Not all directors can call themselves versatile filmmakers. And this isn't necessarily a bad thing. There are those who are so good at what they do, they're always at the top of their game. Still, it doesn't hurt to have a little diversity in your filmography. To venture into new territories to see if you have the eye to bring to life all sorts of different stories. Sure, they're extremely risky endeavors, but some are worth taking. And let's thank our lucky stars that there directors out there who do take these risks.
One, in particular, is Steven Spielberg. Many of his most famous films cannot be farther from each other, and there are some of then worth noting.
Jaws
"Jaws" was Spielberg's first foray into monster movies. 'Monster,' in this sense, isn't the Halloween monsters that'll scare the s**t out of you, but rather it's those real-life (or extinct) creatures that are often dangerous to mankind and vice versa. Here you have this great white shark who terrorizes people who venture into its watery home. It's full of blood, screaming, and suspense! It even gave us one of the best themes in cinematic history that'll always scare you to go swimming in the sea.
Schindler’s List
Perhaps Spielberg's saddest film to date, "Schindler's List" is a chilling account of a Polish Jews and the Nazi that saved them from death. It's an incredibly sad and somber movie, shot in black and white to magnify the overall tone of the story. And the fact that most of the story is based on real-life events makes it even more spine-tingling. It's no wonder it won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Saving Private Ryan
Centering on the same period, World War II, "Saving Private Ryan" is a totally different film altogether. While it's similarly sad and emotional, it's also a lot more violent and graphic. Here, the true dangers of the international conflict were magnified even more, to about 1000%. You see bodies being blown off, blood spilling everywhere, and tough men being pushed to their limits, some even killing themselves instead of continuing to fight. Though cinematic, it's a very humanly shocking view of one of the worst periods in history.
Raiders Of The Lost Ark
Now time for some adventure! "Raiders of The Lost Ark" is now a revered classic that introduced Indiana Jones. It's a riveting movie that's action-packed, adventure-filled, and has since inspired countless fans to become archeologists. It's even brought to life some iconic movie tropes, from booby traps to that iconic line, "Snakes! Why did it have to be snakes?" And best of all, this was the first film that proved Spielberg's ability to make adventure movies that are as thrilling as his monster or war films.
Bridge of Spies
Since most of the movies here have mostly been about wars, monsters, and adventures, you'd think Spielberg couldn't make an espionage film, right? Wrong! He expertly directed "Bridge of Spies," a thrilling spy movie set in the "Cold War" years of the 1960s. It's here that he allowed his actors to take control of every scene, and each performance shined. It even earned Mark Rylance an Academy Award for Best Support Actor for his role here as Rudolf Abel.
If youre a Spielberg fan (and really, who isnt?), these films are worth watching again and again. He truly is one of the most versatile filmmakers ever!
