Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing work from Spielberg
Review: Call me naive but I figured Amistad was a movie that would show the horror of the transatlantic slave in much the same way Spielberg used Oscar Schindler's story to show the tragedy of the holocaust. What do we get instead? A courtroom drama. At a point I was wondering if this was a movie about the escaped Africans or the greatness of John Quincy Adams. There is a scene where Morgan Freeman vainly struggles to look noble and inspired after a summation by Adams which leaves us in no doubt of the answer to that question in Spielberg's mind.
It is really curious how the Africans seem to disappear in a movie about them. With the exception of Cinque, no black character is really fully developed. The atrocities endured by the slaves in the middle passage are shown in very brief taut scenes. Even the most shocking lacks the emotional impact of the scene where Amon Goethe decides to use a young boy for target practice because we do not have enough time to know the victims.
Perhaps it is really asking too much for any white American to make a picture about slavery on the same level as Schindler's list. There is after all a question of guilt and no one likes to feel guilty. It is the same reason you don't find German directors making movies about the holocaust. Imagine what would have happened if Spike Lee had directed this joint.
Amistad has its moments. For example a scene where Cinque and his friend try to interpret the bible is very touching. However I cannot recommend this movie. Pick up a copy of the book, "The interesting narrative of the life of Olaudah Equiano" instead. Olaudah was an 18th century Igbo slave from my own neck of the woods in Nigeria. His perspective will give a truer picture of the horrors of slavery.
Rating: 
Summary: ANOTHER INSTANT HISTORICAL CLASSIC!!!
Review: Director STEVEN SPIELBERG (AI: Artificial Intelligence, Saving Private Ryan) directs an all star cast including: DJIMON HOUNSOU, ANTHONY HOPKINS (Hannibal, The Edge), MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY (U-571, A Time To Kill), MORGAN FREEMAN (Along Came a Spider, Seven) and PETE POSTLETHWAITE in an instant classic: AMISTAD!This extroadinary film is astonishingly good- although painful and sad at the same time! It is a complete heart throbbing drama from beginning to end! STEVEN SPIELBERG really knows how to give a message! The acting was stunningly superb! The music really is artfully crafted from famous music composer JOHN WILLIAMS (Jurassic Park, Saving Private Ryan). HOUNSOU's and HOPKINS' performances were extremely well done! This film earned FOUR Academy Award Nominations including: 1. Best Supporting Actor (Hopkins) 2. Best Music 3. Best Costume Design 4. Best Cinematography (I think it should have won BEST PICTURE- but I am still happy that FORREST GUMP won) Siding With: 1. Braveheart, 2. Dances With Wolves, 3. Saving Private Ryan, 4. Schindler's List, 5. Glory, 6. The Green Mile, 7. Gladiator, 8. The Patriot, 9. Courage Under Fire, 10. Titanic, 11. U-571----- AMISTAD is an excellent motion picture capturing emotional and inspirational drama that will really impact you! One of the great instant classics to add to the HISTORICAL CLASSICS list above!!! OWN IT TODAY!
Rating: 
Summary: Slave Traitors
Review: Director Steven Spielberg's AMISTAD, has been criticized by some, for being too sensationalized. Having watched the film again, I came away not able to agree with those folks, not entirely anyway. The film chronicles the story of a group of enslaved Africans, and their quest to be free. When the slaves overtake the ship they are traveling on, so that they may go back to their homeland, the ship is seized, and brought to the newly dormed United States Of America. The slaves are charged with murder, and must stand trial for their crimes, where prison awaits. For the slaves of La Amistad, it is their freedom that is at stake, For the U.S., it's foundation of justice is tested as well. An all star cast brings this story to life. (The always great) Morgan Freeman, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Matthew McConaughey, and then-newcomer Djimon Hounsou as slave Cinqué, give solid performances in the film and hold your attention for the entire movie.. I think the film is suffers from a bit of heavy handedness for its climax, but I don't think that it's all that much, as some make it out to be. It certainly doesn't detract from the film, and I can think of a few films that are worse offenders than AMISTAD. The DVD is pretty sparse when it comes to extras. It includes a few production notes, a (written) word from Spielberg, cast and crew information, and the theatrical trailer. The most substantial extra is a making of featurette that reads like a bloated commercial for the film. Taken at face value, the movie is worth a look, and gets a solid four stars
Rating:
Summary: Amistad - A lesson from History
Review: Director Steven Spielberg Writer David Franzoni Stars Morgan Freeman, Nigel Hawthorne, Anthony Hopkins, Djimon Hounsou, Matthew McConaughey, David Paymer, Pete Postlethwaite, Stellan Skarsgard, Razaaq Adoti, Abu Bakaar Fofanah, Anna Paquin, Tomas Milian, Ralph Brown, Peter Firth, Jeremy Northam, Arliss Howard, Pedro Armendariz, Jerry Molen Running time 152 minutes
Release Year 1998 Amistad is set in the 1830s and tells the true story of Africans shackled and taken from their homes and forced on to the Spanish slave ship Amistad. There they are beaten, starved and some are thrown into the ocean, chained together and left to drown. The inhumane conditions on the ship are un-imaginable to anyone viewing this film. Eventually, the Africans take over the ship by killing the crew and forcing the Captain to route them back to Africa, so they thought. Eventually the Captain routes the ship toward America, where American coastguards board the ship and take them to America for trial for murder. A local abolitionists, played by Morgan Freeman, teams with a real-estate attorney, played by Matthew McConaughey, to help them fight for their freedom. Political problems are against them at every turn with President Van Buren, played by Nigel Hawthorne, campaigning for re-election by being pro-slavery and a civil war riding on the case's verdict. The President plays his political hand and the trial looks to be doomed until the team convinces ex-President John Quincy Adams, played by Anthony Hopkins, to help them take on the Supreme Court to help win the freedom of these 50 Africans and maintain humanity among mankind. Since it is based on a truestory, this movie is great for those who love history or those who are studying slavery, the law or civil war.
Rating:
Summary: First of all...I loved it.
Review: First of all...I loved it. This is another one of those emotional films by Steven Spielberg, but like the others, he does a great job with a difficult story line. This is not a feel good movie, nor does it make you feel like you want to go out there and change the world; what it does do, is make you sit back and reflect upon an incident in our nation's history that will disappoint you. The story line centers around the capture, detainment, transportation and murder of men, women and children who are being brought to the United States to be slaves in 1839. The Africans on the ship "Amistad" rebel, take control of the ship, and attempt to go back to Africa to be free. Their dream for freedom is short-lived as their ship is captured by an American Naval ship and brought to the United States. The Africans (led by Djimon Hounsou) are placed on trial, they are fighting for their freedom, but their lawyers and the politicians have turned it into a fight over the issue of slavery. The Africans win the first few rounds only to have their freedom appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, where former President John Quincy Adams (Anthony Hopkins) is recruited to defend them. I was saddened by the role that politics played in this freedom fight and how President Martin Van Buren fought not to do what was right, but fought instead to save his re-election. Earlier I said this film won't make you want to go out and change the world...I think it's because after seeing this film you realize that these political games have been played for the past 160 years by Presidents and you are just fed up. The sad part is to those who are the victims in these political games...don't consider it a game nor do they have a fair chance to win. Bottom line...go see the film and then send President Clinton an e-mail at president@whitehouse.gov and thank him for not playing political games while he has been in office.
Rating:
Summary: History Re-written
Review: Great work by Hollywood, launched the career of Denzel, etc., etc., but DON'T TAKE THIS AS A HISTORY LESSON. The US Army outlawed the lash prior to the war. Spain banned slavery in 1650. The character played by Honsou did indeed return to Africa....where he himself became involved in the slave trade for profit & revenge! Go read "Prince Among Slaves" by Terry Alford for an accurate picture of slavery in that time and place.
Rating:
Summary: So what if history is made more entertaining?
Review: Have the critics of this film's historical "accuracy" never heard of "dramatic license"? If they had, then they would understand that Spielberg, like most of his profession, slightly alters history to make for greater theatrical effect or even heighten the events of the story. "Amistad" achieves both with scenes of horror combined with those of great poignancy that make for a total movie experience. While there are times when the film drags, the performances and the engrossing story itself make up for the few inadequacies. Though stars Morgan Freeman (especially riveting in the inspection of the Amistad scene), Anthony Hopkins, and Matthew McConaughey perform well in their respective roles, the best acting belongs to Djimon Hounsou, Razaag Adoti, and Abu Bakarr Fofanah as three of the Africans, and the underrated Pete Postlethwaite as prosecutor Holabird. Nigel Hawthorne, as the inept President Van Buren, and Peter Firth as a conscious-ridden British ship captain are also memorable. Spielberg skillfully balances a movie that is a courtroom drama mixed with an indictment against the slave system of America's past. The scenes of the events of the cursed "Middle Passage" are as graphic as is possible within the confines of Hollywood filmmaking. John Williams contributes a beautiful and understated score, just below the surface of the on-screen events, providing just enough to carry the story along.
Rating:
Summary: La Amistad doesn't sink
Review: Hearing that Spielberg was going to release another movie in 1997, I thought it was going to become another classic, just like Schindler's List. I soon watched it and realized that it sure couldn't stand next to the Holocaust epic as another great masterpiece. Amistad is still a good film. I guess Spielberg wanted to take a break from making highly honored movies. The storyline was nicely written, and the score by John Williams along with African chants make such a dramatic soundtrack. It isn't the kind of powerful Spielberg movie that has most people rushing to see, but a good film overall.
Rating:
Summary: Breathtaking, Heartstopping, Amazingly Wonderful Film
Review: I admit I have watched many films, and I have been trying so hard to find one that was worth watching. This film fits this description. This is the best movie I have EVER seen. The actors are tremendously superb in their roles. I especialy enjoyed everyone's perfomances. This should have won Best Picture for the Oscars. Even though it wasn't, I really enjoyed it anyway. The presentation of slavery really moved me, including one scene when Africans are being whipped. The scenes are so graphic, which gave people a real view on what slaves went through. It was so terrible how these people were treated, that it cannot be described. Yet, this movie deserves five stars, and as my title says, it is a breathtaking, heartstopping, and amazingly wonderful film.
Rating:
Summary: SPIELBERG SHOULD STOP ACTING LIKE MOTHER THERESA
Review: I almost fell asleep watching that movie, I was a huge bore. I was sorry to feel that way because I really admire Morgan Freeman and Anthony Hopkins. This movie wasn't convicing, too long, Many movies about afroamericans struggle were made and most of them were better. Even spielberg had done a great job with THE COLOUR PURPLE.
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