What is your favorite Steven Spielberg film?

United States
January 3, 2007 11:31am CST
Ever since his 1975 adaptation of Peter Benchley's JAWS became one of the modern film era's "blockbuster" hits, millions of moviegoers all over the world have flocked to see films directed by Steven Spielberg. Whether he tells the story of a boy who befriends a stranded extraterrestrial botanist or the elegaic and somber tales of Saving Private Ryan and Schindler's List, Spielberg is recognized by many critics and film buffs as one of Hollywood's great filmmakers. So, do you have a favorite Spielberg film? I do (Raiders of the Lost Ark, which I saw for the first time when I was 18 years old and invited my mom to see as a Mother's Day present.) About replies: I know I'm going to get a bunch of one-line replies or even two-letter ones in the case of E.T., but I hope that I receive answers that have some thought or even a small iota of creativity. Try and come up with a reasonable explanation of why you think your choice is your favorite.
5 people like this
8 responses
• United States
3 Jan 07
On the short list I have Raiders of the Lost Ark, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Jaws, Duel, Back to The Future (yes that counts), Poltergeist, E.T., Empire of the Sun, Schindler's List, and Jurassic Park. Raiders is my favorite, because it opened me up to a new type of film, and brought the Humphrey Bogart type character into the current times, with added humor. Finally there was an every-man hero going through all of these action sequences. Exciting and drama-filled, that is my favorite one. I cannot wait till Indy 4 comes out now!
3 people like this
• United States
4 Jan 07
Fine choices all, although purists would take issue with your inclusion of Back to the Future as a "Steven Spielberg film." (I'm sure Steve and Robert Zemeckis would, anyway....) Raiders is also my favorite Spielberg film, for the same reasons you mentioned.
1 person likes this
@kareng (54895)
• United States
19 Jan 07
Well, it is ET! I just loved that movie when I was a teen and still like to watch it again every now and then. Love the special effects and the little girl in the movie was a cutie!
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
5 Jan 07
Well I just browsed his list of movies on IMDB and there are just so many I like. But Catch Me if You Can is one of my favorites. It was original, interesting, and very fun to watch! Even the cartoon intro was interesting. Others that top the list are: Shrek (who knew that was one of his!) and Back the Future of course!
2 people like this
• United States
5 Jan 07
Oh, Catch Me if You Can is terrific! I missed it when it was out in theaters, even though I did see that year's later A.I., but I did watch it on a borrowed DVD.
1 person likes this
• United States
27 Jan 07
I would probably say Saving Private Ryan in terms of his "deep" films. To me, it was a realistic look at war, rather than so many other films that are nothing more than propaganda. And it still told a good story. Raiders is my favorite of his "fun" films. It was just a rollicking good time and still holds up to repeated viewing all these years later.
1 person likes this
• United States
27 Jan 07
Saving Private Ryan is one of my favorite "serious" films by Spielberg; its now-famous depiction of the D-Day landing is perhaps one of the most visceral combat sequences ever filmed, and makes the 1962 film The Longest Day seem amateurish and innocent in comparison.
• India
19 Jan 07
Every Spielberg film is a treat for the ears and the mind as it opens new vistas for thought and is of course presented in all its glory! E.T. has been my favorite ever since I saw that flick! :)
2 people like this
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
2 Apr 07
I really liked Raiders - but then it had Harrison Ford in it, it has horses, it had Egyptian stuff, it had SNAKES for goodness sakes! What's not to like!!!! But hands down, its Close Encounters of the Third Kind! I loved the whole concept of the movie, the building of the mountain in the livingroom & the wife leaving him. The movie was JUST AWESOME!!! and the MUSIC....!!!!! The piece "The Conversation" is just one of the most outstanding peices of music I've ever heard! I didn't like the "director's cut" nearly as well as the original reliece because they cut some of the mountain building I liked so much and the chase down the highway was just so GREAT!
1 person likes this
• United States
24 Apr 07
Great response. The interesting thing is that Spielberg says he wrote and directed Close Encounters at a time when he was single and had no children; he says he now would have written Roy Neary's storyline differently.
• India
13 May 07
urasic park is best
• United States
13 May 07
Really? It would be nice to know why you think so.
@vijayr (114)
• India
21 Jan 07
i like E.t. Jurassic Park and more. He is the best director.