"Schindler's List" DVD info and art

[AKA]

From dvd.ign.com:

Schindler's List Due on March 9
Both basic and collector's sets planned.

December 19, 2003 - After months of speculation, Universal Studios has made it official: it will release Steven Spielberg's masterpiece Schindler's List on March 9, 2004, in both widescreen and fullscreen format, in both a standard and Collector's Edition Box Set.

The regular edition will have a suggested price of $26.98 while the Collector's Edition will carry a suggested price of $79.98. The single-disc set will be dual sided, dual layered, with Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 audio.

The Collector's Edition will include the single-disc release plus an 80-page hardcover book, the soundtrack CD, a senitype cell and a collector's certificate of authenticity.

While Universal has not announced the extras, an advertisement on a Swedish Web site, first reported by the folks at DavisDVD.com, listed a few of the extras, one of which will be an introduction to the film by Steven Spielberg. There are also reported to be two featurettes titled "Voices From the List" and "Behind the Shoah Foundation With Steven Spielberg."

We'll let you know what exactly will be contained in the sets as soon as we get confirmation.

[AKA]

Here's a picture of the box:

[JohnG]

I just saw a promo for this movie while watching Seabiscuit.

Very anticipated. This DVD will be part of my collection.


Thanks AKA!

[Holy Zoo]

I've not seen the movie -- in fact, I'm petrified to watch it.

Is this something that you can watch more than once? I'm tempted to get the set - looks amazing. But - if this is going to shred me emotionally, once may be enough.

(I feel the same way about Platoon - amazing movie, but once was enough)

[AKA]

I'd rent it first, Jeff. Or at least wait for it to air on TV. NBC and PBS have been known to show it uncut (even the former limits commercial interruptions to one intermission with a Ford logo tastefully displayed on the bottom right corner of the screen). Dip your toe into the water, as it is quite a bit to take in. It's overwhelming (as any unflinching telling of the Holocaust is), but I think you'll find it a remarkable film. I think you'll be very impressed with the performances, script, and stunning visuals.

[Holy Zoo]

Thanks, Brad, for the advice.

Yeah, I'm not sure if I'm ready for this. I've read *a lot* about the Holocaust, and the notion of having it brought into "overwhelming imagery" just takes the wind out of me.

Sigh.. maybe someday.

[AKA]

Originally posted by Holy Zoo
Thanks, Brad, for the advice.

Yeah, I'm not sure if I'm ready for this. I've read *a lot* about the Holocaust, and the notion of having it brought into "overwhelming imagery" just takes the wind out of me.

Sigh.. maybe someday.

Absolutely understandable, Jeff. :ed:

[Steve Hoffman]

I've seen the movie over 20 times (showing it for friends and relatives) and I recommend it highly.

[Uncle Al]

FWIW - my father in law is a concentration camp survivor. He only made it halfway through one of those uncut network showings they had about a decade back. He said he spent his whole life trying not to re-live those years, and the film brought back too many bad memories.

He was interviewed by Spielberg for that "survivor project" thing, but his copy of the tape burned up in a car fire. He didn't make the final cut of that interview video - but apparently his story is on file (somewhere) and available to be viewed by the public. Wish I had the details on that one, I would like to get him another copy.

[JonUrban]

A sobering film. I still have my LD, but I have only watched it once. Seems I never reach for it at viewing time. It's a heavy film.

Worth watching, though. Everyone should see it, I would say.

[cwon]

Originally posted by Holy Zoo
I've not seen the movie -- in fact, I'm petrified to watch it.

Is this something that you can watch more than once? I'm tempted to get the set - looks amazing. But - if this is going to shred me emotionally, once may be enough.

(I feel the same way about Platoon - amazing movie, but once was enough)


Schindler's list leaves you with a feeling of affirmation in the face of the horrors within it, so it is something you can watch more than once.

[MikeT]

I have never seen "Schindler's List" yet, so I will be picking up the DVD. But for anyone who really wants to see a "harrowing" movie regarding the Holocaust (and be forewarned it is emotionally wrenching and also very, very long) - rent "Shoah". Not for the faint of heart, and it is basically 10 hours of interviews (with absolutely no wartime or "found" footage).

[Holy Zoo]

Originally posted by MikeT
rent "Shoah". Not for the faint of heart, and it is basically 10 hours of interviews (with absolutely no wartime or "found" footage).

This intrigues me - since there's no wartime footage. Where can one rent a 10 hour movie, though?

[Claviusb]

Uncle Al, maybe you could contact the folks here (http://www.vhf.org/) to see if they could help. I remember visiting the Holocaust Museum back in the 80's (when it was in the basement of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, before they built a huge building for it) and a rabbi was interviewing several survivors at a small table (the Museum was tiny, as I said) and I was allowed to listen in. So much pain.

And Jeff, rent Shoah here. (http://www.netflix.com/MovieDisplay?trkid=73&movieid=60030968) I saw Shoah at the theater, and there is some amazing stuff in that movie. If I recall, the guy on the DVD cover (and movie poster) was the actual train engineer who drove the train directly into one of the Polish concentration camps. They have him take a train along the same tracks and they filmed it. That was just one of the times during the movie where I could feel the hair on the back of my neck standing straight up.

[Steve Hoffman]

Robert,

I saw Shoah in the theatre as well, two days, Saturday and Sunday. Most amazing two days for me.

[guy incognito]

I would also recommend Alan Resnais's Night and Fog. A truly haunting film, in every sense of the word.

http://www.criterionco.com/asp/release.asp?id=197

[Claviusb]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman
Robert,

I saw Shoah in the theatre as well, two days, Saturday and Sunday. Most amazing two days for me.

We mighta been sitting next to each other!

[Bob Lovely]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman
Robert,

I saw Shoah in the theatre as well, two days, Saturday and Sunday. Most amazing two days for me.

Steve,

Did you ever rent The Pianist, as I recommended?...

Bob:)

[Steve Hoffman]

Originally posted by Bob Lovely


Steve,

Did you ever rent The Pianist, as I recommended?...

Bob:)

No, I want to, but too painful for me these days. When I'm emotionally stronger I will...

[Bob Lovely]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman


No, I want to, but too painful for me these days. When I'm emotionally stronger I will...

The film, inspite of the obviously dark subject matter, has an uplifting conclusion which illustrates the positive side of the human spirit. I found it moving....gave me chills!

Bob:)

[Dob]

Originally posted by Holy Zoo
Is this something that you can watch more than once?

For me, once was more than enough. I'd also advise renting it (especially given your feelings about Platoon).

There's no question that the script, photography, acting etc. are first rate. My problem is with the direction and production. Given the sensitive subject matter, I felt that Spielberg "crossed the line" a number of times. Example - having nudity in the film was appropriate, but full frontal?

Also, the violence was too graphic - I wished many times that the camera had discreetly looked away for a second. There's some famous documentary footage from the Vietnam era that shows a young man being executed with a point blank shot to the head. One version (the more common one) ends with him going down. The second, more complete one, continues with the camera coming closer so we can see the blood spurting out. IMO the first version is all we need to see...the second flirts with voyeurism. And that's documentary footage - if it was staged, it would be voyeurism IMO.

I think the main reason Schindler's List was primarily shot in black and white was to tone down these elements....but IMO the big budget Hollywood production is still too "slick", and that made some of Spielberg's choices of what to show even more questionable.

[Jeff H.]

Originally posted by Dob


For me, once was more than enough. I'd also advise renting it (especially given your feelings about Platoon).

There's no question that the script, photography, acting etc. are first rate. My problem is with the direction and production. Given the sensitive subject matter, I felt that Spielberg "crossed the line" a number of times. Example - having nudity in the film was appropriate, but full frontal?

Also, the violence was too graphic - I wished many times that the camera had discreetly looked away for a second. There's some famous documentary footage from the Vietnam era that shows a young man being executed with a point blank shot to the head. One version (the more common one) ends with him going down. The second, more complete one, continues with the camera coming closer so we can see the blood spurting out. IMO the first version is all we need to see...the second flirts with voyeurism. And that's documentary footage - if it was staged, it would be voyeurism IMO.

I think the main reason Schindler's List was primarily shot in black and white was to tone down these elements....but IMO the big budget Hollywood production is still too "slick", and that made some of Spielberg's choices of what to show even more questionable.




I think the film being shot in black and white contributed to it's overall mood, and it really did give you the feeling of witnessing it all up close. As far as the violence is concerned, I always felt that Spielberg was showing how it really was. Sure it's a very sensitive subject matter, but why down play or diminish true life events? And as far as "slickness" goes, "Schindler's List" IMHO is the least "slick" film he's ever made. It's pretty stark and matter of fact. And I agree with what Bob said about the film's conclusion. It does illustrate what humanity is capable of, both negative and positive.

[Dob]

Originally posted by Jeff H.
...but why down play or diminish true life events?
I thought I gave a pretty good "true life" example in my previous post.
Originally posted by Jeff H.
And as far as "slickness" goes, "Schindler's List" IMHO is the least "slick" film he's ever made.
That may be true, especially on a visual level...but I didn't intend to single out Spielberg. IMO any film that has star actors (for example) will have a certain amount of "slickness" - and by that, I mean that the filmmakers were thinking about the box office. Not that there's anything wrong with that; after all, it is a business. However, that makes it more difficult (again, IMO) to maintain the honesty or integrity of (some) low budget art films, and I think this subject would have been better served with such an approach - Italian neo-realism, for example.
Originally posted by Jeff H.
And I agree with what Bob said about the film's conclusion. It does illustrate what humanity is capable of, both negative and positive.
I think Bob was referring to The Pianist - but hey, if the shoe fits...

[ATR]

Originally posted by Holy Zoo


This intrigues me - since there's no wartime footage. Where can one rent a 10 hour movie, though?

New Yorker Video released Shoah on DVD this year. It's number one on my list of DVD releases. A four disc set, available through Amazon and probably most of the online retailers. I used one of the cheaper sellers and got the set for about $80.00. When I'll have the 10 hours to watch it is another question, but I did see it in theatrical release.
I'm not a fan of Schindler's List, but the power of the film is undeniable and if that's how people want to learn about the Shoah, I have no problem with it. I recommend seeing Night in Fog and Hotel Terminus, The Life and Times of Klaus Barbie which are both excellent documentaries. And if you have not read the graphic novel Maus, then you are truly missing out on a transformative experience.

[Ere]

This movie made me really respect Spielberg as a director and film maker. Was just talking with someone over Christmas who has not seen it yet too, my feeling is that if you've read alot on the Holocaust and seen any documentaries then this would be worth seeing. Though the film is black and white the characters certainly aren't, especially the lead, which is part of its greatness. The very last scene is incredibly moving.