It's not really comparable to Saving Private Ryan. This is a lot more about a panoramic overview of the D-Day campaign, with careful attention to historically accurate detail, despite an acceptable amount of dramatic licence.

True story (nothing to do with John Wayne): By extraordinary coincidence, I met the real Major Howard on Pegasus Bridge itself, whilst visiting in Normandy, on a school trip in 1989 (a very memorable week, visiting D-Day sites). Even more brilliantly, the teachers asked him to give us all a short talk on his experiences, and he agreed. Having seen The Longest Day (in which he is portrayed by Richard Todd), I was thrilled to meet this war hero in real life. A lovely man, by the way.