Analysis of the Methods Used to Make the Opening Battle Sequence of Saving Private Ryan Shocking and Realistic

Analysis of the Methods Used to Make the Opening Battle Sequence of Saving Private Ryan Shocking and Realistic

The Oscar winning wartime epic, Saving Private Ryan, produced by

Steven Spielberg was set in 1998, with an opening half hour sequence

that was shattering in its realism and ruthless in its depiction of

violence. Saving Private Ryan breaks some of the traditional

conventions of the war film genre as hand held cameras operating at

incredibly fast shutter speeds, capture the chaos and confusion dozens

of soldiers undergo whilst battling for their lives and nation at

Omaha Beach, giving the footage a startlingly quality, which is

improved by the use of de-saturated colours, which gave the images an

almost surreal, silver-grey look, which had the effect of making

events that were saddening and disturbing seem more so colourless,

lifeless and cold. This also put the audience not only on the beach

but into the perspective of the men of the American forces on that

day. This film portrays realism as we witness scenes of death the way

it was, actual weaponry used and the setting in Normandy where the war

really did take place. The film is strongly brought together by the

actors of the film; the main character of the film is Captain Miller,

played by Tom Hanks, who plays a very important role in the storyline

of the film, leading his squadron on a mission to find the private

Ryan. The role of Private Ryan is played by Matt Damon, he is a

soldier whose three brothers have died in combat and as such has been

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...nd does an extreme close up of this soldiers bag

pack as it lying face down in the sand, it’s bag reads the name ‘Ryan

S’. This then concludes the battle.

Steven Spielberg had commented he was looking for realism within the

movie, and I feel that he certainly achieved it. It was a truly

remarkable opening that placed human characters in the midst of the

horror of WW II, through its imagery, characters, sound effects,

camera effects and conception of war. The opening itself captured

realism wonderfully although to achieve this it did seem somewhat

horrific and disturbing at times. I personally think the opening set

up the film perfectly showing the viewer a glimpse of the horrors of

war and making them feel sympathetic towards the soldiers that died

during it. This film was the best portrayal of war I had ever seen.