Amistad
1997 Directed by Steven Spielberg
Synopsis
Amistad is about a 1839 mutiny on board a slave ship that is traveling towards the Northeast Coast of America. Much of the story involves a court-room drama about the slave who led the revolt.(law)
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Spielberg the historian takes center stage with this piece. He has many faces and forms but as historian he is his most known and reputable. The problem I always have with his films (the historical ones or not) is how they always tend to romanticize everything and cloak the story with sentimentalism. In "Schindler's List" which is by a long shot his best film, he does a good job for the most part of avoiding this. In "Amistad" he does a good job of avoiding this in the beginning but as the film progresses it is poured on until the atrocious ending which seemed to last forever.
But this is expected from Spielberg and it is just his trademark, he…
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Amistad is the kind of movie you’re made to watch in middle school. It’s a good movie, but its sole purpose seems to be to send the “slavery is bad” theme home hard. Comparing it to a movie like “Lincoln,” we see what can be done with a story like this but with strong characters and multiple storylines. Meanwhile, Amistad is more about a single trial that naively represents all slaves, in a sense.
My favorite aspects of this movie are the scenes dedicated to the opening of a line of communication. Just like in an alien-encounter science fiction film, there are scenes that follow a protocol to make proper contact. The movie’s first half is quite good, but along…
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Tetszett, hogy Spielberg nem szépített semmin, amin nem lehet.
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I remember watching this for social studies, 8th grade, and my classmates trying not to laugh when the slaves were falling off the ship. Probably cause they saw dong.
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I Like 1997's Amistad, I Like It Because I Like Steven Spielberg And He's My Favorite Film Director.
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Amistad is the kind of movie you’re made to watch in middle school. It’s a good movie, but its sole purpose seems to be to send the “slavery is bad” theme home hard. Comparing it to a movie like “Lincoln,” we see what can be done with a story like this but with strong characters and multiple storylines. Meanwhile, Amistad is more about a single trial that naively represents all slaves, in a sense.
My favorite aspects of this movie are the scenes dedicated to the opening of a line of communication. Just like in an alien-encounter science fiction film, there are scenes that follow a protocol to make proper contact. The movie’s first half is quite good, but along…
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"Powerful & very important film, one of Steven Spielberg's best. Hounsou stole the show with his amazing, powerful & emotional ability to act (always an amazing actor). Hopkins deserved that nod. McConaughey was really great, one of his best. Morgan Freeman was brilliant as usual, Amistad is a powerful and sad movie experience that will capture your hearts."
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Spielberg the historian takes center stage with this piece. He has many faces and forms but as historian he is his most known and reputable. The problem I always have with his films (the historical ones or not) is how they always tend to romanticize everything and cloak the story with sentimentalism. In "Schindler's List" which is by a long shot his best film, he does a good job for the most part of avoiding this. In "Amistad" he does a good job of avoiding this in the beginning but as the film progresses it is poured on until the atrocious ending which seemed to last forever.
But this is expected from Spielberg and it is just his trademark, he…
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I liked it. I'm not in love with it.
Great cinematography work.
The score was excellent.
Like Lincoln Spielberg doesn't try to do too much-he allows the story or rather the events of the time take center stage and it is a captivating story but the real power behind this film is in the performance of Djimon Hounsou. Really great-I didn't expect it.
Hopkins was good-his closing speech was done very well-not sure about the nomination though.
Freeman is a disappointing aspect of this film. He really had nothing to do in this.
McConaughey was really good but he disappears after the first half of this film.
Overall it's a solid telling of the Amistad events-not strong enough for 5 stars in my mind.
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The flaws with Spielberg's style - sugariness, preachiness et al. - are ever present but Amistad is an interesting, involving and occasionally powerful drama that is more consistent than Spielberg's most lauded 90s efforts - Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan.
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History, Human Rights, Colonialism