People See ‘Ryan’ for Issues, Not Idols

Regarding Richard Natale’s evaluation of the weekend box-office grosses, it appears that he has a very limited and stereotypical view of female audiences (“ ‘Private Ryan’ Finds Its Audience,” July 27).

His comment, “Edward Burns and Matt Damon in supporting roles helped shore up the female audience, which would not necessarily run out to a war movie,” was both out of place and largely incorrect. If all we had been interested in watching on the big screen was a pretty face, we would all have just gone to see “Lethal Weapon 4.”

“Saving Private Ryan” is a brutal yet spectacular piece of filmmaking that wrenches your gut as well as your heart. Absolutely no one I have spoken to, male or female, went to see this film with any romantic notions in mind. The reason that this film attracted even numbers of men and women alike can be summed up in one single word: Quality. It’s as simple as that.

DEBORAH MELENDREZ

Hacienda Heights

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So, let me get this straight: Richard Natale thinks that it takes Edward Burns and Matt Damon to get a female audience into a theater to watch a thought-provoking film? How insulting!

RACHELLE I. PORTNER

Santa Monica

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I read with interest Richard Natale’s July 27 piece on moviegoers’ reactions to the violence in “Saving Private Ryan,” particularly the comments made by the Burbank mother who attended the film with her husband, 15-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter. She said that if she had known how violent the film was, she would not have brought her younger child.

Every scrap of news, every review, everything in print about this film has made it clear that the violence depicted is extreme and gruesome. Television and radio news and reviews have also pounded home this point. The director himself said that this film is not for anyone under age 14. The film’s R rating and the information I gleaned from news stories and reviews led to my firm decision not to take my preteen daughter to see the movie, in spite of her pleas. That’s my job; I’m her mom.

I cannot understand why a parent would take a 13-year-old to an R-rated film without researching the reasons for the R rating.

JULIE JACQUARD

Culver City