[andyfox]

Any time I see, at the beginning of the film, "Based on True Events," I beware. Isn't everything based on true events? Every filmmaker alters the facts to fit his story. I believe Ron Howard, for example, had to apologize to Max Bear for the portrayal of his father in Cinderella Man. I'm sure there were artistic conceits in The New World.

Spielberg doesn't claim to be an historian. I haven't read the book on which he supposedly based his story. His portrayal of the murder of the Israeli Olympic athletes was shown in all its brutality. I don't find his comment that he hoped his film would bring peace to the Middle East to be one of an out-of-control ego. He has been very philanthropic towards Israeli and Jewish causes. I believe he does indeed hope that his film contributes to dialogue. His point of view, from what I saw in the movie, was that violence is an endless cycle and will only end up with ever greater violence. (At least that's the way I saw the significance of the final shot.)