Still waiting to be 'entertained' by a Spielberg Film

Rating: 6/10 (18 September 2006)

OK- I was nervous about watching this film because ever since approx. 1993 Mr. Spielberg has been in this "tell the story as graphically as you can" mode. Grant you, Schindler's List is outstanding - it told a very sad story and very graphically. The trouble with producers/directors today is they have all forgotten the key to successful entertaining: you have to be an ordinary person who knows what ordinary people like to see. Now which do you suppose is the most entertaining war film: something like Sergeant York or Saving Pvt Ryan??? Saving Private Ryan was a great film but left me feeling so overwhelmingly sad, I could not watch it again. Sergeant York (w/Gary Cooper, re: WWI) is a film that anyone can watch over and over again because it leaves you feeling proud and happy. To all of today's directors and producers I say this: Life is very complicated in this day and age. I truly believe more people want to watch something to help them ESCAPE from real life and/or make them feel proud and happy when they leave the theater. PLEASE STOP with the true-to-life extremely graphic crap. Also - what exactly was the purpose of the sex scenes?? What extremely poor taste to include the sex with a pregnant woman scene! It had nothing to offer the story. Did this film entertain me and leave me happy?? NO - but it did further my disgust with all of the violence which already overwhelms this world. I fear this is the last Spielberg film I will venture to see.