There is lion threatening to ripp their country apart, and all they have on their side is Peter Pan

Rating: 8/10 (29 August 2001)

If you would ask people to name their favourite 'serious' Spielberg movie, chances are that they'll answer either SCHINDLER'S LIST or SAVING PRIVATE RYAN. Amistad is often overlooked. It's really a shame because this film is definitely worth a watch. Despite the serious subject, there's even place for some humour and some 'real' emotions. Technically it's all brilliant. Look out for the magnificent cross-cut between 2 prisoners exploring the Bible through pictures and the judge, who has their lives in his hands, while he's praying. Another unforgettable scene is Cinque's flashback of the slaveship, reminiscent of the ordeals the Jews have to go through in SCHINDLER'S LIST. Add John Williams incredibly 'catchy' (sorry for the word but it's really catchy) theme music and you have a beautifully crafted film.
The actors are perfect, even Matthew McConaughey is only mildly irritating in this one. Stand-out performances from Djimon Hounsou and especially Anthony Hopkins. The speech Hopkins gives at the end is some of the best acting I've ever seen on film. You really should watch it twice: one time to listen to his incredible intonation and to watch his gestures, another time to actually listen to what he's saying. The one problem I have with this film is Morgan Freeman. If you sign an actor as Freeman on you should give him something to do, instead of just letting him walk behind McConaughey all the time.
But I'm just picking now, this movie is great, not a masterpiece but still worth 8/10.