The movie starts out with an old guy in a cemetary with his family, and you don't know who he is until the end of the movie. You later find out that he is Private James Ryan from Iowa. The movie then flashes back to Normandy at Omaha Beach. Miller was the captain, and he told them how to accomplish their mission. A group of soldiers including Captain Miller get assigned to a new mission: to find Private Ryan and bring him home safely. His three other brothers had been killed in the war, and a head man for the US tells the mother that they will find the last son and bring him home safely.
So they take off to find Private James Ryan. The team of them think that they find the private at one point in the movie, but after telling him the story that his brothers are dead, they find out that he is the wrong Private Ryan. This private has brothers but they did not participate in the war, so he was confused and very shaken by it all.
They continue to search, and at the rallying point, the group talks to many people, asking them if they know where Private James Francis Ryan of Iowa is. They find out that he should be in Ramelle. On their way there, they come across a machine gun station, and as they go up to defeat it, one man is killed. One of the guys in charge of the machine guns is still alive, and they threaten him and make him dig a grave for their friend. They end up tying something over his eyes and telling him to count and they will be gone when he turns around. In other words, they let him go. The other members of the group are mad at Miller for putting them in the situation to have their man killed and then letting the enemy go just added to the frustration. Then, Miller talks about his family and what he did before the war to try and get the group to understand where he is coming from. He says he has changed so much, and he only hopes that his wife will recognize him when he gets back. He says that for every man he kills overseas, the farther he feels away from home.
Eventually, they make it to Ramelle, where they find Private Ryan. Miller tells him about how his brothers are dead and that it is their duty to get him home safely and as quick as possible. Ryan says that he won't go with them, because he doesn't feel right leaving the only brothers that he has left. He says he does not deserve to leave the war, as he has not done anything more or anything special compared to his fellow soldiers.
Ryan and his peers are supposed to protect this bridge they are by because it is one of the few that have not been destroyed. Miller and his men and Ryan and his men come up with a plan to take out the German forces that will be coming through the area in tanks. Miller gets killed while defending this bridge, along with many others of his original group. Just before Miller dies, he tells James Ryan to earn it, meaning to earn his way out of the way and to earn the right to live. Then they flash back to the present with the old man and the graveyard again. He is looking at Captain Miller's tombstone, and he talks to the stone. He says that he hopes he earned his life and that he showed him right.
I truly enjoyed this movie, minus the blood and guts. Of course that is the most important part of the movie in relation to this class because of the war and everything. It gave me a small glimpse of how awful was is, and I hope I never have to go through anything like that. I liked to see the bonds between the soldiers, especially between Miller and Ryan. I also think that holds true to what it really is like when men and women are in the service. I would definitely watch this movie again and would recommend it to anyone.
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