I wouldn "t say it "s a bad film, but it "s clearly not up to scratch.
It's true that there are historical errors, and the film revolves a little too much around Josephine, and Napoleon looks a little ridiculous, and above all the film moves too quickly from one scene to another and there are many years that are simply not covered, we go from 1800 to 1804, 1804 to 1807 etc..
On the other hand, the battle scenes are magnificent, and the historical errors aren't all that disturbing, even if they could have made an effort. They've included real phrases spoken by Napoleon. But it's clear that a longer version is needed.
I've just seen the film Napoleon, do you have it and what did you think?
Well, I promised you I would see it - always an admirer of Corsican brigands made good, don't ya know. However, the holiday weekend has been wildly busy so I have not seen it yet.
That said, the reviews of the film have not been great. So I must admit that I go in with a bit of skepticism. I am actually a huge fan of historical films - and some of the ones I really like (see also "Tora! Tora! Tora!") have not gotten great reviews - but this one really took a hit.
Again, not having see it I am not sure why, but as movies these days are not cheap, I am going in with a bit of skepticism. Still, see it I will as my favorite French reviewer has given it two thumbs up.
One thing though - it needs to be longer? Grant, you want historical films to be historical. Still, you need to be able to tell the story in a reasonable timeframe.
The art is to tell the tale not too short nor too long. So better review the film through the eyes of your average moviegoer. Not that of a historian. Suffice to add I am a history buff, but good histories do not always equal good movies. The trick is to merge the two.
You're right, don't expect a great historical film, and there are some pretty grotesque historical errors, but as you said you shouldn't go and see this film as historians, especially as it follows a true historical chronology, that it makes Napoleon say phrases that he really said, the return from Elba and the scene with the soldiers is true, when Napoleon shows himself magnanimous with the Austrians after Austerlitz is true, etc. But the film revolves too much around Josephine and sex scenes at the beginning, which honestly the sex scenes don't add much.
Yes, it should it's longer because the film skips several years of Napoleon's life, for example you go from 1805 battle of Austerlitz and to 1807 at the Treaty of Tilsit. But I can see why it had to be kept as short as possible.
So all in all, I'd say this film doesn't deserve all the bad reviews it's received, especially from the French press. But don't expect to see the best historical film of the year or the best historical film about Napoleon, but it's still an interesting film.
Did you know these phrases from Churchill about Napoleon?
Napoleon may have been “a military tyrant, a conqueror, a man of order and discipline, a man of mundane ambitions and overwhelming egotism,” Churchill continues, “but his grandeur defied misfortune and rises superior even to time.”
“I always hate to compare Napoleon with Hitler, as it seems an insult to the great Emperor and warrior to connect him in any way with a squalid caucus boss and butcher.”
In his 1936 review Churchill had described Bonaparte as “the greatest man of action ever known to human records.”
and even the Tory politician Lord Canning was prepared to acknowledge “the superiority of his talent” and “the dazzling ascendancy of his genius.”
See my response to @matthias345 above. Ya know I'm just - for the most part - teasing ya!!. Besides, I have heard on this site about the way you hang out with Corsican brigands all the time!!
@nightdrot In fact I owe Nightdrot an apology, because I often talk to him about Napoleon even though he hates him, but as he's a gentleman he always replies with kindness. I'll have to pay more attention to that in the future. 😅
First, I respect you for your love of country. That, in my book, is a plus.
Second, I don't take it personally. This is an intellectual dispute, not personal. As I say, a lot of what I write to you about Napoleon is more for humorous effect than anything else. (Let's face it, I am not a huge fan, but you have to respect Napoleon's skill and courage. He was more than a Corsican brigand.)
Finally saw it last night after the crowds died down. I was vastly disappointed.
At Toulon the young Napoleon was old and seemed scared. In the academy he was described as docile but in the movie he never seemed to grow into being Emperor and commander of 60 battles. In later years his gaze was describe as penetrating. I just found it hard to see that in Joaquin Phoenix - perhaps twice there was a glimpse.
1970 Waterloo was made with 17,000 extras. Not something that can ever be afforded again I dare say. But the arrest of Napoleon looked inauthentic with maybe a 100 troops instead of 6,000. If you can't be on a Napoleonic scale using CGI perhap it is best not to do the scene I'd suggest.
I was pretty unhappy with Waterloo. Particularly with Wellington saying "Now's your time" at the wrong time. Wellington's trademark was the reverse slope but it was all on the front slope.
The advance of the Imperial Guard seem to have got mixed up with Ney's ill conceived cavalry charge that was an hour too early according to Napoleon but it was hard to tell as it didn't follow the actual battle.
I'm snarky that they kept saying Blucher but it was Bulow's 4th Corps that was marching to the guns and hitting Napoleons right flank and damnit my ancestor was in that bit! Wellington wanted all the credit.
Still the movie was about Napoleon so despite everything it was good .
Time's money and a lot of people is a lot of money but the arrest of Napoleon after escaping just didn't look authentic. Instead of 6,000 troops there were may be 100. The 1970 Waterloo had 17,000 Russian soldiers as extras - I get that is hard to do. Maybe scenes that need to be done on a Napoleonic scale should not be done
Joaquin Phoenix is a good actor, but he wasn't right for this part. He isn't very good at expressing emotions, if I wanted to watch a documentary about Napoleon the Emperor I would watch a documentary. I wanted to watch a movie about Napoleon the man. Frankly instead of trying to cover his life story in a few hours, they should have had him with his troops during the invasion of Russia as the cold challenges their resolve and sanity. Napoleon could have some brief reflections on the important moments of his life, without deviating too much from the theme of ego and where it leads.
I've seen the ads to the movie. I'd like to know more about it. Before I make any decision to see in the movie I want to know more what kind of BS is in it. If it's a typical Hollywood movie I'm losing faith in Hollywood. They put their twist on things especially history and run a good plot. Or they sometimes do a remake from some other movie that might have made a good deal of money.
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Anonymous
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Big surprise. The French hate it. 🙄
Its not “historically accurate”.
My god... what the hell is anymore?
Cleopatra was Black, Anne Boleyn was Black, and apparently even Mozart was Black.
cleopatra is surprising but mozart 2 people one praised by association with mozart. but even praise is forbidden by sicko woke! n facebook fascist censored.
Let me make another criticism. It is not good to make movies about the lives of such great men. It is not enough. I think a TV series should be made and everything should be explained.
not talking only about Napoleon, but let's talk about great historical figures. I'm not sure that their lives in serial form would attract enough people.
Napoleon was many things, a great statesman, a magnificent tactician (though mostly in his ability to move fast and strike his opponents before they could unite, unlike some other conquerors Napoleon wasn't especially good at beating enemy armies many times his size) , an overly ambitious conqueror who bit off more than he could chew, but he was certainly no incel, he had more than a few women in his life.
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