10 Unique Tricks Every Movie Started To Rip-Off

The Trick

Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan opens with the completely unforgettable Normandy invasion sequence on Omaha Beach. It's memorable not only for its unflinching violence but also the groundbreaking aesthetic presentation by Spielberg and cinematographer Janusz Kamiński.

The sequence is shot with an extremely uncommon (at the time) 45-degree shutter angle - compared to the standard 180 - which basically means the camera shutter isn't open very wide at all, creating a "choppy", strobe-like feel to the action, while also minimising motion blur.

The lack of motion blur makes the image seem much more detailed and "gritty," as befits Spielberg's authentic depiction of the horrors of war. Also, the fact we're not used to seeing movies shot like this gives the scene a heightened, horrifically surreal vibe as well.

The Rip-Offs

Given that Kamiński won a well-earned Best Cinematography Oscar for his work on the film, it's little surprise the technique was replicated in dozens of big-budget action films in the years that followed.

Gladiator perhaps most famously rehashed the effect, while also the likes of A Knight's Tale, Traffic, and The Bourne Identity have used it in various degrees.

The effect fell out of favour relatively quickly a few years later because it became such a rampant stylistic cliche, though even today Spielberg's original use remains totally jaw-dropping.