Which Spielberg war movie is better?
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Did You Know?
Both of these films were directed by Steven Speilberg and are considered two of his greatest films and among the best movies of all time. Both take place during WWII. Both were highly acclaimed: Schindler’s List was nominated for 12 Academy Awards and won 7, while Saving Private Ryan was nominated for 11 and won 5. Both films had huge worldwide box offices, although Saving Private Ryan did somewhat better.
Both of these films were directed by Steven Speilberg and are considered two of his greatest films and among the best movies of all time. Both take place during WWII. Both were highly acclaimed: Schindler’s List was nominated for 12 Academy Awards and won 7, while Saving Private Ryan was nominated for 11 and won 5. Both films had huge worldwide box offices, although Saving Private Ryan did somewhat better.
Schindler's
Schindler’s List was released in 1993 and was a huge critical and box office success, earning $322 Million worldwide. Produced and directed by Steven Spielberg, it is a significant historical record of Oskar Schindler, who saved many Jews in Germany during the Holocaust. It was filmed in Krakow, Poland and shot in black and white to give it a documentary feel.
In the film, Schindler witnesses atrocities done to the Jews and their deportation to concentration camps. Schindler bribes Nazi commanders to allow him to let 850 Jews be transferred to his munitions factory, thus creating “Schindler’s List”. Just as Schindler’s factory runs out of money, the Nazi’s surrender to the allies. Schindler’s Jewish “workers” give him a signed statement attesting to what he did and an engraved ring with a quote from the Talmud: “Whoever saves one live saves the world entire.” The cast includes several prominent actors including Ben Kingsley, Liam Neeson (playing Oskar Schindler) and Ralph Fiennes. It has been praised for its realistic portrayal of the Holocaust period.
It was nominated for 12 Academy Awards and won 7 including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, Best Cinematography and Best Original Score. It also won 3 Golden Globe Awards. It is often considered one of the best films ever made and is ranked on several film institute lists. The music score has also received acclaim, written by John Williams and including Itzhak Perlman playing violin on the theme song.
In the film, Schindler witnesses atrocities done to the Jews and their deportation to concentration camps. Schindler bribes Nazi commanders to allow him to let 850 Jews be transferred to his munitions factory, thus creating “Schindler’s List”. Just as Schindler’s factory runs out of money, the Nazi’s surrender to the allies. Schindler’s Jewish “workers” give him a signed statement attesting to what he did and an engraved ring with a quote from the Talmud: “Whoever saves one live saves the world entire.” The cast includes several prominent actors including Ben Kingsley, Liam Neeson (playing Oskar Schindler) and Ralph Fiennes. It has been praised for its realistic portrayal of the Holocaust period.
It was nominated for 12 Academy Awards and won 7 including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, Best Cinematography and Best Original Score. It also won 3 Golden Globe Awards. It is often considered one of the best films ever made and is ranked on several film institute lists. The music score has also received acclaim, written by John Williams and including Itzhak Perlman playing violin on the theme song.
Private Ryan
Saving Private Ryan was released in 1998 and is considered one of the greatest war and WWII films ever. It was directed by Steven Spielberg and features an all star cast including Tom Hanks, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Barry Pepper, Giovani Ribisi, Matt Damon, Vin Diesel and others. It was a success among critics and fans, and was the highest grossing film of 1998 with a $217 Million box office in the U.S. and $485 million total worldwide. It was also a very successful home video release with $44 million in sales. It opens with a famously realistic scene of the landing at Omaha Beach and the invasion at Normandy. This portrayal has been highly regarded for its realism by putting the viewer “in the action” including soldiers’ sea sickness, the “ping” of ammunition and the many casualties.
The main plot revolves around the mission to save the last of four Ryan brothers (played by Matt Damon), as three of the brothers are missing and presumed dead. Tom Hanks portrays Capt. John Miller, who is ordered to protect Private Ryan and get him home safely. The film follows the travails of Miller and his soldiers as they eventually get Ryan home successfully, although Miller doesn’t survive. The film was nominated for eleven Academy Awards and won five including Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Sound and Best Sound Effects editing. Many thought it should have won Best Picture, but lost in a controversial decision. It also ranks on several lists of the greatest films ever.
The main plot revolves around the mission to save the last of four Ryan brothers (played by Matt Damon), as three of the brothers are missing and presumed dead. Tom Hanks portrays Capt. John Miller, who is ordered to protect Private Ryan and get him home safely. The film follows the travails of Miller and his soldiers as they eventually get Ryan home successfully, although Miller doesn’t survive. The film was nominated for eleven Academy Awards and won five including Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Sound and Best Sound Effects editing. Many thought it should have won Best Picture, but lost in a controversial decision. It also ranks on several lists of the greatest films ever.
