This documentary explores the differences between the events shown in "Saving Private Ryan" and humdrum reality. Some of the cinematic alterations are relatively minor, others not. Tests are conducted to see how closely the movie's narrative is realistic. For instance, in the movie the American sniper puts a bullet through the telescopic sight and into the eye of a German sniper at a distance described as "four hundred and fifty yards." The tests show can't be done.
It has nothing much to do with a shooter's accuracy. It's simple physics. At that distance, the bullet is no longer traveling in a straight line but is in a downward trajectory of such a degree that it would bounce off the top of the enemy's scope -- which is exactly what happens in the test. Elsewhere, credit is given for the accuracy of the movie's claims. You should see what happens to the human ear drum when a mortar shell explodes a dozen yards away.
About half the film is given over to the story of the famous Sullivan brothers, all five of whom perished aboard the Juneau. It gave rise to the "Sole Survivor" policy, stating that if only one son was left in the service and his brothers died, the survivor would be brought home.
Another family in Tonowanda, New York, lost two brothers killed at Normandy and another shot down over Burma, missing and presumed dead. The remaining son was withdrawn and sent home.
I found the whole thing kind of fascinating. There are comments from one or two D-Day survivors, a family member in Tonowanda, and a few experts. It probably would have been improved had there not been a reenactment of the grieving families finally meeting their surviving sons. The scenes seemed rather cheap in context.
It has nothing much to do with a shooter's accuracy. It's simple physics. At that distance, the bullet is no longer traveling in a straight line but is in a downward trajectory of such a degree that it would bounce off the top of the enemy's scope -- which is exactly what happens in the test. Elsewhere, credit is given for the accuracy of the movie's claims. You should see what happens to the human ear drum when a mortar shell explodes a dozen yards away.
About half the film is given over to the story of the famous Sullivan brothers, all five of whom perished aboard the Juneau. It gave rise to the "Sole Survivor" policy, stating that if only one son was left in the service and his brothers died, the survivor would be brought home.
Another family in Tonowanda, New York, lost two brothers killed at Normandy and another shot down over Burma, missing and presumed dead. The remaining son was withdrawn and sent home.
I found the whole thing kind of fascinating. There are comments from one or two D-Day survivors, a family member in Tonowanda, and a few experts. It probably would have been improved had there not been a reenactment of the grieving families finally meeting their surviving sons. The scenes seemed rather cheap in context.
