Spielberg's Masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (15 May 2006)

Does abusing the system make a man a hero? In "Schindler's List" it certainly does. This movie is one of the classic movies of all time and is a must-see for any movie fan. It gives its reader a harsh image of the Holocaust while still respecting the people who were affected by it. While this movie may not be an enjoyable one, it is certainly a very important one. It is beautifully directed, amazingly acted, and heart-wrenching to the core. I highly recommend this movie. It is not just a movie; it is a journey for its viewers.
The movie begins by showing us a typical Jewish family in hiding. They are celebrating Passover. We see them light the candles, and then they disappear, never to be seen again. Our protagonist is Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson), a man with incredible charm, but truly he is a bit of a swindler. We see examples of this in the movie many times, including when Oskar gives two wealthy men an expensive bottle of wine, giving him the chance to sneak in and dance with their gorgeous women accompanying them. Oskar sees that the Holocaust is opening a great opportunity to make a prosperous business by using the Jews as extremely cheap labor. Without knowing, Oskar keeps the Jews working for him completely safe from death. Soon his Jewish accountant, Itzhak Stern (Ben Kingsley), tells him that he is saving Jews from certain death.
At first Oskar is hesitant, saying that he does not want to put himself at any risk. However, he receives a glimpse of the horror that the Holocaust is causing. Real people are dying and suffering and people are laughing at them. He decides that he must stand up for this travesty. He runs his factory, but only to keep the Jews safe. He even intentionally makes the production flawed. Nothing is gained in the factory except for lives. Soon the ghetto that the factory is in is closed and all the Jews are moved out.
Schindler buys a work camp, sacrificing his own belongings. The story continues on, and we see how a man can be so charitable. It brings us hope that one man can truly make an everlasting difference. At the end of our journey, we learn that Schindler's businesses after the Holocaust failed. Schindler gave his life to save over 1,100 Jews.
This movie gives us a different definition of the word 'hero.' Schindler was not exactly a perfect man. He conned other people to get what he wanted. His strength was in swindling other people. However, instead of using this talent for bad, he used it to save lives. He chose the harder way instead of the more pleasurable way, and that makes him a hero. Although swindling is not exactly a great thing to do, Schindler shows that it is good to use at times, as did Robin Hood when he stole from the rich in order to help the poor.
This movie is incredibly depressing, and will haunt its viewers for a long time. The real life events will be shocking and disturbing for others, but they must understand that this did happen. People were this cruel to others, and certain people actually helped. This movie will give you a shocked feeling. While watching the end credits, you will not be able to move. You will be astounded, confused, and heart-broken.
Again, I highly recommend this movie to everyone over the age of 14. This movie is rated R for nudity, real life violence, and some strong language. You must decide if this movie is appropriate for your child, but I suggest you show him/her this movie sometime during their life, for it is very important to watch.