Wow...Mind-boggling

Rating: 10/10 (1 April 2009)

Many movies have great cinematography. These movies will have a handful of excellent shots. If that is great cinematography, great would be an insult to this movie's cinematography. Instead of a few excellent shots, every single shot is excellent, every moment wows you. It is relentless; it doesn't give you time to marvel, it makes you marvel more. Considering it is at the core of cinema history, almost everything is, if not a first, the first well developed example of a certain bit of film. The opening scenes are subject to an unfortunate disadvantage of early film: while it has one of the first uses of swinging objects to make an ominous feel, the camera rolled too slowly, and the objects swung too fast. The scene where the execution is imminent takes full advantage of the battleship's guns. Almost all shots are taken from right next to the cannons, thus showing this grim scene from a tool of destruction, establishing the mood perfectly.
The Odessa steps sequence is perhaps the most influential scene involving the portrayal of military brutality in film. It has the higher ground of the oppressors, allowing them to fire at a downwards angle, showing the helplessness of the victims. It has the emphasis on young children, which has been used quite effectively in Schindler's List. Most importantly, it shows them firing in a unified, systematic fashion, which portrays them as unfeeling killing machines, with no pity or hesitance.
Finally, the approach of the battleship to the enemies is the best early example of suspense in film. With the constant use of few shots, it makes the wait seem longer and longer. The guns pointing strait at us make us truly realize the unspeakable power they are about to discharge. And the use of the "all for one" narration is an incredibly effective way of showing us the kind of suicide mission they are on. Nothing but stunning.