Ranking of Stephen Spielberg's Films

Place on my Top 10 List of its Respective Year: No. 1.

This is a film with which I have a personal connection. It was released before my Grandfather died and I connect this film with my first experience with death. For me, it exists within a state of spiritual transcendence.

Watched in November 2010.

Place on my Top 10 List of its Respective Year: No. 2. Behind Short Cuts

Schindler's List is a film that I had intended to see for a very long time. I finally watched in my English class complementing our analysis of Elie Wiesel's Night. I wasn't emotionally moved as much as I hoped to be, however, I admire this film at arms length.

Watched in July 2011

Place on my Top 10 List of its Respective Year: No. 3. Behind Annie Hall and 21 Up.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a film that I also admire at arms length without being emotionally moved. I admire it for its sheer creativity and character's search for spiritual solace.

Watched in June 2010

Place on my Top 10 List of its Respective Year: No. 2. Behind Pleasantville.

Saving Private Ryan is a Spielberg film that emotionally involved me and intellectually engaged me with its profound ethical implications and human characters.

Watched in April 2011

Place on my Top 10 List of its Respective Year: No. 4. Behind Adaptation, Far From Heaven and The Pianist.

Minority Report is a film that I watched when I was an energetic 12 Year Old boy whose was raised on hard science fiction. I didn't absorb the themes of the ethical implications of pre-crime, however, I appreciated the implications of free will vs. determinism and the cinematography of the dystopian society.

Watched in April 2008

Place on my Top 10 List of its Respective Year: No. 6. Behind Fanny and Alexander, The King of Comedy, Sophie's Choice, Fitzcarraldo and Blade Runner.

Naturally, this film stirred a strong sense of nostalgia within me. Unfortunately, I never watched this film as a child (unless a 13 year old is considered a child), nevertheless, I adored this film as I did The Wizard of Oz.

Watched in June 2009

War Horse may have pacing issues, however, Spielbergian sentimentality always leaves me in a state of reverie, his light touch seems to evoke memories from my childhood; his old fashioned sensibilities memories of my grandparents and the grace of their old fashioned home, their simple wisdom. War Horse is sincere, a quality which most modern films lack in favour of jaded and ironic gags. How I miss the sincerity of the Golden Age of Cinema.

Watched in December 2011

Place on my Top 10 List of its Respective Year: No. 2. Behind Chariots of Fire.

An enjoyable blockbuster. However, it left me cold, I fail to understand the imdb rating of 8.7/10 and the unanimous praise for this entertaining, albeit unsatisfying film. I never found the adventure genre engaging and I enjoy films that are emotionally engaging in addition to entertaining. Ultimately, I think that a 7/10 is a generous rating.

Watched in April 2010

Place on my Top 10 List of its Respective Year: N/A

The Color Purple was a film that I watched based on Roger Ebert's recommendation, and although this film left me cold, I admire the film's performances and the journey of the protagonist. I don't believe that Spielberg is a suitable choice for the material, perhaps I would find the novel more engaging.

Watched in January 2011.

Place on my Top 10 List of its Respective Year: N/A

Jurassic Park is a film that I think could have been more engaging if it focused on the themes of playing God and developed human characters as opposed to descending into a conventional monster movie. It is unfortunate that I watched this film when I began viewing films from an analytical perspective.

Watched in November 2009.

Place on my Top 10 List of its Respective Year: N/A

Another conventional monster movie which contradicts everything that the admirable Close Encounters of the Third Kind brought forth in every single way possible. I do enjoy this film as a spectacle. However, I don't plan to watch it again.

Watched in June 2006.
Rewatched in October 2008.

Spielberg has reduced the simple charm of the beloved children's character Tintin to a series of dull computer generated action sequences that are barely stringed together by a plot which fails to involve the viewer on an emotional level. Admittedly, the animation is beautiful and very well constructed, however, the entire film feels like a deus ex machina. It tells a dull story horribly and, as a result, the viewer cannot help but feel that the film is a coldly calculated spectacle.

Saw in January 2012.

Place on my Top 10 List of its Respective Year: N/A

A rather forgettable affair. I never enjoyed this film as a child and I do not plan to revisit it. I'm sure that it lacks replay value.

Watched in July 2005.