Gamer Jay

I'm not going to say that Saving Private Ryan is the best movie in the world, the best war movie, or even the best World War II movie. However, I think it is a better movie than indicated in your shelf life review.

First of all, I can't understand your argument on the "back home" scene. You seem to agree that many scenes were unnecessary then say they were entertaining and then call them superfluous. Your argument is as persuasive as the mother's buckling knees in the "back home" scene.

And speaking of that scene, I think it's utility to the whole film could be debated until the troops come home. To me it stands on its own with a few other visually compelling scenes in the movie. I can still recall the woman standing washing dishes in front of a kitchen window while an Army officer's car approaches in the distance. It has probably been 3 to 4 years since I've watch the full film. If anything Spielberg might have kept this scene just for it's visual juxtaposition of the war effort and its personal cost to a family.

Ultimately, a film is really the sum of its parts and analyzing each individual scene is an unnecessary distraction--unless the scene clearly derails the film.

Brad Pitt isn't the only actor to play roles in a Coen brothers and Tarantino film. Steve "Why do I have to be Mr. Pink" Buscemi was in Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs and in several Coen brothers films.

I disliked "avant garde" nature of Duck Soup, though the mirror scene is a memorable one. A Night at the Opera, however, is an all-time favorite and the stateroom scene is one of the best in all comedies. I'm surprised the video link was for the sanity clause scene rather than the stateroom.

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In 5 years I will be somewhere doing something.

Kubrick.

Die Hard is one of my favorite movies of all time and I try to watch it once every holiday season.

Ronin wasn't listed or in mentioned in the comments, but it takes place at Christmas time as well. Jean Reno asks DeNiro what he wants for Christmas and DeNiro responds, "My two front teeth."

Same here.

Indeed another sad passing. If anyone is interested in watching some interviews in memorium, I would suggest checking out Charlie Rose: http://www.charlierose.com/shows/2007/02/19/1/a-conversation-with-michael-crichton. This is his most recent on the show and I can't exactly recall the content of the interview, except that I enjoyed it.

Call of Duty: Mars