Saving Private Ryan is often considered to be one of the greatest war movies of all time, bringing to life the horrors of World War II. In their search for one Private Ryan, Captain Miller and his group experience the worst of war both on and off the battlefield, learning more about themselves in a few days than they have their entire lives.
War often reveals the worst of humanity while the soldiers look for glimmers of hope in a world modeled by violence. With that, here are 10 Most Thought-Provoking Quotes from Saving Private Ryan
10 "F*cked up beyond all recognition"
This expression, also known as FUBAR, was a common saying amongst soldiers who realized their operation had gone, to quote Tom Hanks' Captin Miller, kaput. But when applied to the idea of war, FUBAR is accurate in its ability to reveal the chaos that ensues on the battlefield.
The introductory scene alone proves how quickly something can go wrong, with hundreds of soldiers suffering as a result. This movie is often credited for its realistic depiction of the D-Day landings, the relentless efforts of the Nazis to slaughter as many U.S soldiers as possible. After watching the introductory scene, one word comes to mind after seeing such violence and death; FUBAR.
9 "I just know that every man I kill the farther away from home I feel."
Captain Miller isn't your average marine, unlike Tom Berenger in Platoon where only the strongest survive. He may possess the qualities of a leader, but Miller despises the idea of war and killing altogether. With every dead Nazi means one step closer to the war ending, but it also means the loss of his humanity and morals, blurring the image of the man he used to be.
While other soldiers like Reiben and Mellish relish in the killing that comes with their mission, Miller loses more of himself with it all. No wonder his handshakes from time to time.
8 "Well when I think of home, I... I think of something specific. I think of my, my hammock in the backyard or my wife pruning the rosebushes in a pair of my old work gloves."
Home is the one thing that kept Miller going, getting Private Ryan to safety meant seeing his wife once more. It's the little things like these that kept his sanity, and more importantly, kept him human. War blurs the line between good and evil, with the latter often taking control of a man.
But it's in these moments that Miller can remember what he's fighting for, something he can cling to in a world where chaos reigns and the uncertainty of making through the day occupies one's mind.
7 "When was the last time you felt good about anything?"
Not even a plan is enough assurance with the unexpected always taking a turn for the worse. Captain Miller carries a huge responsibility, ensuring every one of his squad members gets out alive. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen. But even heavier is the morale of his squad, ensuring they remain dedicated to the mission.
Soldiers like Reiben often challenge the integrity of the group, causing some heated debates and exchanges. Miller threw this comeback at Reiben to shut him up, but it also goes to show how Miller is the lonely beacon of hope amongst a group of nihilistic and worn down soldiers.
6 "Please, I like America! Fancy schmancy! What a cinch! Go fly a kite! Cat got your tongue! Hill of beans! Betty Boop, what a dish. Betty Grable, nice gams."
Hans Landa from Inglorious Basterds said, "I'm aware what tremendous feats human beings are capable of once they abandon dignity," which, despite being a fictional movie, couldn't have been said better. Desperation turns humans into mindless creatures, spawning infinite efforts to escape an inevitable death.
This quote from the captured German soldier goes to show how far someone will go to live another day. Spitting aimlessly about U.S cartoons, the solider can only look hopelessly above him at the stoic U.S soldiers' faces as they prepare to execute him (before letting him go).
5 "Keep the sand out of your weapons. Keep those actions clear. I'll see you on the beach."
The introductory scene from Saving Private Ryan set the tone for the rest of the film. Captain Miller's words to his squad members weren't enough to prepare them for the waiting Nazi soldiers.
What should have been a landing turned a conveyor belt of death with German MG-42's firing round after round at the U.S. soldiers. These small words from Miller were all he could muster against a wall of death coming for them.
4 "War educates the senses, calls into action the will, perfects the physical constitution, brings men into such swift and close collision in critical moments that man measures man." (Upham)
There have been tons of famous quotes regarding the search for the measure of a man, but this one takes the crown. The violence that each man encounters sparks the fight or flight response, revealing who they really are in a moment of life and death.
This may be a movie, but the existential overload found within it is executed perfectly, with a batch of soldiers lead by a good man whose will is tested every step of the way.
3 "It's like finding a needle in a stack of needles."
The irony of it all is the impossibility of their mission, finding one man in an army of millions scattered across a battlefield spanning the length of Europe. Captain Miller and his group have the odds set against them, but their perseverance pays off with Ryan on the way home in the end.
What's beautiful is Miller's inability to give up and continue on with the mission despite the reluctance of the company to carry on. No matter how hard the task, Miller stuck to his orders and found the needle in the stack of needles.
2 "Sergeant, we have crossed some strange boundary here. The world has taken a turn for the surreal."
Captain Miller and his group end up in an odd situation after losing a handful of men along the way, only to find Private Ryan rejecting a free ticket home. Surreal is the right word as the situation is a double-edged sword with no good answer.
Captain Miller is forced to make the tough decision of staying and defending a bridge despite putting Ryan's life in danger.
1 "Someday we might look back on this and decide that saving Private Ryan was the one decent thing we were able to pull out of this whole godawful, sh*tty mess."
War isn't pretty, and neither are the actions soldiers perform on those they call their enemy. With Ryan secured and a battalion of Nazi soldiers upon them, Horvath reflects on all they've been through.
Not necessarily reminiscing but finding something beautiful amongst the ugliness of it all. If saving Private Ryan is the one decent thing they can get from all of this, then it's mission accomplished.
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