This is the premier movie about World War II. In the years that followed the war many movies were made about the war that starred actual veterans with first hand knowledge of the war( To Hell and Back with Audie Murphy being a prime example)but the movies always got the Hollywood treatment so that the realism present in Saving Private Ryan was never achieved. With stars such as Tom Hanks and Matt Damon the acting is a pleasure to watch but the real star of this movie is the realism brought to the screen.
The scenes from the D-Day landing are the most realistic I have seen. I recommend this as the first movie anyone should watch who wants to see movies of the history of World War II.