18. War Horse (2011)
On paper, this seemed like it should have been the perfect Spielberg film. Based on one of the most raved about stage plays in recent years and telling the epic story of a horse who finds itself inadvertently caught up in the horrors of WWI, the film ultimately fell a little short of its immense potential. Though it is still a good film featuring some incredible set pieces and beautiful cinematography and production design, the emotional beauty of the stage play felt a little too simplistic and - yes - saccharine when translated to film. This isn't to say it is a bad film, per se - the episodic structure works, it features some great performances, and the best scene in the play is also by far the best scene in the film (involving barbed wire). But it starts to lag a bit in the end, and one can't help the feeling that there should be something more there.