Soldiers were able to take cover behind the heavy timbers because the tide was out. Operation Overlord (D-Day) called for the invasion to take place as close to low tide as possible so that most of the German obstacles and mines could be seen. "Saving Private Ryan" represented both the feelings of U.S. soldiers and the beach landing realistically and accurately. .
Devastating injuries caused by the "lights of perverted science" were perhaps one of the most horrific outcomes of World War II displayed on and off film. New and increasingly efficient ways of killing had been invented and tanks were used a lot more than in world war I. The use of tanks are seen throughout "Saving Private Ryan". Snipers firing on individuals, automatic weapons, mortar and artillery shells, transportable guns and mines on beaches are all shown at one point or another as well. Due to the nature of the weapons, soldiers were severely injured, limbs were blown or shot off, people blinded, diseased, hearing impaired and suffered irreversible emotional scaring. The brave medics who deal with these situations found themselves in only increasingly dangerous situations, a lot of which were hopeless anyway. In one scene on the beach landing, wounded are lined along the ground and medics rush to save the life of one of the wounded, but while they patch him up a bullet hits him in the head. The methods that led to soldiers" deaths along with the agonies they suffered in World War II were extremely realistic in "Saving Private Ryan".
Allied conquests and aims were depicted accurately in "Saving Private Ryan". The aims of the first wave of soldiers were to take the beachhead , which they did. As soldiers finally made it across the beach, soldiers then began attacking German strong points . "Saving Private Ryan" remains consistent even to the point of having the soldiers throwing themselves to the ground, glad to be rid of their heavy packs.
