Schindler's List (Widescreen Edition) Reviews

• A cinematic masterpiece!

  
  By A3IB1W0SVED0Z3 on 2001-02-22
  Meet Oskar Schindler. A German living in occupied Poland during World War II. A member in good standing of the Nazi party. A womanizer, a war profiteer...and ultimately a man of conscience. A man who became one of the great unsung heroes and humanitarians of the war.

  "Schindler's List" chronicles Oskar Schindler's spiritual odyssey from war profiteer to humanitarian and hero. Winner of seven Academy Awards® in 1993, including Best Picture, this harrowing and heart-rending film is Steven Spielberg's masterpiece, and perhaps one of the finest and most important movies ever made. It depicts Schindler's ultimately successful attempt to rescue 1,100 Jews from Hitler's "Final Solution" by getting them to safety outside Poland.

  Dynamic performances abound in this beautiful movie, Especially noteworthy are Liam Neeson as the suave Schindler, Ralph Fiennes as the monstrously depraved Nazi colonel, Amon Goeth, and Ben Kingsley as the dignified, principled Jewish prisoner Itzhak Stern.

  "Schindler's List" is definitely not light entertainment! This beautiful movie allows viewers to feel like they're actually a part of one of the darkest, most horrific periods in history. (I'm sure this is the reason the film was shot in black-and-white, with only minor "colorized" bits included.) The story of the Holocaust needs to be told over and over again, in hopes that future generations can understand the horrors perpetrated on an entire race of people and prevent future occurrences. "Schindler's List" is perhaps one of the best and most effective vehicles for telling that story I've ever experienced.
  
  

• The List Is A Life

  
  By A2D8CUJPOSRPNA on 2002-06-06
  Any way you stack it, Steven Spielberg's 1993 masterpiece SCHINDLER'S LIST is one of the most important and enlightening films ever made. It is a heartfelt, deeply personal film about one of the ghastliest events in human history--the Holocaust--and how one man, a Nazi profiteer by the name of Oskar Schindler, while motivated by money, managed to save some 1200 Jews from the gas chambers of Auschwitz during World War II.

  Spielberg wisely does not gloss over the fact that Schindler was every bit the womanizer as he was an astute, cagey businessman who made deals with the Nazis to set up an enamelware factory in the Cracow ghetto and employ the Jewish populace there. But his very trusted secretary Itzhak Stern (Ben Kingsley) manages to awaken a latent spark of humanity in the once cold-blooded Schindler. By the time the war is over and the facts are known about the Nazi atrocities, Schindler is financially broke but spiritually enriched. "He who saves one life saves the world entire."

  Filmed in somber, documentary-like black-and-white by Janusz Kaminski, SCHINDLER'S LIST features superb performances by Neeson and Kingsley, as well as British actor Ralph Fiennes as the extraordinarily chilling Nazi commandant Amon Goeth, whose basic senses of Nazi business Schindler must appeal to while keeping the fact that he is sheltering the Jews a secret. Spielberg spares nothing in showing us the horrors of the Nazis barbarism; and although it is, not surprisingly, a very lengthy film (three hours and ten minutes), a lot happens for us to absorb, so it never becomes ponderous or heavy-handed.

  Winner of seven Oscars, including a Best Director nod to Spielberg that was long overdue, SCHINDLER'S LIST shows us the worst in humanity, but also the best as well. Even in so much pain and death, there is hope. And that is why this film is such a masterpiece.
  
  

• A movie to be forever treasured and honored.

  
  By on 1998-09-17
  "Schindler's List" is a movie so epic and far reaching in its impact that one stops watching it and says, "...so that's why film was invented." Steven Spielberg takes us back to the haunting horror of war-torn Poland and its condemned Jewry during WWII in a film so impeccably well filmed and performed there need not be any kind of "suspension of disbelief" on the part of the viewer. Liam Neeson delivers the performance of his life starring as Oskar Schindler, a true person who takes pity on the imprisoned Jews and helps over 1,100 to safety. He does this against the will of supervillian Amon Goeth, masterfully played by Ralph Fiennes in what in my opinion is the finest theatrical presentation ever captured on film. The film is primarily historical but beautifully touches at the theme of the survival and triumph of the human spirit. Truly, the only disappointment about "Schindler's List" is that not enough films such as this grace our lives. END
  
  

• A phenomenal movie that everyone should see

  
  By A2M1B750OV0PXR on 2000-05-27
  Schindler's List is my favorite historical drama of all-time for a number of reasons. Not only is it a masterpiece from a cinematic point of view, but it is priceless for the story it tells to the world.

  First of all, the acting is superb. Liam Neeson does well as Oskar Schindler, but in particular I liked Ben Kingsley (as Istak Stern, Schindler's accountant) and Ralph Fiennes (as Amon Goeth, the camp commandant). All of the performances were very convincing and reflect the good casting.

  Another great feature of this film is the soundtrack. Slow, soaring music tells of the painful circumstances of the Jews and of their conflict with the Nazi regime. Mixed in with the instrumental pieces are Jewish melodies which also gave me a sense of the cultural traditions of the Jewish people.

  From a technical point of view, the decision by director Spielberg to shoot the movie is black-and-white was a good one. In fact, I think it makes the movie better than it would have been in color. The few color segments throughout the movie are aptly placed and help to focus the viewer's attention on particular details through the eyes of Schindler. The scenery and photography were excellent compared to other movies I have seen and contribute to the whole atmosphere of the 1940s. Some people may be put off a bit by the length (over 3 hours) but believe me, every minute is worthwhile. Unlike other long movies, there are no lulls or useless scenes -- everything counts.

  The best part of the movie without any doubt is the story itself, the tale of Oskar Schindler and how he was able to save 1100 Jews from the Auschwitz gas chambers by employing them in his enamelware factory and eventually his shelling factory. Schindler's ambition and personal success shines through amidst the Jewish tragedy and shows how one man, if he has the willpower, can accomplish what appears to be impossible. Based on the novel by Thomas Keneally (which I have not yet had the opportunity to read), this movie digs deep into the human soul and shows how different people are able to survive.

  There are many touching moments in this film; in particular, near the end when the war has been declared over and the Nazis must flee from the Soviet army. This part and the modern-day segment that follows are both truly heart-warming tributes. I finished watching this movie for about the fourth time yesterday, and even though I didn't cry, tears welled up in my eyes (and this rarely happens when I watch movies).

  This movie is a must-see not only for its excellence in the film genre but for the story it presents to the viewer. Although it is not suitable for young children (due to its violence and mature content), any mature individual should see it so they can understand that a spark of good can still exist in a fire of evil. This movie deserved all of the Academy Awards that it received and will likely remain in top ten lists for at least the next fifty years. Highly recommended.
  
  

• Stark & Troubling Look At The Realities Of The Holocaust!

  
  By ALR35EFI69S5R on 2000-09-04
  This is an extremely troubling, scrupulously accurate, and endlessly compelling screen adaptation of Thomas Keneally's non-fiction best seller depicting the events surrounding Oscar Schindler's acts in saving hundreds of Polish Jews from certain death in the concentration camps by employing them in manufacturing "essential materials" in war-time Poland. Steven Spielberg negotiates his way carefully through the potential minefield of controversy in his stunningly graphic and emotional portrayal of the plight of Polish Jews as the Germans began their preparations for what became the "Final Solution" to the "Jewish Question" in the occupied sectors of Poland in the early 1940s.

  As a serious student of 20th century history, I am indeed impressed by the care with which Spielberg has faithfully recreated the details of the occupation, from Schindler's initial entrepreneurial preoccupation with exploiting Jewish investors and workers for his own profit to the moral indifference and cruelty of Christian Poles toward their Jewish countrymen. The scenes early in the movie depicting the Jews being forcibly ejected from their homes and the trail of local residents taunting and abusing them is among the powerful on film, as are the later episodes showing the barbarism of the Nazis both within the Jewish ghetto and in the streets, casually murdering Jews as simply as squashing a noisome mosquito. The story line provides the viewer with a profound opportunity to be an eyewitness to one of the most shameful and sorry periods in modern world history, as we witness just how base and cruel ordinary human beings can be.

  The cast, of course, is absolutely terrific, from Liam Neeson to Ben Kingsley to Ralph Fiennes. In particular, Fiennes' brilliant portrayal of a Nazi officer capable of such casual violence as to nonchalantly order a Jewish engineer shot because she corrects an error made by incompetent German military engineers gives a glimpse into the maddening darkness and banality of evil. Once again, modern American film shows us why serious cinematic efforts like this must be actively sponsored and appreciated. If a photo is worth a thousand words, this breathtaking film is worth a library. It accurately illustrates in its short three or four hours duration more about the individual reality of what world war meant to each of the millions of noncombatants who perished at the hands of evil incarnate than any book may do. This is a movie I plan to use to teach European history to lethargic high-schoolers to wake them out of their self-absorption into an active interest in the world. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to better understand what the Holocaust meant, and how it happened.
  
  

• Nazis and Sharks and Dinosaurs
  By A32WI9J3ZC5I58 on 2001-07-06
  It makes me very sad that people so love Steven Spielberg movies. Spielberg only makes movies about the most simplistic emotions in the most simple ways. Most of the time it boils down to a child's feeling of fear running away from a monster. Is there really any difference for Spielberg between running from a killer shark or a killer dinosaur or a killer Nazi? I don't think there is. Showing bad things happening to people and saying, "Here's a great holocaust movie" is so insulting. It's the worst thing one can possibly do to take something very complicated and through propogandistic techniques (cutting between party scenes and scenes of suffering etc.) make it look simple. I beg you not to go for the cheap and easy way out.
  
  
• good movie, bad research
  By on 2004-01-24
  Schindlers List is a by-product of a society wrapped in guilt because of what another nation did sixty years ago, and the "feel sorry for me" propaganda that has followed it ever since.
  From a purely cinematic standpoint it is, without a doubt, a fine film. The direction, photography, score and script are all first rate. The cast assembled includes excellent Hollywood as well as Polish actors and the performances they give are solid throughout. It is a tale well told by an experienced filmmaker.
  As far as the historical accuracy the film leaves a lot to be desired. From the opening minutes it is evident that the filmmakers are products of an American educational system. The first words to appear on the screen "...German forces defeated the Polish Army in two weeks" are historically wrong, as Polish army actually surrendered in four weeks and isolated commands held out as long as 37 days. This is a prelude to many inaccuracies, half-truths and "blind eyes", which haunt this movie. The film tries to portray a Nazi party member who exploited jews, using them for SLAVE labour to HIS profit as a humannitarian. This is very interesting. Even more interesting is the fact that the polish "Council of Assistance for Jews" (RPZ)which assisted some 100 thousand jews to escape the final solution is never mentioned. The movie portrays Schindler as the only person willing to help the Jews, which is a far cry from the truth. (for those with any citicism of the Poles I invite you to visit the holocaust museum in Washington DC and see the list of names of those who saved Jews during WW2. You will see that there are more Polish names than all other nations combined.) What really upsets me about this picture is Spielbergs insistance on eluding audiences into believing that Jews were the only ones mistreated by the Germans. Lets talk about the 20 million russians who died during the war, or the 8 million Germans or the 5 million Poles. Sure Russians had Stalin to thank for more than half that number and Germans could always count on allies carpet bombing their cities but the Jewish holocaust was not the only one is my point. There was a Polish holocaust as well, this is never mentioned, nor is the fact of French collaboration in the final solution, nor the role of the Jewish police which was almmost as brutal to their brethren as the Germans.
  In the end "shindlers list" is a good film very loosely based on fact and historically rather inacurate, intended for us to grieve the Jewish losses during WW2, but not intended to tell the whole truth.
  
  
• The worst DVD release ever?
  By AZZ1KF8RAO1BR on 2004-03-11
  Well, maybe not the worst. Disney's non-skippable previews take that prize. But here it is 2004 and this studio has *finally* released this epic film on an unnecessarily (GAG!) two-sided DVD packaged in (GAG!) cardboard. What's even worse than having to get up and flip the disc over in the middle of the film is that the stupid DVD won't default to the DTS sound track. It's got that insulting message that assumes we consumers don't know what DTS is. And on my first viewing, I realized 75% thru that I was no longer hearing the better DTS soundtrack after the flip. That was so annoying it just ruined the whole experience for me.
  
  
• The Hollywood version of the Jewish Holocaust
  By A3NM43CKQO1KRU on 1999-12-05
  After making a fortune on silly but entertaining blockbusters like Jaws and the Indiana Jones movies, Spielberg decided to take himself seriously as a Jewish filmmaker and do a holocaust movie. The predictable reflex is to say the movie is great, because it is about the holocaust. But I find the BUSINESS of recreating the holocaust for Hollywood a disturbing and potentially dangerous endeavor. A re-enactment can remove the audience from the reality of the event, so authenticity is critical. This movie, which was purported by many to be realistic, was filled with flaws. It was in B&W, which was a big problem for me. There seems to be an ongoing debate about this issue with some of the other reviewers, but my feeling is that the holocaust happened in color, so the movie should have been in color to bring it closer to home. I sensed the B&W was an unnecessary and unsuccessful attempt at an artistic touch. The movie also should have been done in German with English subtitles. Imagine a German watching Schindler's List in Germany, reading subtitles to understand the English dialogue. Does that sound realistic to you? If you want to learn about the holocaust, watch Shoah or read a book by Primo Levi. Don't watch the Hollywood version by billionaire profiteer SS.
  
  
• Can this film be ignored?
  By A27LQDQYMOPP6H on 2000-02-24
  Yeah. Easily. Spielberg has to stop with the Germans. It's becoming uncomfortable. What is the word when you constantly portray an entire race, it's culture and it's language as evil and subhuman? I await the next Indiana Jones film with interest.
  
  
• It's about time they release this on DVD
  By AI0OAQ6E2O8VF on 2003-12-08
  First of all this film is recommended for mature audiences.

  It is a very good account of the Schindler Jews.

  It still is an excellent film and has superb acting. It helped bring Liam Neeson's career into the international spotlight. It also helped launch Ralph Finnes' career. Stephen Spielberg refused to accept any money for this film, thinking it would be 'blood money'.

  The film's portrayal of the Holocaust was also downplayed in order to make it more suitable for a larger audience. The Holocaust was MUCH worse than this film makes it seem. The John Williams score is also very memorable. One interesting note is that early in the film when Schindler goes to the party, you can hear the song, "Por Una Cabeza" made popular by the film "Scent of a Woman"

  For many of the supporting cast members, this is still their first American film to date.

  One of the most memorable scenes was the prologue when the acutal people portrayed in the film and the actors portraying them, visited Oskar Schindler's grave in Jerusalem. Also in that scene Liam Neeson puts flowers on Schindler's grave, though it is often mistakenly thought that Stephen Spielberg was the one doing that.

  Overall this is an excellent but depressing film and I hope the DVD version will be loaded with extra features.
  
  

• Great Movie - Disappointing Set
  By A3PWPNZVMNX3PA on 2004-03-27
  I was very excited to see the DVD of Schindler's List finally released. So excited, in fact, that I bought the Collector's Edition. To my dismay, it was not a very exciting collection.

  Before I get to that, I will just state that the movie is as good as ever and it has been some time since I have seen it. The quality is clean and clear, while sound is great. This is a film that utilizes the widescreen aspect and should be seen in this format (why they even offer a full screen is beyond my comprehension). Nonetheless, it is an amazing film; certainly Spielberg's finest to date.

  The collection that comes with the DVD does not quite meet the films quality. What you will receive in the set is a picture disc of the soundtrack. The soundtrack is from John Williams, and perhaps one of his most moving scores I have heard from him. While he instills his usual thematic sound, the music in this film has a deeply personal emotion that is carried with it, along with Itzhak Perlman's violin solos. Truly beautiful music, however sad it may sound.

  Along with the soundtrack is a senitype, which is a reproduction of one of the 35mm frames. I imagine they are the same pictures, one of the girl in the red coat walking along the streets. Its a nice photo, but why do I want it? What am I going to do with it?

  Also is a small hardcover book of images from the film. A nice book as well, but with a book that shows photos of the movie, why look at the book when you can just watch the movie? Very little in the making of the film.

  Finally is a Certificate of Authenticity. Now this just tops the cake. I mean, a Certificate that says this is a real AND official collector's set, because if I did not get one of these, I was going to assume this was a bootleg of some sort. There is not even a printed autograph! It just brags about the film and tells you what the set offers, which, if you did not open the set to see what was in it, you could not read this little certificate to see what was in it. Completely stupid.

  If that does not thrill you enough, then you will also get a little pamphlet that tells you about the SHOAH organization which you can send some money to support them. Ugh.

  The DVD offers some extras. No commentary, no behind the scenes footage. Can't break that fourth wall, now!! Keep it real! But you will get stories of the real Schindler Jews who have survived. You will also learn about the SHOAH organization. Furthermore is a video on Schindler's life, which is probably the best extra on the disc. The DVD is two-sided which is another unfortunate aspect which takes me back to the laser-disc days when I had to flip the disc over to continue the film. That annoyws me that I have to do that.

  The best part of the collection is the case, which is a plexiglass casing with the names of the list printed in gray. Its pretty cool. While all this stuff is held in a slip case, which does not hold it very well, the plexiglass case has some metal dowels to keep it all in place.

  In all, a poor set and for the price, definately not worth it. If I had known it was going to be a disappointing set, I would have just saved my money and bought the movie only version.

  The ratings are 5 stars for the movie, and 2 stars for the set, which culminates to about 3 stars overall. If you love the movie, get the movie, not this set.
  
  

• An insult to Humanity.
  By on 1999-07-17
  The fact that the American Nation, and with it the entire Western Civilization, is getting sillier by the minute, is not only Spielberg's fault. But one can not underestimate the immense contribution that Hollywood, to which this person is a dear son, has had in desensitizing people to everything that is human. "Schindler's List" a simplistic, mathematically melodramatic attempt to, popularize a subject that should not have been popularized at all. The Jewish Holocaust was not a Hollywood melodrarma, but a reality, and this reality is still with us, as humans, whether direct or indirect victims, as perpetrators, or as potential victims and perpetrators of similar realities.
  
  
• CONSCIENCE: THAT SLENDER EMOTION THAT MAKES US THE SAME
  By A1L8HRCM60W0W7 on 2004-05-21
  Unlike the glossy schoolboy fantasies from outer space that make up a bulk of Spielberg's roster, Schindler's List is a work of unsensational realism, resonating with clever observation from start to finish.

  When I read the film's decription, I thought it'd be a collection of scenes about the Holocaust. And I thought, big deal. But the movie has some very vivid, poignant moments. There are enough characters, enough motivations, enough idiosyncrasies to make the screenplay rich enough to keep us always involved. Yet, the director does not shy from the humanity of the bad guys and the shortcomings of the good ones.

  Ben Kingsley makes for a fabulous fidgety character, ever so worried but in a palpable outwardly manner. Liam Neeson as the pivot is very convincing. But the cake I feel goes to Ralph Fiennes who mastered the European accent of English to such perfection that I almost scorned him as a true soldier of the war. His casual demeanor while shooting a couple of workers in the camps from his balcony was a sight to behold.

  BUT the most stunning thing about this movie, as it unfolds, is the pang of conscience in a simple man that made all the difference in the lives of so many. The gruesome scenes of the lives lost in the dastardly "war" is etched in my memory, and the number of people Schindler saved was impressive, but the thing I remember having being touched MOST by is how such an imperfect man found himself doing something so perfect.

  All in all, despite the undeservedly featureless DVD that Universal has slapped this movie on, it must be a prominent part of every movie collection!
  
  

• Holocaust as Family Drama, Awful Junk
  By A1C6GTIW422WEE on 2004-12-02
  This film is very empty, for not only does it portray the Germans as "evil, lop-sided, devil worshippers" but it shows the Jews as being "promising, alluring, good guys". If one is to question morality, then do so, but do not give us the black vs white issue found in this film. Speilberg, immature since day one as director, tells us what to think, he strips away our humanity by overdosing us on excessive amounts of guilt and sentimentality. In effect, the film lacks any moral basis except to denounce all evil men and with that, we learn absolutely nothing.....
  
  
  
• LOUSY DVD FORMAT WITH WEAK EXTRAS
  By A1OT4PZSMSCLR8 on 2004-03-13
  I am reviewing the DVD, not the film.

  Here we have one of the best films of the 1990s, and Spielberg makes it a flipper. In 2004, the fact that we have to turn this DVD over is moronic, and Spielberg knows better. The extras are mediocre. Just think what he could have done, with a documentary on the Holocaust. Why it took so long to get this DVD in print is beyond me. And the container is cardboard, and gives no listing of the chapters. The so-called container that holds the inserts is open at the bottom so the inserts fall out.

  The DVD concept is one of the marvels of technology in the last decade. And Spielberg, who prides himself with being technologically advanced, gives us a DVD that could have been made in the early 1990s. So sad that such a great film gets such a lousy presentation.
  
  

• Awwww, Come On.....
  By A3F8W7R5YJC7BV on 2004-03-17
  This movie is in black and white.
  Do you know what this means?
  There is less data to digitize for compression when mastering a DVD. So the whole movie would have easily fit on one side of a two layered disc, otherwise known as DVD-9. There is just no excuse. This kind of decision was deliberatly made since you just do not see this kind of mastering anymore. Every major DVD since 2000 has been Dual-layer. This is bad, but don't blame Universal. Look what they did for Rob Cohens' Daylight, Dragonheart and Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story. Top drawer DVD's. Not only should this have been a two disc set, with commentary, trailers, photo gallery, featurettes, and dynamic menus, it should have been $3 less that what I paid for it. Splitting a movie across two discs, whether separate or in a flipping arrangment, is just insipid. This is an issue that even non-cinephiles appreciate, because it means revisiting the days of getting up to hit eject. Try again Steve...
  
  
• SUGAR-COATED HOLOCAUST ON CHEAPO DVD
  By A3H9JSM1SUTE4O on 2004-03-19
  Stephen Spielberg's sugar-coated holocaust story, carefully calculated to be an Oscar© contender in the same year as his big popcorn hit "Jurassic Park," arrives in a cheap non-sealing cardboard flip-case and a two-sided disc with no significant extras.
  
  
• I would give the DVD zero stars if possible.
  By A2WA8TDCTGUADI on 2004-03-11
  The movie is great, but the DVD is horrible. There is absolutely NO excuse for making this disc a "flipper." I am incredibly disappointed.
  
  
• One fine movie in the crippled form
  By A3RHR3KS6O5HIJ on 2004-03-19
  An excellent and long-waited movie finally released on DVD by Universal Pictures.

  Movie itself - 5 stars,
  disc and case - 1 star: flipper disc (probably has the historical value), crappy paper case (obviously made using the gluestick and scissors), missing title list or booklet, poor list of extras.

  I bought my DVD disc from Amazon.com hence there`s no need to think that I received some kind of the Estonian DVD version.

  Yeah, nice work Universal, putting the movie on the flipper disc. It`s really pleasant that we don`t have to buy the movie in the two separate cases released in different months. Or even years.

  P.S. Maybe the look of the package is intentional? I mean - to make it look like it's handmade by the survivors of the concentration camps? If so, please keep the buyers informed, just to make sure that they`ve not been cheated.
  
  

• Steven Spielberg's magnum opus to date!
  By A3OBBWCDNIYT8D on 2000-08-07
  Schindler's List is such an emotionally shattering and gripping movie that no true words can even describe it. There are scenes in this movie that will live in your memory forever. The performances from Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, and Ralph Fiennes are flawless. The soundtrack is also great, with sad, classical music from the great John Williams and violinist Itzhak Perlman. The last few scenes of this movie are so moving, inspirational, and touching that you find yourself literally crying when Oskar Schindler says to Itzhak Stern that he could have got more Jews out of the concentration camps. When Schindler suddenly breaks down and cries, he is so magnificent. I think that crying emotionally on-screen in movies is a greater and better acting style than others. Liam Neeson can act in the last scene he's in, and in general. He should have won the Oscar for playing Oskar Schindler in this movie. Director Steven Spielberg really created a true masterpiece with this movie. This movie should be shown in every history class there is in high school. It is a triumph!
  
  
• Balance your views please
  By on 2001-03-27
  What happened in Deutschland during last century was very unfortunate. Especially if you were Jewish. It is not something to be taken lightly. However, there is a tragedy in the twentieth century that we are still dumbing down our media for sales. History should be left to qualified and balanced observers.

  There are many ways to murder people. It is easy to point the finger at someone with blood on his jackboots. Much harder to find the person who regularly adjusted the accounts book and drove a family or a society into poverty and starvation.The Deustche people were merely trying to assert their power in the world in the same way that the British were doing. Let's not forget the millions of slaves that Britain referred to as "subjects" working in the concentration camp called Asia. Why hasn't anyone made more than one decent film about these people? WE've seen the Nazi story a hundred times - and better produced by far. Why not address the Bosnian Genocide as it happens?

  This is media manipulation at it's worst. Dehumanising one side for effect and exaggerating the humanity of the film-maker's side. If you want an emotional wake for dead ancestors or relatives you are welcome to sit through this for three hours. Nobody should be mocking the nasty things that happened here. More balanced individuals may find a more accurate historical account in the 1940's film called The Young Lions. This addresses many of the issues on both sides in a humanitarian ways. Not least the factor of Jewish resolute non-integration with other societies ethics and inbreeding problems resulting thereof.
  
  

• A very important film.
  By A1AEJ6I2Q42UB0 on 2004-01-29
  I find myself compelled to take issue with the "viewer from San Jose", and his/her review titled "good movie, bad research" dated January 23 2004.

  While I do not suggest that Mr. Spielberg was 100% spot on regarding the historical accuracies of the film, I believe that this reviewer has completely missed the point. Oskar Schindler was a flawed man, no one will deny that. It is however historical record that that he personally saved some 900 Jewish lives. Mr. Spielberg has simply chosen his story to inform a wide audience of a limited number of events from a period that was probably the lowest point in human history. I guess the reason why he chose Schindler above, say, Rauol Wallenberg, is simply due to the existence of the excellent Novel by Thomas Keneally.

  (I personally believe that the one real flaw of Schindler's List is to portray a story with an essentially happy ending, but of course this is the problem with almost all holocaust films, since they portray "survivor's tales". The true horror of the holocaust lies in the stories of the those that did not survive, but conventional wisdom suggests no one would pay money to sit through a film that depressing, and they are probably right)

  While the reviewer is correct to point out that tens of millions of other people were killed during the Second World War, comparing 20 million Russians and 8 million Germans dying as the consequence of the war, mainly through fighting and starvationas a result of war, to the industrialized wholesale slaughter of the Jews is misleading. Hilter set his sights on one particular people above all; the Jews. At the end of the war, cattle trains transporting Jews to the gas chambers were given priority above trains transporting troops and supplies to the front lines. The entire War finally boiled down to a psychopathic desire to rid Europe of Jews once and for all. (lets not forget that had the Nazis succeeded in North Africa, the same fate would have awaited Jews there).
  As for the 5 million Poles he mentions, 3 million of them were Jews for crying out loud. A typically misleading statistic commonly used by Holocaust deniers.

  Now, for the reviewer's suggestion that Poland was full of people trying to help the Jews, the only reason why Poles make up a large proportion of the list of "righteous gentiles" is because half of the Jews in Europe happenned to live in Poland. They were therefore afforded far more opportunities to save Jews than any other nation. Why does the reviewer think that the camps were located in Poland? The reason is twofold - firstly, it was logistically the closest location to the largest Jewsish population, secondly, it was well known that Poles would tolerate the camps since they were among the most anti semitic people in Europe. A non Jewish friend of mine while visitng the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem (Yad Vashem) upon viewing the 13000 names of the "righteous gentiles" commented that there should in fact be millions of them, that every European should have tried to save Jews. It should be the rule, rather than the exception, shouldn't it?

  As for the reviewer's comments of the brutality of the Jewish police, this purely and simply an indication of being influenced by Holocaust deniers. While I will not deny that these people did not act in a despicable manner by cooperating with the Nazis (they did this out of a sense of self preservation mostly) it is ridiculous to suggest that they were as evil as the murderers of the SS. There are no stories (except perhaps concosted lies) about "Judenrat" stomping on pregnant women's stomachs or shooting children in front of their parents. And to complain that Schindler's List is too focused on the Jews is like complaining that 9-11 documentaries and books are too focused on American losses when there were dozens of other nationals that died.

  In the end, the most important point about this film is that it has drawn the attention of many people to the most shameful event in history. To paraphrase a character from the last Woody Allen film, if the punishment for the occurence of the holocaust would be the ceasation of mankind's continued existence, it could be argued that this punishment would be deserved and fair.
  
  

• Think twice
  By A31WE0G828ZWY5 on 2004-02-05
  For the first time in nearly 100 Amazon reviews, I am giving a product a five-star rating while more or less suggesting that it may not be worth buying.

  The thought occurred to me just after my heart jumped a bit upon realizing that Schindler's List was about to be released in DVD, something that has been a long time coming.

  This is a rare example of a film that met with great commercial success and well-deserved critical acclaim, and it may be the film that hugely talented and prolific director Steven Spielberg will be remembered for. This is one of the greatest motion pictures ever made, and when I started building my DVD collection a few years ago I always considered the film's absence a glaring one.

  But now that now that I can finally add it to the collection, I wondered: do we buy DVDs of great films, or of films we want to watch again and again? If the answer is the former, Schindler's List is a perfect fit. But it it's the latter -- and I think it is -- then I am not so sure.

  This is not the kind of film one can watch without becoming involved, and involved in a profound way. It is important and difficult and uncomfortable and a masterpiece of modern cinema -- but is not enjoyable. Can anyone who has seen this film imagine watching it again to pass the time on a rainy night? Is it the motion picture you'd select to watch after ordering out for pizza when friends stop by? Not from my perspective, and that is why this great film won't soon be on the shelf with the rest of my DVDs.
  
  

• An Important Document. Deserves A Better DVD.
  By A3N3SN2DDD4HCJ on 2004-03-14
  "Schindler's List" is one of those special films that comes from the heart. Only "The Passion Of The Christ" has reached the kind of cultural cinematic impact this movie has had. Now it finally arrives on DVD and as a film it looks fantastic in the digital format. It is a stunning work of art that is full of hope, truth and history. "Schindler's List" is the kind of film that reminds us of the dark corners of human history and how hope and love can indeed overcome. As a movie it is a masterpiece of dramatic filmmaking. Steven Spielberg stuns us with his capacity to direct something more deep and important than "Jurassic Park." He takes us back to a time when the world went mad, when the shadow of evil fell over a nation and a good man began a plan to become rich and ended-up saving lives. However, I don't really need to tell you the plot. I am here writing a review of the DVD. As a DVD this movie deserves more. It's puzzling that it's been split in two on one disc and how the extra features are very poor. "Voices From The List" is the most important segment, a fascinating collection of testimonies from Holocaust survivors. This is important information people need to hear. However, there is no director's commentary, no trailers, no Behind the Scenes featurettes. Any movie lover and Spielberg admirer will look in confusion at why this very important movie was so poorly packaged. Surely Spielberg is planning to release a better version later on, though I don't see why he didn't release it now. As a film this is a timeless, important movie. As a DVD, you know they could have done better.
  
  
• Disgracefull packaging
  By A1P3FS8UYGT3WZ on 2004-03-17
  Universal should be ashamed of themselves. To package one of the greatest and most important films of all time in a cheap, non-sealing cardboard folder that provides totally inadaquate protection from dust and damage to one side of the two sided disk is simply disgraceful. Like others who have expressed themselves in this forum, I feel as though I've been ripped off.

  There, I feel better, but I'd feel even better if Universal were offer a free replacement package that provided adequate protection for the disk.

  One the subject of the disk, the transfer is first rate. I don't mind that the film is split (presumably so that they could provide the image quality they did), but I would have very much preferred that it be on two separate disk. It seems to me that two-sided disks are more subject to handling damage than are one-sided ones.
  
  

• Very overrated... as sophisticated as a made-for-TV movie
  By A2RSR8C10AERD on 2004-03-27
  I disagree with the majority of viewers. This is no masterpiece. It is a pretty good movie with a story that is moving.

  Spielberg never uses subtlety. He hits you over the head with each point and I find it insulting to a viewer's intelligence. Shots linger too long... characters explain their actions..

  If you can get over Spielberg's in your face style this is a great and sometimes moving story. The acting is above average but nowhere near approaches the performances in "Sophie's Choice", "Europa, Europa" or even the made for TV mini series "Holocaust"

  This movie is worth seeing but given the choice I would first view the others I have mentioned.
  
  

• Finally Out On DVD - A Must Own For Everyone
  By A3HTX1NOTTWERP on 2004-05-07
  Well, where to begin? Usually I can twitter on for pages about a product, but this is a tough one. Well, let me start with my opinion that Schindler's List is the best film ever made, and deserves all the critical praise it has received. Never before have I seen such an emotionally powerful film.

  I am the grandson of a man who, at the age of 14, was trapped in a concentration camp, before later escaping through some miracle. He wasn't Jewish, but lived in Russia and was hauled off one day when he found out that his father had been dead for months, even though he continued to receive letters from him. He later discovered the letters had been written by the Nazis, and sent to him as a cover up. He refused to talk about his experiences, even until his death in July 1996, so I have always tried to find other information about this dark period in history through sources such as books, films and documentaries. I first saw Schindler's List a few years ago, but never watched it all the way through - until recently.

  Schindler's List revolves around a true story of Oskar Schindler who helped save the lives of more than a thousand Jews from a terrible fate. In the film, Oskar Schindler is a well-known Catholic, drinker and womaniser who is just in the whole extermination process to make pots of money at the expense of the Jews. He only cares about himself, and is more bothered about his public image than anything else. With all this behind him, he is hardly a man who thinks about...until he starts spending more time at the concentration camps. As the true horrors of the Holocaust unfold, his conscience changes dramatically until the point where he is willing to do anything he can in his power to save 1,100 Jews.

  Liam Neeson is absolutely amazing as Oskar Schindler. I cannot think of any other actor than him to play this part. He pulls off the role very effectively and professionally, considering the subject was so hard to pull off. The perfect counterpart to Schindler's character is that of the evil German Nazi commandant Amon Goathe. Played by the remarkable Ralph Fiennes, his character is one of pure evil. The man is demonic, heartless and totally frigid. He has no care for anyone else but himself, and has piercing eyes that will no doubt have been the subject of millions of nightmares. Continual praise is essential for Fiennes, as it must have been very hard to re-enact some of the scenes that caused so much shock and terror throughout the world.

  Ben Kingsley is also wonderful as Itzhak Stern, the Jewish man who works as Schindler's accountant. He doesn't have much of a large part in the film, but that all changed when he is needed to type up Oskar's list of people to save. The entire cast consists of more than 30,000 extras who give amazing performances as truly terrified Jews, giving the film a very real feel of what actually happened.

  The way Schindler's List is filmed in black and white is perfect. This gives the film a documentary style, which is just the way director Steven Spielberg wanted it. There are only a few colour segments, but these are put to optimum use in making the viewer take note. The most famous of these is the one where Schindler sees a little girl in a red coat running away from the Nazis. He continues to watch her escape, until he later sees her on a pile of bodies awaiting cremation at a concentration camp. He is truly shocked. Spielberg is expressing the horror of the Holocaust here by saying that not even the young and innocent are spared. There are some truly shocking and disturbing scenes in this film, but all of which are brilliant in their tried ways to describe what actually went on. There are many random killings for no apparent reason at all.

  This Special Edition of Schindler's List is truly one of the most essential DVD's you could ever hope to own. The movie is, in my opinion, the best I have ever had the pleasure to view. The emotion on display just blows you away, and to own the Special Edition is a great advantage for DVD fanatics. The extra features include:

  - Movie soundtrack
  - Book
  - Senitype from the film
  - Voices From The List documentary
  - The Shoah Foundation Story With Steven Spielberg
  - Cast and crew
  - About Oskar Schindler

  OVERALL GRADE: 10/10

  Schindler's List is my all-time favourite film and is definitely one that all young people should see. It's different for me because my grandad went through almost everything that is in this film, and that makes me think of him as someone very heroic and courageous. While not a film you can watch again and again, Schindler's List is one that will change you and your views on the supposed idealistic world that we live in. It makes you realise how cruel society can be and how far it is possible of going if we let it. Buy this film now - you'll see things totally differently after watching it.
  
  

• Not a great movie
  By A3PJP6X7SEE7YD on 2000-02-27
  This film was way too "pretty" considering the subject matter. Creative camera angles, decadently decaying atmosphere, lush score --- an inappropriate technique for something about the Holocaust. It made me sick to watch the scenes where corpses are being transported. Not because the subject of the scenes were gruesome, but because the scenes are sensationalized with overtly tear-jerking music as if to say "this is the part where you're supposed to cry." The girl in the red dress was just a sad attempt at symbolism and was so contrived. It was one of the film's shallow attempts at complexity. Never before has a movie been such an ideal example of "Oscar-Bait." The way the movie was made just cries out "this is an important movie!" or "you must respect me as a masterpiece!" The over-indulgence with technique makes a mockery of the Holocaust. The movie is even manipulative to the last minute when people are putting stones on Schindler's grave and there is a long forced moment of silence that is purposefully there to get the audience to contemplate what they've just seen. The movie is so self-conscious concerning it's own importance. There are many great movies made about the horrors of the Holocaust. This is not one of them. It's better if you see documentaries on the subject which are by far more informing.
  
  
• Did Mr. Spiel get too excited?
  By on 1999-04-12
  I don't understand why, but throughout the movie, I felt like a message was being shoved down my throat: everyone seemed to scream "THESE ARE THE HORRORS OF THE HOLOCAUST! FEEL PITY FOR US!"

  My heart wasn't touched by this at all; It was somewhat disappointing. But I suppose Steven Spielberg knows he can make money by making people swallow it.
  
  

• The Pianist
• Saving Private Ryan (Special Limited Edition)
• Life Is Beautiful
• Platoon (Special Edition)
• Sophie's Choice