TO SAVE A LIFE

I am never a fan of war films by Saving Private Ryan is one of those acclaimed movies that compels a student majoring in Broadcast Communications to watch. I find war films cliche, with similar story lines that involves guns, tanks, weapons (you get the point) but I don't mind the macho hunks though. In all seriousness, the only great thing about war films I feel is the inspirational and touching messages that come along with the roll. Long story short, this girl finally found time to sit through this mission where Tom Hanks and his team of hot men go rescue Matt Damon. 

No regrets watching the movie, although the bombing sequences really tested my patience and I held back my urge to fast-forward through those scenes. I'm a peaceful person, so I say. It could be rhetorical, but the storyline is indeed brilliant and the war scenes are perfectly portrayed to mirror real war situations. I also ended up watching the making of the movie and I can’t believe that all the actors actually went through a boot camp and was trained by a real Captain before taking on their roles in this film. Apparently, boot camp was hell (sarcasm)...what a ‘shocker’!

Even Tom Hanks had to go through the training, when he can in fact pull out. Now that's commitment. One would think that being an actor/actress is all about glory and fame, but I guess there are some really brilliant and professional actors/actresses out there who take their professions seriously, unlike Paris Hilton...ahem…did I just say that out loud?

Today, we are given a choice whether or not to join boot camp or not but back in the days, men were forced to undergo these training. All of them have to serve their nation, whether they are willing to or not. In war movies/films, there is always one character who is struggling because of their timidness. It’s like they are angry at themselves because they just can’t go out there and do great things like their mates. I guess I can somehow understand that feeling. I mean, how can you be one of them if you are not like them? You try to be brave but some people are just not born to shine in the battlefields.

The movie also almost accurately portrayed war because the director really did his research and the veteran soldiers actually helped with the description of war. The opening scene at the Omaha Beach was the highlight to many because of it’s intensity in depicting the real Omaha Beachhead assault which happened in June 1944.

Omaha Beach in 1944

Omaha in "Saving Private Ryan"

When I saw the making of the movie, they showed a clip of a documentary which showed the Omaha beach event, and it was so similar to how Spielberg made it. Spielberg then combined this incident with a true story about the Niland brothers, which in the movie, is altered to the Ryan brothers.

Briefly, the story is about how three Ryan brothers were killed in combat and the authority plans to save the fourth and last son of the Ryan family so that the mother wouldn't have to lose all her sons. The authority made this decision because prior to this case, there was a case of the Sullivan brothers, in which all five brothers in battle were on a same ship, and when the ship sank, all five of them drowned and died. The grief bore by the Sullivans and the Americans were so deep that a rule was initiated to not allow brothers to serve under the same company or mission.

The Sullivan Brothers

The Niland Brothers

In Ryan’s case, all three brothers in all three different companies died in three different battlefields. Therefore, the Army General orders that the fourth brother be brought home to the mother safely, if possible. It’s what they call a public relations mission – very aptly named. 

Despite being a broadcast student, I'm still not good with the cinematographic aspects of film so I usually prefer to explore the themes and meaning the movies. However, watching the making of the movie gave me interesting in-depth insight into the whole production of Saving Private Ryan and I was truly awed. It was definitely a huge huge production, one I believe that is hard to find in Malaysia. The largest film ever produced in Malaysia was Puteri Gunung Ledang, but still, I think it is nothing compared to this. I saw how there were so many extras involved, the costumes itself were all made especially for the movie and then there were the firearms which were a combination of real and rubber weapons, which looked real.

Then, there were also the explosive, stunts and wow! To ensure safety of every cast member, the crew were only able to take a few shots a day and I kinda understand how that felt. During my internship, I always hope they can finish taking their shots so that I can go home early. I think working in a movie like Saving Private Ryan would be far more exhausting than Duhai Si Pari-Pari (the one I was working on during my internship). Watching the behind the scenes really make me want to go back into productions again.

Sound effects:

These people really studied the sound of the firearms, the environment, and even how each *ping* sound of the gun matches the scene. They also referenced from documentaries and other movies to try and make it more surreal for the audience.

Set design:

They actually went to France and select some buildings and built the models in England. Then they carve the shape of the ruins to create a real-life setting during war.

Music & Score:
They have an original score composed for the movie.

Other details:

Every single detail of the movie was done based on research, even the Abraham Lincoln letter. The preparation for the movie itself I think can take years. If I'm doing it, I might never even see the light of day.

This scene of Normandy beach at the end is breathtaking. Notice how the crosses are perfectly aligned and straight. That is actually my favourite scene because of the scenic view and the emotional delivery from the old man who plays the old Ryan. The look in his eyes is so significant and you can tell the pain and gratitude through his eyes. I think anyone who actually visits that place, whether or not they have relatives buried there, will shed a tear or two. Even I can’t hold back my emotions when watching the last scene.

The themes discussed in the movie: 

The Insanity of war

Tom Hanks said in the movie that when he kills an enemy, his rational is that he kills one to save ten or 20 or maybe 20 times more. But when he sets out on the mission to save Private Ryan, he is sacrificing his team and himself for one. Of course saving this Ryan will earn him his rights to go home, but then again, as soldiers one cannot actually question the orders of the authority right?

Private Reiben played by Edward "the Hottie" Burn also questioned if this private worth risking eight men’s live for. Even Matt Damon who played Ryan was curious. Why does he deserve to go home and not any of his brothers? (meaning other soldiers) I guess he was partially right.

What is right? What is wrong?
It's difficult to determine right and wrong when it comes to saving the one and only Ryan. For one thing, the Army has to consider the private’s mum, the consequences if she loses all her sons. But then, did they consider James Ryan’s decision - that he might not want to go home yet. He feels he has responsibilities as a soldier and he wants to fulfil them. He cannot leave his remaining ‘brothers’.

How to find decency & civilization in war?
According to Steven Spielberg the main theme of the movie is how you find decency in war. I guess it’s true. It’s hard to be human when in the battlefield. If you don’t kill others, others might kill you. But to Tom Hanks who plays Captain Miller and his rangers, maybe saving Private Ryan is one decent thing that they can do.

But I think the mini series "Band of Brotherhood" (which is also produced by Steven Spielberg, together with Tom Hanks) explores that theme even deeper. Everyone thinks it's cool to hold a gun, but I think it really takes guts to actually fire the gun at someone.

I can only imagine how it would be like to be in a situation in which you'd have to stay alive under desperate conditions, plan your next strategy to defeat your enemy while having to carry a heavy load of weapons. When the time comes, you even have to shoot someone.

And when you think again, it's like, the person you shot could be just like you, desperate and afraid and want to survive. But, you have to shoot or die. War brings out the other side of human, I guess one that you, yourself don't know. I reckon that war is something that propels one to do things that they can never imagine themselves doing in a civilized world....it's beyond civilization.

The HOT soldiers, perhaps?
Let's take a moment to enjoy the hot guys in the film. I recommend you girls to pay attention to Edward Burns. He is so cool in the movie. I wasn't a fan of him in "27 Dresses" (well, just because I prefer James Marsden) but Burns is so stylish and he really has got attitude in this one.