My grandfather served in France in 1944. Which is significant for an African American in WWII. My father's father served stateside in the Navy. His father enlisted in the Army and also served in WWI. We need to keep these stories alive.

@BenLapke

Жыл бұрын

Thanks to your father and grandfather for fighting for all our freedoms. They all bled red. 😢

@joshsmith302

Жыл бұрын

@@BenLapke well said

@mil2k11

Жыл бұрын

Heavy props to a bad-ass grandfather. USA USA USA!

@CelticSpiritsCoven

Жыл бұрын

If it wasn't for Republicans, you wouldn't even have this life story. Say thank you to the Republicans who ended slavery and Jim Crow. Democrats didn't end any of this. History matters.

@raymondmanderville505

Жыл бұрын

The army was segregated back then , & there were a lot of Black troops in France , they operated the Red Ball Express among other units . They were also fighter pilots in the Red Tails that flew P-51 Mustangs . It was President Truman that said this is bull shit , we’re 1 nation , with 1 army .

My dad's brother died in WWII and is buried in the American Military Cemetery in Margraten, Netherlands. The families who live there adopt all the graves to take care of them, and they pass down the responsibility to their children and grandchildren . They keep photos of "their" soldier in their home and decorate their graves for all the holidays--as much or even more than what you see here in the USA. They are just so grateful to those who lost their lives so they could be free. 💔

@conniehodges3848

Жыл бұрын

Never have heard of that. It's just beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

@clemdane

Жыл бұрын

Amazing!

@mariadore7000

Жыл бұрын

That’s beautiful ❤

@deependz3231

Жыл бұрын

Naw, if you listen to these two, the only cemetery they know is in Austin. They claim to both be teachers, for the school kids sake, hope neither of them teach history?

@briansohr2319

Жыл бұрын

Market garden?

I once, asked a WWII Vet about this movie (who fought at Omaha Beach and Battle of the Bulge). He paused for a few seconds then gave me a stern look and said: "It wasn't bloody enough." I still remember the chills going down my spine!

@Jtkdash

6 ай бұрын

Jesus man I can’t imagine

My grandpa was in the Normandy invasion and got a purple heart pushing through France/Rhineland. He talked about it openly and I have cherished memories of him telling me stories about his childhood and WW2. He lived from 1918 to 2009, so you can only imagine all the changes and new things he got to see. He inspired me to join the military and I miss him every day. After the war he got a masters degree and worked to preserve national forests and enjoyed gardening. All he wanted was a modest lifestyle, his plants, and a small family.

@mako88sb

Жыл бұрын

I read Band of Brother’s and that was such a common thing with those that returned home. They often got into careers that focused on building things or something involved with helping others or being involved with nature.

@BadgerBJJ

Жыл бұрын

My uncle was a tank Sgt with Patton. Freed the German concentration camps and was first in Berlin. I interviewed him for my college thesis.

@29_lets_go

Жыл бұрын

@@BadgerBJJ My grandpa said he was thankful he never saw a concentration camp.. can't imagine.

@BadgerBJJ

Жыл бұрын

@@29_lets_go it was the only thing he struggled with putting into words. The war, Berlin, tank battles, death… he was very articulate. But, Buchenwald he was speechless. Said you could smell it from miles away.

@BadgerBJJ

Жыл бұрын

@@29_lets_go I imagine part of him could still smell it until the day he died

My grandfather hid under the floorboards of his home from the Germans when they came to the Netherlands. My father's aunt, uncle and cousins were all killed because they were hiding Jewish people. I had family in the concentration camps that didn't make it out. This film is so important, thank you for reacting to it! My thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Ukraine today. Slava Ukraine!

@h.donnellgrayiii4276

Жыл бұрын

Damn

@edgarcia4794

Жыл бұрын

Respect and love to your family.

@brianherrington7226

Жыл бұрын

My Dad and Uncles fought in Europe to liberate the world from Fascist. The most unfortunate thing now is we seem to be moving towards this type of world again however this time nuclear weapons are in the mix which means as Einstein said if there was a WWIII then WWIV would be fought with sticks and stones.

@SomeRandomOldFatGuy

Жыл бұрын

My mother in law hid under the floorboards from the Japanese. Floorboards seem to be a common thing.

@blackprix

Жыл бұрын

I’ve read so many stories like yours, so many people trying so hard to help others, respect to you and your family

When I was a teen, I gave my grandfather (a WWII vet) a Thank You For Your Service card. After looking at it, all he said was - in a quiet voice - "No one ever thanked me before." Our vets deserve our best and every good thing this country can provide for them. I guarantee, there's no way anyone came back from war without PTSD. :(

@mejiakid94

Жыл бұрын

if you grandfather is still around please give him my thanks

@uwotm8

Жыл бұрын

Your last statement is highly inaccurate as most soldiers who have gone to war don't develop PTSD. It's is remarkably high for those in combat roles with 15-20%, whilst those in support roles are 5-10%. These figures may seem extremely high, but considering the civilian population has a PTSD rate of just under 5% means these figures aren't surprising. People have a tendency to assume that PTSD is based on what you saw or experienced. That’s not entirely true. PTSD is really about how the individual processes what they experienced. Due to this, two people can go through the exact same event, and one might be fine while the other suffers from PTSD. It’s also why one person can see mutilated corpses and move on while another person freaks out after a single mortar lands near the base where they are at but they personally are never in any imminent danger.

The scene with the mother getting the letters is so moving that no words need to be spoken one of the best scenes ever put on film.

When I saw this in the theater, before the movie started they had a veteran that had been on the beach that day and he told his story. They had World War II tanks and ambulances outside the theater. It was such a moving experience. That is why they are called the greatest generation.

The American Sniper is played by Barry Pepper…who played Dean, the young prison guard in “Green Mile”…superb in both roles.

@Sportsref13

Жыл бұрын

Figured they would Recognize Vin Diesel ... The Soldier that gets the little girl down and then is shot by the sniper.. around 17:45 mark

@CamoJan

Жыл бұрын

He was my favorite. Always quoting Bible scripture before a shot. ♥

@spike3082

Жыл бұрын

Barry Pepper was in We Were Soldiers as the journalist Joseph Galloway

@jonathanmoon86

Жыл бұрын

@@spike3082 that was a great movie! Depressing though

@spike3082

Жыл бұрын

@@jonathanmoon86 yes it was I watched it for the first time when I was in basic training at of all places Fort Benning GA

Another note: You had voiced a question about the balloons above the invasion beach. These are what were called "barrage balloons." They're tethered balloons used to prevent against attacks by low flying aircraft. Also, each balloon was usually anchored by a number of steel cables so that even if a plane tried to fly underneath them, the plane would hit the cables and crash.

@haardo

Жыл бұрын

Was about to bring up this very thing but didn't need to. Cheers. :)

@johnnygnoneeded

Жыл бұрын

And a lot of those barrage balloons were in fact brought on shore by African-American soldiers...and to be able to control and handle these balloons, they carried no weapons...when historians refer to these all these men and their families as "the Greatest Generation," they mean it.

@roygoss7556

Жыл бұрын

@@johnnygnoneeded so…Americans? I’m tired of people like you.

@tdeo2141

11 ай бұрын

This is why I like the comments section. Thanks so much for sharing this info.

@nomnom7608

6 ай бұрын

You were faster than me by months

The Reason Pvt. Reiban tapped his magazine against his helmet before loading his B.A.R. (Browning Automatic Rifle) was so the cartridges get knocked to the rear of the magazine putting them in the proper position to be fed into The Chamber without jamming.

@michaelzilkowsky2936

4 ай бұрын

In the movie Heat, Val Kilmer does the same to his magazine, to the bumper of the car that he ducked behind to change mags.

@SergioArellano-yd7ik

3 ай бұрын

Every Vietnam movie has at least one guy that does that

The sniper was Barry Pepper, one of the guards in the green mile. There are so many talents in this movie. This movie was so well done in portraying the atrocities of War. It gives you a sinking feeling, but also makes you appreciate our men and women in the military that much more. And they deserve to be held in the highest regard. We thank you all for your service.

@deependz3231

Жыл бұрын

Most people feel pride.gratitude, and a sense of humbleness when viewing this movie, not a sinking feeling? You must be confusing this with that Titanic movie?

@MaxPower-kb4ke

Жыл бұрын

Another great film starring Barry Pepper to check out is "61"...the guy is a dead ringer for Roger Maris!

@joeschmoe9154

Жыл бұрын

He also was the war correspondent Joe Gallagher in " We were Soldiers" and Mike Strank in " Flags of our Fathers"

@Anakinskywalkerfan1

Жыл бұрын

Have you seen platoon

@joeschmoe9154

Жыл бұрын

another great film... one thing Platoon and saving Private Ryan Have in Common is that Dale Dye was the Military Advisor for both...

The theater was silent during this opening sequence. Some men left. One gentleman next to us was weeping. I just tried to breathe. I don’t watch this often. War is hell. In that , hell is very real. Complete respect to all Veterans.

When I finally saw this movie, I sat in front of a father and son. The father was translating the German right along. At the end, the son asked if it was realistic. The Dad said, "yes, it was exactly like that". I cried all the way home.

I remember coming out of the theater when this movie came out and seeing a couple WW2 veterans come out with tears in thier eyes. Even though so many years had passed, they still carried the pain of what they experienced. I'm a (cold war) veteran myself and when I went to Arlington national cemetery it was an emotional experience for me looking over the acres and acres of white tombstones at all the people that died for this country.

@jeanpreston4142

Жыл бұрын

I remember EVERYBODY with years.

@patrickmartell9907

Жыл бұрын

To keep our imperial overlords rich

@Britcarjunkie

Жыл бұрын

@@patrickmartell9907 As opposed to communist, marxist, and fascist overlords?

I saw this in the theater with my husband (Vietnam vet). There were only 3 women in the packed theater and at the end all the men around me were crying. It really was a profound moment for me. I told my uncle (Korean War vet) he should see this movie but he said no because the VA was full of men suffering from PTSD after watching this film. This movie was so well done and as close to war as I ever want to get.

The last scene makes me cry every time. "Am I a good man?" The first and final scene is filmed in a American cemetery in France. It overlooks Omaha Beach where all those soldiers were killed. Those men who tried to surrender and were shot. ("Look, I just washed my hand for supper!") Except they weren’t speaking German, they were speaking Czech, pleading: “Please don’t shoot me! I am not German, I am Czech, I didn’t kill anyone! I am Czech!" "FUBAR" is an acronym for "F**cked Up Beyond All Repair"

@ericseitzler81

Жыл бұрын

Actually it's f up beyond all recognition not repair

@mariaeisenhardt2296

Жыл бұрын

Servicemen that were on Omaha beach said that it was the most accurate portrait of D-day they had ever scene in a movie.

@jacqueline4514

Жыл бұрын

That scene made my father cry; the only time he ever cried from a movie.

I watched this in the theater. The opening scene commands respect for those young soldiers and their sacrifice. You cannot imagine or fathom the terror that they endured during this assault without watching this. I've been in combat in my military career, but nothing on this scale. Much love... much respect to that generation.

As a combat infantry veteran, this movie has always hit hard. It’s as close as civilians can get to seeing real combat. It has always made me so grateful for those who have went before me. We all sleep under the blanket of freedom that those brave souls have provided. Never forget.

@magdalenem4949

Жыл бұрын

thank you for your service. God bless you.

@paulleach3612

Жыл бұрын

Combat infantry - is there any other sort?

@jeanstrickland2445

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for your service 🇺🇸🇺🇸

@byronmiller2443

Жыл бұрын

@@paulleach3612 Yes. Not all infantry see combat. Some get hurt and have to watch all their friends deploy. Some are infantry in times of no conflict, they just train and then reclass to something else because they’re not getting what they want out of their role.

@CelticSpiritsCoven

Жыл бұрын

@@paulleach3612 You asked: "Combat infantry - is there any other sort?"

My great-grandfather was German, but he renounced his citizenship when the war broke out. After the war, the family visited Berlin as part of a European trip. The city was torn to pieces, there was no hot water, food was scarce and you needed your passport with you at all times. It goes to show how the horrors of war don't end when the war ends, it takes a lot to build everything back up including the human spirit.

The cemetery the start and end of the movie is in France, in Normandy at Colleville, literally just yards from Omaha Beach. It is the principal US cemetery in Normandy, and holds over 9800 fallen soldiers who lost their lives during the battle for Normandy in 1944. I've visited it several times, and also the German cemetery at La Cambe, as well as several British ones, at Ranville, Bayeux and Jerusalem, which is one of the smallest British cemeteries and holds just 47 graves, including the grave of Pte Jackie Banks, who was the youngest British soldier be killed in Normandy, and who was aged just 16. The cemeteries are all very different in character, and style, but they are all immaculately cared for and maintained by the French people. They are beautiful, peaceful places, quiet, tranquil grounds where the fallen soldiers, whatever their nationality, rest in peace.

@leepagnini6273

Жыл бұрын

Gen Colin Powel stated "We have gone forth from our shores repeatedly over the last hundred years and we’ve done this as recently as the last year in Afghanistan and put wonderful young men and women at risk, many of whom have lost their lives, and we have asked for nothing except enough ground to bury them in."

@Johnnybomb1

Жыл бұрын

I am glad that you had included that factoid, because it actually bothered me a little when she said "Men and WOMEN, that have fought for us." When in reality; none of the grave markers are of women in that cemetery.

@elcorado83

Жыл бұрын

Next HAS to be Schindler's List. Another Spielberg film, and another important classic.

The last scene of this movie, when Ryan talks to his wife, makes me tear up every time. It's one of the most powerful scenes in cinematic history ever.

@jackastor5265

Жыл бұрын

"Tell me I've lead a good life. Tell me I'm a good man." Kills me every time. Right in the feels.

@inspectorvol951

Жыл бұрын

@@jackastor5265 it’s the questions all men ask themselves at some point. That is why it hits so hard.

@snow3017

Жыл бұрын

i refuse to rewatch that scene. Waaaaay too hard to watch. This entire movie was a 1-and-done for me, but that last scene especially.

Most people know by now but just in case.. This was supposed to be Matt Damon's break out role and no one would have guessed he is Ryan on first sight. He was in Good WIll Hunting before and it blew him up which gave him away to most of the audience.

My grandfather enlisted near the end of the war. He landed in France sometime after D-Day and was captured in September of 1944 by the Germans after being wounded and falling into a foxhole. He spent the remainder of the war in a prison camp (Stalag III-C in what is now western Poland) and was liberated in January of 1945. Unfortunately he died before I was born but I’ve read some of the documents about his capture from the government as well as telegraphs he sent and an article that was written about him once he was liberated. This movie is so well done, I watch it every Veterans Day.

@gingerty9628

7 күн бұрын

My grandpa was in stalag 12a

My son saw this film in school, along with another called "Glory" (1989), based on a true story about the 54th Massachusetts all-Black regiment in the Civil War. "Earn this....EARN IT!!" Those words are spoken to every single person who watches this film down throughout the ages. We all have the responsibility to earn the freedom that so many sacrificed for. That graveyard is actually the American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France. There are 9,387 graves here spread over 172 acres. This includes soldiers, sailors, airmen, women, and war correspondents. There is also a Wall of the Missing that lists 1,557 men that went missing in action, with rosettes next to the names of those that have since been recovered and identified. France has gifted the United States a concession to the land. This means that while the land remains French, the cemetery and memorial belong to the US Government. The Star Spangled Banner flies overhead at all times.

This movie was so realistic that it was reportedly very very hard for veterans to watch. I love how they started with the D-day landing and just threw the audience right into it. Relentlessly. Really gave the viewer a whole new perspective on how traumatic war is & how terribly inhumane. You guys should watch Born on the Fourth of July next because it deals with what happens when these guys come home. I can’t even imagine what our veterans go through trying to live with what they were made to do. Like you said, most of us have never had to really think about what war is like & how costly our freedoms really are.

@Arthaius

Жыл бұрын

- From what I understand, they actually did a lot of accurate study and co-operative consultation with actual veterans in the creation of the Normandy Beach scene, making sure the veterans helped to correct and augment details for the sake of realism out of respect - they didn't just want to make it an "Action" scene, but wanted to show respect for the accuracy of the true event. I think that in itself shows a significant level of respect that they would consult with actual witnesses of the historical event for the sake of realism, rather than for just entertainment.

@josiahalcorne

Жыл бұрын

This was hard to watch for most people. I was never in the military but the idea of teenagers having to go through this blows my mind. I've never made it through the whole movie. I had to leave the theater when the kid was dying crying for his mom.

@El_Bueno

Жыл бұрын

I heard many veterans had to leave the theater due to how realistic it was.

The thing about Upham that people miss is the tragedy of his character. Everybody cheered when he shot the German soldier that he originally saved from earlier in the movie, but that was the tragedy. Upham went through the entire movie as the one character that kept his humanity, until the very end when he lost it. Compassion, forgiveness, everything that made Upham left him when he pulled the trigger. That shows how war is hell.

@garybradford8332

Жыл бұрын

Speilberg said that Upham was who he most identified with and that would have been him in WWII.

@RMBB4202

Жыл бұрын

Stories like this one are morality plays, and morality plays need an "everyman" character, someone who represents the point of view of the layman audience, and of humanity in general. The everyman is a stock character in morality plays, and Upham is the everyman in this one. As someone in the audience would be in his situation, he is at first lost, nervous, terrified, and finally, profoundly transformed by the experience. He gives the audience someone to identify with.

@periechontology

Жыл бұрын

Upham failed to kill when it was necessary and could have saved lives, and DID kill when it was unnecessary.

@hillsane9262

8 ай бұрын

Every man, yes and no? Upham let the other Germans go, again! This time, he could have made pow's out of them since he was no longer part of a long range patrol near or behind enemy lines! He did not have to sacrifice his humanity to end their role in the war!

@ZackBrandt-mn9bh

7 ай бұрын

Realistically, the German would have killed him on the steps as he saw he wasn't a threat and wouldn't have thought twice about it.

You might want to look at the TV series "Band of Brothers" about 101st Airborne paratroopers and their development from training to victory in Europe. Its as intense as this movie but with multiple episodes, you really get to know the characters.

@davidobrien9216

Жыл бұрын

I was about to suggest this myself.. I cannot recommend it enough

@Robinderocker

Жыл бұрын

@@davidobrien9216 Me too fellas

@Noblemand

Жыл бұрын

Especially episode 6 and 7 in Bastogne

@mjvajda

Жыл бұрын

Also would recommend episode 9. As clichéd as it is at this point for a reaction video.

@karidrgn

Жыл бұрын

There's a really good review of BOB for accuracy and he actually watched it with some of the vets who participated.

This needs to be shown in all high school history classes in this country. The sacrifice this generation gave needs to be understood and appreciated

@user-ie8dy8tc1m

Жыл бұрын

Congratulations you're the lucky winner of the ongoing giveaway text me on telegram to claim your package🎁

@jbeannie90

Жыл бұрын

💯💯💯💯💯

@skipvillanueva9927

Жыл бұрын

They do

@paulself8698

Жыл бұрын

This generation would want a safe space...

@haxsvg9372

Жыл бұрын

@@skipvillanueva9927 Not everywhere and certainly Not everyday.

Fun fact: Apparently Matt Damon improvised that entire story off script about the last memory with his brothers and the barn etc. Also it literally breaks my heart watching Amber cry. Jay you got a golden heart in your girl and that's not easy to find in today's culture, don't let her go haha. Ya'll do some of the best movie reactions!

This movie single-handedly changed the way war films were made. Everyone who saw this movie in the theaters when it first came out was absolutely blown away by its level of realism. We were all stunned and in awe of the production. The most shocking thing of all was when this movie failed to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards. No one in their right mind thought Shakespeare in Love was better than Saving Private Ryan.

When I started to watch this reaction and when you said "it's the sounds" I swear it took me back to Afghanistan 2008-2009. There's sounds you hear that you just don't forget. I can understand why a lot of WWII vets couldn't watch it in theaters and had to leave because of its accuracy. I have the same reaction when I watch Iraq and Afghanistan war documentaries, because I lived it and lost brothers and a sister (term for our military family) who I lived with, suffered and bickered with, trained and partied with.. People I had a closer relationship with than that of my own family.. People I loved. War has a sound, even when it's quiet, that someone who has never experienced it can never understand.

My father was an Army medic in the Pacific for 3 years, and he and my mom retired to Ft. Lauderdale in 1991 and lived in a retirement community. When they went to see this on opening weekend, the entire theater was filled with nothing but retirees....and almost every man there was a veteran. And every woman there lived through the Home Front or served as a nurse or similar. My mom said that when the movie ended, the entire theater was silent, except for the sound of weeping old men. Watching this movie actually inspired my father to finally tell us some of his wartime experiences. Before that, all you could get out of him were funny little anecdotes. After this, his stories got a bit more grim.

My late dearest sweet neighbor Bob who I will miss the rest of my life, was at Omaha beach. My ex took him and my father-in-law who was a Marine in the Pacific to see the movie. Bob told us that the depiction of the landing of Normandy was exactly accurate. The only depiction he’d ever seen of it that showed how it really was. My young daughter made a sign for them that said “welcome home veterans”. I made them a wonderful lunch and we watch the Tom Brokaw documentaries Where the vets were interviewed and talked about their experiences for the first time. They said it was the best Veterans Day they ever had❤

So I saw this in the front row of the movies with a bunch of my Army buddies when it came out. All of us in our late teens, early 20's. By the end I put my ball cap back on as I was starting to tear up and another friend was being laughed at for crying. I held my cool. Well, another friend...this 6 foot 4 tall, broad shouldered guy sat separately from us as the theater was packed. While leaving, I noticed him waiting in the hallway, but clearly crying. At that moment, I lost it and sobbed for what seemed like 10 min. I heard later, a friend's girlfriend asked her Army boyfriend if he was going to be okay as he was crying out at the car. It is a very powerful film. Especially to those who are intertwined with similar friendships in the service.

That initial D-Day scene is primarily why Spielberg won best director at the Oscars in ‘99 after the movie came out Edit btw, this scene/movie is considered to be one of if not the most accurate depiction of war and battle, especially in WWII, with D-Day, and all… masterpiece of a movie

My Dad served in Europe in WW2. He rarely talked about it. So when I saw the opening 20 minutes or so in the theater, I sat there stunned with tears just running down my face at the horror of what he faced. This more than any other experience brought home to me the unspeakable horrors of war.

I saw this in a theater when it first came out. It was literally the only movie I’ve ever gone to see where there was absolute silence and stillness at the end. The entire audience just sat there. No scrambling to leave. No chatting on the way out. It was profound.

@rowdyyates4766

Жыл бұрын

Had the exact same experience...saw this in the theatre when it came out...there were 12 people in the theatre, it was a Thursday afternoon...we just sat there for at least 5 minutes...dead silence....when he saluted the grave stone my heart was ripped out...that was tough

@doctormcmg7814

Жыл бұрын

This movie and Schindler's List had the same effect. You sat there in tears, speechless.

@Saul.2910

Жыл бұрын

Same. Absolute silence for several moments after it ended

@michaelhansen8598

Жыл бұрын

Freedom isn't Free. Semper Fi

@tipigi3570

Жыл бұрын

The same for me. My wife didn't want to see it, so I went alone. When the movie finished, It was quiet, and I walked outside, into a beautiful, sunny day. I remember standing there looking at everyone going about their day, and thinking.. if there was a veteran here right now, I'd hug him and tell him "thank you for all that you did for us". I'll never forget that feeling.

Both my grandfathers fought in WW2 and they never talked about the war. He did share his experience once to my father when he was younger and my father told me that story after he passed, it sounded so horrific and scary what he experienced and also shocking what man is capable of doing to one another out of fear and anger.

I'm French, and my father was born in Normandy. When we visited family back in 2009, my aunt took me to visit places where WWII took place, including some places shown in the movie... Pretty accurate ! The rainy and cloudy weather is the most accurate, it's the weather almost the entire year in Normandy lmao Edit : the cemetery is in Normandy, it's the first place I visited

Today my son celebrated his first Veterans Day as a Marine Corps. veteran. I’m so grateful that I have him home and he’s safe. Thank you to all that serve! 🇺🇸

@bernardh4635

Жыл бұрын

Happy Veterans Day and Happy belated Birthday to the Marine Corps!

@bunniebee2475

Жыл бұрын

@@fowledanchor1141 Thank you for your service! Semper Fi!

@amae1970

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for your son's service and I'm so happy that he is home and safe ❤️

@russellbrown1068

26 күн бұрын

Ooh Rah

My grandfather was in the Normandy Invasion (the horrific opening scene). He eventually got shot but survived with a lot of psychological trauma. I always think of him when I see this movie. Thank you for watching ❤

That opening battle scene, probably the most intense, realistic war scene ever shot. This movie also had an outstanding cast, like the Dr played by Giovanni Ribisi, who in my mind, is woefully underrated. But in a movie with this cast, hard to notoce everybody.

As a combat veteran with ptsd i thank you for showing this to many dont know why we come home broken

I saw this when it first came out...the theaters made people aware that no one would be let in during the 1st 20 minutes, so you made sure to be in your seat on time. It honestly felt and sounded like bullets were flying by your head. It was one of the most intense starts to any movie I've ever seen. People were crying and covering their eyes, it was incredible. I felt like I was holding my breath for the entire movie...I was exhausted when it was over. Like others have said here, as the credits rolled, there was complete silence as people slowly made their way out.

I’m a proud Army veteran i went to see this when it was released in the theater. Only time I have ever walked out of a movie with tears in my eyes. I was lost in my thoughts feeling stunned, speechless and somber I guess you could say. It’s a surreal feeling that no other movie I’ve ever seen can duplicate. Happy Veterans Day along with all the other days of your lives to my brothers and sisters who served. For those who never made it home Rest In Peace.

@tactical-daddy

Жыл бұрын

From one soldier to another, thank you for your service my brother

@JM-zb2ip

Жыл бұрын

@@tactical-daddy Thank you also brother 👍

@janetuss6496

Жыл бұрын

@@JM-zb2ip Thank you for your service. Have you seen the new film adaption of the WWI book All Quiet On The Western Front? Conveys the brutality and emptiness of war much more strongly imo. It gave me a much broader perspective about war in general, seeing the perspective of other sides.

@ShortyLongstrokin

Жыл бұрын

There are few experiences of watching a film in the theater that I remember. This was one of them, particularly how I was a young 22-year-old in a daytime matinee, surrounded by much older men and couples, some of whom I'm sure were veterans. At the end of the movie, everyone quietly stood up and left, no one saying a word. Just the echoes of muffled tears from guys in their 70s and 80s that lived through WW2.

@bethmiller1840

Жыл бұрын

Happy Veteran's Day and thank you for your service.

@ 5:01 The combat engineer was referring to clearing the landing obstacles in order to allow tanks and equipment to come to shore

"Is that the dad from Malcom in the Middle? I used to love that show" yeah most reactors recognize him from Breaking Bad

My Father in law was a prisoner of war for three years in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp. He helped to build the bridge over the river Kwai. He eventually escaped and had to swim through shark-infested waters during the escape with his close friend. His buddy never made it. He went on to have 5 children, one of whom I've been married to for 34 years. A big thank you to all our vets and the brave men from Canada, America, and the U.K who landed on Normandy that fateful day and turned the tide of war.

@xvavhofo3126

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing, what an amazing story. Wishing you and him all the best

@deependz3231

Жыл бұрын

I've got news for you, there are no rivers in the world that are shark infested, and in reality, there was a bridge built, but not over the river Kwai.

@biggreen9845

Жыл бұрын

@@deependz3231 So what. The bridge is still known as the Bridge on the River Kwai though the waters beneath it were not but it did eventually connect. As for, the “shark infested rivers.” Bull Sharks are known to migrate up rivers, and they are the most aggressive sharks to humans, so who knows could have been sh*t luck.

@deependz3231

Жыл бұрын

@@biggreen9845 Sure, sure, if any of what she said were true, she would have provided his name and he most certainly have written a book. Only rubes like you would believe such a story.😆😅🤣😂

@biggreen9845

Жыл бұрын

@@deependz3231 Is it anyone’s business on the internet the name of her father-in-law. Not everyone ends up writing a book. You really think an ally prisoner of war would know the name of a river in which he was forced to build a bridge over, in Siam(Thailand today) at the time? So what if the water underneath was not the river, it’s still known as the Bridge on the River Kwai. Calling me names does not change that.

My son was in high school when he and I went to the theater to see this movie. Prior to the movie starting an elderly gentleman with a young lady sat in front of us. He turned around to ask if I could see okay. How nice of him. Then the movie started and on the big screen it was so tough to watch. Then the gentleman in front of me started crying and the young lady held him. I then heard my son and turned to see him bawling. All four of us just cried and cried. Now you know how thankful we need to be for those who fought for the freedom of everyone.

The actor that played the first "Ryan" they came across, Nathan fillion, plays a Captain in another fav series that i love called "Firefly". One of my fav quotes (and i have so many from that series) was; "Everybody dies. Hell, someone is carrying a bullet for you right now and doesn't even know it. The trick is to die of old age before it finds you." When i think of how the captain let that man go and in the end was shot by him, it reminds me of that quote. You never know how life is going to play out. How one decision paves the way for a reault in the future you could never predict. Another thing that also kills me, is that they stayed for both battles when it went againt their mission. Both because "It is the right thing to do". In both intances they saved people in the future but ended their own. Nothing else impacts greater then that. The duty and absolute conviction, by ordinary men doing extordinafy things, for people they'll never meet. P.s. you kinda asked in the review, why he was shaking. From someone who suffers ptsd, its because the mind cant compute the horrors experienced. He doesnt shake when in battle because he is running off adrenaline, his brain, and experience to stay alive. When things become quiet and he tries to process, he cant. It is too much to process. And then you try and block it out. Shut it down, so you can function. But it leaks through. For people it differs. I too shake. The more i try and supress, the more i shake. And when i finally break, and the walls crash down, it takes days to stop. The shaking is the physical representation of the trauma leaking through.

That cemetery in the opening sequence is the Normandy American Cementery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France. The cemetery honors Americans who died during invasion in World War 2 and contains 9,387 gravesites. It's the only authentic filming location in the movie.

This should be required for every American to watch. What our servicemen and women go through and sacrifice to keep us safe should never be forgotten. This portrayal of the Normandy invasion has to be so close to the way war really is. And when the General quotes Lincoln’s letter it is so eloquent and has always touched me so. This movie is able to show the inner thoughts and fears, the regrets of these soldiers. There is just so much to appreciate here, one of the greatest movies ever. Btw, the sniper is Barry Pepper, Dean from The Green Mile. I love him, his character in this. I love the way he prays for God’s help to make him a weapon. 💔💔♥️🇺🇸🇺🇸

@dillbilly5903

Жыл бұрын

Believe it or not, watching this movie was a requirement when I was in boot camp. The drill instructor said, “This is a representation of what you could be called upon to do for your country.” , and then started the movie. We watched in silence (of course) and we remained silent for some time even after the credits rolled.

@jwmson7791

Жыл бұрын

@@dillbilly5903 Silence and awe is how I would describe my reaction also. Thank you so much for your service and I pray God’s blessings for you my friend! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

"The Best Years of Our Lives" is a great older (1946) World War II movie. It does not show the horrors of combat, rather it deals with servicemen returning home after the war and their difficulties readjusting to civilian life. It's emotionally powerful, even after all these years.

@melanie62954

Жыл бұрын

The Best Years of Our Lives is one of my favorite films!

@jamesalexander5623

Жыл бұрын

It's on TCM Tonight .... I'm Watching!

@elzy01

Жыл бұрын

I have to agree! I had not thought of this movie for years but it is one of the best movies dealing with the aftermath of World War II. Harold Russell brought so much authenticity to the movie. Definitely an oldie but a goodie!

@storiedworlds6261

Жыл бұрын

Great recommendation. I’d forgotten about that one.

@watchmanschannelofdespair

Жыл бұрын

@@melanie62954 Mine too.

The range and success of Tom Hanks. From a comedian on a sit-com to within a few years playing Saving Private Ryan, Forrest Gump, Philadelphia Story, Castaway, Captain Phillips, Sully, and the Green Mile. Amazing.

Hello to you both. I too was in the army and got out in 1974 and this is a very hard film to watch. I grew up with a father who in WW2, Korea and still on active duty during Veit Nam he retired as a full coronel. I'm very proud of him for all I learned from him about why we have to fight wars. The one thing that I will never forget is that it may always take blood in the sand to keep all of us free. I enjoyed your very open reaction to the film. God bless you all and GOD BLESS AMERICA.

My Grandfather was in the Army during WWII and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge. This movie is the only movie that ever made my Father (a Vietnam War Vet) cry. And the third in line, my son is a Navy Veteran at only 30. Brilliant Movie.

I was a reenactor at a veterans day parade one year, and an elderly vet came over to compliment us on the authentic uniforms and gear we had, we noticed he had the bronze star and asked him about it. He simply said he earned it that D- day morning, but refused to talk any further. After seeing this, now you know why

D-day, June 6, 1944. Some drown because they were weighed down by their gear😢 they were 17 and up. 4,415 men died that day. 2,501 were American deaths. This is why our flag should never be disrespected. Ever!!!

Just in case you guys didn't know. The sniper is Daniel Jackson, played by Barry Pepper. Same guy from the mile :)

When Private Ryan says that line about “standing with his brothers I have left” it just gets me every time.

One of the most realistic depictions of the chaos of war ever put on film . That first half hour was horrific. I saw this on a big screen at the DGA theatre in Los Angeles and cried and cried for those men… My uncle was with an anti aircraft unit that made the push through France.. his unit shot down the last German plane of the European war… he died last year on Labor Day at 97 years old

I was born after Vietnam and before Desert Storm, so i grew up in a time of peace. I can not understand why, but WWI and WWII movies(especially WWII) resonate with me for some reason. I have to see them, and I weep every time.

The Cemetery featured in The Movie is in Normandy France, which has been lovingly maintained by The People Of France as an expression of National Pride and Gratitude since The End Of WW2.

Tom Hanks along with Spielberg produced the most expensive tv documentary series about the 101. Airborne during WWII, called "Band of Brothers", an absolute must watch. Each episode intro is by a surviving member telling his story. Amazing amount of actors as well, that rose to stardom, just as with this movie.

@SuperFurry68A

Жыл бұрын

I’ll second that. Band of Brothers is incredible and heartbreaking at the same time. Over here in the UK we have our Remembrance Day and there are always old guys who served handing out Poppies. Whenever I buy one they say thank you, but I always turn around, shake their hand, and say “no, thank you.” I cannot thank them enough for everything they gave us.

@kevinhegwood615

Жыл бұрын

YES! Band of Brothers is so f'ing amazing, and while not %100 percent accurate, as close as any form of media could be....heartbreaking and inspiring

@looneygardener

Жыл бұрын

It is a masterpiece.

@spacetiger5076

Жыл бұрын

The series was based off Stephen Ambrose’s book, “Band of Brothers”. I still have my copy - I read it when it came out since I liked some of his other books including “Citizen Soldiers”.

@nancyburke8745

Жыл бұрын

Band of Brothers is amazing. Pulls your heart out but does such an awesome job of drawing you into the stories.

Spielberg gave a private show of this movie to WW2 veterans who were at normandy(the beach), before the movie came out. He researched and asked vets for input heavily so much so that the WW2 vets that watched this told media that it was as close to what happened to them in real life as possible. This sets the standard for what war movies need to be like. As a soldier I cry every time I watch this.

@micheletrainor1601

Жыл бұрын

They apparently had to stop it for a while after the Omaha beach scene as so many were in tears and I think a few needed some air due to the realism of that scene just put them right back there on that beach. I cannot imagine that fear..

@SixballQ45

10 ай бұрын

Same here brother..

@NickWilly-yi5xb

9 ай бұрын

Me 2. I was A M-60 Machine Gunner. When I saw The Opening Scene in'98, My Adrenaline Glands ACHED. The Last 5 Minutes of The Movie ALWAYS, brings tears to my eyes, very hard to keep it together.

@trevinormandy14520

6 ай бұрын

It’s not “at Normandy” it’s in Normandy, and Normandy is region of France there are five different allied beaches …the landings took place on a 55 mile ride front and up to 75 miles if you include the Airborne so please stop saying Normandy Beach …which one are you talking about? I guess it’s Omaha right? Don’t forget Juno sword gold and also Utah. I’m here to let you know because you don’t know obviously and I live in Normandie, I also happen to be a tour guide and I’ve been doing this for 14 years so I know the subject well😊

@YouthfulPorpoise

19 күн бұрын

Sveral veterans of modern war (Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria) still say the opening scene is as close as a movie ever got to the real deal.

This is why they're called the greatest generation.

Also - finally! You guys are the only ones so far, to understand Uphams ending as a bitter one - so many reactors hate on him, and often at the end, exclaim "nah, not good enough!" as if Upham attempts a redemption there - he doesn't! Upham *resigns* and he murders a prisoner - there's no victory for Upham, the war broke him.

Tom Hanks and Spielberg made the HBO series Band of Brothers and The Pacific. They are well worth watching.

@destrybroderick9736

Жыл бұрын

Tom Hanks has a cameo in Band of brothers. In the episode where they liberated the concentration camps he is a stretcher bearer.

@dastemplar9681

Жыл бұрын

At this point, it should be the law to watch these three WWII masterpieces; Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers, and The Pacific.

@brandisanchez812

Жыл бұрын

I have been binging your channel and I am OBSESSED! You definitely need to react to Band of Brothers. It is a masterpiece from start to finish. (This is the 1st time I've ever commented on a video lol)

My dad was a runner in WWII in New Guinea. He ran through the jungles at night delivering messages and ended up getting malaria that affected him for years. My four uncles were in WWII also and my cousin was a Green Beret who died in Vietnam. War is hell on earth.

That cemetery is Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC. That’s where military personnel are laid to rest that do not have a cemetery plot with family or do not have family to bury them. All military are able to have military honors for burial because they served in the US military.

The blimps were known as barrage balloons and used at various altitudes to foil low level aerial attacks by enemy aircraft.

I went to see this movie with my dad. He said this was the closest representation of what it was like in real life. At the end, where Tom Hanks character tells him to “Earn this”, it touched my heart so much because my dad was with Patton - pretty much the worst parts of the war, freed concentrations camps and still became the best man I’ve ever known - on purpose.

@tishrami1274

Жыл бұрын

Susan, my dad was in the armored division attached to Patton. I was too stupid not to listen to his stories more closely, and now he's gone. One of the biggest regrets of my life.

My Dad was a medic on that beach, he then worked across France into Belgium for the battle of the bulge. After it was over he was sent to the Netherlands to wait for a slow boat back to the states. Medics didn't carry weapons, how he made it I have no idea, but I'm glad he did. He never talked about the things he saw or did while there. I just retired after 40 years in the Air Force. He taught me that we all serve, because even the people that stayed in the states did their part to help those overseas, just like we do today.

If you want to see the best solo acting EVER, you NEED to watch Cast Away. Tom Hanks stars in this fantastic film. He is AMAZING in this film.

Don’t let any enemy go or left behind, cause the same enemy that you letting go, that’s the one that turning back to take your life.

I took my grandad to see this at the cinema when it first come out, I wasn't aware how realistic this movie would be, on exiting the cinema my grandad said never to take him to a war film again, first time I ever saw him cry 😢 rip grandad 💜

I never went to see this in the theater but caught it one night on cable when I was home alone. I am not a big war movie fan but love Tom Hanks and Spielberg so decided to investigate. The second this scene started I immediately became upset and reached for the remote to change the channel. Before I could a little voice in my head pointed out to me that if I found simply watching a reenactment in the safety of my own home too distressing, then imagine what the people there went through? I immediately felt that I OWED it to the men there to watch this and get SOME appreciation for their sacrifices. So I grabbed a pillow to bury my face in and sobbed my way through the entire thing.

Rob Squad, great reaction vid! My grandfather served in WW2 as a combat medic. He told a story of when he was in Germany and his unit over running a German position which was in his words "an awful experience". He found a young German who was just a kid shot and left for dead. His humanity kicked in and against his training and better judgement, he stopped and rendered aid to the kid. He couldnt leave him behind. When he was finished, the kid grabbed a hidden bayonet and literally stabbed him in the back. He dealt with a long recovery process for that injury. True story.

Here on the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Lest we forget ❤ 2024/06/06

As a Vietnam-Era army vet, this movie makes me cry every time. I lost two uncles in WW2, and most of my commanding officers were WW2 veterans and I heard so many stories. This was truly the greatest generation.

@GeraldWalls

Жыл бұрын

You either think of the Vietnam War as either yesterday or ancient history. I was born in 1963 so I can remember the news reports and watching about the fall of Saigon. Since I think of this as Yesterday it blows my mind to realize that all of this happened around Half a Century ago. All of those 18 year old kids are at least 65 now. Everyone should spend some time watching videos like these (and many others): The Fall of Saigon: 40 years later kzread.info/dash/bejne/qHyAraiMh92vnc4.html "Our flight deck will only take one helicopter at a time…" kzread.info/dash/bejne/rIuCmLqAhaTOirg.html

@joeking7707

Жыл бұрын

Absouletly

My wife's grandfather served at the Battle of the Bulge in WW2. He was stationed out of Fort Bragg/ Camp Mackall. Over 60 years later I found myself there. He opened up to me about his experiences like he hadn't with his children and grandchildren because of what we had in common. I'm a day late it's not memorial day but I gotta say rest in peace Ryan Knauss. The last U.S. soldier killed in Afghanistan and my friend, always.

@ralpholson7616

Жыл бұрын

My father was in the Third Army under Patton. He was part of the forces that marched over 100 miles in two days in the dead of winter to relieve Bastogne.

3000 died on the 1st day of Normandy. Back in the Civil War, 5000 Union soldiers died in 20 minutes at the Battle of Cold Harbor. Not sure if you've seen "Glory" but if not, good film. More contemporary... "Blackhawk Down", "Lone Survivor", and "13 Hours".

The blimps seen in the air around the Normandy Beach after the invasion were call barrage balloons, and they were used to keep enemy planes away from the area. Planes could not take the chance of flying in an area that had the big balloons because the wires used to tether them to the ground could easily cut a plane in two.

My Grandpa was 10 when both his older brothers got sent off to war. Both his brothers were killed on that beach in different drop zones. My Grandpa remembered driving the tractor on his farm when a government car drove up and handed him the letters. He wasn’t suppose to read them, but he opened them and read that both his brothers had been killed. He had to run back to the farm house and tell his mom. He grew up that day, with his entire childhood lost with the heaviness of life. RIP Grandpa, you legend.

My great grandfather, served in Italy and France during WW2. Was wounded in France by a grenade that killed the other two men in his foxhole. He never talked about war. Once when I was a boy, he told me, The Quail, fly away from you, the rabbit, the fox, the coyote, the deer, they will run from you. In war your enemy runs towards you. Gooood hunting during wartime. God bless all the men and women that have served Thank you for the reaction ❤️

When I saw this at the cinema with my Wife I was in a bit of a state after it finished and went into the toilets for some tissue paper and found half a dozen grown men in tears. I was not alone.

Both of my grandfathers were in WWII. One was a field artillery officer in the Pacific Theater and the other was a radioman on Omaha Beach. My grandfather that survived D-Day never spoke of the war. After watching this the first time, I understood why. I miss them both.

The scene with Wade the medic getting killed. So heartbreaking. I remember reading The Longest Day a long time ago. And there's this part about a German medic trying to get away, and stumbling across two lifeless American paratroopers in a field near a hedge. He checks on them, one is dead, one is not. So he does what he can to patch that guy up. And when he is done, someone throws a pack of cigarettes to him, which scares him a lot. There's more American paratroopers in the hedgerow next to him. And they've been watching him. And since he is a medic and did good, he is allowed to go on his merry way, with a pack of smokes. Medics were that well liked, and loved. Even an enemy medic would get respect. That novel is basically just a long row of interviews with war veterans from D-day, June 6th 1944, so that story is not fiction. So Wade the medic getting killed would be a major loss for everyone in the unit.

@diverbob33

Жыл бұрын

It's just too bad that scene never made it into the movie. Thanks for sharing that. In horrifying contrast, I remember seeing a video about Iwo Jima in the Pacific theatre. During that conflict, the Japanese troops learned to mimic the term "medic". They would shout out when American troops were nearby and pick off anyone who would respond to the call for help, including any real medics. The American troops responded by cleverly using a code word; instead of shouting "medic", they would call out "Tallulha". This was a reference to a popular stage actress at the time (Tallulha Bankhead) and the Japanese could not speak her name properly.

@urthboundmisfit

Жыл бұрын

I was in the Army for a few years. Medics and other medical specialties nowadays are regulated by the Geneva Conventions. They are not allowed to engage in offensive warfare. Someone in the higher echelons decided it was a good idea to ensure medics kept being well liked so they could do their jobs, and I'm glad. I was medical admin, which doesn't even treat people, and I didn't know about my special status going in. Chaplains are also covered, and their assistants.

@Moggy471

Жыл бұрын

Great book as is ABridge Too Far. Same authour.

Mrs Ryan's knees buckling when she sees the chaplain is the most heart wrenching bit of film making ever.

@lynnhettrick7588

Жыл бұрын

Yes, that scene makes me cry every time.

@MnS101

Жыл бұрын

Same thoughts about that part. Just think of her pain and anguish. I cry every time.

@bradleyspear167

Жыл бұрын

I was on the Honor Guard, Firing Squad, for a funeral of a Desert Storm casualty. His mother was making it through as well as could be expected until the first note of Taps. She collapsed right there.

@casey4602

Жыл бұрын

@@lynnhettrick7588 me too

The man saying he was clearing the beach was a Navy man mostly likely UTD. Their job was is blow clearings through the obstacles. I had an uncle who did that at Normandy. Also, the Wrong Pvt. Ryan was Nathan Fillion.

The theme of this was based on the Sullivan brothers. Five Brothers that served on the same ship in WWII They all died when the ship was sunk.

Haven't watched one second of this reaction. Letting the ads play. Amber is going to be absolutely done. When old Matt Damon asks his wife to tell him he is a good man....I cry like a toddler. My grandfather was at the battle of the bulge and he was part of freeing a death camp. I can't help to see this movie through his eyes. So much respect for him and all of them

my grandfather and his 5 brothers all served in the military, he lost two brothers in berma, and in the south pacific. My grandfather went to the Philippines where he was a paratrooper. Thank you to all the veterans and to everyone else for your service. This movie in my honest opinion is the closest to War that you can watch without actually being there.

Both my grandfathers fought in WW2. They were lucky enough to survive. Hundreds of thousands didn’t. I give sincere thanks and remembrance to those American and Canadian young men who left their homes to travel thousands of miles to fight. 🇬🇧🇺🇸🇨🇦

A runner is just someone designated to run a task or errand. It’s not an official military job. The runner is usually a low ranking soldier

I am part of a military family and served for 20+ years myself, and this movie brings me to tears at the end every time. It captures the realities of war so well, the viewer really feels like they're on this journey with them. There's definitely a reason this is often called one of the best war movies ever made. There's also a reason that more than 20 years later, many of us are still so outraged this movie lost the Oscar for Best Picture to Shakespeare in Love...

@NavvyMom

Жыл бұрын

(NaVVy was a squirrel, I am NOT a Navy Mom) Yeah, well, HollyWeird . . . Great example of why we shouldn't give a flying frell about the Oscars.

I'm an Army veteran of 6 years. I look forward to your movie reviews on Mondays and Fridays more than any TV show. I love your personalities, and your compassion for the characters of the movies you react to. I genuinely hope you react to movies for years to come. ❤❤

My uncle Tom was in the Normandy invasion. On the 3rd day after the battle, he and 2 other friends were shot by a German machine gun. He was hit by 4 bullets. 1 in his wrist and 3 in his groin area. He was never able to have children again. The other 2 men were killed. He crawled 2 miles, dragging his intestines behind him, and made it to an aid station. He spent an entire year in an English hospital. He was a silver star winner. May God bless all the brave men who fought in Normandy and the other battles all over the world!

My God. Tom Hanks is such a great actor 👏 👌