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Kirk Bage (1775 KP) rated Schindler's List (1993) in Movies

Jan 18, 2021 (Updated Feb 25, 2021)

Schindler's List (1993)

1993 | Biography, Drama, History

9.0

(42 Ratings)

Movie Rating Watch

The fourth in my series of films you would recommend to an alien to explain humanity dovetails nicely with my Hall of Fame inductee this week. It is Steven Spielberg’s seminal anti war epic Shindler’s List (1993).

This one speaks for itself in many ways. As an exploration of evil and the men behind the atrocities committed during the late 30s and early 40s by Nazi Germany it is indispensable. The role played by Ralph Fiennes is especially brave and resonant in reminding us of how ego and power can corrupt beyond the point of anything recognisably human. But it is in the moments of resilience, defiance and sacrifice by the survivors that we fully appreciate the depths of the human spirit. A career defining performance by both Liam Neeson and Sir Ben Kingsley makes this a breathtaking and heartbreaking spectacle in every brutally emotional scene.

I will never forget seeing this in the cinema on its initial release and experiencing the absolute silence as the credits rolled and everyone left the screen and into the night with their thoughts and reflections, simply stunned by its impact. It demonstrates the very best and the very worst of human action and inaction in one perfect movie. Never an easy watch under any circumstances, but one worth dissecting and appreciating for all its genius – the directing, acting, cinematography, music, editing, everything is as near perfect as a film can be.

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LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983) in Movies

Oct 13, 2019 (Updated Dec 20, 2019)

A great but flawed entry into a groundbreaking trilogy

Return of the Jedi is a good enough closing episode of the original Star Wars trilogy.

A lot of the great things about the previous two films are carried over - the awesome settings and location, the unbeatable John Williams score, and the epic sci-fi vision that started in 1977.

By this point, everyone is familiar with all of the characters. Luke, Leia, and Han all return, and aren't really in any need of any further character development at this point. Not necessarily a bad thing as ROTJ can concentrate on rounding off the story.

The most divisive element of this entry amongst Star Wars fans are of course the Ewoks. Their inclusion is certainly a hammier direction for the series. Some people loved it, some absolutely hated it, and how big of a part they play during the films climax.
I personally am indifferent. I don't hate the Ewoks, but they're partly what makes ROTJ inferior to the first two. Still, not a scratch on what's to come *cough* Jar Jar *cough*.

We're still treated to some iconic moments - Jabba the Hutt and the Rancor pit. Vader and Luke finally squaring off. The speeder bike chase.
This shows just how much Star Wars still delivers three films in.

All in all, ROTJ is still an integral part of one of the most beloved film franchises of all time, and will always be important to me!