Classy 'historical' movie

Rating: 7/10 (6 December 1998)

I was impressed with this movie for a number of reasons, the cast, the story, and the underlying themes to name a few. I must say I was not aware that it was a Spielberg show until the end credits and was a bit surprised, however the themes are true Spielberg and, as has been mentioned before, parallels are bound to be drawn with other films like "Schindler's List". History - much has been said about historical inaccuracies. While I understand this disappointment, in the end this is a movie - entertainment - and some licence is bound to be taken. But if we are considering what the movie is not, I wonder if the reaction would have been the same if the 'baddies' had not been foreign males. How about a slave uprising on a plantation with white, genteel, American planters and women? The common cry of freedom echoes strongly for blacks/African Americans, Jews, and other minorities in a country tht was supposedly based on tolerance and liberty, but has a long and 'proud' history of intolerance and oppression. In the end, this is a stylish movie with a moving theme, and well packaged and delivered. Worth watching, 7/10