Saving Private Ryan - Opening Scene - First Film Analysis

This is the opening of the film Saving Private Ryan. The film genre is a war film. The genre conventions are to present warfare, usually about naval, air and land battles, sometimes focusing on prisoners of war, covert operations, military training or other related subjects.

The opening scene is set on the Ohama beaches, as the soldiers are just going into war, this symbolises there has been a major disagreement or argument over something between two countries or possibly more.

The key signifiers in the opening sequence are the sound of rain and guns bullets firing, eventually leading to the boat being dropped and silence as the soldiers are underwater and cannot hear. The sound of bullets firing signifies war which is what there about to start and the sound of rain, signifies sad times ahead, quiet and patience.

This sequence tells us that it's going to be a film full of action packed war. I expect the rest of the film to be full of war and fighting and someone to win the war, or for the problem there having to be resolved.

The audience that is being targeted are people who want action, explosions, war heros, weapons and evil leaders.