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Amazon.co.uk Review
Steven Spielberg had a banner year in 1993. He scored one of his biggest commercial hits that summer with the mega-hit Jurassic Park, but it was the artistic and critical triumph of Schindler's List that Spielberg called "the most satisfying experience of my career". Adapted from the best-selling book by Thomas Keneally and filmed in Poland with an emphasis on absolute authenticity, Spielberg's masterpiece ranks among the greatest films ever made about the Holocaust during World War II. It's a film about heroism with an unlikely hero at its center--Catholic war profiteer Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson), who risked his life and went bankrupt to save more than 1,000 Jews from certain death in concentration camps.
By employing Jews in his crockery factory manufacturing goods for the German army, Schindler ensures their survival against terrifying odds. At the same time, he must remain solvent with the help of a Jewish accountant (Ben Kingsley) and negotiate business with a vicious, obstinate Nazi commandant (Ralph Fiennes) who enjoys shooting Jews as target practice from the balcony of his villa overlooking a prison camp. Schindler's List gains much of its power not by trying to explain Schindler's motivations, but by dramatising the delicate diplomacy and determination with which he carried out his generous deeds.
As a drinker and womanizer who thought nothing of associating with Nazis, Schindler was hardly a model of decency; the film is largely about his transformation in response to the horror around him. Spielberg doesn't flinch from that horror, and the result is a film that combines remarkable humanity with abhorrent inhumanity--a film that functions as a powerful history lesson and a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the context of a living nightmare. --Jeff Shannon
Amazon.co.uk Review
Both an artistic and a commercial triumph, Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List manages to find some small glimmer of hope for the human spirit amid the abomination that was the Holocaust. The true story of flamboyant entrepreneur Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) and his attempts to save Jewish lives under the very noses of his Nazi associates gives Spielberg a focal point of conscience and humanity in an otherwise unrelentingly grim depiction of mankind's worst traits, here memorably embodied by Ralph Fiennes as the sadistic Nazi commandant Amon Goeth.
Spielberg's determined and unflinching vision is supported by a dignified score from regular collaborator John Williams, and evocative black-and-white cinematography by Janusz Kaminski, which alternates a semi-documentary feel for the harrowing ghetto and concentration camp sequences with an altogether more decadent sensibility for the Nazis. The single use of colour tells of horror more shocking than any words could convey. It's true that towards the end Spielberg lets his sentimental streak off the leash when he chooses to focus on Schindler's grief, but otherwise this is filmmaking of the highest kind: compellingly dramatic, profoundly educational, and unfailingly emotive in the very best sense.
On the DVD: Schindler's List is thinly spread across two discs, with a break at just over two hours into this three-hour movie. It's a little surprising that the feature could not have fitted onto one disc, especially given the absence of commentary or other additional tracks. The 1.85:1 anamorphic picture is fine, though displaying the graininess of the original film stock. Sound is available in highly detailed DTS. Extras on the second disc are limited to Voices from the List, a 77-minute documentary featuring the personal testimony of Schindler survivors, and an 11-minute feature on Spielberg's Shoah Foundation. There's nothing at all about the making of the movie. --Mark Walker
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
42 of 44 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Thomas Keneally's bestselling book was made into a movie of awesome power and emotional impact. Oskar Schindler was a Catholic war profiteer during World War II. He initially prospered because he went along with the Nazi regime and did not challenge it. But Schindler ultimately saved the lives of more than 1,000 Polish Jews by giving them jobs in his factory, which turned out crockery for the German army. Schindler lost his wealth, but gained salvation for many lives and the descendants that would spring from those lives.
Like Raging Bull and Rumblefish, this film is shot in black and white which accentuates the impact whenever there is the odd colour scene as in the end with the girl in the red coat after liberation of the prisoners. Despite the movie's considerable length, it is never slow or dull. It is hard to believe that Hollywood, which so often churns out mindless drivel aimed at making money, could produce something so important and powerful as this film.
Much credit is due to the three main actors -- Liam Neeson as Schindler, Ben Kingsley as his Jewish accountant (and, on occasion, Schindler's conscience), and Ralph Fiennes as the frightening Nazi commandant. The film won seven Oscars, but its best accomplishment may be reminding us that we must never forget what happened.
Like Raging Bull and Rumblefish, this film is shot in black and white which accentuates the impact whenever there is the odd colour scene as in the end with the girl in the red coat after liberation of the prisoners. Despite the movie's considerable length, it is never slow or dull. It is hard to believe that Hollywood, which so often churns out mindless drivel aimed at making money, could produce something so important and powerful as this film.
Much credit is due to the three main actors -- Liam Neeson as Schindler, Ben Kingsley as his Jewish accountant (and, on occasion, Schindler's conscience), and Ralph Fiennes as the frightening Nazi commandant. The film won seven Oscars, but its best accomplishment may be reminding us that we must never forget what happened.
83 of 89 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Important note - this review is of the boxed set contents for this limited edition release of Schindler's List and not for the film itself, which is an absolutely essential buy.
The boxed set really adds nothing to the standard release of Schindler's List on DVD, which is beautifully packaged and has some interesting extras. On top of this standard release you also get:
Soundtrack of the CD - John Williams' excellent score is strong enough to be listened to aside from the film but can be found separately and doesn't justify the additional cost.
A book containing stills from the movie - whilst the book is beautifully produced and the stills are evocative, the question has to be - what is the point? The images within the book mean far more as part of the movie itself. A more sensible approach would surely have been to produce a book containing real documentary evidence of the Holocaust.
A "limited edition" stenotype of a scene from the film - one of Universal's favourite extras in their limited edition DVD releases. Everybody gets the same film still, and the number on the back of mine was 188843, which suggests the limited edition isn't particularly limited. This sort of thing only has any value if it is genuinely scarce.
A "certificate of authenticity" - somewhat tackily containing a quote from Roger Ebert about the film, moderate quality printing on thin paper. Very cheap indeed.
It's a shame that a film as important as Schindler's List receives the same treatment from Universal's marketing department as usual and this boxed set is definitely not worth the extra money that you'll pay over the price of the standard release which, ironically, does show genuine effort having been made to match the product to the quality of the film within.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Spielberg is not the first one to make a movie about the cruels which havebeen comitted in the Third Reich against a part of their own citizens, thejews. A homicide took place, and everybody is aware of this.
The scriptis based on facts, as many other similar movies about "KZ" are too.
As other most directors tried to teach us lessons, Spielberg
went a different way.
His expertise as director of successfull entertainment movies enabled himto use this armamentorium of experience and technical skills, to lead usinto the time of WW II.
Whithout moralizing Spielberg catches theviewer with this story.
It is the auditory, starting to think about and first of all to developdeepest sympathy for the victims, the mistreated jews.
In my Schindlers List is not only Steven Spielbergs masterpiece, butone ofthe best movies ever:
As a reminder it makes young people who never experienced such times tothink, as well as it meets the feelings of those who actually lived in theThird Reich.
(It should bee seen on a big screen if possible and without crisps andbeer. It was not Steven Spielberg's intetion to produce a TV-Film, madeto be seen on a couch)
The scriptis based on facts, as many other similar movies about "KZ" are too.
As other most directors tried to teach us lessons, Spielberg
went a different way.
His expertise as director of successfull entertainment movies enabled himto use this armamentorium of experience and technical skills, to lead usinto the time of WW II.
Whithout moralizing Spielberg catches theviewer with this story.
It is the auditory, starting to think about and first of all to developdeepest sympathy for the victims, the mistreated jews.
In my Schindlers List is not only Steven Spielbergs masterpiece, butone ofthe best movies ever:
As a reminder it makes young people who never experienced such times tothink, as well as it meets the feelings of those who actually lived in theThird Reich.
(It should bee seen on a big screen if possible and without crisps andbeer. It was not Steven Spielberg's intetion to produce a TV-Film, madeto be seen on a couch)
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Schindlers List - A Must See Film For Every Generation
I watched this film and was not just moved and extremely saddened by what I saw, but once I started watching the film I could not switch it off and had to watch it to the end. Read more
Published 2 days ago by Simon Carl Davies
Review of Schlinder's List
Very good film which everyone should watch. I got it for my daughter who is studying GCSE History, and I really enjoyed watching the movie too.
Published 22 days ago by Sharon48
Stunning Film Let Down By A Stupid Gimmicky Ending
Schindler's List is undoubtedly a harrowing, unsettling film, made by a master of modern cinema. It is superbly made and difficult to watch at times. Read more
Published 23 days ago by Maximus Dostoevsky
Appalled
Sometimes in film-making you have to know that you are not the right person for the job.
Please, PLEASE, everyone who gave it five stars: read more, find out more, go... Read more
Please, PLEASE, everyone who gave it five stars: read more, find out more, go... Read more
Published 28 days ago by Papergirl
Spielberg the master manipulator
I watched this film 10 times in the cinema marvelling at the sheer briliance of the re-creation,the directing, the acting, and the writing. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Tando
Excellent
This product came quicker than i thought it would so i didnt have to wait long for it to come in the post. Read more
Published 4 months ago by samantha1987
shindlers list
i put this item in my wish list and my daughter brought it for me
sad film but one i like to watch every now an then to remind me how lucky i am
sad film but one i like to watch every now an then to remind me how lucky i am
Published 5 months ago by Mr. D. C. Bolton
something for us to never forget
Only once in a long while does a film come out and that everyone says nice things, but one no-one will also ever forget. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Lord Anon
excellent
excellent and prompt service from amazon. A film for anyone who has visited krakow or is interested in the second world war
Published 6 months ago by pmanhire11
Schindler's List - A Story That Had To Be Told
Whe you watch Schindler's List you experience two contrasting emotions. On the one hand, in the first half of the movie, you feel revulsion and are sickened by the monstrous nature... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Chris Carter
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