The opening scene to the war film Saving Private Ryan.




I think this opening scene is very moving. The shot of the shaking hand at the beginning is very effective, as it gives an insight into how the men may be feeling. The instant death that is shown as soon the door to the boat opens, has a strong impact, as it shows the reality of war, rather then 'sugar coating' it as some films may do. I especially like the clips of the men underwater, as although the sound if muffled, to give the impression that you are really underwater , the extremity of the situation is clear. Also, the weather conditions relate the mood of the scene, solemn and grey. Some of the filming seems quite chaotic, again, relating to what is going on in the scene.  I think the explosions and gunshots are extremely realistic, and really allow the viewer to gain an understanding of what it would be like to be there. The sound goes muted towards to end, demonstrating what was happening at the time, as the main character had lost his hearing due to the explosions, I really like this idea. I think the most moving part of the scene is when the soldier is looking for his arm which had been blown off, as it shows the severity of some of the injuries they had to cope with. Overall, this scene gives a wide idea of what the film itself is going to be like, and has a huge impact on the viewer.