Saving Private Ryan Analysis

Saving Private Ryan is a movie set during World War II, focusing on the finding and rescuing of a Private Ryan who was a member of The United States Army. The reason for his rescue was due to the fact that all of his brothers died in the line of duty and the United States Military wished to end his deployment and send him home early. The movie directed by Steven Spielberg was released on July 24, 1998 and featured actors Tom Hanks and Matt Damon. The movie poster for Saving Private Ryan directed by Steven Spielberg uses color, symbols, and realism to show brotherhood and commitment within the military.

The movie poster for Saving Private Ryan contains colors that have a drastic effect on the emotional appeal of the audience. The darker tones

represent the darker feelings such as sadness, pain, and discomfort of unfamiliar surroundings. The small amount of brighter colors represents the small amount of hope or possibility of bringing Private Ryan back home alive. The figure in the middle of the poster, that is shadowed, is walking towards the small amount of hope. Assuming this is Private Ryan, He is walking towards the small amount of hope he has, and as well as others, to get back home and to get back to his family. The colors of the poster foreshadow the audience much about the film. The images above the shadowed figure on the poster are de-saturated, considering the lack of color. The connotation between the lacks of color is sadness and misery throughout the film, as well. The color of a movie poster sets the first impression, or tone for the movie. Spielberg used these colors and connotations to set the tone for what his viewers were able to see.
Symbolism in the movie poster for Saving Private Ryan starts at the top of the poster.

There are four men in military gear. You can only assume these are the main characters of the movie. Their faces symbolize their lives. The rough patchy bearded face is parallel to the days when making sure they looked the best was not a top priority. This also is parallel to symbolizing that this movie is, and will get messy. There are parts in the movie that are not all smiles and laugher; it is heartache and pain and rough days. We can also tell from their facial expressions the tone and genre of the film. The soldiers have serious, sullen looks, with one character bowing his head down. This shows the audience that it symbolizes a drama. The clouds that are above the four men symbolize the darkness that has overcome them. It is the darkest that has overcome their lives as being in the military. Towards the middle of the movie poster there is light and a military figure walking towards it. This symbolizes the small amount of joy, and hope that takes place during this movie. As the light moves from left to right on the poster, it is as if the darkness is trying to overcome it, but the hope and courage of these men keep it alive. Finally, the darkest at the bottom symbolizes those who encountered a hard time, and those who did not make it throughout this

journey.
The symbolization of the poster being a drama also shows the realistic interpretation of war. The reality of war is represented in a very realistic way. It depicts very strong infliction of serious physical harm. This is shown through the dark colors and the men that look as if they haven’t been “keeping up with themselves.” In fact, the men are just a realistic example of how life was then during this time in the military. Life during this time was dirty and unsatisfying at the time. Through this poster you can see the realistic representation of dedication and commitment. You can see these men are bonded together by something that love and have a lot of passion for and about. That passion is the love for their country and the love for their brothers in arms. The figure walking towards the light is a realistic example of how during the movie and even in war today, no matter what challenges one has coming their way they can attack it. The challenge one is faced with is in front of ones self for a reason, and realistically, they can over come those challenges just as Private Ryan did. The last example of realism portrayed throughout the movie poster is the seriousness that war has and follows with it. That war is nothing to mess with. It is life and death. Through this poster one can see the black and white points and realistic views of the war. One is able to catch glimpses of what war looks like, real pain and heartache, even when losing someone near to them.
The movie poster for Saving Private Ryan directed by Steven Spielberg uses color, symbols, and realism to show brotherhood and commitment within the military. Throughout the movie poster there is heartache, pain, war stories, dirt and giddiness of war. The movie poster also represents the hope that was given, even if it was a small amount. The interpretation that was given is something accurate, its something that represents what Spielberg was trying to portray on this poster and to his audience that was interested in this movie. This movie poster represents, “war and heartache” but also shows “hope and potential to find its way.” This is the reason it has been so successful due to the mixed emotion throughout between feeling like war and pain is all that is going to surround their lives, until the small amount of hope that he had of coming back to his family finally reaches it’s end when he reunites with them.