Join Amazon Prime and get unlimited Free First Class Delivery. Already a member? Sign in.

 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
More Buying Choices
8 used & new from £4.50
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Amistad [DVD] [1997]
 
See larger image 
Share your own customer images

Amistad [DVD] [1997]

DVD ~ Morgan Freeman
4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
RRP: £9.99
Price: £4.88 & eligible for Free UK delivery on orders over £5 with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £5.11 (51%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
Temporarily out of stock.
Order now and we'll deliver when available. We'll e-mail you with an estimated delivery date as soon as we have more information. Your account will only be charged when we ship the item.
Items for dispatch to UK will be sold by Amazon's Preferred Merchant. (Why?) Gift-wrap available.

7 new from £4.57 1 used from £4.50
Learn about Lovefilm
Amazon's choice for DVD rental.
With a 14 day FREE trial. Learn more

Frequently Bought Together

Amistad [DVD] [1997] + The Color Purple [1985] [DVD] [1986] + Roots : The Original Series 1 - 30th Anniversary 4-Disc Box Set [DVD]
Total RRP: £54.97
Price For All Three: £18.94

Some of these items ship sooner than the others. Show details

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Amistad [DVD] [1997]
85% buy the item featured on this page:
Amistad [DVD] [1997] 4.1 out of 5 stars (16)
£4.88
The Color Purple [1985] [DVD] [1986]
6% buy
The Color Purple [1985] [DVD] [1986] 4.4 out of 5 stars (24)
£4.08
Amazing Grace [DVD] [2007]
5% buy
Amazing Grace [DVD] [2007] 4.0 out of 5 stars (41)
£4.98
Roots : The Original Series 1 - 30th Anniversary 4-Disc Box Set [DVD]
2% buy
Roots : The Original Series 1 - 30th Anniversary 4-Disc Box Set [DVD] 4.7 out of 5 stars (13)
£9.98
Explore similar items

Product details

  • Actors: Morgan Freeman, Nigel Hawthorne, Arliss Howard, Tomas Milian, Austin Pendleton
  • Directors: Steven Spielberg
  • Language English
  • Subtitles: Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, German, Norwegian, Swedish
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: 15
  • Studio: Dreamworks Home Entertainment
  • DVD Release Date: 29 Jan 2001
  • Run Time: 148 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B000055Z96
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 6,999 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

    Popular in this category:

    #57 in  DVD > Drama > Period

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Steven Spielberg's most simplistic, sanitised history lesson, Amistad, explores the symbolic 1840s trials of 53 West Africans following their bloody rebellion aboard a slave ship. For most of Schindler's List (and, later, Saving Private Ryan) Spielberg restrains himself from the sweeping narrative and technical flourishes that make him one of our most entertaining and manipulative directors. Here, he doesn't even bother trying, succumbing to his driving need to entertain with beautiful images and contrived emotion. He cheapens his grandiose motives and simplifies slavery, treating it as cut- and-dry genre piece. Characters are easy Hollywood stereotypes--"villains" like the Spanish sailors or zealous abolitionists are drawn one-dimensionally and sneered upon. And Spielberg can't suppress his gifted eye, undercutting normally ugly sequences, such as the terrifying slave passage, which is shot as a gorgeous, well-lit composition. At its core, Amistad is a traditional courtroom drama, centred by a tired, clichéd narrative: a struggling, idealistic young lawyer (Matthew McConaughey) fighting the crooked political system and saving helpless victims. Worse yet, Spielberg actually takes the underlying premise of his childhood fantasy, E.T. and repackages it for slavery. Cinque (Djimon Hounsou), the leader of the West African rebellion, is presented much like the adorable alien: lost, lacking a common language, and trying to find his way home. McConaughey is a grown-up Elliot who tries communicating complicated ideas such as geography by drawing pictures in the sand or language by having Cinque mimic his facial expressions. Such stuff was effective for a sci-fi fantasy about the communication barriers between a boy and a lost alien; here, it seems like a naive view of real, complex history. --Dave McCoy, Amazon.com

Video Description
DVD Special Features :

Behind the Scenes featurette
Theatrical Trailer
Four-Page Booklet with Production Notes
English or German Soundtrack
Subtitles: English (Deaf and Hard of Hearing), German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish
Dolby 5.1
Anamorphic Widescreen 16:9

See all Reviews

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

The Color Purple [1985] [DVD] [1986]

The Color Purple [1985] [DVD] [1986]

DVD ~ Danny Glover
4.4 out of 5 stars (24)  £4.08
Amazing Grace [DVD] [2007]

Amazing Grace [DVD] [2007]

DVD ~ Ioan Gruffudd
4.0 out of 5 stars (41)  £4.98
Roots : The Original Series 1 - 30th Anniversary 4-Disc Box Set [DVD]

Roots : The Original Series 1 - 30th Anniversary 4-Disc Box Set [DVD]

DVD ~ LeVar Burton
4.7 out of 5 stars (13)  £9.98
Cry Freedom [DVD] [1987]

Cry Freedom [DVD] [1987]

DVD ~ Denzel Washington
4.6 out of 5 stars (11)  £6.98
Glory [DVD] [1990]

Glory [DVD] [1990]

DVD ~ Matthew Broderick
4.8 out of 5 stars (19)  £3.98
› Explore similar items

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
Check the boxes next to the tags you consider relevant or enter your own tags in the field below
(2)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags
 

Customer Reviews

16 Reviews
5 star:
 (9)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:
 (3)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.1 out of 5 stars (16 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Worth watching, 27 Feb 2003
By A Customer
This review is from: Amistad [VHS] [1998] (VHS Tape)
Most reviewers either seemed to love or hate this film. I ended up somewhere in the middle, hence the three stars.

At its best, "Amistad" reminds us that the evil of slavery caused terrible suffering to real people and that its abolition was one of the greatest achievements of the nineteenth century. In a world where there are still pockets of slave commerce, it is a reminder of how serious this evil is. The re-creation of a Portugese slave ship and the horrors inflicted on its victims was very well done, and to me the most powerful sequence in the film was that where chained slaves are dragged over the side to drown due to the crew miscalculating the amount of supplies required for the crossing.

At its worst the film contained some sequences which appeared to be overly artificial. Anthony Hopkins is an excellent actor, but there is something unconvincing about his portrayal of John Quincey Adams - it just seemed too saccharine. As I am not familiar with the details of the actual court case I cannot say anything with authority, but the version in the film seemed rather formulaic - hopeless case gains unexpected triumph at hands of struggling young lawyer (seems a bit familiar), then there is a reversal of fortunes, but triumph in the end. The scene of the destruction of the slavers' base in Sierra Leone seemed rather tagged on the end, but did at least give a pleasant reminder that for once the British were on the side of the angels and morally ahead of those nasty colonials who did not stop trading human lives for money until forced to.

Bottom line? There are a lot of third rate movies out there and this is definitely not one of those. It is a film that is worth the time to watch, but I had hoped for better.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Spielberg film, strangely ignored at the box-office, 16 Mar 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Amistad [VHS] [1998] (VHS Tape)
Amistad was released in the UK cinema just a few months before Saving Private Ryan. The hype surrounding Ryan, Spielberg and Dreamworks at the time seemed to overshadow the fact that Dreamworks first Spielberg film, Amistad had been released. This could account for the relatively modest numbers of bums on seats. Which is a crying shame. Whilst Amistad may not have the shattering impact of Schindler's List or Saving Private Ryan, this is great Spielberg film-making, full of moments of magical cinema. Based on the true story of a slaves revolt on the ship Amistad, subsequent capture and trial in America, the script provides the all-start cast ample opportunity to flex their jaw-muscles. Particularly outstanding is the performance of Djimon Hounsou one of the slaves struggling for freedom. Overall this is one of the best films of the late 90s - if you didn't get to see it at the cinema, catch up with it now on video.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Must See , 21 Mar 2008
By Steven R. McEvoy "MCWPP" (Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Amistad [DVD] [1998] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC] (DVD)
Amistad is a true story about an 1839 mutiny aboard a slave ship that is traveling towards North America. It is a story in the period when new slaves were illegal, but trading in slaves that were already slaves, was allowed. With a powerful all-star cast including Morgan Freeman, Anthony Hopkins and Matthew McConaughey, it is a story that will grip your heart and move your spirit. Much of the story takes place in a courtroom drama about the free-man who led the revolt, and deals with questions of freedom, humanity and dignity.

The movie, though slow moving, is intense, and the drama builds as many groups claim the slaves as their property. This story is truly gripping and a story of extreme importance in understanding our own history. This lesser-known Spielberg film is truly a must see.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars "If He Were White and His Oppressors Had Been British..."
`Amistad' is an uncomfortable reminder of a fact that many Americans would like to ignore. That having supposedly overthrown the oppressive rule of King George III on the grounds... Read more
Published 5 months ago by James Uscroft

5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping
One of the best films I've ever seen. I first caught up with it late one night in the 90's and have been itching to watch it gain ever since. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Sp3

5.0 out of 5 stars Unsurprisingly, this flopped at the US box office.
As the good guys were the Royal Navy, and a lawyer - the usual suspects when it comes to villains in US cinema. Read more
Published 13 months ago by John R. Wade

4.0 out of 5 stars History comes alive in the hands of Steven Spielberg
I'm a fan of the movies put out by Steven Spielberg. He has taken true historical events and turned them into such captivating beautiful movies that none can compare. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Jenny J.J.I.

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Spielberg's Best
Amistad is on par with the very best of Spielberg's films and we can easily see why he is always so successful. Read more
Published on 3 May 2007 by Jay

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth watching
Well yes, it is a little cliched, romanticised and over-simplified. But there aren't many films made on this topic, so if it informs a few people about what went on, that's okay... Read more
Published on 27 April 2007 by Afro-Scot

1.0 out of 5 stars How can you fail when you have Morgan Freeman?
Casting Morgan Freeman in a film is like receiving the Popes blessing. What can possibly go wrong? Yet Spielberg cocked it up again. Read more
Published on 26 Mar 2007 by Madge

5.0 out of 5 stars Hopkins at his best
Is there nothing that Anthony Hopkins cannot do? This brilliant guy puts in another superb performance and is most ably supported by Djimon Hounsou, the ubiquitous Morgan Freeman... Read more
Published on 13 Jan 2007 by G. H. Jones

4.0 out of 5 stars A sympathetic view of slavery
I really enjoyed this film. The historical representations of the different nations and races I think are very accurate too. Read more
Published on 6 Dec 2006 by mjstr1986

3.0 out of 5 stars spanish are the bad
Cinema is the most popular spectacle and USA the bigger producer of movies. There is a problem with this and it’s that from the rest of the world it’s seen clerly how... Read more
Published on 13 Nov 2003 by Carlos Vazquez Quintana

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


Active discussions in related forums
   
Related forums
  • drama  (108 discussions)

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Feedback

Health & Beauty at Amazon.co.uk

Elemis Resurface and Renew Skin Care Gift Set of 4 Products
From soap to shavers, massagers to mascara, stock up on your daily essentials or truly pamper yourself.

›Discover Health & Beauty

  

Beauty without the Beast

Olay Regenerist Daily 3 Point Treatment Cream
From au naturel to party glam, we have all the best names in cosmetics and skincare.

›Discover Beauty at Amazon.co.uk

  

We've Got Converse

Converse
Stock up on your favourite styles with great deals on Converse shoes.

›Shop Converse

  

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

›Learn more about Gift Certificates

  
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.
Continue Shopping: Top Sellers
The Girl Who Played with Fire
The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
4.5 out of 5 stars (72)£3.86
 Breaking Dawn (Twilight Saga)
Breaking Dawn (Twilight Saga) by Stephenie Meyer
4.1 out of 5 stars (458)£6.49
 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
4.1 out of 5 stars (162)£3.99
 The Host
The Host by Stephenie Meyer
4.2 out of 5 stars (80)£3.86

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates