Schindler's List Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.5

Schindler's List Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman December 21, 2018

Universal has re-relased Director Steven Spielberg's Holocaust masterpiece 'Schindler's List' to Blu-ray in celebration of the film's 25th anniversary. This version contains the same Blu-ray included on the previous 20th anniversary release from 2013 but includes a new bonus disc, on Blu-ray rather than DVD, which includes all three previously released features and two new supplements. See the 'Special Features and Extras' section below for more on the new content. The film has also been released on UHD with new 2160p/Dolby Vision video and Dolby Atmos audio, both of which, and the video in particular, are vastly superior to this aging Blu-ray.

When Blu-ray.com's Ken Brown reviewed Schindler's List in 2013, he wisely allowed the film to largely speak for itself and reproduced a letter penned by Oscar Schindler's former workers. To read his thoughts and the letter, please click here.

Schindler's List Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

For full a Blu-ray video review, please click here; as noted above the film's Blu-ray disc is a re-release of the 2013 disc.

Schindler's List Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

For full a Blu-ray audio review, please click here; as noted above the film's Blu-ray disc is a re-release of the 2013 disc.

Schindler's List Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

When Universal released Schindler's List in 2013, the studio included the entire film on a single Blu-ray disc and packaged it with two DVDs, the first of which featured part one of the film and second part two along with three extras. For this new release, Universal has dropped the DVDs and included the supplements on a second Blu-ray disc. In addition to the carryover content, two new features have been added. Those are marked and reviewed below. For full supplemental coverage of the previously released extras, please click here. This release ships with a Movies Anywhere digital copy code that is attached to a small insert that introduces the the USC Shoah Foundation, features special text from Steven Spielberg concerning the film's 25th anniversary, and lists the bonus features on the Blu-ray. The package ships with an embossed slipcover.

• NEW! Schindler's List: 25 Years Later (1080p, 39:56): This piece presents an on-stage discussion following a 2018 screening at The Beacon Theater for the Tribeca Film Festival. Participants include Director Steven Spielberg and Actors Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Caroline Goodall, and Embeth Davidtz. The discussion is moderated by Film Critic Janet Maslin. Discussions include Spielberg reminiscing about seeing the film for the first time in many years, how he became involved in the production, performance qualities, memories from the production, viewing the film once again with an audience, film construction, casting details, interactions with the cast, the film's importance, and more. The piece is intercut with film footage and behind-the-scenes clips.
• Voices from the List (480i, 1:17:30).
• USC Shoah Foundation Story with Steven Spielberg (1080p, 4:55): Note that this feature was presented in standard definition on the previously released DVD that was bundled with the Blu-ray.
• NEW! Let Their Testimonies Speak - Stronger Than Hate (1080p, 3:50): Steven Spielberg introduces a short piece that champions the importance of love in a world of hate and violence.
• About IWitness (1080p, 4:03): Note that this feature was presented in standard definition on the previously released DVD that was bundled with the Blu-ray.

Schindler's List Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Schindler's List rises above critique and criticism, and for as extraordinarily powerful and well made as the movie may be, it rises above praise and adulation as well. It's a film conceived in both love and remorse that more so than any other in the medium's history conveys the best and worst of humanity, built by a master filmmaker who never allows the film to become more than its story, even considering the obvious technical excellence that permeates every shot. Universal's Blu-ray is identical to the previous release but does include two new extras on disc two. The film is obviously a necessary component of any home video library, but everyone is encouraged to choose the superior UHD release instead.