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Schindler's List

1993 American epic historical drama film directed and produced by Steven Spielberg and written by Steven Zaillian Website

Approval Rate: 72%

72%Approval ratio

Reviews 55

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  • by

    victorialee

    Fri Jan 25 2013

    Schindler's List is another movie that I could watch over again. I had the privilege of interviewing two individuals who had lived through the awful events of the Holocaust. Schindler's List put a whole new sense of reality to the stories I heard during my interview process. Everyone should take time to watch this movie. Even though it's hard to believe such a cruel set of circumstances could happen in our world - it did. Watching this movie will give everyone a wake-up call. Hopefully after viewing it we will have more compassion for those who have suffered unspeakable events. We don't have a holocaust to encounter at the moment, but we do have individuals that suffer from the ill will of individuals on a daily basis - it is our job to embrace their trauma and be there with a helping hand.

  • by

    pcpeter774

    Thu Jun 16 2011

    Well made and was some what more accurate than most world war II/ holocaust films.

  • by

    genghisthehun

    Tue May 24 2011

    Spielberg and OVER THREE HOURS of movie. What about editing? The story is a good one but the flick is way too Loooooong!Also the Seinfeld episode when he made out with his girl friend through the entire opus weighs on my mind.

  • by

    lastmessenger3

    Wed Nov 25 2009

    It's one of those movies that i can watch only once but for the different reasons you think. Too graphic and violent for my taste. The story of course was very intense and powerful, just not sure I can stomach it for the second round.

  • by

    sammysmith

    Thu Nov 12 2009

    wonderful every scene is a joy!

  • by

    wouldbe2

    Thu Nov 12 2009

    This is one of the most moving, intense movies ever produced. Never have I seen a sold out movie theater audience stay through the ending credits and remain silent. It happened with this movie.

  • by

    marlowesmom

    Fri Jun 26 2009

    For 7/8 of this movie, I was mesmerized. The acting, story, script, cinematography, pacing, everything was absolutely top notch. Wow, I thought, Spielberg is really an amazingly talented guy, not just a sentimental entertainer of children and blockbuster audiences. I'd always had mixed feelings about Spielberg as a director. His entertainments can be very engaging (Jaws, Duel, Raiders of the Lost Ark) when they don't get drowned in sticky-sweet mush a la E.T., but I hated, hated, hated, his prior "serious" film, The Color Purple. Alice Walker's book had such a sweet, simple ending, with the heroine triumphing over her troubles in a quiet, subtle way. But Spielberg is incapable of such things. Instead of Celie rocking on her porch in her purple pants, he gives us a bunch of people marching around in a sun-drenched field singing--WE'RE HAVING A TRIUMPH OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT!!!! I HAVE TO DROP CINEMATIC ANVILS ON THE AUDIENCE'S HEAD BECAUSE THEY'RE SOOOO STUPID THEY WON'T OTHERWISE GET THAT... Read more

  • by

    andrewellingto_n

    Mon Jun 22 2009

    Obviously that title refers to my review and not the film. Much like `Titanic' (which I still have yet to attempt to review), `Schindler's List' has been talked about so much that saying anything more almost seems pointless. I mean, really, why review a film that has been reviewed so often and so meticulously that practically everything you or I could say about the film has been said ten times over? I'll tell you why; because I want to. This film has been hailed as not only one of the best films of all time, but the best film about the Holocaust to ever be filmed. It won many awards including the Academy's top honor and it continues to rank pretty high on many `Top 100' lists as well (currently it's ranking at number 8 on AFI's `100 Years, 100 Movies' list). Technically speaking they have themselves a winner here. I cannot fault it for much at all since everything is very, very `correct'. What I mean by that is that there is barely a flaw to be seen in just about every... Read more

  • by

    bobbielrobb

    Fri Jun 12 2009

    I finished reading the book, and then wanted to watch the movie. The "bonus" material was great, it discussed the Shoah Foundation with interviews of Holocaust survivors.

  • by

    sagedarkhorse

    Fri Jun 05 2009

    Great movie all around - a tid bit long but if you arn't easily squeemish (sp?) than you may need to pick up a copy of this movie & watch it :) Really horrible stuff happened throughout this movie time & time again. Brilliant acting though!

  • by

    sperryc

    Fri Apr 10 2009

    Incredible but true story that makes you glad that there are people like Schindler out there. Some of the scenes are nothing short of heartwrenching, but if you can bear it, the movie is a must see. The one quip I'd have is that it is a little on the long side.

  • by

    historyfan

    Sun Dec 21 2008

    This is a Spielberg masterpiece in every sense of the word.  High school and college students should be REQUIRED to watch this film so that they may know the horrors of what transpired in the Holocaust.Ben Kingsley should've received an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

  • by

    irishgit

    Sat Dec 20 2008

    Whoopee, Spielberg does the Holocaust.Far too facile and overly sentimental for my taste, like most of Spielberg's movies.

  • by

    canadasucks

    Thu Apr 03 2008

    Well-shot, well-done production. . .and Fiennes (sp?) as the camp commander was a chilling performance. . .I just don't fall in love with overtly-sentimental productions. . .still, a solid effort from Spielberg and I've always been a sucker for Liam Neeson (sp?)

  • by

    coltseries70

    Thu Feb 22 2007

    A must see. One of the TOP TEN movies of all time. Liam Neeson is a wonderful actor.

  • by

    djahuti

    Tue Oct 24 2006

    Heart wrenching,to say the least.We need to remember people like Oscar Schindler,the ones who step up to the plate when human beings are being victimized by psychopaths like the Nazis.

  • by

    louiethe20th

    Fri Aug 18 2006

    One of if not the best efforts by Spielberg. Oskar Schindler was well portrayed as the only hope for many Jews during those terrible years of the Hollocaust.

  • by

    ilovedixiechic_ks

    Mon Mar 06 2006

    This film is amazing although it doesn't show all the horrific things the Nazis did to the Jews. For anyone who rates this movie a 1 star because it was black and white is completely missing the point of the movie. This is not suppose to be a fun movie for anyone to watch. Also the music in the movie just plays your soul.

  • by

    thirdparty

    Fri Apr 29 2005

    Not a bad film.. BUT NOT AN ALTOGETHER HISROTICALLY ACCURATE FILM EITHER. and Spielberg DOES NOT.. I emphatically repeat.. DOES NOT tell the entire story...........DOWNFALL.. starring Bruno Ganz as Adolf Hitler.. IS HISTORICALLY ACCURATE AND TELLS THE TRUTH....... http://www.newmarketfilms.com/filmDetail.cfm?FID=24

  • by

    keithbernardco_ok

    Fri Mar 18 2005

    what an overrated film!

  • by

    tocwelsh

    Mon Jan 31 2005

    Great, got to be a 5.... moving stuff.

  • by

    synapse

    Wed Dec 08 2004

    A powerful movie about both the horrors of the Holocaust and the ability of one man - any person, really, which is part of the point - to do something relatively simple to change the world. Very haunting and very moving.

  • by

    vudija

    Fri Oct 15 2004

    I watched this as part of my English class during 10th grade. As I am a fanatic about world history, I thought this movie was beautifully made. Rather disturbing, since I had never seen a Holocaust movie, previous to it, that used so much detail. I'm glad that the school approved it as part of the curriculum though.

  • by

    dixxjamm

    Fri Sep 10 2004

    Facts: The Holocaust did exist.It is obvious that Spielberg is subjective, but thats ok too, except that it is sometimes subjective in the wrong way. I mean I can understand that Oliver Stone was subjective in making Platoon but he FOUGHT in that war. Spielberg wasn't in any concentration camp, so it is subjective propaganda, there is no doubt about that.On the other hand, the movie is well done, and historicaly accurate.I just didn't like the manner in which the story was told.And it certainly did not deserve so many Oscars.

  • by

    torch697

    Mon Jul 19 2004

    Schindler's List is a fairytale about an event that never happened!

  • by

    alloce92

    Mon Jun 21 2004

    black & white

  • by

    teaseress

    Sat Jun 19 2004

    Schindler's List was based on a true story. Obviously the people who belive that the halocaust did not happen will disagree with me.... Set that aside, this film is beautifully done - Steven Spielberg obviously did a lot of research into this as I don't think anything in this film is overdramatised at all. It is very disturbing seeing certain events in this film - but it only reflects how disturbing life can be. It was a story that needed to be done, this is something that we should not forget. Persecution of any manner is wrong.

  • by

    jaywilton

    Fri May 21 2004

    Schindler's List is Spielberg's best movie because of how he portrays a flawed character-Oscar Schindler-and his ability to positively affect the world during The Holocaust. Liam Nielson as Schindler is terric in portraying the character who against all odds fulfilled the talmudic dictum given him as a ring after being fashioned from fillings from a concentration camp inmate's fillings:Whoever saves a single life, it is as if he saved an entire world.

  • by

    conhusk

    Wed Apr 07 2004

    this movie shows how genius spielberg is. you feel like you live on the past by watching this movie. imagine how lifes could be that worthless

  • by

    reinman

    Mon Mar 15 2004

    To comment on the shear weight and importance of this film would be useless. If you don't get that from watching it I can't help you. What is amazing to me about this film is how Spielberg keeps you completely enthralled with the characters. The case study of Amon Goeth (Ralph Fienes)is so deep and distrubing it amazes you how a mind can get to that state. I love how Spielberg never explains why Schindler changes from a self-absorbed, womanizing Nazi to the man he becomes. Rather he hints at the transformation with several key points in the movie such as Schindler watching the liquidation of the Ghetto, and him seeing the little girl rolling toward cremation. What sticks with me is how Spielberg, while directing a movie on the systematic murder of millions, makes you feel the importance of one human life. The violin soundtrack by John Williams and Itzak Perlman is so poigant it nearly brings tears to my eyes just hearing it.

  • by

    orwellan

    Tue Dec 02 2003

    Probably one of the best movies you'll ever see. Words fail me in trying to express just how powerful a film this really is.

  • by

    ladyshark4534

    Sun Nov 23 2003

    Very disturbing film, but it gives us a look at what was going on.

  • by

    freebird_0128

    Mon Nov 10 2003

    This is one of the best moives of our time-a beautiful, painful and honest look at the biggest horror in history. Spielberg is genius whose heart shines through the entire movie. Marvelous actors like Liam Neeson and Ben Kingsley just break your heart. It is impossible to not be moved by this film.

  • by

    aurielle

    Sat Oct 11 2003

    I rented this movie last night and watched it with a friend, and we were moved to tears at many points, we felt the pain of the victims, we felt the hatred of their adversaries. I don't understand the raters on here who insist on making this an Oscar or a religious issue. For God's sakes, these were real human beings, regardless of what religious, political, or ethnic background you have. These people suffered and that suffering was portrayed in a fair and painful light. I am not personally Jewish, but nor am I blind to what happened before and during WWII. I cannot believe that some people would twist a beautiful, moving, inspiring film into a political and religious outrage! So Spielberg got an Oscar -- so what? After watching this film, I think he damn well deserved it.

  • by

    wide_eyes

    Thu Sep 25 2003

    I think, although i am slightly biased to comment on this film because i am jewish, you can not argu the fact that it is a powerful film, and filled with bold statements such as the girl in the red coat that appears at certain moments, but the film its self, which (forgetting what it stands for alone) is so well crafted,directed and acted, the fact that it is based on the holocaust is irrelevant, because it is so amazingly powerful, gripping, and truly amazing. A film i will always watch!

  • by

    kolby1973

    Sun Aug 03 2003

    This movie is really hard to explain, but you really should watch it. You will like it I am sure. :)

  • by

    jbiscuit1

    Sat Aug 02 2003

    Excellent depiction of the holocaust. Shot entirely in Black and White with a few small enhancements, Steven Spielberg should see this as one of his best works. I was touched, and was brought to tears in this movie. No one can truly understand the horror, but this film gives one the idea, and shows the best and worst parts of humanity simultaneously.

  • by

    classictvfan47

    Thu Jul 10 2003

    The only unedited R-rated movie to have the NONhonor of airing in broadcast primetime, this movie's nihilism and headache syndrome is out of control. Stupid and WAY TOO DARK!

  • by

    molfan

    Sat Jun 28 2003

    a good movie about the horrors of the Holocaust. Filmed in black and white. Some very good performances. Very realistic and disturbing as it should be. Schindler ran a factory and gave work to jewish people which helped save their lives. a very long movie and hard to watch knowing that what is shown really happened. A 4.5 to me.

  • by

    kamylienne

    Fri May 09 2003

    A VERY moving film about the holocaust, it touches on a lot of different aspects of that topic with an almost documentary-like feel. A little slow going at parts, a big long, but definately worth watching once. Contains many graphic images, so if you're sensitive to that, you might want to take that into account when watching this film.

  • by

    spyinayn

    Sun Mar 30 2003

    I see Piano gets several OSCARS. I guess if you make a film about the holocaust you are guaranteed an OSCAR. Gee, what a surprise.

  • by

    crimson_and_cl_over

    Fri Feb 21 2003

    should be #1. very sad but very good

  • by

    callmetootie

    Fri Jan 17 2003

    Realistic and simply amazing, but melodramatic and forced at the same time. I wish I could give it ***** for the cinematography and direction, but I just can't.

  • by

    crowbar

    Mon Dec 09 2002

    Most meaningful movie I have ever seen. No movie has addressed a sensative topic with such openness, and sincerity. Beautiful.

  • by

    lukskywlkr

    Thu Nov 28 2002

    A vividly real film, with fine acting and good directing by Spielberg. I felt there were some very unnecessary scenes in the film, and I thought it was too long. This isn't the kind of film you would want to watch more than once or twice, though. He goes overboard on some of the cruel death scenes.

  • by

    filmexpert

    Thu Nov 21 2002

    Where should i begin? This was a terrible movie, everything about it was just plain terrible. The only reason it was as well known as it was is because it was about the Holocaust, it was cheesy and phony, i just didnt enjoy it and i beleive that it shouldnt be considered a great movie. Take from me, dont waste your time with this trash.

  • by

    chaotician23

    Wed Nov 20 2002

    Master director Steven Spielberg uses all his skills to recreate Oskar Schindler's historic list that saved the lives of thopusands of Jews in Nazi Germany during WWII.

  • by

    psycho_mom

    Sat Nov 16 2002

    A must see! We cannot understand where we are going unless we understand where we have been. This movie helps us immensely in understanding where we have been.

  • by

    notafan

    Tue Dec 18 2001

    great movie! praise to spielberg for bringing the holocaust to life. equal amounts of praise to neeson, kingsley, and fiennes for the roles of a lifetime. this movie should've won awards. oh that's right, it did...it was obviously the academy's best picture, and the afi ranked it in the top 10 of all-time best. not bad.

  • by

    dmulvee

    Fri Nov 16 2001

    An average film about a very intense and dramatic subject, the subject carries the film and I think that people aren't willing to call the film boring for fear of offending certain people.