Amistad is a movie about a struggle and freedom. The character of man-Amistad,captured viewer and made them realize a painful and brutal past that they could notescape. The word amistad comes from a word meaning friendship, and this movie is farfrom being based on friendship, which is why it is quite ironic that they chose this for atitle. The opening scene portraying an open desperate ocean, a smooth drum beat, and anexhausted slave. The film in its entirety expresses a brutally violent environment, a strugglefor freedom, and the need for friendship. The movie surrounds the idea of the Constitution of America, and even more so, whenthe words "Life, liberty and property", flowed form Jefferson's mind. The movie smashesin your face the though of, "Who has the right to own a slave, another human being." Or isthat right souly in the hands of an individual to take control of their own life. During thelong, drawn out courtroom drama section of this movie, the issue of the long-lived slavequestion was decided. The slaves were to be set free. As the movie goes on it blasts out abrutal blow of reality of the way life had gone for the slaves even after being allowed to goback to Africa. The audience must now go head on with a past that everyone's bloodlinehad a part in whether direct or not. This was a well sided movie discussing both sides of the issue. It was educational andhad somewhat of an entertainment value, but with its excessive length and scenes that arenot necessarily pertinent, this is not a movie I would recommend to a friend. On a 1-10scale, I would be generous to give this flick a 6.

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