His Magnum Opus

Rating: 10/10 (9 September 2001)

Call him the Great Manipulator, I really couldn't care less. Sitting in that cinema, aged six, and seeing how everybody, young and old, was so deeply affected by this tale of universal friendship, well, I never saw anything like it again.
It always amazes me that so many diss this movie, saying they got 'sucked in it' as a kid or that it's dated, pointing at the Atari/BMX/Star Wars figures etc. Why, that would make a fifties film dated because there's no cell phones and TV-remotes. Or hating the message of the film so much that they start attacking its technical merits. That's just beyond me. The direction of children is a most difficult thing and Spielberg pulls it off superbly. Cinematography is top notch, giving us the best signature shot of all time. The score, the effects and Rambaldi's creation deserve the highest marks.

In this day and age it's more cool to rate cynical, dark movies as personal favorites, claiming that they are more real and poignant. Great, raise your kids with showings of 'Reservoir Dogs' and 'Scarface' for all I care.