Napoleon

Phoenix is the key to it all: a performance as robust as the glass of burgundy he knocks back: preening, brooding, seething and triumphing.

Now 85, Scott again proves there is nobody so efficient at pressing contemporary technology to the limits. He also draws heroic performances from fleshy human beings

How Scott is able to pump out these grandiose set pieces with such practiced ease (and a little CGI embellishment) is beyond me; he remains one of Hollywood’s finest craftsmen of action sequences, and I’ll miss him when he’s gone.

As far as truly caring about anything that goes on in this epic, well, that’s a chore. And with a run time of more than 2½ hours, that chore becomes ever more burdensome as the minutes tick away.

Napoleon isn’t a failure on anyone’s part. But it’s not a rousing success, either. It’s not really a rousing anything, which is the problem. Maybe Scott should have gone in even more on Phoenix’s quirks and mannerisms, which are the most purely entertaining things about the film. Whatever the case, it doesn’t quite measure up.

More times than not, the film’s bursts of humor clash awkwardly with the far more frequent attempts at gravitas that the filmmakers strive for when our protagonist is in battle or engaged in political discussions.

We don't need another hero, but when it comes to the man at its center, Napoleon could have used a lot more oomph.

For english below... Ein Historienfilm, der mal nicht langweilt. Man spürt sofort hier war einer der ganz großen Regisseure am Werk. Ridley Scotts Filme erzeugen bei mir seit Alien1 schon per se immer eine freudige Erwartungshaltung. Napoleon ist top besetzt und liefert durchgehend fantastische Bilder. Tolle kleine Geschichten werden auch in den ruhigen Szenen erzählt, die auch Raum für Emotionen lassen. Der Musik-Score ist grandios und die Dolby Atmos Tonspur feuert im wahrsten Sinne ein Feuerwerk ab. Zwar hätte ich hier DTS:X bevorzugt, dies ist jedoch bei einem Film auf Apple TV Plus nicht möglich. Das Bild ist sehr scharf und frei von Filmkorn, was dem Film eigentlich ganz gut gestanden hätte. Es wirkt dadurch etwas zu aufgeräumt und soft. Das Bildformat ist gigantisch letterboxed, was beim Thema Historienfilm voll in Ordnung geht. Für Effekte sorgt Industrial Light and Magic, die sich hier mal wieder selbst übertroffen haben, nämlich immer dann, wenn man Effekte überhaupt nicht als Effekte wahrnimmt. Vielen Dank lieber Ridley Scott, für dieses Epos. Ich hoffe sehr auf eine 4K UHD Collector's Edition mit einem Ihrer starken Director's Cuts für meine Sammlung und mein Heimkino :) -- A historical movie that doesn't bore you for once. You immediately sense that one of the great directors was at work here. Ever since Alien1, Ridley Scott's films have always given me a sense of anticipation. Napoleon has a top cast and delivers fantastic images throughout. Great little stories are also told in the quiet scenes, which also leave room for emotions. The music score is terrific and the Dolby Atmos soundtrack fires off fireworks in the truest sense of the word. Although I would have preferred DTS:X here, this is not possible with a movie on AppleTV Plus. The picture is very sharp and free of film grain, which would actually have suited the movie quite well. This makes it look a little too clean and soft. The picture format is gigantic letterboxed, which is perfectly fine for a historical film. Effects are provided by Industrial Light and Magic, who have once again outdone themselves here, namely whenever effects are not perceived as effects at all. Thank you dear Ridley Scott for this epic. I'm really hoping for a 4K UHD Collector's Edition with one of your strong director's cuts for my collection and my home theater :) Translated with **** (free version)

Napoleon comes tantalizingly close to greatness, boasting stunning visuals, a remarkable soundscape, and outstanding performances. However, it falters with a script that lacks depth and historical accuracy, overshadowed by a forced and uninspiring romantic subplot.

The best parts of this film are Napoleon's rise to power during the French Revolution, which is infrequently discussed, and the three epic battle scenes. His legacy is that of a brilliant military leader who was unmatched in his day. Instead, the film's primary focus is on his relationship with Josephine, told in the most lackluster way.

The cinematography and acting are good, and the battle scenes are well done, but it’s a disrespect to Napoleon Bonaparte. If you’re going to make a movie about history, you should respect it.

dans se film qui se dit « film d’histoire » tres peu de chose sont historique. les batailles (Napoleon n’a pas combattu au pied des pyramide et il à encore moins tiré dessus), le comportement de Napoleon dans sa vie privée totalement déplacer envers sa femme et sa famille… bref, on a fait bien mieux ! In this film which calls itself a "historical film" very few facts are historical. The battles (Napoleon did not fight at the foot of the pyramids and he shot at them even less), Napoleon's behavior in his private life which was totally inappropriate towards his wife and his family... in short, we've done much better!