Films by Steven Spielberg, 7-10
As the 90s rolled in, Steven Spielberg took a fresh approach to stories we thought we already knew -- from a grown-up Peter Pan to a businessman who saves a thousand lives during the Holocaust.
7. Hook (1991)
This adaptation of J. M. Barrie's classic story is a film of élan and rambunctious spirit, but it is also a bit messy and undisciplined. According to the story line, an adult Peter Pan (Robin Williams) must regain his youthful spirit and confront his old enemy Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman), who has kidnapped Peter's children. Julia Roberts as Tinkerbell accompanies Peter on his return to Neverland and helps him become "Peter Pan" again. Although Steven Spielberg himself admitted that he was disappointed with the final version of the movie, it still grossed more than $119 million and garnered five Oscar nominations.
8. Jurassic Park (1993)
Written by Michael Crichton, Jurassic Park -- the book and subsequent movie -- generated so much interest in dinosaurs that the study of paleontology increased dramatically and has been at an all-time high ever since. The setting is a remote island where a wealthy businessman has secretly created a theme park featuring live dinosaurs cloned from prehistoric DNA found encased in amber. As preposterous as this may sound, it works, and there is genuine suspense, especially when the prehistoric creatures break free. The special effects are dazzling and eye-popping, earning the film three Oscars -- Best Effects (Sound Effects), Best Effects (Visual), and Best Sound. Jurassic Park held the box office record gross of $357,067,947 before it was beaten by Titanic in 1997.
9. Schindler's List (1993)
This masterpiece, based on the true horrors of the Holocaust, is quite possibly Steven Spielberg's finest achievement. The plot concerns a greedy Czech-born businessman, Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson), who is determined to make his fortune in Nazi Germany by exploiting cheap Jewish labor. Despite his fervent affiliation with the Third Reich, Schindler turns his factory into a refuge for Jews -- working in a factory guaranteed longer life to those slated for extermination in the barbaric concentration camps. Although Schindler ended up penniless, he single-handedly saved about 1,100 Jews from certain death. Schindler's List won seven Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director, and the film grossed more than $321 million worldwide.
10. Amistad (1997)
This film relates the true story of mutiny aboard the slave ship Amistad, which was destined for America in 1839. The slaves revolted, murdered the crew, and remained adrift for weeks. After discovery by some American marine officers, the slaves were tried for murder. A few noble people stood to defend them -- no matter what the cost -- to end the dehumanizing institution of slavery in the New World. Those few are the strength of Amistad, which means "friendship" in Spanish. Starring Morgan Freeman, Anthony Hopkins, Nigel Hawthorne, and newcomer Djimon Hounsou, Amistad was nominated for four Academy Awards and grossed more than $44 million.
In the last of the list, Steven Spielberg tries his hand at a war film, a heist film, and an alien invasion film very unlike Close Encounters.
