Great Steven Spielberg Movies That No One Talks About
Steven Spielberg is one of the most well-known and successful directors in Hollywood and has been for decades. His movies have entertained and inspired audiences all over the world and with his recent film The Fablemens coming out soon, I wanted to share a few underrated gems in his filmography that don't get as much attention as they deserve.
There are classic Spielberg films that people talk about all the time such as E.T., Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Indiana Jones, Hook, Ready Player One, Artificial Intelligence, and more, but here are several other great Spielberg movies that I never really hear anyone ever talk about. These are some films that I love of Spielberg’s that I think are underrated.
Empire of the Sun
One of my all-time favorite Spielberg films is Empire of the Sun, and it's also one of his most underrated movies. The film is a historical drama set during World War II. The movie tells the story of a young boy played by Christian Bale, who is separated from his parents and must find his way back to them, but he goes through one hell of an epic and traumatic journey. Empire of the Sun is an emotional and powerful film. When I first watched it as a kid, I was in awe. It’s one of those films that changed me and made me look at life differently.
Jamie Graham (Christian Bale), a privileged English boy, is living in Shanghai when the Japanese invade and force all foreigners into prison camps. Jamie is captured with an American sailor named Basie (John Malkovich), who looks out for him while they are in the camp together. Even though he is separated from his parents and in a hostile environment, Jamie maintains his dignity and youthful spirits, providing a beacon of hope for the others held captive with him.
Always
Another great Spielberg movie that doesn't get enough attention is Always. The film stars Richard Dreyfuss, Holly Hunter, and John Goodman and tells the story of a man who risks his life to save the woman he loves. Always is a heartwarming and romantic movie that I think is a beautifully made film with a story that touches the soul.
Aerial firefighter Pete (Richard Dreyfuss) risks himself and his vintage World War II airplane in a constant and death-defying quest to fight forest wildfires, much to the dismay of his girlfriend, Dorinda (Holly Hunter). His love for Dorinda and the advice of fellow pilot Al (John Goodman) convince Pete to give up his perilous career, but he flies one last mission. Pete heroically saves Al's plane from certain destruction, but with supernatural consequences.
Minority Report
Minority Report is an awesome movie, and I don't know why it's not talked about more. You'd think they would! It's a futuristic crime thriller about a group of people who are able to predict crimes before they happen. The film stars Tom Cruise and Collin Ferrell, who both deliver great performances and the visuals are stunning. Minority Report is a highly entertaining and underrated film.
Based on a story by famed science fiction writer Philip K. Dick, "Minority Report" is an action-detective thriller set in Washington D.C. in 2054, where police utilize a psychic technology to arrest and convict murderers before they commit their crime. Tom Cruise plays the head of this Precrime unit and is himself accused of the future murder of a man he hasn't even met.
Munich
The first time I watched Munich, I was blown away. It's an intense and powerful film about the aftermath of the Munich Olympics massacre. The movie stars Eric Bana and Daniel Craig, who give award-winning performances, and the story is well-crafted and emotionally gripping. This is an excellent movie about terrorism and revenge and there were some shocking moments in the film.
After the murder of 11 Israeli athletes and their coach at the 1972 Olympics, the Israeli government secretly assigns Avner Kaufman (Eric Bana) to carry out a series of strategic retaliations. With the help of a driver (Daniel Craig), a forger (Hanns Zischler), a bomb-maker (Mathieu Kassovitz) and a former soldier (Ciarán Hinds), Avner conducts a worldwide operation, targeting 11 individuals. As the assassinations pile up, Avner begins to doubt the morality of his actions.
The Adventures of Tintin
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn was a ground-breaking film that did some incredibly cool stuff! It was one of the earlier movies to use motion capture technology, and the results were pretty spectacular. The movie is highly entertaining and visually stunning and it has a great cast including Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, and Daniel Craig. It's a shame we never got to see the sequels!
While shopping at an outdoor market, young reporter Tintin (Jamie Bell), accompanied by his faithful dog, Snowy, buys a model of an old ship called the Unicorn. A shady character named Sakharine (Daniel Craig) and later an American named Barnaby (Joe Starr) try to buy the model from him, but Tintin refuses. The lad discovers that the ship contains a clue about a hidden treasure, but before he can locate it, Tintin is kidnapped and given over to the custody of drunken Capt. Haddock (Andy Serkis).
The Terminal
The Terminal was such a wonderfully made and sweet film that puts me in a good mood whenever I watch it. The film stars Tom Hanks as an Eastern European man who becomes stranded at an airport after his country's revolution. The Terminal is a heartwarming and funny movie with a great message about being grateful for what you have. This is a feel-good movie with great acting and an uplifting message.
When Viktor Navorski (Tom Hanks), an Eastern European tourist, arrives at JFK in New York, war breaks out in his country and he finds himself caught up in international politics. Because of the war, the Department of Homeland Security won't let him enter or exit the United States. He's trapped at JFK -- indefinitely. While living at the airport, Viktor falls for a flight attendant (Catherine Zeta-Jones). She may have feelings for him too. But what good is love if Viktor can't leave the terminal?
Amazing Stories "The Mission"
The Amazing Stories episode "The Mission" is not a film, but it's one of my all-time favorite Spielberg projects. It's a gripping, suspenseful, and magical story about a group of soldiers who are sent on a dangerous mission behind enemy lines. The episode is brilliantly written and directed and I especially loved the imagination brought to the story and the incredible way it ended. The story is intense and thrilling and I loved the cast, which included Kevin Costner, Kiefer Sutherland, and Casey Siemaszko. This is one of the best overlooked Spielberg projects.
A courageous young World War II gunner and aspiring cartoonist, trapped in the belly gun of a B-17 aircraft with the landing gear destroyed, has only his imagination as a force that might be able to save him.
Spielberg has directed some great movies that don't get the attention they deserve. If you haven't watched some of these in a while, you should revisit them. Or, if you've never seen any of them before, you should check them out!
Do you have a favorite Steven Spielberg movie that doesn't get enough attention? Let us know in the comments!