Haven't seen the movie, likely won't (not a big Ridley Scott fan honestly...) but really enjoyed your discussion on historical movies, and generally agree. I think another way to do a historical movie that departs from accuracy is to do it in a way that says something unique and clever about the art of moviemaking, or society itself. Amadeus (1984) springs to mind with its choice to pair contemporary American accents with period costume and set-dressing, and tell a story only loosely connected to the historical truth. Which then lead me to realize that I'd love an Amy's Cut for Amadeus!
Its reasonably entertaining at best , the battle scenes are well done , but its very shallow ,with a so so script . It bizarrely reminded me of Woody Allen`s ` Love and Death` particularly the love scenes ! But whereas Woody`s is a timeless classic , this , like his `Robin Hood ` is sadly forgettable .
You aren't wrong about it Amy. You are...historically accurate about it. Except I'll say that Phoenix's Napoleon couldn't inspire a bird to fly. Good news though. HBO will air Steven Spielberg's series on Napoleon based on Kubrick's extensive research. Kubrick had a filing cabinet with index cards written on them what Napoleon was doing and where he was every day of his life. You can get a glimpse of what Kubrick's vision for the look of the film if you watch Barry Lyndon. Scott's movie is more of a dreary farce. If you want to see a delightful farce on the subject watch Start The Revolution Without Me. Starring Gene Wilder and Donald Sutherland playing dual roles. There's also a cameo of Orson Welles. The entire movie was shot in France. Orson Welles also did a cameo appearance in the far superior film Waterloo. Starring Rod Steiger as Napoleon and Christopher Plummer as Wellington. A better offering which delves into the entire life of Napoleon is Oversimplified's Napoleon. It does have flavor, is historically accurate, and entertaining, with a great script. And it's free on RUclips.
The director is a Briton. Hereditary enemy of France. So Napoleon is an idiot - If Barbie is the best movie of 2023, is Napoleon the worst? - Oppenheimer Ferrari Saw X Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny The Exorcist: Believer Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Cocaine Bear Shazam! Fury of the Gods Fast & Furious 10 The Flash Haunted Mansion Blue Beetle Gran Turismo Five Nights at Freddy's Freelance 10 The Marvels The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes Silent Night Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Argylle Madame Web Love Lies Bleeding Monkey Man Challengers Boy Kills World Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Civil War Dune: Part Two Deadpool & Wolverine † Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1
The best movies usually have great dialogue. That's what gives the characters the most depth, and makes you feel invested in their story. "12 Angry Men" was such a great illustration of that principle. Based on what I've heard from others, this Napoleon movie didn't have it. I wish Stanley Kubrick had gotten the chance. He wanted to do a Napoleon movie, but couldn't get the funding for it. If you have the stomach for it, try "A Clockwork Orange". It's very disturbing, but the disturbing behavior serves a very insightful purpose. It's an absolutely BRILLIANT work of film art. If you can't handle that one, at least try Kubrick's "2001" or "Dr. Strangelove". Kubrick is regarded by many as a genius. If you're more in the mood for something that's just fun and silly, try "What's Up. Doc?" They ran that yesterday on the retro channel. Great classic rom-com with Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal. They were great together. 🤣
“I have been defeated and my troops are in dire straits. We have no way out. I hope, general, that our past ties still mean something to you.” - Cao Cao - ( a quote from Sam Kok - Romance Of The Three Kingdoms ) Mrs. Amy Shafer, sorry " You Win Again by Bee Gees ". Thank's.
As a student of Napoleon for more than 50 years, my verdict is that this is the biggest load of trash you are likely to find in any film about him. The MOST serious failing is that his character is depicted as languid - not to say lazy - when his most documented aspect is activity, to the point of rushing his meals so that he could get back to work. Add to this the INCREDIBLE (literally) depictions of cavalry charges and troops in trenches, etc., and the showing of historical events out of chronological sequence, and the film really is a complete waste of time. I only watched it, because I had free tickets !
I stopped watching when i saw the Royalists insurrection army consisting of a handful of unarmed people and Napoleon butchering them with cannons. The movie looked good and i love Joaquin Phoenix and the era but not when it's just a joke. Heard that there was a lot of bs in the movie.
It was not a royalist army, but a mob - probably mostly unarmed - of Parisian sans-culottes. Napoleon DID butcher them with cannon, passing into historical phraseology as "the whiff of grapeshot" (probably actually canister shot).
From several historians point of view..."Napoleon" was one of the worst. 1...Anyway...take a look a Frankenheimer's, "Seven Days In May"...A look at the overthrow of the US government. This movie created many "liberal-thinking" people....and one of Pres JFK's favorite movies. 2...Then look at "Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf"...Mike Nichols FIRST film (FIVE Oscars). You will know why Richard Burton and Liz Taylor were considered the best. 3...Then "Midnight Cowboy", another movie in the Library Of Congress, considered iconic, and a national treasure. A slice of New York life. 4..."Richard III" with Lawrence Olivier...5 British Academy Awards. The greatest Shakespearean actors all in one movie.
Haven't seen the movie, likely won't (not a big Ridley Scott fan honestly...) but really enjoyed your discussion on historical movies, and generally agree. I think another way to do a historical movie that departs from accuracy is to do it in a way that says something unique and clever about the art of moviemaking, or society itself. Amadeus (1984) springs to mind with its choice to pair contemporary American accents with period costume and set-dressing, and tell a story only loosely connected to the historical truth. Which then lead me to realize that I'd love an Amy's Cut for Amadeus!
You should watch Love and Death, for a fun watch (Woody Allen,,,,not the new thingy)
Go to 'Napoleon' by Abel Gance from 1927.
Review music movies: American Graffiti (1973), Cabaret (1972), Hair (1979).
Its reasonably entertaining at best , the battle scenes are well done , but its very shallow ,with a so so script . It bizarrely reminded me of Woody Allen`s ` Love and Death` particularly the love scenes ! But whereas Woody`s is a timeless classic , this , like his `Robin Hood ` is sadly forgettable .
I recommend a movie titled "The Sixth Sense". Please, everyone, no spoilers.
You aren't wrong about it Amy. You are...historically accurate about it. Except I'll say that Phoenix's Napoleon couldn't inspire a bird to fly.
Good news though. HBO will air Steven Spielberg's series on Napoleon based on Kubrick's extensive research.
Kubrick had a filing cabinet with index cards written on them what Napoleon was doing and where he was every day of his life.
You can get a glimpse of what Kubrick's vision for the look of the film if you watch Barry Lyndon.
Scott's movie is more of a dreary farce. If you want to see a delightful farce on the subject watch Start The Revolution Without Me. Starring Gene Wilder and Donald Sutherland playing dual roles. There's also a cameo of Orson Welles. The entire movie was shot in France.
Orson Welles also did a cameo appearance in the far superior film Waterloo. Starring Rod Steiger as Napoleon and Christopher Plummer as Wellington.
A better offering which delves into the entire life of Napoleon is Oversimplified's Napoleon. It does have flavor, is historically accurate, and entertaining, with a great script. And it's free on RUclips.
The director is a Briton. Hereditary enemy of France. So Napoleon is an idiot - If Barbie is the best movie of 2023, is Napoleon the worst? - Oppenheimer Ferrari Saw X Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny The Exorcist: Believer Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Cocaine Bear Shazam! Fury of the Gods Fast & Furious 10 The Flash Haunted Mansion Blue Beetle Gran Turismo Five Nights at Freddy's Freelance 10 The Marvels The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes Silent Night Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Argylle Madame Web Love Lies Bleeding Monkey Man Challengers Boy Kills World Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Civil War Dune: Part Two Deadpool & Wolverine † Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1
The best movies usually have great dialogue. That's what gives the characters the most depth, and makes you feel invested in their story. "12 Angry Men" was such a great illustration of that principle. Based on what I've heard from others, this Napoleon movie didn't have it. I wish Stanley Kubrick had gotten the chance. He wanted to do a Napoleon movie, but couldn't get the funding for it. If you have the stomach for it, try "A Clockwork Orange". It's very disturbing, but the disturbing behavior serves a very insightful purpose. It's an absolutely BRILLIANT work of film art. If you can't handle that one, at least try Kubrick's "2001" or "Dr. Strangelove". Kubrick is regarded by many as a genius. If you're more in the mood for something that's just fun and silly, try "What's Up. Doc?" They ran that yesterday on the retro channel. Great classic rom-com with Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal. They were great together. 🤣
It jumps about, and so it's disjointed....there was no need, given the length.
“I have been defeated and my troops are in dire straits. We have no way out. I hope, general, that our past ties still mean something to you.”
- Cao Cao - ( a quote from Sam Kok - Romance Of The Three Kingdoms )
Mrs. Amy Shafer, sorry " You Win Again by Bee Gees ".
Thank's.
As a student of Napoleon for more than 50 years, my verdict is that this is the biggest load of trash you are likely to find in any film about him. The MOST serious failing is that his character is depicted as languid - not to say lazy - when his most documented aspect is activity, to the point of rushing his meals so that he could get back to work. Add to this the INCREDIBLE (literally) depictions of cavalry charges and troops in trenches, etc., and the showing of historical events out of chronological sequence, and the film really is a complete waste of time. I only watched it, because I had free tickets !
I stopped watching when i saw the Royalists insurrection army consisting of a handful of unarmed people and Napoleon butchering them with cannons. The movie looked good and i love Joaquin Phoenix and the era but not when it's just a joke. Heard that there was a lot of bs in the movie.
It was not a royalist army, but a mob - probably mostly unarmed - of Parisian sans-culottes. Napoleon DID butcher them with cannon, passing into historical phraseology as "the whiff of grapeshot" (probably actually canister shot).
From several historians point of view..."Napoleon" was one of the worst.
1...Anyway...take a look a Frankenheimer's, "Seven Days In May"...A look at the overthrow of the US government. This movie created many "liberal-thinking" people....and one of Pres JFK's favorite movies.
2...Then look at "Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf"...Mike Nichols FIRST film (FIVE Oscars). You will know why Richard Burton and Liz Taylor were considered the best.
3...Then "Midnight Cowboy", another movie in the Library Of Congress, considered iconic, and a national treasure. A slice of New York life.
4..."Richard III" with Lawrence Olivier...5 British Academy Awards. The greatest Shakespearean actors all in one movie.