Schindler's List (DVD, 2004, Widescreen, Digipak Packaging Edition)

There is not one bad performance in the film, but all of the acting hinges on the three lead men. As Schindler, Neeson shows incredible range as a man who is selfish and possesses low morals that will not allow himself to sink to the depths that his government has. His redemption as he goes broke trying to save as many Jews as he can is as engrossing as any of the horrors depicted in the film. While his final realization that there may have been more he could have done does come off as a tad over-acted, Neeson certainly deserved the accolades he received for his portrayal.

Starkly opposite from Schindler is the monster of Amon Goeth, played brilliantly by Ralph Fiennes. Fiennes wasn’t yet the established actor that he’s known for now, but his performance here showed what he would become. The inward decay of a man completely desensitized by his own violence as he slips into madness is shown in every nuance of Fiennes’ face and body language. From his shooting Jews for target practice from his balcony to his self hatred for lusting over his Jewish maid, Goeth is the embodiment of the monsters that the National Socialists became.

However, it the subtle performance by Ben Kingsley as Itzhak Stern, the meek accountant that runs Schindler’s company, that rises above the rest. Stern is truly the real hero of the film as he justifies the “use” of his fellow Jews to get them work in Schindler’s factory, thereby saving their lives. Kingsley is the quiet pillar of strength, even after Stern has been accidentally placed on one of the trains headed for a concentration camp – Kingsley will not let Stern loose his dignity. And while Ben Kingsley says “no” to more screenplays than he ever says “yes” to – he once again shows why he is on the list for greatest living actors today.

This is Spielberg’s opus. One can sense that every shot was filmed with care and appreciation of the story. Spielberg has always been a technically great director, but when you couple that with the obvious passion he has for the film, you get a sense of just how great he really be at his craft. The violence is unforgiving and shocking even now. True, the ending does come off a bit heavy-handed, but it’s forgivable due to the subject matter. Never mind other films like Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark, or even the more recent Saving Private Ryan - Steven Spielberg will always be remembered for Schindler’s List.

The Video and Audio

Since it’s shot in black and white (except for one shot of a little girl’s jacket and the flames from a candle), there is an authentic feel to movie. I don’t know if such famous cinematic moments as the little boy hiding in the waste of an outhouse would be as memorable in color. Both the image and sound are exceptional (both 5.1 and DTS tracks are provided). And the widescreen is a must if you wish to enjoy the cinematography at all.

The Extras

The centerpiece of the extras is a 70-minute documentary called "Voices from the List," where Schindler’s Jews talk about what it was really like when they lived it. It’s a very informative film in its own right and is the perfect compliment to movie. Produced by the Shoah Foundation (which Spielberg established when making the movie), it simply tells the stories of the surviving members without becoming overly dramatic. Another ten minute feature shows you all about Shoah Foundation and what they do.

It Best movie.
I love it.The Big Movie from Steven Spielberg the best director.

Schindler's List won popular and critical acclaim, winning seven Academy Awards for Best Picture, Director, Music (by long-time collaborator John Williams), Screenplay, Cinematography, Editing, and Art Direction. It is not only a fine example of filmmaking at its best, but it also serves as a memorial to the six million victims of the Holocaust, as well as a tribute to a flawed but righteous man who gave up his fortune and risked his life to save a handful of his fellow human beings from history's greatest criminal act.

Few films in history is as respected, honored and revered as Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List, which he described as the "most satisfying experience of my career". Filmed in black and white, the film's initial sombre tone turns to show the inhumanity of racism and the destructive result of generalizing a group of people. Here we meet a benevolent Oskar Schindler who managed to save a thousand or more Jewish lives he employed at his enamelware factory. The gems of this film are abundant, which Mr. Spielberg managed to sprinkle throughout the film. We feel the innocence of a little girl in red lost and walking amidst violence and hatred. On a smaller scale, we a see a gifted young boy (Adam Levy, who reminds me of myself) who managed to save a group of men by admitting that the man shot was the one who stole the chicken. We see Jewish children running for safety as their mothers chase after them. There are scenes that show powerful emotion and the evils and inhumanity of any form of racism, as men are shot randomly and families separated. There is a scene where women are trying to look healthy to save themselves from certain deaths at concentration camps. The whole mood of the film seems paranoid as these people will do anything to reach safety and security. Oskar Schindler, who was played by a handsome, powerful and respected Liam Neeson, demonstrates controlled sympathy for the oppressed as he managed to do business with the Nazis. I love the depth, intelligence and heart put in this film ~a film that functions as a powerful history lesson and a testament to the resilience of human spirit amidst a living nightmare.

This movie will make you understand more about the Holocaust and what happened during Hitler's regime. This film is one of Spielberg's finest films and this film brought the Holocaust to the Forefront meaning that most of us were aware of what happened but this film gave us the visualization that text books cannot convey. There were many documentaries created after this film that showed what happened during Hitler's cruel power machine in Europe. Film gave me chills and made me sad however, The main character in this film does everything he can to save as many Jews as possible from the Terrible hands of the Nazis. Nobody knew what he was doing but it is soon revealed later in the film. It's not said directly but you get a feeling what his intentions are.

Enjoy!~~~~~~

I recently had the opportunity to visit a family in Poland. Part of the visit was to Crakow. In that town we took a tour of the ghetto areas and passed the location of Schindler's factory. Having never seen the movie, I had no appreciation of the importance of his deeds. I have no way of knowing the accuracy of the movie, but the overall theme was quite enlightening. It was my first taste of world war two in Poland, the Nazis, and the Holocaust. Also on the visit was a trip to Auchwitz. Needless to say it only reinforced the importance of what Schindler did. The movie gave real meaning to the suffering that took place in that country during the war. I recommend this movie to anyone as a reminder of what can happen when absolute power is more important than humanity. A great lesson in genocide. A practice humans still allow to exist, in a smaller scale, in other parts of the world.