Rating: 
Summary: The List Is A Monumental Film, But Lacks A Bit On DVD
Review: Schindler's List is a powerful piece of cinema. Director Steven Spielberg put together a film, that takes one of humanities darkest chapters in history, and manages to tell a story of hope over tragedy. After a very long wait, Schindler's List has finally found its way on DVD, I have to say though, that I am somewhat disappointed at the overall release.Based on the true story of Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson), who was a member of the Nazi Party, someone quite disrespectful of women, and a man who made his money as a war profiteer. That said, he also somehow, found a way to save more than 1,100 Jewish prisoners from the holocaust, as well. Spielberg's use of black and white photography only heightens the realism of the story and kind of gives it a documentary feel. The perfomance of Neeson is just about flawless. It's interesting to see Schindler transform from "monster" to humanitarian as the film progresses It is not one that seems false or easy. When we first see him, he's not a very likable guy. Actors Ben Kingley as Oskar's assistant, Itzhak Stern, and Ralph Fiennes as Nazi thug Amon Goeth, also give stunning performances. If you have never seen the film, look for the Russian Roulette scene, there is more tense moments in that sequence alone, than in Jaws, Jurassic Park, and any Indiana Jones film combined. The movie also boasts another memorable score from composer John Williams. He is able to capture emotions and uplift the film with his haunting music. Schindler's List is a must see... I have to say that the bonus material could have been better. Sure, I have gotten used to the fact that Spielberg doesn't like to record audio commentaries, and respect his decision. While I can appreciate the 80 minute historical "Voices From the List", produced by longtime film documentarian Laurent Bouzereau, and featuring survivor stories. Well produced as usual and important history to have...But I was surprised that it doesn't have any making of information or cast/crew comments. I wanted to find out about filmming as well. You also get a look "Behind the Shoah Foundation With Steven Spielberg" and how history is being preserved. The only other extras on the double sided disc is a series of filmographies about the cast and crew and more info on the life of Schindler. There's no doubt, Schindler's List, is a must, but I still wanted more. The more expensive box set may have more collectibles in it, but I shouldn't have to pay more to learn about a film as like this.
Rating: 
Summary: more magnificent on dvd then ever!
Review: what a powerful, emotional masterpiece from the master himself! like "the passion" there are times where you must turn your head away and others so gutwrenching and emotional, you will be weeping! from the superb acting, to the incredible cinematography and beautiful musical score by john williams, this remains the ultimate classic after 10 years! the dvd presentation, fully restored frame by frame and presented in gorgeous dts sound make this a must see-must own, rest assured, once seen you will never forget it. again, bravo mr. spielberg!
Rating: 
Summary: 5 star movie - 3 star DVD
Review: Great movie on 2 sides instead of 2 separate DVD-s. You'd think they could treat a movie like this accordingly...
Rating:
Summary: Certainly not perfect
Review: Overall i think this film is worthy to own, i already have it on vhs and have been waiting for the DVD version. But in reading some earlier reviews i find myself agreeing with some of the film's detractors: - the final factory scene/schindler's farewell are far too syrupy, it's almost embarassing to watch. - there are certainly some drawn out sections in this film, a lot of time is spent on the relationship between goeth and his maid. and i'm not exactly sure why, we already know what kind of person goeth is by everything else he has done. why develop his character on this one point and leave out more important ones? - there are quite a few scene and shot steals in this movie from previous works, i have a list of my own, but some other reviewers have pointed out some additional ones. - remember this is a piece of drama, not a historical document. there are better teaching tools in history books and testimonials rather than cinema. In response to those who have complained that S-berg leaves out certain aspects of history, i think we need to remember that the story is simply about 'Schindler's List' and thus he really has no obligation to tell us everything that happened during the time period. Although, if you are paying attention, since the story is set in Krakow, those must be polish citizens thowing stones while the jews are being marched into the ghetto.. as is the boy drawing his finger across his throat as a train heads into auschwitz. Finally, in goeth's speach during the camp's opening, i found it ironic that he would state that jews had been in krakow for 700 years, and that that presence was coming to an end. Not too far from Krakow is Breslau, a city that was thoroughly german for 700 years until the end of the war when it was emptied of its population (along with the rest of german Silesia) during the largest ethnic cleansing in europe's history.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful
Review: Is there anyone left who hasn't seen this one yet? See it!! A story about a very ordinary guy, not a particularly "good" man, who ends up saving hundreds of people from Nazi concentration camps. While the Nazis around him grow increasingly inhuman in their indifference to the suffering they are causing, Schindler moves in the other direction, from an insensitive materialist to a man capable of seeing in these victims of persecution a common humanity. The fact that this is based on a true story is enough to leave one filled with awe. The ending is fantastic. Great performances by wonderful actors all around.
Rating:
Summary: Sad Intesitiy, Horror and Emptiness
Review: One is seized by the irony in this movie of the Schindler Jews who could die in concentration camps or be chosen to build war implements and related products for the German War Machine. I was stunned when I saw this movie because when I was a very young child I knew a Schindler survivor not understanding the seriousness at the time of what he suffered. This movie will make you cry and make you think. The music is engaging, between the violin solo at the start and the song Jerusalem of Gold at the end where there is a tribute to those who survived and died, how powerful the combination of sadness and sorrow. The movie is dark and being in Black and White, you feel the emptiness of the existence of prison life. Finnes plays a rather heartless and cruel killer in the camp that is an ironic opposite of the open minded and tender hearted Schindler. The irony and message in this movie seems to me to be that even though Germany of the day was controlled by an ideology so anti freedom and life, there existed many who did not agree with what was happening. There are many subtle lessons in this movie, Ben Kingsley is outstanding in this film. Most of all, Liam Neeson is believable as the business man turned savior.
Rating:
Summary: To Choose Humanity
Review: Oskar Schindler is a man who admits he doesn't know much about business, but his powers of persuasion are nearly without equal. A smooth operator he knows how to entertain, cajole, bribe and manuever his way with both legitimate and shady business characters. One lesson he learns is that there is no time like war to make money. Using money put up by Jewish investors, with nothing left to invest in, and slave labor he rents from the Nazis Schindler sets up shop and makes a bundle. So much that he can afford a wife, a mistress, or two and a small army of secretarial assistants that he scarcely needs. However, working cheek to jowl with the SS exposes him to the other reality of war. It is now the policy of the German goverment to reduce human beings to piles of ashes. Bit by bit Schindler turns from war profiteer to humanitarian. Ralph Fiennes is excellent as the sadistic SS Officer Amon Goeth who keeps a suspicious eye on Schindler but who can't help but fall for his charms, and Schindler in turn calls him, "a wonderful crook." I'm partial to films that explore the more obscure figures and events in history. This film ensures that Oskar Schindler will no longer be unknown. NOTE: the films roll call scenes appear very similar to a 1962 film, "Transport from Paradise" by Zbynek Brynych, the technique and effect are the same.
Rating:
Summary: Horrifying, and true.
Review: Steven Speilberg's Masterpiece is a real eye opener into human evil, and the triumph of the human sprit. An accurate account of the inhumanity of people who would rather blame and condemn those who are of different religious background, and to condone their hatred with unspeakable acts of violence and cruelty. I glad that this film is finally coming to DVD, because it time to reeducate the public of the most horrifying time in human history. Especially now when people really needed to see it to know the danger of misconception and the horror of misleading propaganda where power does corrupt, even when it involves religion. This is a perfect time for this movie to come out.
Rating:
Summary: NOT A PERFECT TRANSFER - STILL A PERFECT FILM!
Review: "Schindler's List" is the four hanky historical weepy that swept the Oscars in 1993. Based on Thomas Keneally's best seller, this Steven Spielberg masterpiece follows war profiteer Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) on his silent quest to save more than 1,000 Jews from the Nazi concentration camps by employing them in his crockery factory. Ben Kingsley is marvelous as Oskar's Jewish accountant. Ralph Fiennes is evil personified as the Nazi officer who derives his pleasure from using Jews for target practice. Truly, to see the film once is to forever remember it.
TRANSFER: There are a few things I'd like to forget about Universal's DVD. First is the DVD's exaggeration of film grain that crops up now and then, particularly during outdoor scenes. Second is the 'age related' artifacts - like the blip that suddenly floats by just after the opening credits and the scratches that suddenly slip in and out of this transfer. Seriously, there is NO EXCUSE for a film of this vintage to have any AGE RELATED artifacts!!! Now, the good news. There's virtually nothing else to complain about on this disc - oh, except for the fact that the film's been split over two sides of one disc - thus providing a jarring interuption half way through. The gray scale is gorgeous, full textured and well balanced. There are NO digital anomalies for a smooth picture throughout. Blacks are black. Contrast and shadow levels are stunning. The audio is 5.1 and very well spread.
EXTRAS: Two featurettes that really are weak for a film of this magnitude. The box set is better endowed though you'll pay through the nose for it.
BOTTOM LINE: "Schindler's List" is an absolute must for any movie lover. At times it's painful to watch but powerful to experience. A genuinely haunting modern classic.
Rating:
Summary: A hero, a tragedy and the wisdom out of it
Review: The movie is mainly in black and white, directed with high professionalism and refers to the most serious matter Spielberg ever approached: the Holocaust. Moreover, the Holocaust has been approached from many aspects, mostly with stereotyped ideas (either it did happen or never happened), exaggerated or not, included Gypsies or not ...etc., some authors and historians actually deformed this horrible historical facts, others tried to profit out of it and few told it as it happened. The movie is -most probably- about a real story that it did happen, nothing is unusual in the brutality of war, sadistic soldiers and generals, poor hopeless people killed for their race, color or religion: All where repeated -and still- in every war. Nothing is unusual, also, in Oskar Schindler, this no-saint war profiter who finally turned to be a savior, which is something common in the human race, and which creates the real heroes enlightening the human accumulation of wisdom. Spielberg did a great job, very realistic and brought to cinema the unique movie about the real holocaust that included the corruption of the generals, the madness of the Nazi ideology and the horrible tragedy that Jews (and other 160 million victims) died in it. However, it is not an anti-German film or Holocaust propaganda, it is a precious credit to the cinema and Spielberg (together with his other great masterpiece Empire Of The Sun) reminding us that it is a great art. Do not watch the movie for the Holocaust controversy, and do not watch it because it is for Spielberg, but buy it and view it every time someone is promoting WAR.
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