in history, but of course Hollywood adds their own ideas to it. Like others have said, Hacksaw Ridge is amazing and it's based on a real person/true event. Speaking of the scene at the start talking about a Hitler youth knife, Jojo Rabbit is a WWII movie from a kid's perspective. Believe it or not, it's a comedy/war movie, but it's so beautifully done. Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell and a few other big names are in it.
Glory is such an underrated movie (if that's possible). I grew up in a very conservative home and this was the first r-rated movie that my dad (a history teacher) introduced me to. Even the music from the soundtrack ( one of the all time best IMO) alone is enough to get me choked up.
@@joelharris363 I had to get a note signed, but we watched it in school when I was in 8th grade, so like 2000. I found out years later that The Last Samurai was directed by the same guy that did Glory. There is a similar gun scene in it that made me think back to Glory. Recruits training with them. Don't want to go into detail of course.
Kali my love, you are a national treasure and I am very happy that you have decided to explore this new facet because it is also a very good way to get closer and share a little more of your hobbies with us, your followers, good luck and when you go to do a survey to know what movie you want to help you choose or make a suggestion we will be there
Spielberg hit it out of the park with this genius effort. Tom Hanks proved he was a serious actor. And the SPFX team proved NOTHING can't be positively realized on the cinema screen to the benefit of the whole world. Thankyou
One of the reasons why Tom Hanks's Crew had some hatred for Matt Damon is because Tom Hanks and his crew went through a basic training for this movie and Matt didn't.
Fubar? This "term" is actually an acronym that probably originated in the U.S. military during World War 2. FUBAR Is American slang and stands for, "F'd up beyond all recognition!" It means that a situation, order, policy, or administration has gone awry or greatly failed.
I’ve never seen any of your reactions. But I had to watch this one. Wasn’t disappointed. You had just the right mix of analysis, empathy, and emotion. Thanks so much.
18:30 It's important to remember that not all the Germans were Nazis/brainwashed. A lot of the older Germans followed the regime for a variety of reasons. Also, not all Wehrmacht soldiers were German. Germany began conscripting soldiers from occupied territories, and those territories had their own native collaborators. There was a lot of tension between the Wehrmacht and Hitler. A lot of the general staff and old aristocracy didn't like Hitler and tried to assassinate him a number of times.
Well, all the assassination attempts only really started happening when things didn't go their way anymore. Most generals were happy with Hitler as long as it seemed that he would bring a victory, and only when defeat was clear, they went against him (also probably to strike a better peace deal). Still, for the everyday soldier you are absolutely right, many were not Nazis, but simply patriotic and especially to the end many were just forced into the Wehrmacht.
@@thomasfranz6467 Many "everyday soldiers" who fought on the Eastern Front were willing and enthusiastic participants in the mass slaughter of Jews. They were not ordered to do so, but when they saw the mobile killing units were shooting the Jews, they ran and over and started mowing down the men, women and children, too. This was repeated over and over again all along the Front. I have found that many people who visit these sites online are well informed about military operations, but have only a limited appreciation of the scope of the Holocaust. The German Army was not honorable, according to most German historians. They were thieves, rapists and killers. That was the view that Eisenhower held.
your reactions are so true and the background info you provided.. your nose turn rosy with the final emotions.. i'm subscribed now and thank you for trying to share such a great film
The intro is one of the most realistic depictions of the landings at D-Day you could get. Most WWII veterans who watched the film when it came out that the only thing missing was the smell. It actually triggered their PTSD.
A LOT less talking and more clips so we can get a better understanding of the movie. Watch experienced reactors like Popcorn in Bed and TBR Schmidt for good examples of reactions.
Good choice Kali! As great as this film is, “Band of Brothers” mini series also made by Spielberg & Hanks is so much better imo, I guess cause it’s basically a 10 hour film split into 10 episodes so lends itself to kinda take its time to tell the story of the soldiers involved from a different angle to Saving Private Ryan. Ranked # 4 in IMDBs Top 250 TV shows of all time for good reason. Hopefully you’ll react to this one day 👍🏽👍🏽.
@@kaliwali Ngl, it’s a tougher watch “in some parts” compared to Saving Private Ryan but the journey is well worth it and would love a Kali breakdown after each episode whenever you can fit it in your schedule 👍🏽.
You are going to unequivocally get recommended Band of Brothers by damn near every person that watches you react to this video. Do yourself a favor and please watch it.
Yours is the best reaction I have seen to this movie. You had empathy for the soldiers, knowledge about the war, paid attention to detail and caught-on to the major plot theme early. I appreciated it all. Thank you. I agree with an earlier comment: Band of Brothers should be your next video reaction.
Thank you for a very genuine reaction! I feel that if more people react to war the way you did watching this movie, maybe we wouldn't have so many wars?
12:50- It's far worse than you think. While it's not related, being notified on losing a loved one hurts the most, and my mother and I were beyond devastated when we were informed by police officers that my older sister was killed in a car accident 5 years ago and it still feels like it happened yesterday.
As someone with 4 years experience in movie reaction content, 1000% agree. Either a separate channel, or really spread them out - (movie) reaction content is a tightrope. Also; if you thought backseating was excessive in ME, wait til you get a flood of movie reaction recommendations. Oof.
It always amazes me how brave movie reactors are and how, in Upham's place, they'd have summoned up the raw courage to leap out of their comfy chairs, rush up those stairs, and valiantly save the day. If only we'd had a whole platoon of UA-cam movie reactors in WWII, we could've won the war way sooner!
I mean all of those soldiers got thrown into it, not only Upham. All his fellow soldiers managed to find their courage to some degree, certainly when it comes to letting your brothers die right in front of you instead of stepping up. Is it understandable that some people are not made for it? Yes, but it's also absolutely valid to get frustrated at him in that moment.
And yet, I don't believe I've ever seen anybody call Pvt. Ryan a coward when, during the assault on the bridge, Capt. Miller sees Ryan sitting on the ground, arms wrapped around his legs, crying like a baby.
@@Jamessir_Bensonmum He just watched all of his brothers, "the only brothers he had left" die while he could barely fight, after learning all of his actual brothers are dead too. What a utterly braindead take.
At the time when this movie came out in theaters WW2 veteran went to see it and the beginning of the movie is so heavy that a lot of them walked out. 😢
The protocol on surrender is you're supposed to take the men (or women, but at the time there were no women in combat roles for either Germany or the US) prisoner and treat them well, but war crimes were absolutely rampant during WWII with Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, and the Soviet Union in particular committing atrocities such as summary executions, torture, or starving of prisoners of war but the Western Allies also committed their share of war crimes at a smaller scale. The scenes depicting American soldiers killing German prisoners in this movie are meant to highlight that war is absolute hell and it strips the humanity of everyone, even the "good guys"
Thank you for your excellent reaction to this movie which my wife and I saw in a theater the first week it ran. Though a veteran myself, I fortunately never saw combat. There were older men my father's age in that theater, white-haired combat veterans wearing those baseball caps peppered with unit pins and embroidery indicating their military units, theater(s) of battle and dates of service. Some of them had to get up and leave the auditorium in those first minutes of the film. A few of them came back later. At the end, some of them just sat there, sunken in their seats with the arm of whoever they came with embracing them and speaking to them in low tones. Some tears and private anguish. You are young, articulate, emotionally mature and intellectually deep, giving me, an old man now, renewed hope for the future of your generation and our Country. I hope there are many more like you out there. I'm glad you responded to the urgings and advice of your family to see and react to this, one of my favorite films.
If you liked this, try Band of Brothers. It's one of the best wartime TV shows of all times.
Band of Brothers is the masterpiece of masterpieces. Nothing comes close.
Not one of...it is THE best wartime TV show ever...maybe even the best thing ever put on television.
BoB is THE standard for war films (even thought it is a series). It is a must watch!
If you like Saving Private Ryan, you will like Band of Brothers.
Speilberg and Hanks took everything they leaved from the movie and used those lessons while making Band of Brothers.
Same for The Pacific as well
The two surrendering soldiers on D-Day that they shot and made that “Washed for Supper” joke about were not actually German soldiers. One of them was yelling in Czech “Please don’t shoot me! I am not German, I am Czech, I didn’t kill anyone! I am Czech!” The German military had a history of forcibly conscripting POWs from other countries, mainly from the Eastern Front, to replace the unsustainable losses they were suffering. The Americans would have no way to know that those men were actually on their side which makes it so much more tragic.
Oh noooo.. I was wondering what they were saying and now, I kind of wish I didn't. But wow.
@@kaliwali Many German soldiers also lied about not being German in hopes of being spared. Also, most of the first wave of US troops were ordered not to take prisoners because they had to focus on moving forward. Such was the case in Band of Brothers, which you need to watch next!
I think the craziest example of this, which also took place on Omaha beach, was the young Korean man, who was drafted into the Japanese army, who was captured by the soviets and forced into their armed forces, captured by the Germans and forced into service with them which wound up captured by the Americans following the capitulation of the Omaha beachhead. The scope and human cost of the war will never be able to be fully comprehended.
@liamregan4975 There were no Hostilities between the USSR and Japan, until around Nagasaki, August 1945...🙄
They were both unarmed and surrendering.
Miller’s admonition to Ryan to “earn this” wasn’t just meant for Ryan, but for all of us. The sacrifices made by our troops obligates each of us who enjoy our freedom.
Yes. Which is why it's a shame that our own government is being run by demons..
Yes but we must always remember them that took up the hard chore to defend and lost it all while serving. I most definitely will ❤
Give it a break
Even more than that, Captain Miller's squad represents the American vets who went overseas to save Europe and the rest of the free world (Pvt. Ryan). Those soldiers has little to gain for themselves or their families by fighting in France. There was no real threat that German could or would invade the USA. Yet still, the Americans went and sacrificed themselves to save Europe. When Miller says "Earn this." he's talking to the audience who are free to live in a Europe or America free from fascism.
@@Melrose51653on the contrary, we must NEVER “give it a break”. If you don’t understand that, sadly you never will.
As a former fireman, on 9/11 the first time I broke down was when I saw footage of the firemen getting the last rites. That was what made it real for me because I was a fireman. I knew the significance of that moment. I just wanted you to know your connection to Wade matters because you knew who he was as a person...as a medic because of your connection to the medical field. I totally get it.
I worked for the Legal Department of the Port Authority a few years before 2001. My office had been 66th floor of the South Tower, WTC. I was stunned to see how many faces I recognized among the dead in the newspapers. Turned out that the lawyers I worked with volunteered to guard the stairwells "helping the civilians exit" until they were relieved by the NYPD or FDNY. Some of those brave lawyers and other members of my old Department stuck it out and were crushed. Nobody knows their story.
As a veteran, I want to say thank you for taking the time to watch and appreciate what you witnessed. Your emotions and reaction struck me as genuine and though it was difficult for you to watch, your empathy and understanding for what these men did is appreciated.
The most difficult aspect of our service for many of us is the prospect of being forgotten by our fellow citizens. These movies keep these memories alive, and you honor them by watching and reflecting.
Thank you so very much.
Thank you for your service 💚
Thank you for your service Frank. Yes, there's some good young people just waiting to be taught patiently about what their forebears did for them. This is an intelligent woman who grasps the messages. One who will remember.
Never could I let sink from my mind the memory of Veterans. I genuinely love you guys/ gals to pieces and just wish all the happiness one could upon another. Much love and eternal respect ~ ❤
Thank you for your service My Brother! As a US Army combat retired veteran, I want you to know if you ever need a hand or an ear, reach out. I did 4 tours in Iraq and 3 in Afghanistan I've lost, took and seen way to much death but I will go through hell and back for my Brothers and Sisters in arms. I have 3 siblings and as much as I love them, the people I served with are more connected to me than actual siblings. So, in closing, If any veterans need anything, im here for you. I love you all!
Upham is in the movie to symbolize the average citizen and how they really don't understand the craziness/brutality of war. Upham shooting Steamboat Willie at the end symbolizes the point where the average citizen realizes sometimes war is necessary to stand up to evil. He learned.
@@RickLacy-b3x in order to have peace, we must prepare for war!!!
I would say that upham not going up the stairs to help and instead letting his brother die is symbolic of the fact that there are no hero’s in war. And then later when he sees the same German soldier who killed his fellow brother surrendering, he shoots him out of hate. Because killing him is not stopping evil nor is it going to bring his friend back. Upham has just become a victim of hate that war instills into people.
I think that this movie has several messages, but I'm not sure "Sometimes war is necessary to stand up to evil" is one of them. The movie does not delve into the causes, ideology, or ultimate goals of the war -- these are "ordinary" people who were thrust through no choice of their own into an awful, hellish situation. They are each dealing with it in their own ways (thus the well-drawn differences among the characters), with Miller (Tom Hanks) at the center -- he just wants to get through the war and back to his wife and home. But the war has scarred all of them badly (symbolized in Miller, for example by his hand tremor), and Upham killing "Steamboat Willie" is a sign that he, now, has also been terribly scarred.
No apologies, by the way, for the U.S. fighting against Naziism in World War II -- but the way this movie is framed, it could be about any war, against almost any enemy, for almost any reason. It is not a World War II movie, it is a war movie.
-Minor point- Steamboat Willie wasn't the same guy that killed Mellish. That guy was wearing a different uniform. That's the one that Upham shoots at the end. Willie does shoot Captain Miller at the end though.
@@jameslongest6410 Thanks for the correction -- really. I'm a teacher, so I like to get things right for myself and for my students.
The scene with Wade in the church where he tells the story of his mother I think hits all of us as veterans. When you realize that you might never see your loved ones again it changes your perspective on alot of things. With what he's been through he can't possibly imagine passing up an opportunity to talk to his mother.
You are such an empath, too sweet for this world. Thank you for your candid and thoughtful reaction. Freedom is never “free”. In fact, it’s one of (if not THE) most costly things this side of paradise.
Well said.
The Mrs. Bixby letter was a very real letter about a mother that lost all 5 of her sons during the Civil War. I also had it memorized by the time I went to Parris Island and started my Marine Corps career. It's a good example of what you must be willing to sacrifice so everyone can sleep soundly at night, and maybe the next mother's children may never have to worry
Not true. None of it
Not true - only two of her sons died, one deserted, one either deserted to the Confederate Army or died in a POW camp, and one survived the war.
Man I always cry in this movie. I'm an Afghanistan combat veteran and I'm impressed with your knowledge of WWII history. Most people don't know a damn thing about it.
dam... she had me crying ... this movie hits me in the feels every...every time. Greatest generation of soldiers.
Thanks for your service, Sir. Absolutely.
I always cry too in this movie too. Thank you so much for your service. I wish you every blessing.
My Great Grandma would have got a telegram to say her 19 year old son, had been killed in WW2. My Great Uncle was killed in North Africa after surviving Dunkirk.😢😢😢
Welcome to the rabbit hole. Band of brothers will tear your guts out and then the Pacific will make you question everything about the human condition.
And you will walk away from it saying you can't believe you had not watched them before regardless of how much it screwed with your pshychy
Band of brothers is the natural follow up to this 10 episode mini series with an 11th unofficial episode being the documentary that is a must watch after you finish the series. Blackhawk down and we were soldiers are also fantastic movies
Sounds crazy but I would consider the HBO series the unofficial episodes considering we stand alone together was made first and that’s where the interviews come from.
@@tomkapa they were both made in 2001. You can watch in either order but given the show doesn’t tell you who’s who it’s better for a new viewer to watch the series first. Also for those of a non military background seeing the show first and then hearing what the men have to say makes it resonate more imo. At least for those who struggle to visualize when they are being told a story.
Oh, see needs to see it just for the Doc Roe episode.
@@cottonysensation3723 still made first…
@@tomkapa okay…
Having watched this movie for the first time myself this week, I have to say it went in a very different direction than I was expecting, and that's not a bad thing at all. I actually enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. It wasn't a glamorized story of a hero's victory or a valiant redemption arc, but was just very.... real, and brutal, and tragic. Through the story, with all the deep questions about sacrifice. What is a life worth? Is one person's life worth more than another's? How do we honor those who sacrifice for us? Questions that I feel the more we think about, the more additional questions are created. Through the characters very raw emotions and decisions, with Upham's cowardice, Wade's bravery, and Miller's mercy.... and all the costs and consequences that come from each. And through the cinematography, with the omission of music during combat scenes, and the shaky hand-held camera effect that followed everyone around. I think that real-ness is part of what made this film hit so hard. Really made us feel like we were there, and built a greater attachment toward all the characters
This was an incredible reaction video! By now, I know the level of quality to come to expect from your content, but this one actually blew me away. And did not at all feel like only your second movie react. Was SO well edited, and flowed together so smoothly. And despite all the heaviness and emotions, you continued to articulate your thoughts so well and picked up on all the little details. Well done! And thank you so much for this. Looking forward to the next one!
I definitely agree and understand your 'thoughts going into it vs. what you got'. I went in expecting a very heroic story about a Private Ryan that got rescued during WWII and came out with a whole new outlook on sacrifice, mental health, war and worth. I knew this movie was good based on how people raved about it, but this one is in a whole other category. The real-ness is definitely what made this film hit differently than any others I've watched about war (but I'm also only drawing from American Sniper and Land Of Bad, so far lol).
I'm glad you loved the editing and flow of it all- even if it was the most difficult I've done so far LOL. I'm glad you enjoyed it 💚
@@kaliwali You definitely need to watch Band of Brothers and The Pacific. Band of Brothers has been widely hailed as the greatest miniseries ever made and the greatest presentation of WW2 on the big screen. You really get invested in those characters. Spielberg and Hanks took everything they learned about this film, did some more research and made BoB.
@@kaliwaliwatch Band Of Brothers, the concentration camp scene will hurt your soul. Also watch Hamburger Hill, Full Metal Jacket and Platoon.
One thing that doesn't get mentioned very often is the fact that Ryan's wife had to ask Brian who Captain Miller was.
That small thing tells you that Ryan, like so many other vets, just didn't talk details about what they experienced. 😮
Wade talking about his mother, then later on understanding what all went into his final moment alive absolutely destroys me
What happened at Omaha Beach is an example of Murphy’s Law: everything that can go wrong will go wrong and at the worst possible time.
There were preparations made before the landings on the Normandy coast. The Navy was shelling the coastline. The 8th Air Force was also sent in to bomb the German defenses. And if all else failed, the US had a new invention: DD tanks, basically amphibious tanks that could help in taking out the enemy defenses and provide some cover for the infantry coming ashore.
However, the 8th Air Force missed their targets when dropping the bombs. This is because the American bombers were not all that accurate (bombing from 20,000 ft in the air isn’t easy given the 1940s technology) and fearing hitting the infantry landing at sea, the bombadiers dropped the bombs further inland. This did prevent friendly casualties, but left the coastline defenses in tact.
The Naval bombardment was faring no better. The German bunkers at Omaha were made of reinforced concrete. They could take a beating from the US naval guns and most of the time, a direct hit through the open slit in the bunker was required to demolish it. The weather didn’t help out the Navy either. Due to the fog off of the coastline, the Navy couldn’t find their targets, so they were blindly shelling the coastline. It wouldn’t be until much later in the day when the naval gun fire could be properly directed for effective fire.
Finally, the DD tanks. At the neighboring Utah Beach, they worked out with minimal problems. However, the same couldn’t be said at Omaha. Because of the high tide, many landing crafts dropped their tanks in too deep of water and the majority of them sank to the bottom of the channel. Out of 30 launched, only 3 made it ashore.
All of these things combined together led to the slaughter at Omaha Beach. It took the Americans 6 hours to gain a foothold and attack the German positions.
Originally the Navy were ordered to hold fire as their primary concern was protecting the transport ships carrying the men that would head for the beaches, and it wasn't until the destroyers chose to disobey orders and began firing on the beachheads that the Navy would finally unleash Hell on the German defenses.
The invasion at Omaha commenced at low tide, that's why the Czech Hedgehogs on the beach were exposed and offered shelter for a few instead of becoming obstacles for the landing crafts.
A very thoughtful and beautiful reaction. Unlike so many others, you knew it was D-Day the minute you saw the date and, because of your background, you had some understanding of the medic's mind-set.
Veterans never forget. In 1990 I was at a tourist spot in New Zealand and met an older Canadian couple. We had lunch together. As soon as I said my name the fellow said, "Did you have a relative in Canadian medical corps?" "Yes, my dad. Same name as me." "I served with him for 6 months in the Korean War. Haven't seen him since." Dad was kind of like the older private Ryan in that he never talked about his time in Korea. I didn't find out that he'd been a field medic until long after his death.
She's good..
BUT I would assume that everyone who finished at least Highschool would know what the date represents..
It’s so refreshing to see a reactor know about D-Day and the date of it/location. Great reaction!
Agreed!
Just one note though, the family trying to give their children to the U.S. soldiers are French. I think that Kiliwali thinks they are German when they are actually French as we are in France during the invasion.
This was hard for me to watch this movie. I was in desert storm and iraqi freedom and enduring freedom. I lost friends and felt the heartache of losing a brother. I never spoke about my experiences to my wife because i didnt want to traumatize her. So you keep it inside. Its hard sometimes. Thank you for your appreciation of what some of us combat vets go through. Sometimes i can still see their faces. God Bless them. ❤️🇺🇸
1. there is no god 2. every sodier is a killer
Fun fact: The guy who plays Upham(Jeremy Davies)also played Baldur in God of War! Blew my mind when I found out lol
Holy shit! Wow! Had no idea. lol that's crazy
Played Dickie Bennett in the TV series "Justified".
Upham was Dickie Bennett?! Holy hell
"Twister" as crew member Brian Laurence (operator of the video camera) of Bill Paxton's Storm Chasers, and "Helter Skelter" (the second made-for-TV movie version) doing his turn as Charles Manson.
Thank you Sheldon! 😅
I've seen this movie so many times now that it has almost lost it's emotional weight to me. I've seen the documentaries, making of, how it was made, etc so many times that it turned it into "just" an incredible movie. Watching it through your eyes was devastating. Wow. Thank you for bringing the emotional weight back.
I'm just the opposite... watching when initially I didn't really react as I was numb to war. I was in my 30s then. But now having seen it easily over 100x and get emotional from beginning to end .... 😢
I remember seeing this in a youtube comment somewhere, but it’s worth repeating.
The three rules of a combat medic:
1. Good people will die.
2. Doc can not save everyone.
3. Doc will go through hell and back to break rules 1 and 2.
I heard something very similiar in a M.A.S.H. episode about 45 years ago...a close friend of 'Hawkeye' Pierce,surgeon,dies on the table.Col.Blake his C.O. says to his upset collegue that there are "certain rules about a war..rule number one..young men die..rule number two..doctors can't do a thing about rule number one..".Both sobering things..your rules and these.
I am glad people of your age are watching this and expanding your knowledge. It gives me hope that the sacrifices of the greatest generation will not be forgotten.
As others have stated, you must watch BoB, The Pacific, and Masters of the Air.
Band Of Brothers is a definite must watch after this movie. produced by Spielberg, it is a deeper look at Easy Company, The very 1st Airborne paratroopers that dropped into Germany. 10 masterpiece episodes.
Plus, with her connection to medics, there's E6, Bastogne--which is from the company medic, Eugene's POV. One of the most powerful episodes in a life-changing series.
@@vaughnroycroft999 oh my god, yes. Bastogne & The Breaking Point are my favorites of the show. Hail, Speirs!
And in the beginning of this movie, they mention that Private Ryan jumped in the night before with the 101st Airborne. He was one of them.
Germany?
Thank you for your reaction to this movie and thank you for you sharing your experiences. Doctors, nurses, EMT’s our police officers and firefighters hold a special place in my heart. As a veteran I really appreciate when war movies that’s true to history are shown. there are so many people that do not know what those young men went through and in all other wars. They’re all hell but especially that one. I seen a reporter not to long ago on Independence Day asking college students about our country and the wars we’ve had. Their answers were appalling ! Answers like who fought in the civil war, they answered Vietnam and the answers got worse.
So you doing reactions to them will probably be the closest to learning history they ever get. I appreciate you, I know it was a tough one but can’t wait till your next. 😊
Great reaction like always, love this masterpiece. My grandfather serve with Sergeant Frederick Niland in 501 company, Sergeant Frederick Niland was the inspiration for this movie he had 3 brothers that were killed in action. This movie is based on a book. Robert Rodat (screen writter) was first inspired to craft the narrative upon reading Stephen Ambrose’s nonfiction retrospective D-Day: June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II. Rodat was fascinated by an honorary memorial dedicated to families who had lost multiple sons in the war. Rodat began writing Saving Private Ryan after studying the true story of Sergeant Frederick “Fritz” Niland. Fritz Niland’s brothers Preston and Robert had enlisted for service, and his brother Edward had volunteered. In May 1944, Edward was shot down over Burma and presumed dead. In June, Robert was killed on D-Day and Preston was killed on Omaha Beach.
Frederick had gone missing during the Normandy Invasion, and the U.S. Army commissioned him to be rescued and sent home. An army unit under chaplain Fr. Francis Sampson identified Frederick’s location and sent him back to his parents Michael and Augusta Niland. Frederick’s brother Edward was also discovered to be alive and was rescued from a Burmese POW camp and also returned home safely. The rescues were the result of the U.S. War Department’s “sole survivor” policy, which was adopted in 1942 after the four Sullivan brothers who served in the U.S. Navy had all been killed during the sinking of the USS Juneau during the Battle of Guadalcanal. So, while Saving Private Ryan is unquestionably inspired by true events, the film's story of Captain Miller's risky mission to save one man is entirely fictional. And congrats for not mistaken some characters.
A lot of reactors confuse the guy who was let go, and later shot Capt. Miller and then was shot by Upham, with the soldier who stabbed Mellish. They wore different uniforms: the prisoner who was released and later returned was regular Wehrmacht, and the guy who stabbed Mellish was SS, They chosen two actors for those roles that looked so similar they did that literally to tell the viewers that war is confusing. Steven Spielberg explained this.
He most likely didn't kill Upham because he instantly recognized he wasn't a threat. Upham even takes his hands off of his gun and holds them up in surrender to the SS soldier. Not a lot of satisfaction in killing someone who's basically curled up in the fetal position. And Keep in mind, Upham was likely drafted for his translation skills, so he is A: not a volunteer, and B: not meant as a primary combatant.
I don't blame him for freezing in that moment, no one knows how they'd react in a situation like that until they're actually in it. I like to think I'd do the right thing and go charging up those stairs to the rescue, but I could just as easily be shell-shocked in pants-shitting terror like he was. Our military today is an all volunteer service, no one is pressed into service like he was, so it's easier for people today to see his actions and just label him a dirty coward without understanding there is nuance to this story and that things were very different then. Soldiers today CHOOSE that life, he didn't, he just wanted to get back home without getting blood on his hands. Keep up the good work.
Many people don't realize how much hair provides us with distinct feature. Two German guys side by side from the same region with their heads shaved will tend to look very similar. It's not a surprise that many people confused the Steamboat Willie (the guy they let go) with the SS soldier.
Also, Upham was most likely a volunteer. At the time, people fought to enlist and many turned away from service committed suicide. Many men were in critical roles and were not allowed to enlist. The Draft pulled a lot of those guys from their critical roles and only a portion were those that didn't want to join. Even then the Draft made up a very small number of total servicemembers.
Translators were a special resource and not many were sent into frontline combat especially if they spoke multiple languages. However, he would have received the same training as everyone else. D-day was the first time most of those guys saw combat. Tom Hank's group were a special case as they were literal survivors of an entire company of men lost over time but never reinforced to full strength. In reality he would have been rolled up into another Ranger company or had remnants of other companies meshed together into a full strength company. A Capt. with only a squad worth of men is an oddity.
Seriously. Every reaction you got someone going "Did you see that? The guy Capt. Miller let go stabbed Mellish!"☝️🤓
Nooo, not unless he had a spare SS uniform lying around and enough time to change into it between killing Mellish and shooting Miller.
I've watched this movie and reactions to it dozens of times. Your perspective from having a medical background brought the impact home that much more. This is one of the most impactful movies about the realities of war ever made.
What makes the landing even harder to grasp is that, in the movie, it takes about 20-25 minutes. In reality, it took them about 45 minutes to an hour to cross the beach under constant fire. The first two waves were destroyed so badly that when the third wave arrived, they expected the beach to be taken, but instead found the survivors shell shocked and hiding behind obstacles, trying to move forward. And that was just to get to the shingle (that sort of berm where Tom Hanks is talking to shore party). It took even longer to get over the shingle and towards their objective.
I saw this movie the first showing of opening night. I've never been to a movie that was almost complete silence for the duration. Not a word was said until we got to the car. Bless you for watching this. As difficult as it can be, it's something that everyone needs to watch.
Kaliwali, yours was the very best reaction to this movie I’ve ever seen…BECAUSE you knew the history of WWII going into it. Most people your age haven’t got a clue what WWII was let alone the battles that took place. You’ve been taught well. Thanks for the reaction and keep it going.
Too many young people are condemned to repeat the past , because they have little knowledge of it .
I can see you have a big heart full of empathy. War genre is very tough but greatly rewarding.
Much love to you on your journey.
This is part of the most memorable roles of Tom Hanks I remember the most along with Forest Gump he did so great in this film
Yesss Hanks did such an amazing job in this film
@@kaliwali react pacific!!
Absolutely love your reaction, your respect for the message, your respect for our troops. To many make these off handed comments, or never have taken the time to learn the smallest bit about what our soldiers went through in WWII prior, thank you for this
The character Jackson from TN with a southern accent was created for a reason. Most of the most decorated snipers were county boys/girls who grew up on farms and had been shooting firearms since they were young. This is true of snipers from other nations as well. Look up the famous girl Russian and Finnish snipers who of course were farm girls.
Regarding the end cemetery scene, as a veteran, there is no way to explain to anyone outside of another vet exactly WHAT you've seen, felt, smelled or did during combat. It's been forever for me YET it still is so very fresh in my head. I walk out my door, catch a certain odor and I'm immediately back in the desert in the burring oil fields. Ryan never told his wife this story because he knew she could never truly comprehend the depth of violence and inhuman things he saw and did. The wound heals but the scar never goes away.
This makes a lot of sense, but is already really hard to think about because I can't imagine suffering alone with something so heavy. Thank you for your service 💚
@@kaliwaliI would like to also suggest that you watch the series Band of Brothers!!
It's about the paratroopers, just like Private Ryan!!
I thought of this when you talked about the camaraderie that these soldiers would have and that's EXACTLY what the series is about!!
I would recommend "Hacksaw Ridge" next, It's probably my favorite because it's a true story about a hero medic.Has a great love story too. "1917" is an amazing story taking place in WW1 (obviously), lol. With those two plus this you'll have seen not just great war movies, but three masterpieces.👍👍
Couldn't agree more. Also, a war movie of another order. the movie: The Pianist. It's a great movie from the side of a civilian. I won't say more as to not spoil it, but be assured it is well worth it to watch it.
@@petiertje Oh yeah, yes great movie👍
great choice also watch band of brothers
She will freak out over Desmond Doss, with her medical background 😊
Oh another great war movie, 1917 and Dunkirk.
I watched this as a kid at 10 when it came out, my grandpa had passed away a few months before and he was a medic who was on omaha beach when they landed. He got many medals including the bronze star with oak leafs.
I joined the Army in 2006 also as a medic and did 3 combat tours before getting out in 2014. My goal was to get a small understanding of what he went through since he never spoke about it but one time to my mom and briefly. I now understand why he never spoke of it but once and why he never cared for his medals. He was a good man who I will always admire and look up to and lived peacefully after the war to the day he passed away.
The greatest generation sacrificed everything for the world we live in today and should always be remembered. 🇺🇲
You absolutely bring it every time you give us content!!! Thank you for always being 💯%!!!! I'm can't wait to see what you bring us next!!!!
thank you!
It always reassures me to see the profound emotional impact that this movie has on young viewers. I have seen this movie at least 5 times and I never come away from it without tears on my cheeks. The bond of brotherhood that service during wartime forges is something that only very a very selfish man would not understand.
Definitely continue with movie reviews. You did well with this one
Normally I tune out when somebody talks this much. But gotta say, your brilliant. Your understanding and comprehensive of REAL life is the best I've ever seen on U Tube. Your husband and children are VERY blessed.
I was sitting in church when I got this notification. I thought you only did gaming stuff, but was pleasantly surprised to see this. I love this movie!
From someone who enjoys watching a lot of reaction videos, I’ve gotta say you’re really good at this. Your insight, empathy, and genuineness was great to see. Looking forward to your next movie reaction. Thank you
Oh man, I wanted to give you a hug at times during this reaction. It's a really heavy movie. Also a clasic. This movie hits hard for me, because I live in central Europe. We have American cementaries like the one in the opening scene all over the place, and I've visited two of them in my country multiple times.
Great react - thank you for your transparency! One of my favorites and it is indeed heartbreaking.
I've seen this movie countless times, and I tend to forget what the first experience was like. It wasn't until the 5th or so rewatch that I finally sympathized with Upham. No soldier chooses to be a coward anymore than the heroes choose theirs. Some constitutions are weathered and tempered to be stalwart in those key moments, but ultimately anyone who hasn't been in that situation that claims they wouldn't be shocked to the point of inaction is very ignorant. Some amazing people had breaking points resulting in dramatic consequences for many, and no one knows how they will act until it is time. All the training in the world cannot prepare you for combat, and any time spent away from it will only compound the problem. Upham was a soft soul, yet to be exposed to the true chaos of death and destruction, and all the while he was fully aware that his hesitation was killing his squad. There are few things I can think of worse than knowing your cowardice had killed your friends, and you were almost rendered powerless to change it. It can be relieving to know that the plot was fictional, but it is a small glimpse into the world of war that still continues today.
Very well said. It's sad to think of all the veterans who spent the rest of their lives in guilt-ridden agony and self-hatred because of an experience like Upham's.
So many people who say they support veterans but villainize Upham have no idea what they are even talking about.
I was in an Army Reserve Infantry unit, but I never served in combat, thank God. I totally sympathize with Upham. He was trying to force himself up the stairs, but just couldn't do it. I'll never forget what I heard Jordan Peterson say about veterans who are traumatized with PTSD. To paraphrase- "Most combat veterans with PTSD aren't traumatized by what they saw, but rather by what they did." Or in Upham's case, by what they failed to do.
You made a comment about how close you get with your fellow Soldiers during war because you fight for them. It's so amazingly true. It's one of the things that makes war kind of addictive. You are constantly surrounded by people who would die for you and for whom you would die for in return. Then you come home, and all go your separate ways. I never felt loneliness so viscerally then when I returned home.
Other good war movies/series to watch:
-Band of Brothers (2001)
-The Pacific (2010)
-Masters of the Air (2024)
-Generation War (2004)
-Hacksaw Ridge (2017)
-Fury (2015)
-Come and See (1986)
-Enemy at the Gates (2004)
-Midway (2019)
-Flags of Our Fathers/Letters From Iwo Jima (both 2003)
-TORA! TORA! TORA! (1971)
-A Bridge Too Far (1976)
-All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)
-1917 (2019)
-War Horse (2011)
-Joyeux Noel (2005)
-The Lost Battalion (2001)
-Glory (1989)
-Gettysburg (1993)
-Gods and Generals (1994)
-We Were Soldiers (2002)
-Apocalypse Now (1979)
-Platoon (1985)
-Full Metal Jacket (1983)
-Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan (2017)
-Devotion (2022)
-Blackhawk Down (2002)
-Generation Kill (2017)
-American Sniper (2015)
Many soldiers never really talked about their experiences in the war. My father was a soldier in WWII. He got there after the Battle of the Bulge (which was way after this), but he barely ever talked about the war.
I still have a baseball-sized crystal paperweight that he brought back to the U.S. from a ruined French farmhouse that his squad stayed in overnight one time while the Germans were shelling the field in front of them.
Your genuine and emotional reaction to this amazing but very tough to watch movie made me appreciate the film with fresh eyes again. And, also to remember time I spent with my dad whether talking about the war, or watching sports, or the evening news, or working with him in the summer when I was home from college. Thank you.
I knew I followed you all that time ago for a reason. What a journey! ME1, ME2, ME3. God of War. D:BH. I haven't gone through Witcher yet. That's something for later enjoyment!
So, here we are watching "Saving Private Ryan"....??? YES!!
Thanks Kali. You're a sweety and your content make me happy!
I lost one Uncle and had one returned to me and my family in that bloody war.
Yes, I'm an old bloke!
Thank you for watching! It's good to see you again commenting! :)
I'm sorry you lost an Uncle during WWII. I can't even imagine what it was like knowing you have family out there fighting for your country in such a turbulent time.
As an ARMY vet (OEF, 95’) it warms my heart to see young people react to this. One of the best war movies ever made.
Hacksaw Ridge is a definite must watch
Most people in WW 2 did not talk about the true horrors of what humans can do to each other, My Grandfather only told his own son about 9 months before he passed. He was in North Africa, Sicily and up throughout Europe and saw two of his own platoons almost all but wiped out by Messerschmitt Bf 109's and he also was injured.
No words are enough to say Thanks for such an absolutely enormous sacrifice for others by our military. His brother was at Omaha Beach and I was able to talk with him. I am Thankful, honored and humbled to be related to such amazing men. Great video review, you're such an angel. 😊👍
I think you talked more through this film than any of the actors that were in the film.
it's possible
@@kaliwaliit's the truth
And it spoiled it. An important war film and serious moment in cinema history with CONTINUOUS CHATTER OVER THE TOP...
Fucking hell. So disappointing
"Once that wall cracks you can't hold it back." so poignant! Thank you for be willing to watch this movie.
Try a flick called The Deer Hunter for a REALLY good war drama.
This movie all tears me up 😢 but watching you tear up and cry made me tear up and cry. Wonderful commentary and reactions 💙
Do hacksaw ridge next, if you want another amazing war movie
Thank you for reacting - this is tough to watch, even us "tough guys", I shed many tears each time I see it.
Awesome to see you doing more reactions… thorough this is such a heavy movie today, I haven’t seen in forever, looking forward to seeing your reaction soon!
Anyhow, maybe we’ll see a full fledged independent reaction channel from you some day, which from what I understand works better with UA-cam’s algorithms…
I’ll throw in one suggestion for a movie for the hell of it, (to go with your love of western games of late) Little Big Man, starring Dustin Hoffman, It’s quite an epic tale, I’d describe it, but going in blind is I think the best way to experience it.
I appreciate your views and knowledge of WWII. Thank you for the respectful reaction.
Just came across this channel. This young lady is amazing. Subscribed.
Thank you for the new sub!
@08:42 Everyone at this point: "Wow, that's really smart." LOL
I second what people are saying .... Band Of Brothers ❤
If you want a classic war movie with an insanely stacked cast, I recommend Glory. Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes and Morgan Freeman. It's based on the Civil War and a true event in history, but of course Hollywood adds their own ideas to it. Like others have said, Hacksaw Ridge is amazing and it's based on a real person/true event. Speaking of the scene at the start talking about a Hitler youth knife, Jojo Rabbit is a WWII movie from a kid's perspective. Believe it or not, it's a comedy/war movie, but it's so beautifully done. Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell and a few other big names are in it.
Glory is such an underrated movie (if that's possible). I grew up in a very conservative home and this was the first r-rated movie that my dad (a history teacher) introduced me to. Even the music from the soundtrack ( one of the all time best IMO) alone is enough to get me choked up.
@@joelharris363 I had to get a note signed, but we watched it in school when I was in 8th grade, so like 2000. I found out years later that The Last Samurai was directed by the same guy that did Glory. There is a similar gun scene in it that made me think back to Glory. Recruits training with them. Don't want to go into detail of course.
Kali my love, you are a national treasure and I am very happy that you have decided to explore this new facet because it is also a very good way to get closer and share a little more of your hobbies with us, your followers, good luck and when you go to do a survey to know what movie you want to help you choose or make a suggestion we will be there
Schindler's List is a must see as well
Spielberg hit it out of the park with this genius effort. Tom Hanks proved he was a serious actor. And the SPFX team proved NOTHING can't be positively realized on the cinema screen to the benefit of the whole world. Thankyou
All good sweetheart
One of the reasons why Tom Hanks's Crew had some hatred for Matt Damon is because Tom Hanks and his crew went through a basic training for this movie and Matt didn't.
really?? very interesting lol
Yeah, they chose to keep him separate from the rest of the crew to make the emotions more realistic
It was a deliberate decision by Spielberg. He wanted that tension to be there.
Awesome reaction. We all felt the way you did. I watched this in the theater and it changed my life.
Fubar? This "term" is actually an acronym that probably originated in the U.S. military during World War 2. FUBAR Is American slang and stands for, "F'd up beyond all recognition!" It means that a situation, order, policy, or administration has gone awry or greatly failed.
SNAFU would like to have a word
@@nwj03a SNAFU: "Situation normal, all fu__ed up." Also, an acronym and American slang!
I’ve never seen any of your reactions. But I had to watch this one. Wasn’t disappointed. You had just the right mix of analysis, empathy, and emotion. Thanks so much.
18:30 It's important to remember that not all the Germans were Nazis/brainwashed. A lot of the older Germans followed the regime for a variety of reasons. Also, not all Wehrmacht soldiers were German. Germany began conscripting soldiers from occupied territories, and those territories had their own native collaborators.
There was a lot of tension between the Wehrmacht and Hitler. A lot of the general staff and old aristocracy didn't like Hitler and tried to assassinate him a number of times.
Well, all the assassination attempts only really started happening when things didn't go their way anymore. Most generals were happy with Hitler as long as it seemed that he would bring a victory, and only when defeat was clear, they went against him (also probably to strike a better peace deal).
Still, for the everyday soldier you are absolutely right, many were not Nazis, but simply patriotic and especially to the end many were just forced into the Wehrmacht.
@@thomasfranz6467 Many "everyday soldiers" who fought on the Eastern Front were willing and enthusiastic participants in the mass slaughter of Jews. They were not ordered to do so, but when they saw the mobile killing units were shooting the Jews, they ran and over and started mowing down the men, women and children, too. This was repeated over and over again all along the Front. I have found that many people who visit these sites online are well informed about military operations, but have only a limited appreciation of the scope of the Holocaust. The German Army was not honorable, according to most German historians. They were thieves, rapists and killers. That was the view that Eisenhower held.
your reactions are so true and the background info you provided.. your nose turn rosy with the final emotions.. i'm subscribed now and thank you for trying to share such a great film
plz, you HAVE to watch Hacksaw ridge
much love❤
The intro is one of the most realistic depictions of the landings at D-Day you could get. Most WWII veterans who watched the film when it came out that the only thing missing was the smell. It actually triggered their PTSD.
Well, other than the bullets killing people underwater and the exploding flamethrower tank.😝
It's forgiven though.
@@allenharper2928 I know. I just didn’t bother for some reason
So... Lord of the Rings next? Haha
You see who men cry for when we die our moms ! God bless all you women out there !
A LOT less talking and more clips so we can get a better understanding of the movie. Watch experienced reactors like Popcorn in Bed and TBR Schmidt for good examples of reactions.
The best summation and commentary I have seen for this movie . You are very perceptive . Thank you .
Good choice Kali! As great as this film is, “Band of Brothers” mini series also made by Spielberg & Hanks is so much better imo, I guess cause it’s basically a 10 hour film split into 10 episodes so lends itself to kinda take its time to tell the story of the soldiers involved from a different angle to Saving Private Ryan. Ranked # 4 in IMDBs Top 250 TV shows of all time for good reason. Hopefully you’ll react to this one day 👍🏽👍🏽.
oh wow! i've heard Band Of Brothers is great! i'll definitely have to watch it 👀
BoB is my favourite series / movie. It takes awesome to a new level.
@@kaliwali Ngl, it’s a tougher watch “in some parts” compared to Saving Private Ryan but the journey is well worth it and would love a Kali breakdown after each episode whenever you can fit it in your schedule 👍🏽.
You seem very sweet and have a kind heart. This movie is a tear jerker. Was one of my families favorite.
You are going to unequivocally get recommended Band of Brothers by damn near every person that watches you react to this video. Do yourself a favor and please watch it.
You captured realism as best you could. Thank these men, they allow you to do what you do.
The Upham actor played baldur in God of War btw
oh wow!
And the hard-of-hearing soldier is Thor in GOW Ragnarok.
Also the little squirrely guy that tried to hide from a tornado in a truck in Twister.
Yours is the best reaction I have seen to this movie. You had empathy for the soldiers, knowledge about the war, paid attention to detail and caught-on to the major plot theme early. I appreciated it all. Thank you. I agree with an earlier comment: Band of Brothers should be your next video reaction.
My god...I haven't seen a reaction video where one talks over and dissects literally every. single. scene.
Exactly. Fucking annoying isn't it
Thank you for a very genuine reaction! I feel that if more people react to war the way you did watching this movie, maybe we wouldn't have so many wars?
Great reaction but you talk a little too much over some of the scenes. This tends to make you miss some important dialogue.
12:50- It's far worse than you think. While it's not related, being notified on losing a loved one hurts the most, and my mother and I were beyond devastated when we were informed by police officers that my older sister was killed in a car accident 5 years ago and it still feels like it happened yesterday.
Hi Kali, I just wanna suggest you seperate your gaming and movie reaction videos :) It will help you more.
As someone with 4 years experience in movie reaction content, 1000% agree. Either a separate channel, or really spread them out - (movie) reaction content is a tightrope. Also; if you thought backseating was excessive in ME, wait til you get a flood of movie reaction recommendations. Oof.
" It's Not The Flesh That's Torn From Them But It's They're Souls That Where Torn Out Of Them " - Quote From TV Series The Pacific
It always amazes me how brave movie reactors are and how, in Upham's place, they'd have summoned up the raw courage to leap out of their comfy chairs, rush up those stairs, and valiantly save the day. If only we'd had a whole platoon of UA-cam movie reactors in WWII, we could've won the war way sooner!
I mean all of those soldiers got thrown into it, not only Upham. All his fellow soldiers managed to find their courage to some degree, certainly when it comes to letting your brothers die right in front of you instead of stepping up. Is it understandable that some people are not made for it? Yes, but it's also absolutely valid to get frustrated at him in that moment.
And yet, I don't believe I've ever seen anybody call Pvt. Ryan a coward when, during the assault on the bridge, Capt. Miller sees Ryan sitting on the ground, arms wrapped around his legs, crying like a baby.
@@Jamessir_Bensonmum He just watched all of his brothers, "the only brothers he had left" die while he could barely fight, after learning all of his actual brothers are dead too. What a utterly braindead take.
@@StopReadingMyNameOrElse Wow, you really missed the point about not judging people.
Thanks for playing.
@@Jamessir_Bensonmum Stop thinking you're smarter than you actually are.
Loved your reaction, thank you for making it
One of my top 10 movies of all time. It took me a while to calm down and relax after seeing this the first time.
At the time when this movie came out in theaters WW2 veteran went to see it and the beginning of the movie is so heavy that a lot of them walked out. 😢
I can't even imagine veterans watching this..
As a combat vet, "tell her that when you found me I was with the only brothers I have left" gets me every time. That, and "Tell me I'm a good man."
Too much talking
I agree.
@charlesgreen3214 yes. She should've let the movie breathe. So annoying
And crying
The protocol on surrender is you're supposed to take the men (or women, but at the time there were no women in combat roles for either Germany or the US) prisoner and treat them well, but war crimes were absolutely rampant during WWII with Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, and the Soviet Union in particular committing atrocities such as summary executions, torture, or starving of prisoners of war but the Western Allies also committed their share of war crimes at a smaller scale. The scenes depicting American soldiers killing German prisoners in this movie are meant to highlight that war is absolute hell and it strips the humanity of everyone, even the "good guys"
This is a nonstop commentary, not a reaction. Best reactors say few words, but sum up their thoughts at the end.
I'm new to movie reactions. Thank you for the suggestion :)
Thank you for your excellent reaction to this movie which my wife and I saw in a theater the first week it ran. Though a veteran myself, I fortunately never saw combat. There were older men my father's age in that theater, white-haired combat veterans wearing those baseball caps peppered with unit pins and embroidery indicating their military units, theater(s) of battle and dates of service. Some of them had to get up and leave the auditorium in those first minutes of the film. A few of them came back later. At the end, some of them just sat there, sunken in their seats with the arm of whoever they came with embracing them and speaking to them in low tones. Some tears and private anguish. You are young, articulate, emotionally mature and intellectually deep, giving me, an old man now, renewed hope for the future of your generation and our Country. I hope there are many more like you out there. I'm glad you responded to the urgings and advice of your family to see and react to this, one of my favorite films.