Saving Private Ryan

"Saving Private Ryan (1998)", an American war film set during the invasion of Normandy in World War II, was directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Robert Rodat. "Saving Private Ryan" has been critically noted for its realistic portrayal of World War II combat. The film is notable for the intensity of its opening 24 minutes, which depict the Omaha beachhead assault of June 6, 1944. This scene was voted the "best battle scene of all time" by Empire magazine and was ranked number one on TV Guide's list of the "50 Greatest Movie Moments". Word to the wise - don't watch this with a full stomach!! After securing the beachhead, the movie follows Tom Hanks as Captain John H Miller and several Rangers (Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Barry Pepper, Vin Diesel, Giovanni Ribisi, and Adam Goldberg) as they search for a paratrooper (Private James Ryan, played by Matt Damon) of the United States 101st Airborne Division so that he can be sent home.

And these are my 1/6 scale 12-inch figures of Tom Hanks as Captain John H Miller and Matt Damon as Private First Class James Francis Ryan.


Tom Hanks as Captain Miller is a World War II US Army 2nd Ranger Captain (Omaha Beach) released by Dragon in 2002. Everything on him is from Dragon except the head sculpt which I switched. (For more pictures, see my earlier post here)

Matt Damon as Private First Class James Francis Ryan. His US 101st Airborne Division uniform and accessories are from Toys City (full review covered in my previous post). The 101st Airborne Patch ("Screaming Eagle") which was too close to the top of his shoulder previously has since been adjusted (thanks to a comment made by djteazer). Traditionally all UNIT designation patches are 1 inch from the top of the shoulder or 2 fingers.

When Miller and his rangers finally locate Ryan, he refuses to leave his makeshift unit in Ramelle, demanding that he remain to help defend the bridge against an impending German counterattack. Miller reluctantly agrees and orders his unit to help defend the bridge in the upcoming battle, taking command and setting up the defense with what little manpower and resources they have.

[Private Ryan on being told he can go home]
Private Ryan: Hell, these guys deserve to go home as much as I do. They've fought just as hard.
Captain Miller: Is that what I'm supposed to tell your mother when she gets another folded American flag?
Private Ryan: You can tell her that when you found me, I was with the only brothers I had left. And that there was no way I was deserting them. I think she'd understand that.

Private Ryan: Uh sir? Where am I to be during all this? 
Captain Miller: No more than two feet away from me. And that's not negotiable.

Ryan and his Airborne buddies on June 5, 1944, getting ready for the big day (post here)
Miller and his buddies on June 6, 1944 (post here)