Before and after ``Saving Private Ryan.'' Spielberg revolutionized depiction of battlefields

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2018.03.21Kazuo Ozaki

Hollywood after “Saving Private Ryan”

Since the release of Saving Saving Private Ryan, Hollywood war movies have clearly reflected the trends of ``before and after''. ` `Pearl Harbor '' (2001), which captures the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor from the perspective of a young American soldier, and a Mel Gibson-starring film that vividly depicts the first local battle of the American military in the Vietnam War, the Battle of Ia Dolan. All of them, including `` Once and Forever '' (2002), bore the strong visual influence of ` `Saving Private Ryan .''

Also, Ridley Scott, who starred in `` Alien '' (1979) and `` Blade Runner '' (1982), showed a particularly strong reaction to this tendency that could be called `` Saving Private Ryan Syndrome.'' His 2000 gladiator historical drama `` Gladiator '' (2000) captured the Roman Empire's campaign in Germania with a camera eye reminiscent of Omaha Beach. In ``Black Hawk Down '' (2001), he created a non-stop battle scene that lasted about an hour and a half.

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However, this open rivalry stems from Ridley having his stock taken away from him. One year before Spielberg, he used a technique called ``jitter zoom'' in which the camera zooms in and out in small increments in the battle scenes of `` G.I. quickly accessed visual expressions. However, such experimental methods were not talked about due to the unpopularity of his work, and unfortunately he ended up taking a backseat to Spielberg. Still, Ridley admires Spielberg's accomplishments and wholeheartedly admires them.

"Stephen has reached an amazing realm of expression. We must quickly catch up."*

The depiction of the battlefield in Saving Saving Private Ryan seems to have become a standard over time. However, its birth inspired rival writers. And even to this day, it continues to maintain the same momentum and impact as its predecessor, unrivaled by anyone else.

*Douglas Bankston.May.2000.American Cinematographer Magazine.Hollywood:ASC.

Text: Kazuo Ozaki

Film critic and writer. His main writing sites include print media such as ``Figure King'', ``Champion RED'', ``Eiga Hiho'', and ``Hokkaido'', and web media such as ``Eiga.com'' and ``The Cinema''. In addition, he has contributed many explanations and essays to theater pamphlets, movie mook books, and DVD & Blu-ray software booklets. She also formed a cinema comedian unit [Movie Gachinko Brothers] under the name "Dolly Ozaki" and appears on TV and at talk events.

Twitter: @dolly_ozaki

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