My Top 10 Favorite Spielberg Movies

Director Steven Spielberg is one of if not my all time favorite filmmaker of all time. Yes, there are many who you could say have perfected the craft more than him, but it's those charming moments that take us back to our childhoods or makes us really feel those strong emotions that makes him stand out so much. He was the first director I knew by name and could memorize his entire filmography before the age of 10. He is the man who made me want to make films and today I want to show you my favorites in anticipation of this week's 'Ready Player One'. So without further ado, I present my Top 10 Favorite Spielberg Movies. Please not that these are not what I think are his best movies necessarily but rather the ones I go back to every time and never get tired of them. If you feel I left out a stronger candidate, please let me know in the comments below.

10. Duel (1971)

'Duel' was the first feature length film for Spielberg but it sadly would be stuck on the small screen as a low budget television movie. Despite these limitations, that didn't stop Spielberg from creating one of the best made for TV movies in history, filled with the thrills, suspense, and wonderful and creative camera shots we've come to expect by now. The film's plot, about a typical guy being inexplicably chased by a menacing semi-truck is very simple but as the director would go on to do with 'Jaws' a few years later, he manages to take that simple story and create an epic thriller that leaves you on the edge of your chair wondering just how is Dennis Weaver going to get away from this seemingly supernatural truck. 'Duel' is still one of Spielberg's strongest entries and I recommend it if you're a fan of car chase movies.

9. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Those who know me well will tell you that I really dislike the 1982 film 'E.T.' and even today I seem to be a minority in that statement. If I had to pick Spielberg's best alien encounter film, It's definitely this first foray into the subject. 'Close Encounters' doesn't have the creepy factor, nor the depressing or sad moments that so many seem to ignore about 'E.T.' and is truly a overall positive message about aliens which was and kind of still is a rare sight. We're so used to aliens coming just to kill or enslave us that a movie like 'Close Encounters' sticks out like a sore thumb, and that's a good thing because it has a lot of reasons to stand out. From the excellent performance from Richard Dreyfuss to the mystery elements throughout the movie, everything here keeps me engaged until the end and I feel that it's a much stronger film than the one featuring Elliot and his little pal.

 

8. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

For many years, I had no idea this movie had so much hate. I've likely repeated to many of my friends ad nausem that this and the Spielberg-produced movie 'Gremlins' are responsible for the creation of the PG-13 rating but what many may not know is the general dislike of the film as a whole during its initial run. No matter what the situation was, it was almost impossible to top 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' so even before a single line was written into the script, 'Temple of Doom' was going to be a hard to please film. However, as we've seen with the 'Star Wars' franchise it seems that a worse film makes the flaws of a previously hated film magically vanish. I won't deny that this movie doesn't have its issues and out of the TRILOGY of Indiana Jones flicks, it is the weakest hence its placement here on my list. But the reason its still one of my favorite Spielberg movies despite all this is that it still has plenty to like about it. It's the best looking Indiana Jones film I feel and took a lot of risks rather than try and copy what came before even if it wasn't with complete success. I oddly find myself checking this entry out far more than the other two movies and I think that's due to it just being a fun time waster movie, rather than a influential epic like the first or a fun spiritual journey with lots of philosophical discussion like the third. 'Temple of Doom' fits perfectly in the middle where it stands.

7. Catch Me If You Can (2002)

Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction, and 'Catch Me If You Can' is a good example of that. The film is the true story of Frank William Abagnail played by Leonardo DiCaprio who even during his younger days had some strong acting chops. Frank is one of the biggest con artists in the world and from age 17 until his early 30's, he eluded the FBI and took up many jobs under false pretenses and making millions of dollars in the process. It feels like Spielberg channels Scorcese very well here, capturing that biographical movie but without the fat and harsher content. The second film in which Spielberg would work with Tom Hanks may not be considered as successful as 'Saving Private Ryan' but this is my favorite collaboration with the two. DiCaprio is also really excellent as always here and it's these early films that just drives me crazy when thinking he never won an award until a few years back. This is also one of my favorite scores that John Williams has provided for a Spielberg film with the theme song being one I have on my playlist frequently. 'Catch Me If You Can' may not be one of the absolute best biography films, but its one of the most fun and one that has a much stronger rewatch value to it.

6. Minority Report (2002)

The year 2002 was one of the biggest when it came to my love of Steven Spielberg. Both 'Minority Report' and the previous 'Catch Me If You Can' would become two films that would further influence my love of the craft and push me further towards my true passion. This sci-fi action thriller is based upon the novella by Phillip K. Dick, whose influence on Hollywood is too vast to list here but most of you will know 'Blade Runner' or 'Total Recall' I'm sure. Here, he once again shows an eerily realistic look at what our future could be and not always for the better. Even little details like electronic newspapers and retinal scanning are creeping ever closer to reality which gives films such as 'Minority Report' a long lasting stay in our minds. It also helps that the cast do their roles with finesse and while I wouldn't say that I'm the biggest Tom Cruise or Colin Ferrell fan, they both do really well together as rivals. The film can go in predictable directions from time to time as many sci-fi future flicks tend to do, but the visual splendor and performances on display here are sure to keep your attention to the very end.

5. The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)

Okay, I'll be the first to admit that 'Lost World' has a lot of issues. It has far less interesting characters, it feels too long despite it coming close to the original's running time, and it's environmental/PETA comparisons are really cheesy at best (something I hope does not plague the upcoming sequel). However, what I do love here is the darker tones going so deep as the cinematography itself which goes for a muddy, almost 'King Kong' like visual style. Speaking of Kong, the underrated John Williams score for 'The Lost World' is greatly inspired by it with lots of tribal instruments and a faster, more thrilling beat to everything. It really helps sell that this isn't some artificial theme park but the real wild with even more severe dangers and that's what I take away the most from this movie. It feels more like a 'King Kong' remake or even a remake of the Arthur Conan Doyle novel of the same name rather than a true sequel to 'Jurassic Park'. Even so, it's an entertaining movie at least and as far as 'Jurassic Park' films or stories goes, this movie is hardly the worst they've come up with (if you don't believe me, just look up the original script for 'JP4' before they smartly changed it up to 'Jurassic World').

4. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

It's really hard to choose between 'Raiders' and 'Crusade' and you will rarely see the same person rank them the same, in the same way you'd see people rank 'Star Wars'. So I have gone with 'Raiders' which while being the first, I personally don't believe it to be the best. Being revolutionary does not always mean perfection and with this first Indiana Jones adventure, it planted the seeds for the much better 'Last Crusade'. Don't let my feelings fool you or deter you however, because 'Raiders' is still the one that started it all and it will never lose it's importance in cinema history but I just don't feel it's as epic or as exciting as the later movies. What I think 'Raiders' does do better than 'Crusade' is it's leading lady Marion who is by far the best female protagonist in the series and I loved seeing Indy's friends in this entry more than in 'Crusade' where they are little more than comic relief. This is also the best John Williams score of the series, with its memorable themes and without the music, this movie wouldn't nearly be as good.

3. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

And now onto 'The Last Crusade' which I feel is the best Indiana Jones film (obviously if you're reading this). The biggest advantage this sequel has over the rest is the relationship between Indiana Jones and his father played perfectly by Sean Connery. This is the reason I loved this movie even as a young boy because they have a real relationship that grounds an otherwise exaggerated and over the top adventure flick. My particular favorite scene is when the film takes a breather and Indy and his father discuss the true importance of the Holy Grail which is in my top 20 favorite movie moments and the highlight of the film for me. The film also benefits from having the strongest and most creative special effects work of the series. The effects in this movie still hold up really well today, unlike 'Raiders' or 'Doom' which have some flaws here and there but here they remain consistent for the most part. One of the most effective scenes is one in which a character turns into a skeleton. This shot was so impressive that it traumatized me for many years as a child and will still impress for many more years along with the rest of the movie.

2. JAWS (1975)

Whether it was a good idea in retrospect or not, 'Jaws' was one of the first movies I ever got to see as a young child. I was about 5 or 6 years old and it was on TV so me and my dad sat down and watched it, with me covering my eyes every moment. Needless to say, it was an unforgettable experience and with my dad playing me the soundtrack on his old vinyl record player whenever I'd beg him I quickly became obsessed with Bruce the Great White Shark and Steven Spielberg. If I had to choose my favorite movies period, 'JAWS' would easily go up on my top 10. This is one of the biggest movies of all time and paved the way for the summer blockbuster and it did it all with such a simple premise and even when faced with millions of behind the scenes problems. I feel that 'JAWS' is the best example of just how great a filmmaker Spielberg truly is because despite being told every single day on the set that something was broken, the producers were going to fire him, or that he'd never work in Hollywood again, he came out with a masterpiece of cinema. This is also a great life lesson and one that I certainly took to heart and that is to never give up no matter what you're faced with. If you love something, you do your damnedest to achieve your goals and get to do what you truly love in life. And all of that from a little monster movie about a killer shark...

1. Jurassic Park (1993)

Anyone who's known me for more than 30 seconds will tell you that I love 'Jurassic Park'. First starting out as a novel in 1989 by author Michael Crichton, Steven Spielberg would adapt it into one of the biggest movies in the entire world spawning four sequels, a line of various games, toys, and other merchandise. This was the 'Star Wars' of the 1990's and as of 2018 has grossed almost 2 billion dollars in box office sales so it would be safe to assume that I was completely surrounded by 'Jurassic Park' during my early and impressionable years. I was 3 years old when the movie came out and it completely blew me away and it was the first time I saw movies from a technical level even at such an early age. The movie was talked about in great detail on television every five minutes and it was there that I saw just how much detail was truly in this movie and for many years after there was simply nothing like it. The movie has now reached 25 years in age and it still amazes young children even to this day and it's that kind of influence that any filmmaker would love to have on the world. 'Jurassic Park' may not be the best movie of all time, it's my absolute favorite movie of all time and by far my favorite Spielberg movie.

This week's release of 'Ready Player One' is looking to stir up many of these film's nostalgia and wonder. Let's hope that Spielberg's latest can bring back that charm we've been missing from the adventure film. Be sure to check out our review of 'Ready Player One' this weekend.