Saving Private Ryan Sequence Analysis

Saving Private Ryan Analysis

The establishing shot of the starting sequence of Saving Private Ryan is a tilting shot of the soliders heading towards the shore in a convoy. This shot then provides close ups of various soldiers and their reactions; some are vomiting while others pray and cry. This shows the audience how vulnerable they are and how many are heading towards their death, leaving the viewer sympathetic to them. These POV shots also create a sense of actually being there in the moment, which will immerse the audience into the experience.

The director has cleverly filmed the scene in grim and gloomy hues of greys, pale blues and whites which cast the area in an unforgiving harshness that sets the tone as bleak and desolate. Using this tint adds a manner of morbidity and depression expresses the death and danger surrounding the battle.

Another interesting shot is a high-angled that shows the Germans showering the shore and soldiers with ammunition, killing and maiming many. This is a successful at creating the notion that the German artillerymen are powerful and mighty while it has a stark contrast with the soldiers on the beach who appear vulnerable in the massacre.