Task 2.5 (Comparison of Sequences)

For this particular task, I decided to compare two "American war" genre film openings. These films are "Black Hawk Down" which is an American war film based on the conflict in Somalia in 1993 and "Saving Private Ryan". I chose these two films because they have similarities and differences in their opening sequence.

"Black Hawk Down" is an America War Film based on the real life events of the conflict America were involved in, in Somalia in 1993. The film was directed by Ridley Scott and received two academy awards.

"Saving Private Ryan" is also an America War Film based on the real life events of the conflict of WW2 particularly focusing on the D-Day landings. It was directed by Steven Spielberg and received 5 academy awards.

To begin both of this sequences share the theme of a battle in the opening sequence, In "Black Hawk Down" we see the convoy leaving a base and the Somalians collecting weapons. A problem also occurs in the opening sequence as solder falls from a helicopter leaving him unconscious, this character is known as Private Blackburn played by Orlando Bloom. "Saving Private Ryan"is similar as the opening sequence is the D-Day landings of WW2 which is an intense battle scene. An enigma is also created in this scene as the troops get obliterated by German machine gun fire and have to make there way up the top of the beach. This supports the generic conventions of a war film where by the opening sequence is generally a battle scene, examples of this would be "Saving Private Ryan", "Black Hawk Down", "Green Zone" and "Hurt Locker".

I think the narrative structure for both of these films would be the exposition stage as the characters are introduced to the audience and in some form the plot of the film is laid out. Examples of this would be in "Black Hawk Down" the introduction of key characters such as SSGT Matt Eversmann, played by Josh Hartnett and also in "Saving Private Ryan" the introduction of Captain Miller, played by Tom Hanks. In both of these sequences an enigma is created as situations change and the plot develops.

Although these two films do have a lot of similarities in their opening sequences there are also differences throughout and in the opening sequences. One of these differences would be how the unity of the squads change in each film, in "Saving Private Ryan" the whole squad stays united together throughout unless death occurs where as in "Black Hawk Down" the squad is broken up as people are moved around to complete different tasks.

Black Hawk Down Trailer



Saving Private Ryan