Saving Private Ryan: An Excellent Example of the War Film Genre

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Steven Speilberg's Saving Private Ryan

The opening 30 minutes of “Saving Private Ryan” is significantly

effective as an example to the war film genre. It begins brilliantly

with battle between the American and German forces. As the American

troops were approaching enemy lines, the representation of the

soldiers is that they are just ordinary human beings, not gung-ho. The

conscripts were full of anxiety and fear. In fact it’s the very first

thing you see with Captain John Miller (played by Tom Hanks) as he is

drinking his hand trembles. As for the other soldiers, they seemed

terrified of death because some of them were praying to God, or it

could be that they are religious. Examples are the sniper kisses his

crucifix and the man driving the landing craft said, “May God be with

you”.

During conflict the American troops appeared to be full of rage and

brutality when they shot the prisoners after they had just

surrendered. Nevertheless they remain loyal by fighting and risking

their lives in a conflict that leads to an ...

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