Comments on: Amistad http://www.moviezeal.com/amistad/ The official podcast of MovieZeal.com, where film is always best discussed under the gentle influence of fine wine (as fine as $10 will get you). Each week Evan, Heather, and Luke pick a theme, discuss a theatrical release based on that theme, pop the cork and drink a wine that fits said theme, and finally subject one another to The Gauntlet, where forcing others to watch painful films nets you fabulous prizes. There is not anything else on the internets like it (literally). Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:36:28 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Laura Pratt http://www.moviezeal.com/amistad/comment-page-1/#comment-413505 Laura Pratt Sun, 29 May 2011 20:24:05 +0000 http://www.moviezeal.com/?p=631#comment-413505 My wife and i were quite lucky that Raymond managed to finish off his analysis from your precious recommendations he was given out of the web pages. It's not at all simplistic to simply possibly be handing out information some people could have been trying to sell. We really fully grasp we've got the writer to be grateful to for that. Those explanations you have made, the straightforward web site menu, the relationships you can help to engender - it is mostly spectacular, and it is letting our son in addition to us do think the situation is entertaining, and that is very indispensable. Many thanks for everything! My wife and i were quite lucky that Raymond managed to finish off his analysis from your precious recommendations he was given out of the web pages. It’s not at all simplistic to simply possibly be handing out information some people could have been trying to sell. We really fully grasp we’ve got the writer to be grateful to for that. Those explanations you have made, the straightforward web site menu, the relationships you can help to engender – it is mostly spectacular, and it is letting our son in addition to us do think the situation is entertaining, and that is very indispensable. Many thanks for everything!

]]> By: Jeff McM http://www.moviezeal.com/amistad/comment-page-1/#comment-2520 Jeff McM Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:16:19 +0000 http://www.moviezeal.com/?p=631#comment-2520 I think you overrate Spielberg's 'responsibility for the state of modern Hollywood' - I mean, he's just one man at the mercy of forces larger than himself, like the tastes of the market, the integration of the studios into multimedia conglomerates, etc. And I think you underrate his filmmaking capabilities, especially the 'dumbing down of cinematic language', when Spielberg's is one of the more sophisticated out there. Amistad isn't one of his best films, but it's still, for the most part, top-notch work, especially in terms of Spielberg's use of his camera and iconography to visualize his story. For me the flaws of this movie are the screenplay, which can't seem to decide who's the main character (why is McConaughey even in the movie?) and the almost-painful ten minute long soliloquy by Hopkins at the end. And it should be added that if anybody gets credit for destroying the slave trade in this movie, it's the British. I think you overrate Spielberg’s ‘responsibility for the state of modern Hollywood’ – I mean, he’s just one man at the mercy of forces larger than himself, like the tastes of the market, the integration of the studios into multimedia conglomerates, etc.

And I think you underrate his filmmaking capabilities, especially the ‘dumbing down of cinematic language’, when Spielberg’s is one of the more sophisticated out there. Amistad isn’t one of his best films, but it’s still, for the most part, top-notch work, especially in terms of Spielberg’s use of his camera and iconography to visualize his story. For me the flaws of this movie are the screenplay, which can’t seem to decide who’s the main character (why is McConaughey even in the movie?) and the almost-painful ten minute long soliloquy by Hopkins at the end. And it should be added that if anybody gets credit for destroying the slave trade in this movie, it’s the British.

]]> By: Luke Harrington http://www.moviezeal.com/amistad/comment-page-1/#comment-2490 Luke Harrington Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:49:35 +0000 http://www.moviezeal.com/?p=631#comment-2490 It's actually been a while since I watched this film (and wrote this review), but I seem to remember him playing it down. He does, however, have a hard-to-spell last name. This is the third McConaughey film I've reviewed for MZ (since we started...just four months ago...I really need to get a life). If I take nothing else away from writing for this blog, at least I'll remember how to spell "McConaughey." :) It’s actually been a while since I watched this film (and wrote this review), but I seem to remember him playing it down.

He does, however, have a hard-to-spell last name. This is the third McConaughey film I’ve reviewed for MZ (since we started…just four months ago…I really need to get a life). If I take nothing else away from writing for this blog, at least I’ll remember how to spell “McConaughey.” :)

]]> By: Daniel http://www.moviezeal.com/amistad/comment-page-1/#comment-2484 Daniel Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:56:03 +0000 http://www.moviezeal.com/?p=631#comment-2484 Great review of a movie that I've been meaning to rewatch for a long time, Luke. Your last critiques are especially important. I have to admit, though, I kind of forgot McConaughey was in this, and watching him now I might not be able to take it too seriously. I can't remember, does he tone down or rev up his "sexy" Southern drawl? Great review of a movie that I’ve been meaning to rewatch for a long time, Luke. Your last critiques are especially important.

I have to admit, though, I kind of forgot McConaughey was in this, and watching him now I might not be able to take it too seriously. I can’t remember, does he tone down or rev up his “sexy” Southern drawl?

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