oy speilberg-saving private ryan

[raymondbriggs]

If the start is so good,how come they kill the same geezers so many times?
to use the same segment of film twice is a common tactic for action movies but usually using different camera angles at least hides it.
but to use the same shot of a german machine gun firing down the open deck of a landing craft and the troops inside being hit and falling off the boat twice in the opening beach sequence is just LAZY.

 

[Beach Hut]

I actually thought the opening scenes were surreal to the point of chilling, stunning opening sequence

 

[raymondbriggs]

I actually thought the opening scenes were surreal to the point of chilling, stunning opening sequence

True,well filmed to the point of generating the true horror of war,much more realistic than me storming Iwojima on W.O.W.
but still a lazy bit of cinematography.

 

[Norman Potting]

True,well filmed to the point of generating the true horror of war,much more realistic than me storming Iwojima on W.O.W.
but still a lazy bit of cinematography.

I think the first half of SPR is superb in conveying the fact the the guys in the squad really don't want to be doing the mission. The sequence on the glider landing field where they are desparately seeking Ryan's dog tag so that they can give up and go gets this over admirably. Also the sequence with the glider pilot (who has just crash landed his glider and killed most of the occupants) is very powerful as he gradually loses the plot and keeps repeating "it wasn't my fault" is superbly done.

Unfortunately the film seems to lose direction toward the end and reverts to the standard "small band of heroes (mostly) sacrificing themselves so that the mission suceeds" plotline.

 

[Acker79]

I thought the opening sequence was quite funny.

There's a bit where people are either side of th road shooting at each other.
There's a guy who gets shot in the helmet, then takes it off and looks at the helmet and praise it just before getting shot in his now exposed head.
There were some other moments in there that wouldn't be out of place in a war movie spoof.

 

[Easy 10]

That's an odd viewpoint Acker. Can't say I found myself chuckling at any of that opening sequence tbh.
Band of Brothers has a phenomenal scene when the paras are dropping in over Normandy. Gripping and harrowing, stunning effects. Can't wait for The Pacific, kicks off on Sky in a couple of weeks. Looks quality from the trailors.

 

[GNF on Tour]

Can't wait for The Pacific, kicks off on Sky in a couple of weeks. Looks quality from the trailors.

Me to, but can't help wishing there was a Brit equilavent. I'm sure far to many young Brits think the Americans won it single-handly.

 

[Acker79]

That's an odd viewpoint Acker. Can't say I found myself chuckling at any of that opening sequence tbh.

Yeah, and I feel guilty, I know I shouldn't but those moments just stuck out too much for me.

 

[Stat Brother]

I used to work with a WW2 weekend solider, going around doing mock battles at shows, and getting some film/tv work.

Anyway they were all about being authentic, (I could go on he was passionate/obsessive) anyway they all loved the start of SPR.
To the point they would go in, watch the 1st 20 mins, then leave, and wait for the next showing.

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

It just shows that no matter how superb a piece of film making is, there will always be people just looking to criticise. I mean "If the start is so good,how come they kill the same geezers so many times?to use the same segment of film twice is a common tactic for action movies but usually using different camera angles at least hides it.
but to use the same shot of a german machine gun firing down the open deck of a landing craft and the troops inside being hit and falling off the boat twice in the opening beach sequence is just LAZY."

I didn't notice they killed the same bloke twice or the landing scene twice, don't know if its true, would be suprised. the point is most people were so rivetted with the scene and what it was depicting that they didn't sit rewinding and fast forwarding the scene numerous times to look for any minor error, very strange. Acker you must have been beside yourself with laughter at the scene where the bloke went and retrieved his blown off arm. Ah well, each to their own.

 

[Acker79]

Acker you must have been beside yourself with laughter at the scene where the bloke went and retrieved his blown off arm. Ah well, each to their own.

Little bit, yeah :ashamed:

 

[Twinkle Toes]

I thought the opening sequence was quite funny.

There's a bit where people are either side of th road shooting at each other.
There's a guy who gets shot in the helmet, then takes it off and looks at the helmet and praise it just before getting shot in his now exposed head.
There were some other moments in there that wouldn't be out of place in a war movie spoof.

Maybe you should pop up to Selly Oak Hospital & have a good ol' chuckle at our limbless troops? Be rude not to, I'd have thought...

 

[Laughing Gravy]

I thought the opening sequence was quite funny.

There's a bit where people are either side of th road shooting at each other.
There's a guy who gets shot in the helmet, then takes it off and looks at the helmet and praise it just before getting shot in his now exposed head.
There were some other moments in there that wouldn't be out of place in a war movie spoof.

If you find it funny, you should take a trip to Colville Sur Mer. Its a cemetary that is right on the waters edge where the Omaha beach landings took place and where the begining of the film was shot Thats where 7000 americans are buried+another 7000 names on a memorial whose bodies were never found. almost all of them took part in the DDay landings

Have a walk around there and see if you find it funny.

 

[Acker79]

Yes because laughing at situations in a film, situations that wouldn't be out of place in a spoof, automatically means I find death and amputees funny.

For the record, where I work I am surrounded by death quite regularly, and have worked with at least two amputees over the past 4 years. Try living a life surrounded by death and see how long you last without developing a morbid sense of humour to help you deal with it.