Review Questions  1. The key theme of Steven Spielberg’s film Saving Private Ryan is war. The subjects of the movie include World War II, the landing of American battalions in Normandy, mass heroism, deaths of innocent people, and the value of human life. At the same time, Saving Private Ryan has an indirect relation to the war since the battle in Normandy is a metaphor, nothing more than an excuse for the director’s metaphysical and sociopolitical constructions. The whimsical dialectic of the film multiplies allusions and provokes a detailed investigation, becoming the main advantage of the movie. For twenty-five minutes, the scene of the introductory battle continues with the enemy dug in at the coastal height, and this episode contributes most to addressing the theme of the film.  2. Making a film about war means solving a complex ethical problem. It is hard to observe how, in the high technology mode, the flesh of citizens of the United States scatters along the Norman shores. A piercing whistle, sophisticated pyrotechnics, significant financial investments — all these separate elements make the atmosphere of the movie more intense. In the context of other separate elements, Spielberg is not too original. Power and state are depicted as omnipotent gods, by the will of which human sacrifices are depicted in the movie. The final scene, which shows the American flag waving, dispels all doubts about the significance of the film’s separate elements. Film Elements  1. The story is narrated in a heart-touching manner, despite the violence and brutality of the film. Spielberg is one of the greatest film masters in history, so it is not surprising that he pays significant attention to details in the plot structure. Already the first scenes of the picture set the tone for what is about to happen. The landing of the rangers on the Omaha coast at first glance seems a complete failure. Soldiers are met by a heavy barrage from well-fortified coastal bridgeheads, and the MG-42 machine gun bullets turn a living person into a bloody mess. Saving Private Ryan reminds viewers that in a times of war, people’s dreams and aspirations lose their significance in front of the barrel of enemy’s weapon, turning soldiers into sacks full of blood and bones. The lack of panoramic frames and a down-to-earth manner of shooting right at the epicenter of events create the illusion of being in such adverse conditions. Thus, without using any flashbacks or non-linear elements, the film succeeds in conveying the terrible atmosphere of war in a chronological way. At the same time, the whole story is, in fact, a flashback, since it is framed by a modern shot, in which the viewers see an elderly Ryan reminiscing about war.  2. Captain John Miller, the protagonist of the film, is played by the magnificent actor Tom Hanks. He is depicted as a commander of the Second Battalion of Rangers, who is assigned the task of participation in war from the top authorities. Before the war, Captain Miller had been working for the last 11 years as a schoolteacher at the Thomas Edison School. Being a man of duty, Captain Miller is a real protagonist of the movie who evokes respect and empathy among the audience. In his hastily formed platoon of subordinates, all soldiers not only obey subordination but