Not quite sure why it has taken me so long to see this film, possibly because it's rarely talked about, but having recently watched it...I can say it is an absolute masterpiece, and perhaps the definitive anti-slavery movie. So much praise has been heaped on 12 Years and Django in recent years, and while they were both interesting and well done...Amistad is just in a whole other league.

What surprised me most was just how shocking the scenes of cruelty are - Django gets the most talk on this regard, but what we see on the slave ship on Amistad is even more disturbing and violent and hard to watch, in my view at least.

But what Amistad also accomplished, beside showing us the graphic details, was sharing the moral message with utmost grace and nobility, providing hope and inspiration in a story where there was little of it to be had. It shines a light in a vast sea of darkness. I was also very pleasantly surprised that the film touched upon the Christian fight against slavery, and the transcendental hope in Christ for all slaves, and all people. But it also didn't shy away from the complexities of the time period.

A very well crafted part-mystery part-court room drama historical narrative as well, with a fantastic cast that today would certainly count as all-star. (Chiwetel Ejiofor is in this one too)

Definitely one of Spielberg's best, which is not easily said....it is unbelievable how much this man ruled the 90's in terms of number of great movies put out.

Giveus...us free!

I was bored by it.

I liked it but didn't love it, although it's been quite a few years since I've seen it and I do feel like rewatching it.

it's got a handful of good scenes, but mcconaughey absolutely sucks in it and brings the whole movie down

Too many niggers in the film.

isn't this all about how white people are the heroes who ended slavery?