Napoleon 2023

I'm really torn about "Napoleon". On the one hand, I'm glad to be able to finally see another epic historical drama with high production values in the cinema, but on the other hand, I didn't particularly enjoy how it was realized. This is not due to the spectacular battle sequences. They are massive, impress with the use of numerous extras, and are the clear highlight of the film.

However, covering all stages of Napoleon's rise and fall was a huge mistake. Instead of focusing on a few key periods, the movie feels more like skimming through a Wikipedia entry. On top of that, from a historical perspective, there are some really hair-raising creative liberties that director Ridley Scott takes.

I was also rather disappointed with the acting. Joaquin Phoenix is definitely a master of his craft, but here he somehow never found the right approach. It seems as if Phoenix never really knew how he wanted to play the general and dictator. Vanessa Kirby, on the other hand, is quite convincing as Napoleon's wife, Joséphine, but the chemistry between the two is rather poor.

All in all, I think it's worth seeing "Napoleon" at the movies. The battle sequences alone are reason enough. But I had hoped for more from a historical epic by Ridley Scott. I will probably give the announced four-and-a-half-hour director's cut a chance at some point, but I'm not really confident that it will be able to dispel my criticisms.

I will ignore the historical inaccuracies, false character portrayals and the english speaking sinse this is Hollywood after all and they can do whatever the hell they want with it.

I was never sold on any of the characters or performances. Joaquin Phoenix does some overacting and I still don't know who his character is by the end. Poor character study. Phoenix and Kirby have no chemistry. Their relationship is so boring and they focus on it to no avail because I have no idea what makes this relationship tick.

There's undeniably some comedy incorporated into the movie at times but I was laughing in some serious scenes—it's camp! You can tell this was intended as a 4h movie because the editing and pacing are flagrantly bad. It's as if important scenes are missing. The 4h version could solve a lot of these problems, sure, but I doubt most people are going to rewatch this. So why release this version in theaters?? I don't like the look of the movie either, it's all so... blue.

The score is nothing out of the ordinary but it's good. The costumes look great. The action sequences are hit and miss. They look great (except for the blue filter), the set pieces are memorable and epic but I find the sequences short-lived. Edited maybe? In addition, the action loses a lot of weight because of the camp, rushed story and poor characters. Overall, Napoleon is one of the biggest disappointments of the year.

The average score is a 6? How?!?!

Other than epic battle scenes, in particular Wellington's famous maneuver that made the French calvary easy pickings for his infantry, the movie SUCKS.

The love story betweenJosephine and Napoleon comes off as a whore and her john because it is poorly written, poorly acted and there is zero chemistry between the actors. Just wasted and disgusting, especially the using of the same song from the Colin Firth/Keira Knightley Pride and Prejudice love scenes. They couldn't choose another song? Couldn't find anything more appropriate for the couple at hand? Couldn't find something more sexual since they definitely overplayed the hell out of it being a disgusting show of sex rather than love. Strange also because they turned Josephine's sacrifice into a joke punchline rather than her true admiration for Napoleon.

I usually love Joaquin in the roles he plays, but this is dismal. He has the look (kudos to wardrobe) but he lacks the fire, passion and desperation to be recognized that Napoleon had. His lack luster performance may be because he admitted he knew nothing about Napoleon, but FFS THAT'S YOUR JOB to do the work to know.

What is most infuriating is that every effort seems to be made to make Napoleon look like a shoddy low rank officer who just got lucky. He was a mastermind of tactics in his time, but that seems to be minimized with pass over reading of what he might have been thinking rather than showing some significance to his skill. Except for the comment where he is told Alexander had studied his previous battles, you wouldn't get his historical significance in this respect at all. So they literally ignore his true significance in history other than one sentence. It's dismal.

AND ON TOP OF THAT, Wellington is almost portrayed as the lead role in the movie in his scenes... Again just disregard for Napoleon's tactical significance but an over hype of the movie with his name of the man who would defeat him.... WHO STUDIED Napoleon's tactics inside out to come up with a plan. Who had significant losses to that end, that he knew going in he was going to suffer.

UGGGGHHHHH. I watched it in 3 pieces and still thought it a waste of time. I would've been infuriated if I had spent the money to see it in the theater. If not for the battle scenes the movie would be a ZERO.

3.7 out of 10.