Schindler's List [20th Anniversary] [3 Discs] [Blu-ray/DVD] [1993]

What can be said that hasn’t already been said about Schindler’s List? Pretty much nothing. I can write about my experience with the film. When I first saw it back in 1993 it didn’t really affect me that much. I was a teenager and going through my own baloney teenage stuff but was always a big movie lover. Steven Spielberg was then and is now; my favorite film maker so would see all of his films. I still do, if he ever comes out with another one lol. Anyway, I saw the movie and thought it was good, amazing actually but all the atrocities and horrors in the movie didn’t really get to me. I’m not sure if I was watching a lot of graphically violent films at the time or if I was just emotionally cut off, being a teen and all, but I didn’t have the emotional response that most did. Cut to about 2 years later, I watched it again…and it destroyed me. I literally broke down and cried multiple times during that film and the end when SPOILER ALERT Oscar Schindler starts talking about not doing enough and taking off his watch and ring and that they would be worth 2 or more people he could have saved, to me is one of the most emotional scenes in any movie ever made. END SPOILER This movie, along with Saving Private Ryan and The Impossible, I need to prepare myself to watch because it brings so much emotion out of me that I need to have time afterward to get myself together. This is required viewing for anyone who is a fan of cinema and anyone who just loves amazing performances. One of the greatest movies ever made.

Steven Spielberg finally got the long awaited respect he deserved as director when he won the Oscar for his 3 hour 16 minute epic. And now this excellent 20th Anniversary Blu ray finally arrives. Spielberg shot in black and white because he says that is how he pictures all the events in his mind. As a kid he had seen some photos and they were B & W. With a splash of color at the beginning and end, he also tosses in an effective shot of a little girl walking through chaos wearing a red coat. Brilliant movie making but certainly not a movie that can be casually watched. Nor is it a film that requires regular viewing. Frankly it is difficult assignment most of the time. In spite of the upbeat aura of Schindler's great good, the film also accurately depicts the horrors bestowed upon Jews throughout Eastern Europe. As one might expect, we see superb performances especially by Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley and Ralph Fiennes. A masterpiece for all time. This Blu ray transfer includes a 1080p resolution and a 1.85:1 aspect ratio that matches the original. Spielberg personally supervised the high definition transfer and the lossless audio (DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1) restoration of the film from the 35mm film original negative. Special features include: Voices from the List: Documentary featuring a number of testimonies and stories from men and women who survived the Holocaust thanks to Oskar Schindler.

My title is my review of the movie. Many other reviewers have said what I feel so I don't need to go further. In regards to the 20th Anniversary Limited Edition blu ray release. Hmmmm.... there is actually nothing limited about it other than the year happened to be the 20th Anniversary. The blu ray disc itself has no bonus features at all, which confused me. Instead I have to pop in the dvd 2nd disc (the dvd discs are included in this release) to see the same 2 bonus features + one more. The bonus features on this release include: "Voices From the List," (also on dvd), "The Shoah Foundation Story" (also on dvd; the dvd one says "with S. Spielberg") and then one extra bonus "About IWitness" (not on the dvd). I am just including the above info in case one already owns the dvd release and is trying to decide whether or not to buy the blu ray release. Peace.

The movie moved kinda slow, but I think it was neccessary to see Mr. Schindler's development. This is a movie about a greedy man, who after seeing his fellow country men murder thousands of Jews realizes that he is only growing rich through people who are inevitably going to die from this inhumane torture. He then takes action, seeing what he can do to improve their way of living, but it doesn't stop there. The movie was a little long, but after saying that it was worth every minute watching it. I have to agree with the previous reviews that this is a movie that is meant to be watched once in a great while and is not intended to be seen by children because of vast nudity and graphic violence. The ending is very sad and moving. All done and said Liam Neeson did a fantastic job and he has yet to disappoint me.

We've all grown up to hear the horrors of the Holocaust full-blown. Schools devote whole units to this event. Although I do feel it's over-talked-about and over-hyped (as if this is the only human torture act in history; there have been many of those), this movie is just how we picture the Holocaust to be in our minds and is extremely well-made. The actual even aside, it's more than just that, however, it's an inspiring tale of someone who learned humanity afterall and went against something so big to save his fellow members of the human race from a cruel fate. I watched it once, and don't plan on watching it again anytime soon, but it's a great one-time movie to help us appreciate our lives and the generosity of others.

It took the Academy far too long to recognize Steven Spielberg's work, but they finally couldn't ignore him with this achievement. The three-hour run time is barely noticeable, as the story just consumes the viewer and takes them into WWII Poland. I was initially hesitant to see this when it was released in theaters because of the subject matter, and the feeling that I didn't want to spend money just to end up being depressed, but I'm glad I did. While the movie is brutal and not always easy to watch, I found it to be ultimately uplifting in that during the midst of such horrors, Oscar Schindler did manage to save hundreds of lives.

Surprisingly, I didn't have this movie in my library. For a very long time, the DVD carried a very high price tag, so I hadn't bit the bullet to purchase. I'm glad I waited and got this on sale. I think it was such a brilliant (but long) movie. For those that haven't seen it, a quick read on many movie reviews, will give you an idea. As mentioned, it's quite long, so be prepared to sit down and pay attention, prior to watching. It is definitely a movie that is very serious, so if not in the mood for that, hold off watching until you decide. Must purchase for sale price. Blu ray version isn't necessarily needed, but if on sale, why not?

It is pretty lengthy, It isn't hard to follow, but I recommend having some knowledge about the Holocaust, before viewing this movie. It's sad that in real life Schindler went bankrupt after the war and left his wife in 1958 and returned to Germany, where he failed at several businesses and relied on financial support from the people he saved during the war. So, not only that he saved those Jews but, they also saved him during the war because without them, he wouldn't have a business to run. But, that should be another movie.