Saving Private Ryan movie

Saving Private Ryan Worksheet

1. Discuss the opening scene of SPR as they hit the beach. What did you learn about war in this 20 minutes of film? 2. What is the mission of the Tom Hanks’ unit, the 2nd battalion Rangers unit? Why is imperative they find Private Ryan? 3. Along the way, the men are faced with numerous life and death decisions as they travel through Nazi occupied France. Discuss three of these episodes and what happens. 4. Morality–is war moral? Several time the men are faced with moral dilemmas and the problem of right and wrong in war. Pick two of these experiences and discuss the issue and how the soldiers resolve it. 5. Tom Hanks plays Captain Miller who truly shows grace and courage under fire. He is a natural leader. How does he show his strength and leadership in times of trouble? 6. Cowardice is another issue tackled in SPR. Discuss the problem a man’s cowardice can cause in battle. Give specific examples. 7. Steven Spielberg is considered a master movie maker. Every scene is telling a story. What story is Spielberg telling us? 8. After Spielberg made Schindler’s List, he said he would never show the Germans in a comic way like he did in the Indiana Jones series. Discuss the portrayal of the Germans in SPR. Does he humanize them or are they stereotype Nazis? 9. Private Ryan doesn’t show up till halfway through the movie. How does the mission to save him and his addition to the unit change the dynamic of the unit? 10. The ending–the street battle scene for the bridge. Was it worth it? 11. What did you think of the movie?