Top 7 Steven Spielberg films.....

I recall back in the early 80s, Spielberg got criticized because he "only" made popcorn movies. Maybe he would've gone into "serious" movies anyway, but I think those criticisms stung and pushed him toward more "adult" fare earlier than otherwise would've been the case.

I think this damaged his cinematic abilities. I think he got too concerned over what others thought he should do vs. what he wanted to do.

I'll always believe that SS's 1975-1982 run - minus the awful "1941" - was as good as it gets. 4 films, 4 all-time classics.

After that...

 

He uses blatant emotional manipulation in all his films, and this is not mutually exclusive to telling a good story. His films do both. On other merits, Amistad probably has the best cast, cinematography and most important message of all his films.

 

1. Close Encounters of the Third Kind
2. Temple Of Doom
3. Saving Private Ryan
4. The Goonies
5. Gremlins (He was the executive producer so I’m counting it)

That’s all I got.

 

Schindler's List
Jaws
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Saving Private Ryan
Munich
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Minority Report

 

ET
Jaws
Close Encounters of the third kind
The Goonies
Gremlins
Raiders of the lost ark
Poltergeist (If this isnt a S.S. movie then the terminal)

 

It'll be debated forever if Spielberg directed "Poltergeist".

It'll never be debated if Spielberg directed "Goonies" - that was Richard Donner.

And "Gremlins" was Joe Dante.

So 2 and maybe 3 of your 7 weren't directed by Spielberg!

 

I believe that Hook is one of Spielberg's most overlooked films. I saw it in the theater with my son, who was 6 back then. We both enjoyed it immensely, it really worked as pure escapism. Watched it again on TV several years later and still liked it.

Lincoln
Catch Me if You Can
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Schindler's List
Hook
Saving Private Ryan

 

Duel
Raiders
Jaws
1941
Jurassic Park

Is that it? I think that's it...

 

The Good
Raiders Of The Lost Ark
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Jaws
Schindler's List
Saving Private Ryan
Minority Report
Close Encounters Of The Third Kind

The Bad
No Temple of Doom.

The Ugly
And definitely no et. One of the worst movies I have ever watched.

 

CE3K
Jaws
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Saving Private Ryan
Jurassic Park
Duel
Schindler's List

Good, Enjoyable Flicks:
E.T.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
A.I.
Minority Report
Catch Me If You Can
War of the Worlds
Lincoln
Bridge of Spies
The Post
1941 (if the mood is right)
Sugarland Express

Don't Like:
Ready Player One
Amistad
Lost World: Jurassic Park
Hook
Always
Empire of the Sun
Color Purple
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Not Seen:
Munich
Terminal
BFG
Tintin
War Horse

 

Raiders
Jaws
Jurassic Park
Catch Me if You Can
ET
Indy Last Crusade

To this day, Jurassic Park most thrilling movie experience of my life. Entire theater was just screaming !

 

I've seen relatively few of these movies but did see AI last night. It was impressive if horrifying. Minority Report is showing at the same local library next week, so maybe I can catch-up.

 

Speaking of Spielberg films, I just watched Jaws on Amazon Prime. Probably the first time I have seen it since it's theatrical release 43 years ago. Darn, this is a great movie! It is well crafted, a bit Hichcockian in the setup of moments and a bit 70s character movie - engaging and human all the way.

It's an hour and ten minutes before the three main characters get on a boat and there is another 50 minutes to go. I knew what was coming at every point and I was still glued to the screen. Spielberg is a really good storyteller. And he got lucky with Robert Shaw. Interestingly, I can see the same elements used in Saving Private Ryan showing up in this film first.

 

In no particular order:

Duel
Raiders
Catch Me If You Can
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
The Color Purple
Jurassic Park
Hook

 

Artificial Intelligence
Schindler’s List
Bridge Of Spies
Lincoln
Saving Private Ryan

 

A.I. is a f*cking horror film! And that - much maligned as sappy - ending is a horrific nightmare.

 

1 A.I. Artificial Intelligence
2 War of the Worlds
3 Munich
4 Saving Private Ryan

 

Duel
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
The Sugarland Express
Jaws
E.T.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Catch Me If You Can

 

Tallied up through this point. Get your votes in...

 

Jaws
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Catch Me If You Can
Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind
Lincoln
Duel
Schindler's List

 

Munich is one of my all time favorites. Check it out.

 

Munich should be a story of tragedy about a group of athletes who were murdered in cold blood. Each of these victims was worthy of having their story told. Instead we got a film about how horrible it is to go after the murderers. Disgusting film in every sense.

Amistad--now there is an underrated gem.

 

Best films? I have to separate that from "my favorite" films of Spielberg. As a filmmaker, his best are:

Schindler's List
Jaws
Close Encounters
Raiders of the Lost Ark
ET
Lincoln
Jurassic Park

 

‘Jaws’ is still the best Spielberg movie. Why? Because it doesn’t feel remotely like a Spielberg movie.

 

I guess you probably wouldn't like the book that it's based on, Vengeance.
I liked Amistad too.