Saving Private Ryan RIPPED Me to Shreds - First Time Watching

A small detail that often gets overlooked is when Ryan's wife read's John Miller's name on the gravestone, devoid of recognition. It's her first time seeing that name, meaning that Ryan went his whole life without telling her about his time during the war. He's carried the knowledge of what happened and his survivor's guilt by himself this whole time. Ryan spent decades haunted by it, wondering if anything he did could ever make up for their sacrifice. Imagine thinking that you could never be good enough for that long.

The soldier crying out for his mum always hits me hard. "All gave some, some gave all"

I saw this in the theater on its opening weekend. I noticed 5 or 6 veterans in wheelchairs placed in a special secrion of the aisle. When the film ended, we all looked at them and they were all soaked with tears, and seeing that made everyone else in the theater cry. We all thanked them. One of the most unforgettable movie experiences I've ever had

As a mama's boy Wade's death always hits me the hardest. Him talking earlier about missing those precious moments with his mother and that he didn't know why he didn't greet her and pretended he was asleep instead. And then in his final moments he just wants to go home to his mama. Heartbreaking moment in the middle of war.

"I'm such a baby, I'm sorry." Nah, I'm a grown ass man and this movie always gets me tearing up. Every damn time.

I was a Navy Corpsman, (Navy counterpart to Wade's Doc). I served 10 years, 8 with Marines. I saw this on a Tuesday afternoon. There were 12 of us. Myself, and 11 others, all veterans. At the end of the movies, the house lights went up. All of us had teary eyes. One old man stated the following- "As far as war movies go, that was the most accurate depiction I've ever seen . As for the ACTUAL D-Day, it didn't come close" His hat said it all- D-Day Survivor, Purple Heart. I have always deferred to his expert opinion. As bad as you think it was as shown in the movie, it was much, much worse. As for your tears, I am 58. I shed tears every time. Do not be ashamed of your tears. It means you're human.

"I'm such a baby I'm sorry" - No, you're a compassionate human being. This movie rips pretty much everyone but sociopaths apart.

Jackson's death hit me the hardest. He was a damn good soldier, and even in his last moment he was trying to save the man next to him... "Parker! Get Out!"

The usual progression is from Saving Private Ryan moving on to Band of Brothers. If you down that route, have the tissues handy.

My Dad was a WWII vet who served in the infantry in Europe. When this firm came out I called him to ask if he had seen it; he lived in Rhode Island and I live in Los Angeles. He told me did see it with my nephew who cried all the way through. Then my father asked me about the final battle in the film and what I thought of it. I responded with was desperate and brutal. Then he really surprised me when he said "I was in a battle like that." I was speechless. It's no wonder his generation is called the Greatest Generation. Your reaction was completely honest and the tears prove it. Thanks.

As a retired veteran the last scene of the movie is so impactful. We all should live our lives as to earn it. We owe it to those that have sacrificed everything and those that currently are and were willing to sacrifice everything. I know it sounds cliche, but it is something we all can come together for, because in todays privileged society we make such unimportant things so trivial and divisive.

My Grandfather was in WW2 and never once spoke about his time there. I never knew he had fought in the Battle of the Bulge until after he passed away. The sacrifices his generation made can never be honored enough. Thank you for such a sincere reaction.

I believe i cried as much as you did when I saw this in the theater, I have seen other reactions to this film where people are actually smiling and and not really understanding what's happening, you have the most beautiful and authentic reaction to the film that I have ever seen, God Bless you.

It's ok to cry at this, it's absolutely ok. I still do just watching clips of it that I've seen thousands of times. It was a hell of a thing for these men to go through.

This movie ripped me to shreds as well. In my 20s I saw it in the theater. I will never forget seeing tearful faces coming out of the theater, no one saying a word. I knew it would be heavy but I was not prepared at all for how this movie would affect me so deeply. I sat in my car in the parking lot for quite awhile before I drove away. I was literally trembling for awhile. I was shaken to my core. The end scene, when Ryan asks his wife, and asks himself, if he has lived up to the promise me made Captain Miller.. it hits me like a ton of bricks every time I see it. Nothing has ever close to it and probably never will. One of the best movies of all time

My son who was perhaps 10 or 11 at the time watched this movie with me. At the end I looked over and tears were running down his face. At first my wife was upset with me for letting him watch the movie but I told her I was proud of the fact he understood the message. He proudly serves in the military today. Great review of a great movie… thank you.

Cannot get over the fact that you know all those characters and their names. You were fully vested in this and it is amazing

Your tears were a beautiful reaction. They say everything about you. When I first watched this movie years ago, as the story progressed, I wondered what would happen. Would they find and save Ryan? But what I didn't anticipate is how the last few minutes would hit me. It hit my heart so hard! It was the realization of the whole point of the movie. "Earn it." It was a message not just to Ryan, but to all of us. For all of those who gave so much to all of us, we owe it to them to "earn it."

Don't Apologize for your emotions it's brave to put yourself out like that for all to see

Don't ever apologize for feeling the way a human should feel. You should be crying if you are invested in the story and the characters. Well done, good reaction. You earned my subscription.