Saving Private Ryan – Carnage or compassion: which is most effective Essay Example

soldiers on the boat. The unidentified soldier prompts speculation from the audience regarding his significance. The subsequent brief shots show a soldier counting down as they approach the beach, adding to the tension. The same soldier from the first shot gives orders to his comrades and discusses strategy.

By featuring a character twice in the film, first in an extreme close up of his face and then in a significantly longer shot, the audience is made aware of his importance. The opening shots of the boats nearing the beach are short and tense, adding to the build-up of the scene. The soldiers' sickness, accompanied by jolting camera movements and the sound of waves, create a grueling experience for the audience, evoking feelings of empathy for the soldiers.

During the following sequence, viewers witness a buildup of intense anxiety and suspense that is quickly relieved as the massacre commences. At the start of the beach scene's second segment, one shot captures various soldiers on boats as they react to gunshots and explosions emanating from the shore. While some soldiers appear petrified and extremely anxious, others can be seen making religious gestures like crossing themselves and praying to God. Furthermore, the visual mechanics of the boat's entrance being opened intensifies the suspense and tension since it reveals they are on the brink of arriving at the beach.

The climax of the scene is reached as the tension and suspense built up earlier is released dramatically in the next shot. From a low canted angle, we witness numerous soldiers being shot, followed by a high up angle behind them. Surviving soldiers are shown in close-up shots suggesting their significance in the

rest of the film. More suspense is added as many anonymous soldiers are shown on the beach, but it is later revealed that Captain Miller, the main character, is still alive. The scene concludes with several extended shots of soldiers both above and underwater. Slow-motion footage intensifies the struggle of soldiers underwater, emphasising the prolonged and agonising deaths they endure.

As we watch the movie, we see numerous unnamed soldiers being killed, causing uncertainty about the fate of the main characters. The camera's focus on German soldiers shooting American soldiers provides a different viewpoint that highlights the enormity of the atrocity. Captain Miller is shown dying while crossing a bridge in another scene. Employing our pause button analysis again, we can compare which scene is more effective in eliciting empathy and understanding from audiences - either the beach bloodbath or this particular instance of compassion. Finally, we witness an act of betrayal by a German soldier who had been captured and released by American forces earlier; he shoots Captain Miller.

As the first shots ring out, an American soldier becomes enraged and displays his valor in the face of danger. Despite surviving an explosion, Captain Miller experiences temporary deafness, causing the viewer to feel a sense of empathy through high-pitched whistling and distorted background noise. The camera pans around the scene, capturing Miller's despair and emotion as he mourns the loss of his sergeant and dear friend lying dead next to him. The intensity of the moment is palpable. Finally, towards the end of this segment depicting the bridge scene, Captain Miller regains his hearing, only to witness a German soldier, whom they had earlier released, firing

upon American troops.

The lack of a helmet makes this soldier stand out and seem bold among his colleagues, possibly a deliberate decision by Spielberg to make him easily recognizable. The camera even zooms in for a close-up of his face to emphasize his presence. In the middle shots, an American soldier named Upham realizes his error in releasing a German soldier earlier. As Captain Miller attempts to reach the detonator to destroy the bridge, the German soldier takes aim and successfully shoots him.

Ironically, despite releasing the German soldier earlier, Captain Miller was shot by him without any remorse. Even though injured, Miller's determination is evident as he fires at a tank that symbolizes his impending fate. The duration of shots depicting Miller firing and the tank moving towards him decreases to emphasize their upcoming encounter. Upham's personal victory and comprehension of the situation take center stage in the final moments of the bridge scene. As Upham aims at a group of Germans, the soldier who killed Captain Miller greets him with a smile and mentions his name amiably to discourage Upham from shooting.

Upham overcomes his fear and cowardice by shooting the German soldier whom he had previously let go in the next two scenes. The camera focuses on a close-up of Upham while the gun shot and musical score enhance the emotion of his private victory. Pathetic fallacy is also used as Upham stands over the deceased German soldier with sunshine and music in the background, reflecting his true emotions towards the situation. The longest shot in these scenes lasts thirty-eight seconds and occurs at the end of the bridge scene.

The suffering endured

by Captain Miller and his fellow soldiers, including Private Ryan, is emphasized in the scene. Captain Miller, moments before his death, converses briefly with Private Ryan, referring to the tank busters as "Angels on our shoulders" and urging him to "Earn this, earn it." The diegetic music accompanying the scene evokes a sense of sadness and heroism, conveying Miller's heroic death in accomplishing his goal of finding Private Ryan. Despite the differing contexts, both the beach and bridge scenes involve combat and fatalities.

In the scene at the beach, there is a display of violence and death resulting in utter chaos, while in the bridge scene, there is a depiction of fighting and evident death that evokes compassion. Moreover, the beach scene comprises more long distant shots of shorter durations, as we are not yet familiar with the characters, unlike the bridge scene where there are minimal long shots. The bridge scene mainly consists of close-ups that are longer in duration, as we have developed a deeper understanding of the characters.

Previously perceived as nameless soldiers, the characters now hold greater significance. Both the beach and bridge scenes involve fighting, death, diegetic sound, pathetic fallacy, and emotional impact on the audience. Though the beach scene features numerous killings, anonymous characters, and chaos, the bridge scene centers around a single known character and emphasizes intimacy with one killing. The film employs pathetic fallacy multiple times - at the beginning with white grave stone crosses, in the beach scene, and in the bridge scene with Upham.

The utilization of diegetic sound in the film provides the audience with a sense of being in the same situation as

the characters, while non-diegetic music intensifies emotions and meaning. The effect on the audience's emotions and enjoyment of the film is sad in two different ways. In the beach scene, enjoyment is felt through the tension and suspense built up and released, while sadness is evoked through witnessing mass killings and loss of many lives. Despite this, emotional attachment to the characters may not be established since they are strangers to the audience. In contrast, in the bridge scene, enjoyment is experienced as planes save the day.

Viewers who have followed a character's story and understand them are more emotionally impacted by the events that affect them, such as harm or danger, in films. Analyzing different scenes through pause button analysis can reveal which type of emotion - carnage or compassion - is most effective at gaining audience sympathy and understanding for the characters. Two pivotal scenes, one on the beach at the beginning of the movie and another on a bridge during its climax, provide crucial context for the unfolding events. The beach scene, depicting devastating carnage from afar, is particularly potent in evoking viewers' sympathy and understanding by conveying the scale of those affected by war.

In my view, the absence of distinct characters in the movie could hinder emotional attachment from the audience. However, the bridge sequence proves to be powerful in evoking compassion and comprehension towards the character who passes away. The death gives significance to this individual and helps viewers develop a deeper understanding of him, which results in heightened empathy compared to when he was simply one of many anonymous soldiers. Although the beach scene is also emotionally charged because

of its massive massacre, it falls short in connecting viewers with any specific fallen characters due to their anonymity. In contrast, the bridge scene effectively portrays compassion and establishes a connection with prominent figures, making it more successful at gaining sympathy and comprehension from audiences.

The private victory achieved by Upham in the bridge scene can be relatable to our own lives. This gives us hope and understanding that, like Upham, we too can conquer our fears and achieve our own private victories.