This Veteran's Day I direct you to the November monthly movie picks, where I placed ten great war films for the holiday, but I neglected a major one, so I'll include it here in a special recommendation. Steven Spielberg's great WWII epic is still an affecting, masterfully directed accomplishment, especially the first 40 minutes or so, which changed the way war movies were made forever. The invasion of Normandy is incredible filmmaking, for which Spielberg deservedly won his second Best Director Oscar. But the rest of the movie is good too, and in its own way pays tribute to dozens of WWII movies from the past, made since the 1940s, that follow a group of stock character types making their way across war ravaged lands. Even though I really don't like the present day bookends of the movie (that part is way too sappy for me), Saving Private Ryan is an excellent choice to commemorate this Veteran's Day, and all the soldiers who fought and died for their country.
Trailer:
