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Schindler's List (Widescreen Edition) Customer Reviews (43 - 45 of 73 Reviews)

Amid Darkness and Despair, A Ray of Hope and Love
SCHINDLER'S LIST is a masterpiece of the highest order, a monument to Oskar Schindler, to those he saved and to goodness and humanity everywhere. It's a testament to the genius of Steven Spielberg, to screenwriter, Steven Zaillian and to novelist Thomas Keneally, on whose book, SCHINDLER'S ARK, the film is based.

The hero of SCHINDLER'S LIST is, of course, Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson), although, at the film's beginning, it seems as though a hero is definitely what Oskar Schindler is not.

SCHINDLER'S LIST opens in Krakow, Poland in 1939. Schindler, a shrewd businessman and Nazi party member, wants to build a factory that will produce enameled cookware for the Nazi army. Of course, Schindler employs Jews; their wages are the very lowest, leaving Schindler more money to pocket for himself. The recruitment of Jewish labor and the business of running the factory are left to Itzhak Stern (Ben Kingsley), a Jewish accountant.

Somewhere, sometime, Oskar Schindler stopped being a Nazi sympathizer and became, instead, a Nazi hater. Instead of spending the millions he made on his own comfort, Oskar Schindler spent his fortune rescuing Jews from certain torture and death.

What prompted Schindler's transformation? Apparently, no one knows for sure and, wisely, Spielberg doesn't attempt to tell us. SCHINDLER'S LIST is a harrowing film, but, in some ways, it's a very subtle one; there's more that's not said than is, and this is, I think, a large measure of this film's magnificence and brilliance.

When it comes to depicting the horrors of the Holocaust, however, SCHINDLER'S LIST, and Spielberg, don't back away. The portrayal of executions is brutal and definitely not for the faint of heart as their ghastly images will haunt you for months, probably for the rest of your life. Yes, the film is that powerful.

Spielberg also shows us the face of evil in the character of Amon Goeth (Ralph Fiennes), a self-serving prison camp commandant who shoots Jews for sport yet keeps a Jewish mistress. To their enormous credit, however, Spielberg and Zaillion endow Goeth with true depth and complexity. He's a study in evil, yet he's no mindless monster.

All of the actors, even the most minor ones, give mesmerizingly brilliant performances, but the best belong to Neeson and Fiennes, I think, in part because their roles are so complex. No one involved with this film was self-serving; no one seemed to think that his or her work should overshadow the importance of the film, itself.

Surprisingly, SCHINDLER'S LIST was filmed in black and white. I didn't think I'd like this until I saw the actual film, then I realized it was really the only choice and actually added power to the film. Color is used only a handful of times, and when it is, it takes on special significance.

Perhaps the most moving part of the film occurs at the end when some of the real "Schindler's Jews" make an appearance, along with the actor who portrayed him or her in the film.

SCHINDLER'S LIST is, arguably, the greatest film ever made. It's uncompromising in its portrayal of evil, but it's also unstinting in its portrayal of love. Amidst unspeakable darkness and despair, SCHINDLER'S LIST offers a ray of love and hope. This is definitely a DVD to own.

Truly...A Gift
This review refers to "Schindler's List - Collector's Widescreen Gift Set"(DVD)...

Well over a year ago, long before The DVD editions were released, I wrote a review of this wonderful film. It's a film that goes beyond the awards and beyond any meaning a 5 star review has. It was one of the most moving expereinces one can have from a cinematic work. I don't usually go in for the "gift sets", and most of the time the special features is not what I base my buying decisions on when shopping for a DVD. When I saw what was offered in the "Schindler's List" Gift Set, and at such a reasonable price, I knew I had to have it. So this review will concentrate on just that..this marvelous package deal.

The set includes a beautifully transfered edition of the film to DVD. The film looks immaculate. The black and white images are sharp and clear. The sound gives you the choice of DD5.1 or DTS 5.1. I viewed it in the DTS..and wow...fabulous surround sound. It may also be viewed in French(DD5.1) and Spanish(DD5.1). There is English captioning and subtitles in Spanish and French as well. The disc is two sided and must be turned over about half way through the film. There are also several very informative bonus features found on Side B of the Disc(see buying info for complete list). The music for this film, composed by John Williams is a very big and emotional part of this film. The CD of the Soundtrack is also among the gifts in this package. It sounds wonderful on the stereo as you relive all the moments of the film. So already this package is well worth it for those who love this film.

There's more...A hardcover book with 70 pages of stirring images of the film, another 6 pages of productions notes, and a foward by Steven Spielberg is included. Keep looking, you'll also find an Actual Film Frame from "Schindler's List", a certificate of authenticity, and it all comes exquistly packaged in a plexiglass case(DVD and CD in their own beautiful case), with names from 'the list' engraved on it.

This Gift Set truly is just that... it is filled with the most wonderful gifts for those that have been so touched by this cinematic work of art depicting a man who defines the word human, during one of the most horrifying chapters in world history. I usually recommend going with the less expensive editions for those not interested in all the frills, but not in this case. This is a must have.

For those looking for a summary of the film itself, there are many wonderful reviews here. If you would like to read mine, you have to go back a ways, as it was written on March 7, 2003.

Thank you...and enjoy this great treasure....Laurie

Horrible subject brought beautifully to film
Wow. Just wow. That's all. Gripping, moving, tear jerking, uplifting, top notch acting, stunning photography, script line in synch with the book, true life ending, OMG. This is the story of Oskar Schindler who kept over 1,000 people alive during the Nazi reign. This is a movie (and book) you must watch (or read) to believe. I generally do not care for "war" movies, and although I love splatter films and gory fiction books, I despise real life violence. Having once been a victim of violent crime, I have a relationship with real life horror that I do not like to explore, but the heroism of this story so dramatically overwhelms the real horrors that it is a must see for anyone. Liam Neeson is phenomenal in his role as Schindler, and Ben Kingsley along with Ralph Finnes fills out the superb acting. Difficult to watch, impossible to forget, it is truly the story of heroism on its grandest scale.
The most poignant moment is the one, the only, faded splash of faint color in the little girls red coat; the rest of the movie is black and white, which only adds to the impact of the total emotion of this fantastic film.

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