The opinions of movie fans will vary from person to person as to who is the greatest movie director of all time. There is a lot to be said for James Ford by Western Movie fans. Further, to suspense movie fans Alfred Hitchcock is the greatest, but to science fiction movie fans, perhaps George Lucas is the greatest. For others George Cukor will be the best, to art film fans perhaps Akira Kurosawa or Ingmaar Bergman is the greatest.
All these directors were confined to only one or two varieties. Further, none of the other directors have ventured in the realm of TV serial making in a significant manner.
Steven Spielberg work has encompassed all types of movies, from science fiction, adventure, war, horror,comedy, even TV serials. Consider his movies in the Indiana Jones series, the four movies in the series have created box office records in their time, they were regarded as path breaking movies and are great entertainers to boot. The series has been deservedly voted amongst the top five action movies of all time.
His very first venture as director was Jaws, the movie, based on a bestselling novel by Peter Benchley was a classic horror story and broke the records for box` office collections when it was released, it also spun of a `large number of copycat movies which wanted to encash on the original movie theme.
His movie Jurassic` Park which used then newly developed digital technology to generate dinosau rs digitally, was the path breaking movie of its time and broke all records when it was first released. Subsequently other movies in the series also did respectable business.
He also directed Saving Private Ryan, which has been voted as the best war movie, adding another feather to his cap.It has deservedly won numerous awards,and has outstanding performances by Tom Hanks and Matt Dillon. His TV series Band Of Brothers is based on the second world War and is another outstanding contribution to the world of entertainment by the great director.
His movie Schindler’s Ark which was awarded an Oscar is also another great movie with the theme persecution of Jews by the Nazis and their subsequent liberation by Oscar Schindler, a German indusrialist.
His movie Munich based on the retribution by Israelis for the Munich massacre of Israeli athletes by Arab terrorists explores the themes of retribution, forgiveness, compassion for one’s enemies and has been one of his more thoughtful movies.
His movie The Color Purple on the negro experience in America is one of the finest films ever, it is inexplicable as to why it was not awarded an Oscar.
He has also made a contribution to the science fiction movie genre with his movie ET which has also been voted as one of the best children’s movies. However his movie Minority Report is the ultimate science fiction movie and has been hailed as an ancient epic set in science fiction format. His other movies which explore the human condition have also been great contributions to world cinema. His TV series Taken which explores the theme of abduction by Aliens has also won numerous admirers.
Therefore, in view of his voluminous and quality contributions to nearly all types of movies, in my humble opinion, he deserves to be regarded as the greatest movie director.
