Backgrounds Provide Motivation

Rating: Null/10 (14 August 1998)

I was impressed with both of Spielberg's Second World War movies: Schindler 's List and Saving Private Ryan. They created a level of realism that evoked an emotional level very much like grief that one experiences through family loss. Spielberg's development of the character Captain Miller was effective in symbolizing the general level of support for the war--teacher turned warrior. Similarly, Oskar Schindler represented higher values in a chaotic setting. Spielberg is such a force that one would have to go back to D.W. Griffith to find a director who was the star of the picture. As a Baby Boomer who grew up on war "entertainment" I can tell you that most war movies did little more that heighten my hormonal levels. Both Schindler's and Pvt. Ryan made me cry--heaving types of release that one would assume would be reserved for family losses. Now that is empathy by the viewer! I was impressed by the way that Spielberg recreated battle scenes, rather than inventing them. I am sure that the veterans had a sense of flashback, whereas the uninitiated were merely horrified. Spielberg gave the viewer the opportunity to identify with the struggles and sacrifices of veterans; an opportunity to attempt to understand the trauma suffered by all combat veterans.