Preference?
Scott is not nearly in the same league.
@jgg Alien, Blade Runner, Thelma and Louise, Gladiator, etc...
@lmrocha
Loved the first three. But there are dozens of Spielberg films I love. On the other hand, I hate some of Scott films (Prometheus, Exodus), but Spielberg at his worst got me only mildly bored.
Besides, as much as I like Blade Runner, the best of it are special effects and design and all the concepts that come from the book (Dick was a mine of mind-boggling ideas). Besides, the second film is better in everything else (crazy, but true). So I'm not sure to what point I can count it.
@jgg Still, Scott has a number of highly influential films, though not as such a long production as Spielberg. While I do not hate Spielberg at all, I am often bored by his lack of subtlety. I prefer Alien to Jaws, Blade Runner to ET, Thelma and Louise to Schindler's List, Gladiator to Saving Private Ryan, Legend to Hook, and House of Gucci to Catch me if you Can. Still, I really love Indiana Jones, Close encounters, and Tintin!
@lmrocha
Well, to be honest, neither of them is subtle, really. Gladiator is probably the less subtle peplum ever. An alien is not subtle at all (hiding it after the kitchen scene only makes it more terrifying). As a portrait of toxic masculinity, the (bad) men in Thelma and Louise are really obvious.
Really, both of them have a wide range of genres and styles. The Terminal and E.T., Alien and Gladiator; they don't even seem to be directed by the same person.
And never forget about John Williams. He makes very clear what the point of every scene is. Not only with Spielberg, but with Harry Potter, Star Wars... Any Williams movie seems half of it if you mute it. He's not subtle at all. And I love it.