Saving Private Ryan (1998)
When a war movie is so brutal it feels like a reenactment.
Presentation:
Steven Spielberg creates a marvel of a film following the Normandy Landings of World War II. Low shutter angle, chaos, death, we are placed right in the heat of the bloodbath. Although there is tremendous gore, I think it should be played in classrooms to truly depict how violent this historic military operation was. The film somewhat glorifies war in its spectacularly exciting action sequences which are well orchestrated and staged, allowing you to stand in the same shoes as the soldiers. But it’s not exactly a violence focus film, there is a real story at the heart of it all holding the chaos together with a substantial drama. It is a bit melodramatic at times catered to be easily digested by the mainstream, which I think shifts the tone from a psychological epic to more of an incredible movie that you could watch on cable TV.
Conclusion:
This is one the grittier war movies that has a focus on combat. It depicts it in a visceral manner that is engaging, but opts for melodramatic elements as opposed to psychological themes to make it one of the less profound films. Nevertheless, it’s one of the most significant war films that everyone should watch if they haven’t already, if not just for the storming of Normandy scene.
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When heart matters more than historical accuracy.