I had Minority Report wrong. When you look at it in the context of Steven Spielberg’s overall filmography, the film’s ending seems like it follows in the footsteps of movies like Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan, and even A.I. Artificial Intelligence. Spielberg is a director who doesn’t really go for ambiguous endings and wants to […]
Continue readingIt’s known that HBO’s 10-part miniseries “Band of Brothers” is something of an extension of Steven Spielberg’s celebrated 1998 war film “Saving Private Ryan.” Part of the reverence for the Spielberg-Tom Hanks co-creation comes from an appreciation for the meticulously re-created history, from Belgian villages to liberated concentration camps; the production even shares the filming location […]
Continue readingSaving Private Ryan is one of the greatest war films ever made. Steven Spielberg’s uncompromising depiction of a brave mission during the climax of World War II is renowned for its gripping first sequence, which depicts the grizzly storming of Omaha Beach by Allied forces. While detractors would argue the film never tops its standout […]
Continue readingSteven Spielberg is among the most quintessentially “American” filmmakers of all time; while his films span countless genres and appeal to a variety of different generations, Spielberg has always taken a keen interest in both examining and contesting what “patriotism” really is. Whether it’s the bravery of a world-weary archeologist in Raiders of the Lost […]
Continue readingChances are if you’ve seen an American war film in the last 30 years, the name Dale Dye might ring a bell. Dye is a former Marine captain whose brief cameos and appearances are peppered throughout action films like “Under Siege,” “Mission: Impossible,” “Starship Troopers,” and “Saving Private Ryan.” After his first onscreen appearance in […]
Continue readingIt’s a reality of modern war films — or, at least, the good ones — that they tend to be horrifying and exciting at the same time. You could say that’s a contradiction that grows out of the kinetic, larger-than-life nature of the movie medium. Or you could say it’s a truth that expresses something […]
Continue readingThere are few filmmakers that have as extensive and iconic a filmography as Steven Spielberg. The legendary directory has been at the head of massive blockbuster franchises like Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones, gut-wrenching historical films like Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan, and, most recently, a musical with West Side Story. With his next […]
Continue reading“Saving Private Ryan” is known for having a brilliant ensemble cast filled with well-known names, even in the smallest of roles. The Steven Spielberg-directed film housed many young performances from up-and-coming actors as armies of soldiers due to the epic scale captured in the war film. For instance, Vin Diesel’s brief role tends to stand […]
Continue readingDoes any director have a better filmography than Steven Spielberg? It’s all a matter of opinion, but when you see a list that includes Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T., Jurassic Park, Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan, and Catch Me If You Can — and you’re not even a quarter of the way through […]
Continue readingThe true stories of heroism in World War II have inspired some of the greatest films of all time. Throughout film history, war films have examined various aspects of combat. While films like “Saving Private Ryan” and “The Thin Red Line” explored the plight of soldiers in the heat of combat, “Bridge On The River Kwai” […]
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