I think Earlier on in the movie industry people had the idea that big stars would ‘make’ big movies. But over time they came to their senses and realised it’s the quality of the film and the plot, not the reputation of the actors in general. A Bridge to Far is a prime example of this, even though its got a storyline they gave all the main stars at that time, main parts. Hoping people would go and watch it just to see their Idol/Idols grouped together re enacting part of history. Even if this worked at the time, in the long run it might have been better to set out the characters differently, so people don’t get confused by the main actors other roles in other films.
The films represent different nationalities fighting for Britain or America as the ‘goodies’ and anyone on the opposing side ( in this case Germany) would be cast as ‘Evil’ or the ‘Baddies’. This also might have been the case because they might have still be a conflict and agitation between countries when the film was made, making the film bias and stereotypical on there account.
The theme of war in each film is entirely different. For example Saving Private Ryan represents how war is a terrible emotional rollercoaster in which people have been brutally killed for political beliefs. It also takes into account the life beyond war and the feelings of families who would be affected by the death of its soldiers.
A Bridge Too Far on the other hand shows war as a victorious battle for good where everyone is in favour of it. Jeering and shouting to the heavens of how Britain should be at war, saving the world from destruction (may sound so heavy but its how I interpreted it) this might be because the feelings of many were indecisive so the film was to settle thoughts of how war is waste of time. The most realistic part of A Bridge to Far in my opinion is flying bullets and raised voices
The Iconography in each film is completely different. In A Bridge Too Far it shows the British strutting about the war zone like they owned the bloody place! Showing off their bright colours and Flags like they were in the brownies!
The way The soldiers move about in A Bridge Too Far is somewhat realistic as it lacks some sort of strategy to it, all of the men and vehicles are real enough with the way they move….and malfunction but its all too movie like to be real.
The way the soldiers from Saving Private Ryan as dressed gives you a better understanding of what it really would have been like, though it’s hard to know for sure. All of the soldiers have unshaven faces, dirt and muck line their clothes, and an expression of fear rests on every one of their lips.
In Saving Private Ryan the first Scene you see is of an old war veteran walking too a grave stone with his family trudging behind him. This then fades through his eyes to the cold beaches. This is where the film really starts off. The use of Different camera angles gives us a better Look at what the soldiers were experiencing. It differs from long shots of the boat, too up close helpless expressions on their faces. The lighting is dim and grey which sets the scene with the murky skies full of anger and recklessness. The camera views during the beach landing are also ingenious. Second person view from behind the soldiers to a first person shot of what’s going on. This gives us an excellent opportunity to scope out the scenery and the surrounding Disasters! The cameras show depressing shots of blown up people, people scared out of their pants and the general look of being terrified and distressed!
On A Bridge Too Far it shows numerous camera angles zooming in and out on activities going on around of the battlefield, and inside the cabins where the important people sit.
Both films fit the Category of War well but do it in different ways. Saving Private Ryan is realistic gory and full of truth. Where as A Bridge Too Far is Patriotic, colourful and fearless, giving it a more thrilling and enticing look at war? They both show how painful it can be in the context of people dying, but Saving Private Ryan just does it with added realism.
The genre in this film might have changed because of the these factors;
Ask yourself, do we as the public expect greater realism due to our for ever sickening minds and gruesome fantasy’s? Because the more we crave and demand specific aspects in a film, the harder the directors try to fulfil our thirst. People’s tastes are also constantly changing due to fashion and daily events all over the world. This might include personal or political beliefs which have been altered due to an event.
Coming from someone who is a participant of the audience who watches these films, I can say that our hunger is growing stronger due to the improvements to technology and the quality of the films storylines. As we broaden out horizons this way, it gives us a new light for us to take new pathways and ideas for films. Referring back to the mention of the handheld camera, I would like to say that even though it is no new piece of unbelievably astounding technique, and has been around for quite a while now. The way Stephen Spielberg has incorporated it into the series of events happening, just gives it that edge on realism.
To conclude these films I think they both are great examples of war time movie making, but come under different versions of the genre ‘War’.
Saving Private Ryan is a realistic and very effective way or conveying how war is like and the emotions thrown about during the life threatening situation.
A Bridge Too Far will go down as a classic war film as it was made from the primitive resources they had back then, and used to great effect. I guess it was made so effective because they still had a vivid image of the war, so they used as much knowledge and equipment available to them, to pull of making war as it should have been, knowing people would till be shaken up a bit. It being the Second World War and all.
A Bridge Too Far is a interpretation but without all the blood and gore and excessive swearing we see in films these days. The quality of the film is also dependant on its target market. And in this case it was ‘everyone’ so of course it won’t be able to show all the violence and blood it might have done.
Stephen Spielberg has made a stunning crack at interpreting the events that happened during Omaha Bridge into a gripping story! His ways of expressing the ideas onto the big screen undermine most professionals by his standards. I definitely Prefer Saving Private Ryan as it shows exactly what we should be seeing to give us a understanding of what they went through to keep our country as it is, and to give credit to the lives lost defending our legacy. I think, no I know that Saving Private Ryan will go down in history as one of the best war films ever.
