20 War Movies EVERY Film Fan Should Have Seen

Shockingly bleak by any estimate but jaw-dropping-ly harsh considering it came from American cinema legend/ purveyor of cinematic candy Steven Spielberg, 1998's D-day drama Saving Private Ryan couldn't be further from the helmer's usual sweet as apple pie offerings such as ET and Hook.

Starring a stellar Tom Hanks and featuring a string of superb supporting performances, the film follows a squad of doomed soldiers as they endeavour to rescue the titular troop.

But if you manage to make it through this film's blistering, brutal opening salvo, a gory and unremittingly bleak D-day sequence wherein much of the cast are torn to shreds by gunfire, you'll see why a plot synopsis doesn't do much to capture the visceral power of Spielberg at his most impactful.