A Brief History of World War II Movies

Saving Private Ryan, 1998
If Stephen Spielberg's career as a "serious" director started with 1993's Schindler's List, it was cemented with Saving Private Ryan. Ostensibly the story of Tom Hanks' flinty captain and his platoon's search for Matt Damon's Private Ryan after the D-Day invasion, it will be forever known for its searing 28 minute opening set piece on Omaha Beach — widely seen as one of the most realistic (and terrifying) battle scenes ever filmed.

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