'Greatest war film ever made' is a 'stone cold masterpiece' and streaming now

The 1998 war epic, often hailed as "a masterpiece in every sense of the word", is now available for streaming on Sky.

Directed by Steven Spielberg, Saving Private Ryan is frequently dubbed the greatest war film ever made, and it's easy to see why. Penned by Robert Rodat, this two hours and 49 minutes long film is set against the backdrop of World War II in 1944 Normandy, France.

The plot revolves around a band of soldiers - led by Captain John Miller, brilliantly portrayed by Tom Hanks - who are tasked with finding (and saving) Private James Francis Ryan, played by Matt Damon, and ensuring his safe return home after three of his brothers are killed in action.

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Spielberg strived for authenticity in the film, which is why the main cast underwent a week-long boot camp to help them better comprehend a World War soldier's experience.

The film's opening sequence, which depicts the Omaha Beach battle, has often been lauded as one of the greatest war scenes in history. It was reportedly the most challenging scene of the film, costing $12 million to shoot over a three to four week period, and utilised approximately 1,500 extras, reports the Express.

Featuring Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Barry Pepper, Vin Diesel, Giovanni Ribisi, and Adam Goldberg, the film was shot almost entirely in continuity order, with some crew members reportedly finding it "a mentally demoralising experience" as actors departed the production as their characters died.

Saving Private Ryan earned $481.8 million globally, making it 1998's second-biggest box office hit.

The war epic scooped numerous awards including five Oscars, two Golden Globes, two BAFTAs and Saturn awards, cementing its status as both a commercial and critical triumph.

With an impressive 94 per cent critics approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, one reviewer praised the film: "One of the most impactful, immersive war movies of all time, Steven Spielberg's cinematic achievement takes us as close to the front line as possible offering a human take on the chaos of war."

Another critic focused on the legendary opening battle scene, writing: "The 24-minute sequence at the start of Steven Spielberg's Second World War drama is one of the greatest pieces of combat cinema yet made."

A third reviewer said: "Not simply a 1990s classic or among the better prestige films of my generation, Saving Private Ryan is a stone cold masterpiece ranking among the very best war films of all time."

Meanwhile, another rave review added: "Saving Private Ryan is the war movie to end all war movies. It's the ultimate combat film, far outdistancing what until now had been the genre's World War II classics."

Audiences were equally impressed, giving the film a stellar 95 per cent approval rating, with one fan gushing: "Honestly i can't see any flaws in this movie, it's perfect! Always worth a watch."

While a second viewer gushed: "This was one of the most intense and heartwrenching movies I have ever seen. It pulled me into the hardships and brutality endured by the soldiers of World War II, and it heightened the importance of 'no man left behind'. This was an incredible movie, and everybody should see it at least once in their lifetime."

Saving Private Ryan can be watched on Sky Cinema and Amazon Prime Video.