Pick Six- Favorite Spielberg Movies That Aren't Jaws, Jones, or Jurassic

Yes, it's been way too long since I did my last Pick 6 but I felt inspired by re-watching Raiders of the Lost Ark to create a new list. This time around I'm breaking down my six favorite Steven Spielberg directed movies (because God knows how much stuff he's produced) that aren't Jaws, Indiana Jones, or Jurassic Park, three movies/franchises that are a given on any list surrounding the man. Let's begin. 

Back in May, I revisited Minority Report and was reminded of its glory. Of Spielberg's more recent films, Minority Report has the most action and imagination, taking a futuristic suspense thriller into a direction we've never seen. Painting a vivid image of a not-so-distant future, Spielberg creates a world too familiar, yet very surreal. As most actions lack a lot in the plot department, this film manages to tell a story so unique and original you can't help but get completely involved. The idea of pre-crime opens up so many possibilities and seeing Tom Cruise race to prove he didn't a commit a crime he hasn't committed yet is exhilarating and intense. 

The Adventures of Tintin is one of my favorite movies of 2011. Like Indiana Jones, Spielberg manages to capture a grand sense of adventure and put it all together in a 90 minute masterpiece. Unlike most motion-capture movies that look creepy and awkward, Tintin looks magnificent. The film is also incredibly humorous, bringing the charm you see in the Jones movies. Unlike live-action flicks, Tintin has no need to cut away from the action. This creates an even greater scale for the action and adventure and seeing it all unfold, in one "take" makes the entire film feel like one hell of a ride. 

Hook has a special little place in my heart, as I grew up watching it hundreds of times. It's a semi-sequel to Peter Pan, imagining what would have happened had Peter left Neverland and had a family of his own. Robin Williams plays Peter to great effect, and seeing him slowly find the kid in himself again is fun to watch. Not to mention, Dustin Hoffman's Hook is terrific and is still the best version of the legendary villain. Throw in a bunch of lost boys, Rufio, and a great soundtrack, Hook is one for the ages. 

Steven Spielberg has a great history of casting actors (sometimes, very young ones) who go on to have very successful careers. With E.T, he launched the career of Drew Barrymore, Schindler's List gave us Ralph Fiennes, and Empire of the Sun introduced the world to Christian Bale. At just 12 years old, Bale manages to give one hell of a performance as a young boy struggling to survive in a war torn Japan during World War II. Much of this can be attributed to Bale's raw talent, but a part of it has to be the directing power of Spielberg, who always gets the best out of each of his cast members. Empire of the Sun is an unflinching, yet beautiful look at the devastation of war and the loss of innocence, and Spielberg manages to craft a story in the rubble, giving us another memorable (and severely under-looked) film. 

Saving Private Ryan is the most realistic look at World War II ever put on film. It's hard to watch and packs one hell of an emotional punch, but it's something that needs to be seen by everyone. With large action sequences, including the most unflinching depiction of the storming of Normandy, Saving Private Ryan paints the most graphic and honest looks at a time in our history we will never forget. It depicts the horrors of war, including the brutal and deadly battle, but also manages to inject a whole lot of heart, showing the motivation behind each man on the front lines and why they fight. The film shows that the soldiers who fought for our freedom were just as regular as the people we know but with a hell of a lot more courage. Beautiful and tragic, Saving Private Ryan deserves a spot on the list of the greatest movies ever made. 

In all honesty, if I had to pick my favorite Steven Spielberg film of all time, he'd have to be Catch Me If You Can. It's a severely underrated movie that warrants countless viewings and gets better each time. Based on a true story about a real life teenager who, for years, cons his way through professions, cities, and out of the FBI's reach, the film feels too incredible to be real (but it is). As much as I'd credit Titanic for the success of Leonardo DiCaprio, I strongly believe it's this film that showed us how great of an actor he can really be. In a way, you could include him on the list of actors Spielberg helped "make" into stars. Catch Me If You Can is filled with both adventure and humor, and, as all of his films, has an emotional core you can't help but sympathize for. 

Just Missed the Cut:

E.T/Close Encounters of the Third Kind- While I understand their love and respect them for what they are, I have never been the biggest fan of either film

Schindler's List- I wanted to include this movie, but I've only seen about 80% of it (I know, I'm an awful human being)

A.I: Artificial Intelligence- beautiful, but way too long and depressing

Steven Spielberg Breakdown:

I have reviewed:

Minority Report

The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn

Raiders of the Lost Ark

Average Rating: 9.57/10

May 19: Minority Report

"In a future where a special police unit is able to arrest murderers before they commit their crimes, an officer from that unit is himself accused of a future murder."

Minority Report is one of Steven Spielberg's best movies. It's one of the best sci-fi movies I have ever seen and it paints one hell of a picture for a not-so distant future. Cruise is at his best, showing how big of an action star he is and how good of an actor he can be. The film tells the story of John (Cruise), a cop whose department (PreCrime) has the technology to see crimes before they happen, using the "precogs". When one of the precogs predict John will commit a murder, he goes on the run, doing whatever he can to prevent it from happening while trying to clear his name. 

The precogs are pretty much oracles in a bathtub. 

Besides the smart and original script (based on a story by sci-fi genius Philip K. Dick), the best part of Minority Report is the visuals. The special effects are mindblowingly good, and watching the film in high definition is a completely new experience. Spielberg's idea of the future blends so much of what is familiar today, with plausible ideas that could really happen within the next 50 years. This perfect combination only heightens the story, and it's never too over the top to be distracting. Minus the scary idea of a PreCrime police department, Minority Report leaves a future to be very excited for. Along with these incredible special effects, Spielberg crafts tight, fast-paced, and thrilling action sequences that remind you he's the same man who made Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones. 

He looks like my uncle, which means I'm totally almost kind of related to him. 

I would highly recommend Minority Report. It's one of the best sci-fi movies I have ever seen and it's crafted by a master story teller and adventure creator in Spielberg. With great special effects, a terrific cast (support by Colin Farrell, Neal McDonough, Max von Sydow), and an incredibly original story, Minority Report cannot be missed. Do yourself a favor and rent it, buy it, or even download it. It's worth it. Ah, the precogs just told me you certainly will do whatever it takes to watch it. And yes, I ended this review with a horrible joke. 

The Good:

great action sequences filmed in an amazingly creative idea of the future

The Better:

an intelligent and fresh story that shows a blockbuster action movie can be much more than explosions, giant robots, and hot chicks who can't act

The Best:

amazing special effects that create a future I'd love to see

Overall: 9.5/10

Trailer:

March 14: The Adventures of Tintin

"Intrepid reporter Tintin and Captain Haddock set off on a treasure hunt for a sunken ship commanded by Haddock's ancestor."

   The Adventures of Tintin is amazing, simply put. The film is a visual feast, with epic action sequences, on a scale you could only get from Steven Spielberg. Before I even saw any footage of the film (trailers, clips, etc), I was hesitant of the film because of the use of motion capture animation. I was expecting another The Polar Express, with creepy animations and faces that can't show emotion. I was wrong, thank God, and The Adventures of Tintin has set the bar incredibly high for motion capture films. Unlike other motion-cap films, where the characters look like eerie doppelgangers of the actors playing them, Tintin uses actors for the motions and facial expressions, but animates over them to create true, unique, and sensational characters. 

Meet Forrast Gamp, the creepy clone of everyone's favorite shrimping boat captain. 

   The best part of The Adventures of Tintin is the action. With the use of animation, action sequences can go on and on, without having to cut away like you would with a camera in a live action film. Because of this, the action is constant and jumps all over with exceptional fluidity. The whole thing feels almost like a ride, with so much going on that you're looking all over the place trying to absorb the entire thing. There's an especially noteworthy scene in Bagghar, Morocco; where Tintin, Captain Haddock (played perfectly by the always amazing Andy Serkis), and of course Snowy (the dog), are being chased through the city. I was actually a little giddy kid watching it, similar to how I was when I first saw an Indiana Jones movie. 

If only this was half as good as Tintin... Sorry, sorry, I know... Don't talk about it. 

   The Adventures of Tintin is the perfect combination of Indiana Jones, National Treasure, and the Monkey Island video game series. The film is aimed toward a wide audience, not just children, and the humor is genuinely funny. The visuals are amazing and each new scene offers exceptional detail on a massive scale that brings the entire film to near epic proportions.  The characters are perfectly cast and acted, and are honest and true to the the Tintin comics and TV show (which I have loved since I was a kid). The score by John Williams is also reminiscent of Indiana Jones, and the whole film has a nostalgia effect to it. I highly recommend The Adventures of Tintin, and, although I regret not seeing this film in theaters, I eagerly anticipate the next installment.

The Good:

Andy Serkis and everything he brings to the character of Captain Haddock

The Better:

incredible visuals and action sequences that can't help but make you smile in awe

The Best:

feeling similar feelings to when I first saw Raiders of the Lost Ark, and knowing Spielberg still has the ability to amaze the kid in all of us

Overall: 9.5/10

Best Quote:

1. Silk: I'm sort of a kleptomaniac...
2. Thompson Twin: Kleptomaniac?
3. Thompson Twin: It's a fear of open spaces

And anything said by Captain Haddock

Trailer: