Nothing short of Awesome

Rating: 10/10 (29 November 2011)

You could see all the effort that was put into this movie. As amazing a movie it is, it wouldn't be nearly half as good without the technical decisions that were put into this movie. From the deep emotions and feelings, to the action packed battle scenes, every part was beautifully depicted with Spielberg's technical skills.
There's no doubt that the opening invasion scene left viewers entranced, and possibly with their mouths wide open. The fast cuts, character actions, camera movements, and camera placement all contributed to portraying the horrific details of war. Blood was everywhere, bombs were going off in every direction, bullets whizzed past everyone. Special effects were A+ everywhere. Switching from shots of units to shots of near-death individuals, the film made sure viewers knew exactly what was happening.
After the rifles have cooled down a bit towards the middle of the film, Spielberg started to employ calmer camera shots and movements. Shots were slower but nevertheless effective. One may never even notice the cuts, as the shots are fluid and 'invisible'. This shows Spielberg is still taking consideration into these shots but is avoiding anything unnecessary. From low angles to close ups, the viewer involuntarily receives the messages Spielberg wants to convey.
Almost the whole film was actually a flashback, which the viewer learns towards the end. The low angle shot of Pvt Ryan(Matt Damon) beautifully dissolves into a low angle shot of Grandpa Ryan. (not his grandpa) This ties everything together; the old man in the very beginning was actually Ryan who visited the grave of Cpt Miller(Tom Hanks) and had a flashback of the war, which was followed by him coming back to the present. How Spielberg made the actual film in this manner provided such a stronger impact on the viewer towards the end than if it wasn't a flashback at all.