Rating: Summary: Incredible Review: This movie is very hard to watch. Much of the visuals are very disturbing and what is even worse is you're reminded that this isn't just a movie. These events actually took place. I can't even begin to understand what these people were going through. It's a very powerful story.
Rating: Summary: this is resistance? Review: A disturbing and powerful movie but my feeling is, if this is as accurate as purported how could they do this? They purposely mislead their people into the chambers. On one level they were just surviving - on another more important, they were collaborating with the Nazis. Nyiszli should've been tried at Nuremberg not feted at book clubs.
Rating: Summary: bound in banality - spare yourself Review: This film was a gratuitous usage of "shock and awe." I have read widely and seen many movies dealing with the Holocaust and never have I encountered such drivel in a film. While Tim Blake Nelson may have attempted to portray disorientation and the senseless acts of violence bound within this atrocity - it ends up being a banal attempt. Extremely disappointing.
Rating: Summary: not for the light hearted Review: Only reason Im giving this 5 stars is because of the violence. Im so sick of movies that try to dummy up the violence in war movies (ex: pearl harbor, although a good movie, pg-13) This is what really happened ladies and gentlemen, even as graphic as this movie is, they still do not show you all of what they did to torture these people. In order for you to understand just how horrible this time in history was, this movie is a good place to start. There will probably never be a movie that shows you everything, I think the censorship board would never have this. Anyway, only cons I have: Its a bit slow in parts, and at times hard to understand because of the politics. Hang in there though, it gets clearer in the end. Anyway, one final note: If you like harry met sally kind of movies, stay away from this one, this is not for someone looking for a movie with happiness, peacfulness, an serenity, This is pretty horrific, and will disturb some veiwers, I garentee a select few people will turn it off at some point. Very sad movie! The ending also does not turn out as you would hope...pure depression!
Rating: Summary: Chilling & Heart-rending -- a must! Review: If we do not know and understand history -- history will truly repeat itself. This movie is harsh -- even to those who are familiar with the events and atrocities of the Holocaust. The systematic murder of the Jewish race -- and other (non-Aryan) people is hard to imagine, and yet, it is part of our 20th century history. It has reoccurred in smaller forms in other countries (Cambodia & Iraq,to name just two), but the more we know, the more we can fight against this horrible type of brutality. Hatred is born of ignorance, fear and a lack of empathy. We are all human, and when each of us bleeds, the color of our blood is red. Let this movie stir you, trouble you and cause your heart pain -- for it will move you to speak out against any word, thought or deed that results in this type of inhuman behavior.
Rating: Summary: hollow cost Review: yes its a serious topic-yes it happened--yes it was horrible beyond belief-- but this movie is lets see what phrases come to mind unwatchable ...-- poorly edited poorly costumed even !!--everyone looked `dressed` even naked bodies look too arranged ! such amateurish nonsense-- again not the topic !! just this shoddy treatment of it ----nothing is believable at all-- bad acting all around-- poorly shot badly written scenes drift into meaninglesness & come and go with nothing compelling about them-- is there a plot here --or are we just supposed to be disgusted by all the goings on --look --its a movie-- it has to be entertaining or compelling or something besides ill conceived and poorly done to recommend it ! trying to sit thru this rambling idiocy is torture enough ! i`m sure the producers meant well-- but geez ! like louie b mayer said-- if u want to send a message-- call western union !! avoid this like the plague !or watch schindlers list again !
Rating: Summary: A great movie Review: Stark Realism. This movie captures the mood that the inmates must have felt. Cogs in a giant death machine. They know their fate was certain, but they still express human qualities which they strive to suppress. I was impressed with the acting. This movie has a claustrophobic quality about it that was haunting-I couldn't turn away from this film.
Rating: Summary: Great movie, Bad DVD oversight Review: This is indeed a great movie (5 stars) for many reasons. I won't repeat those reasons since there are ample reviews already posted.The only problem is with the DVD, hence my 4-star rating. I first rented this movie on DVD and noticed there was no Cast/Crew commentary as advertised on the back of the case. This is not really a complaint, but it is worth mentioning. It is obviously an oversight problem with all the DVD's issued by Lion's Gate of this movie. I purchased my own new DVD for my collection, and it too listed the Cast/Crew commentary on the case but only had the single main English audio track. I do not know if there truly ever was a full-length commentary track recorded or not. It does make me wonder. The DVD does contain some deleted scenes, but most of these aren't great scenes, and most people won't even even care that they didn't make it into the final film. All in all, a wonderful film with only an average DVD release which is currently overpriced by the studio.
Rating: Summary: Commercially courageous Review: I saw this film in an "indie" movie theatre. I came out speechless but thinking "Thank You" to the people who made the film. It doesn't have the epic scope of Schindler's List, since it only covers 3 days. But it's also fact-based and the handful of "leading actors" are outstanding. The dialogue walk s the line between "probability" and touching on philosophical questions. Buy this film if you can handle the subject matter, in which everyone is morally tainted, but which is an evident labor of love and commercially courageous because these kind of hyper-realistic holocaust films (and this takes place entirely in Auschwitz - unlike Schindler's List or Sophie's Choice) usually don't have much commercial success in America. An outstanding film in all respects - and Harvey Keitel is brilliant and chilling - but be prepared to be shocked, depressed and challenged. But, as Camus wrote: "Revolt is the only true expression of being alive."
Rating: Summary: Somewhat disappointed Review: I was really looking forward to seeing this film. But after viewing it, I was disappointed. It is a great story, but the dialog is weak and sometimes borders on bad banter. I noticed several changes in Harvey Keitel's German accent. The adaptation from stage to film should have been smoother, as many of the lines seem forced. I did appreciate the tone and the horrible images portrayed in the movie. The cinematography is wonderful and David Arquette is quite good. This film just didn't stand up to Schindler's List. Just my opinion!!
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