Saving Private Ryan Question.......

[ASHTHECAT]

Even though Saving Private Ryan isn't a bad movie by any means, I still have one question that maybe one of you knows the answer to.  Near the end of the movie when Private Mellish and the German soldier are fighting hand-to-hand,  what is it exactly that the German is saying to Mellish as he plunges the knife into his chest?  Anyone??

[J.R.]

"Is it safe? Is it dafe?!"

[The Honn]

Id like to know why it was only the Americans and Germans in that film. I swear the French and us British were involved at some point, as well as a few other countries. I could be wrong though.

[Lord_Humungous]

The film only depicted a very small segment of the war so the british were around, they just didn't show them.   If you look closely I believe you can also see some french soldiers - they're the ones dropping their guns and running away when the shooting started.  :P

[Chris K.]

> If you look closely I believe you can also see some french
> soldiers - they're the ones dropping their guns and running
> away when the shooting started.  

Not to start a fight, but don't be stereotypical towards the French. I mean, they REALLY KICKED ASS during World War I, as well as during the Revolutionary War when they were on our side. Jesus, when will this horrid stereotype die.

And that "rude Frenchman" routine is just a legend. I know of a friend of mine who went to Paris and the only people who were rude were people from other countries vacationing there and a bus driver (rude bus drivers are also pretty common here in the USA as well, and they are not French).

This is not trying to be "Politically Correct" or anything, but it's the truth. The French are not bad people, but I do believe their cultural status is not quite understood. Personally, I would like to know the French stereotype for rude American's. Just a though.

[jmc]

It wasn't a documentary....

It was a flawed film, though.  I don't think it really had anything to say that hadn't already been said by almost every war movie since ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT.  It was just gorier.   I don't hate the film, but I don't think it's as great as a lot of other people seem to think it is.

[Chris K.]

...characters that are expressed in the film were the types I could care less for. Tom Hanks main character was too crass and too pushy. Hank's "heroic" was one I just couldn't relate to for he was tough, but no emotion's to decribe his though exterior.

SAVING PRIVATE RYAN was a good film. It wasn't great, but it's a pure example of showing a horrifying theme of war.

[ASHTHECAT]

You guys have provided some info but no one has answered my original question.  Does anyone know??????

[J.R.]

What is it about other countries trying to horn in on our war glory? The British complain about WW2 films, Indonesia got their panties in a twist about not being in Black Hawk Down, geez. Look, the French are pompous dickweeds that treat Americans like crap even though we saved their crepe-chomping asses, so we gloss over them in historical depictions. The British seem really arrogant considering they live on a dinky, rain-soaked island and have no teeth. We Yanks like things our way and there's nothing you pasty European whiners can do about it. Nothing personal, it's just that America's the best.

[Chris K.]

(J.R., you are entitled to what you think about the matter. This statement is not to change your mind or say you are wrong, but it's rather an insightful examination.)

I am not European, but I do like them (and their films as well). We may do things OUR WAY (or the American way, as some would like to put it), but then sometimes the American way isn't always the right way. And if you like the American way, that is fine with me for I have no problem with that. However, I tend to veer of the American way and stick with my own gut instinct. Just my opinion on the subject matter, but let's take a look at what what you have presented to us J.R.

> Look, the French are pompous dickweeds
> that treat Americans like crap even though we saved their
> crepe-chomping asses, so we gloss over them in historical
> depictions.
So I guess it was right of us to stiff them for the Revolutionary War, the Louisiana Purchase, and the Statue of Liberty. But when they stiffed us for World War II, all of a sudden they are the dickweeds? That just doesn't sound right, even though it's the American way. I love the Statue of Liberty (it's a great landmark, beautiful piece of art) and considering that the French constructed it as a gift to the USA as a sign of peace and that we did not say thank you for it, how is it they are being the dickweeds?

>The British seem really arrogant considering they
> live on a dinky, rain-soaked island and have no teeth.
Hey, the dental hygene here in the states isn't that good either. Believe me, I have seen some of them. Yes, they may have a rain-soaked island. But here in Illinois it still feels like winter, and it's supposed to be the freakin' summer right now! So, it's not that different from England (at least from where I am living).

>We Yanks like things our way and there's nothing you pasty
> European whiners can do about it.
Actually, their is something these so-called "pasty Europeans" can do about it. They can pay attention to both U.S. and their own history and make a historically accurate feature better than the Hollywood product. Just saying.

>Nothing personal, it's just that America's the best.
Oh, don't push it. I love my country and all, but their are times when we American's act like insensitive, hypocritical, pushy, even spoiled individuals. So, we are not that different from the Europeans.

So we are kind of head-to-toe with the Euro's. Hey, every country has their good and bad, both historically and in present day. But then, they have some good things about them. I would not stereotype them by their "urban legends" (i.e. all the French are rude, all the Italians are mobsters)  or "historical past" (i.e. all the Germans are Nazi's). They have their good sides, and we have ours. It's just these stereotypes really blind the good elements of us all.

And besides, don't we all have a little bit of Euro in our blood. I have Spanish, French, German, English, Irish, and Scottish in my blood. Oh sure, I am American and I was born here and America is still number 1 on my list, but I am also glad to have a little bit of European in me.

[Chris K.]

...I really don't have a clue to what that German soldier said. To be honest, it's been a while since I saw SAVING PRIVATE RYAN and I might have to give it another look.

[Andrew]

I even pulled my DVD to double-check.  I couldn't quite make out what the German is saying, since my Deutsche is very rusty.  It seems he is saying (according to SPR sites):

"Don't fight it. Shh... You'll see it's better this way."

sites also say it is:

"Give in.  You have no other choice.  Make it easier for both of us.  Shhhhhh.""

I think there was actually a "very" in the quote, but this could fit in with the translated "easier" or "better."

For the record:  this is one of my 5 favorite movies of all time.  It focuses on the human aspect and depicts combat very well.  It is brutal, bloody, and confusing.

On the lines of "who deserves credit for winning WWII."  That is up to the film makers of this particular film.  I have helped a female friend find her grandfather's grave in Arlington cemetery and conducted numerous funerals for Marines.  In fact, I have a funeral tomorrow and will be handing the flag to the widow of a WWII Marine veteran; my thanks on behalf of a grateful nation and Marine Corps will be honest.  To say that my thoughts on a particular generation of Americans, and their accomplishments saving the world, is prejudiced, would be accurate.

Andrew

[Andrew]

J.R. wrote:
>
> We
> Yanks like things our way and there's nothing you pasty
> European whiners can do about it. Nothing personal, it's just
> that America's the best.

Trolling, are we?

Andrew

[J.R.]

Well, Chris K., I'm Indian. So maybe I'm a little biased because Europeans came over here, took advantage of my ancestors' hospitality, then raped, killed and stole and entire continent from them, and then the Navajo codes were a major part of winning the Pacific side of WW2.

[J.R.]

Well, Chris K., I'm Indian. So maybe I'm a little biased because Europeans came over here, took advantage of my ancestors' hospitality, then raped, killed and stole and entire continent from them, and then the Navajo codes were a major part of winning the Pacific side of WW2.