Amazon.co.uk Review
"A film that will never be equalled for its spectacle and dramatic power" says the stirring trailer on this otherwise sparsely featured DVD. Taking the story of the Napoleonic Wars to Bonaparte's final defeat, Waterloo is an unofficial continuation to director Sergei Bondarchuk's own 70mm super-epic War and Peace (1968). The climactic battle of Waterloo is shown in the second half of the film and re-enacted with such stunning realism by a cast of around 20,000 extras that it looks like documentary footage from history itself (some 20 years later, Gettysburg, 1993, did the same for the American Civil War). Those who hailed the groundbreaking impact of Saving Private Ryan should see Bondarchuk's films, as for sheer scale and intensity--if not bloodiness--they make Spielberg's hit look like an amateur video. Without ever attempting a French accent, Rod Steiger makes a commanding Napoleon, Christopher Plummer a worthy adversary as Wellington, while the supporting cast led by Orson Welles, Jack Hawkins and Virginia McKenna is excellent. The DVD transfer is richly detailed and clear, though the print itself could have done with just a little restoration. Though dated, Abel Glance's Napoleon (1928) remains definitive for many, perhaps explaining why Stanley Kubrick eventually abandoned his planned Napoleon film, instead making the 18th Century period epic Barry Lyndon (1974). --Gary S.Dalkin
Customer Reviews:
Well Worth Watching.......2008-02-02
Though this is not as good that other epic film about a famous battle-Zulu, the sheer scope of it is magnificent. The battle scenes and costumes are second to none. What lets this movie down is the script and characterisation. You don't feel for the characters like you do in the fore mentioned Zulu. Though Rod Steiger stands out as Napoleon. Still well worth watching.
Overated arty epic........2008-01-15
The battle of Waterloo was a tense, massive battle which ended the Napoleonic era. It was death or glory for both sides with Napoleon taking on the undefeated Lord Wellington for the first and last time.
This film fails to convey what the true motivations of the sides were. There is a void of passion and real emotion throughout. Officers on both sides are shown casually sat on their horses chatting even during the heat of battle.
The battle scenes are completely unconvincing. There is virtually no contact between the sides. There is little noise, and a total abscence of smoke. Few people were dying during when the troops advanced. The officers were picked off one by one, in a ridiculous fashion. Worst of all was the French Cavalry charge. A large column of cavalry charges at Wellingtons Lines. The cavalry appears to take no casualties whilst it canters round squares of British Infantry for five minutes. The infantry squares are so closely positioned as to be shooting each other in cross-fire.
In a ho-hum kind of way the elements of the battle are covered by the film. The costumes are decent and there is a scence of scale. At times the director appears to be trying to recreate scenes from famous paintings. He does this quite well, but what was the point?
If you are interested in the Napoleonic period then buy it for a rainy afternoon, but don't expect to be wowed by it.
An entertaining film, although inaccurate........2007-10-18
Waterloo was "a close run thing", as the Duke of Wellington once said. It was fought by at least four armies in their different uniforms. Wellington not only had English troops under his command, but also Dutch and Belgians who fought bravely and did indeed help to make the diference. The film gives the impression that the battle was fought exclusively by British and French troops. Aside from that, and a few historic inaccuracies which have to be be forgiven for the sake of of the story, the film is an impressive achievement on the part of both the director and cast, who are all professionals of the highest order.
More One-Liners than any other film.......2007-10-16
This is a superb film, despite the battle being messed about by editing down to produce a 2 hour film. The rough opening credits filmed in grainy 16mm give the initial clue to a bit of post-production haste, and Rod Steiger overplays Bonaparte with lots of 'method' acting. He is then flawlessly upstaged by Christopher Plummer - who gets lots of famous and genuine one-liners from the Iron Duke. Okay, so some weren't said at Waterloo, but this film will pass them into immortality.
'I don't know what they'll do to the enemy, but by God they frighten me!'
'On the field of battle Napoleon is worth 40,000 men, but he's not a gentleman!'
'What are your plans, your grace?' 'Why? To beat the French!'
'By God Sir! I've lost my leg!' 'By God Sir! So you have!'
'I do not intend to run about like a wet hen!'
'Next to a battle lost, the saddest thing is a battle won.'
Enjoy - preferably on a big screen with surround sound and a good sub woofer.
This is a film to watch if you suffer from Insomnia...............2007-07-20
because I think it's a fair guarantee to send you to sleep. If Napolean was anywhere like Rod Steiger plays him then he should have been exiled long before he was as he would surely bore people to death. Christopher Plummer was an ill-choice for the role of the Iron Duke also, playing him far too laid back almost to the point of being camp.The battle scenes are few and far between and I don't think Terence Alexander would be having a dialogue with Wellington having just had his arm torn off? Not enough blood and guts for me and Charge of the Light Brigade was far more historically correct.I give 1 star for the costumes.
UK DVD:
- Waterloo Road : Complete BBC Series 1 [2006]
- Waterloo Road The Complete Series 2 [2008]
- When The Boat Comes In: Complete Collection (24 Disc BBC Boxed Set) [2007]
- Wilde [1997]
- Wire in the Blood: Series 1 and 2 (5 Disc Box Set) [2002]
- Wuthering Heights [1992]
- Wuthering Heights [1999]
- 21 Grams [2004]
- A.I. Artificial Intelligence [2001] - 2 disc set
- Almost Famous [2000]
UK DVD List
UK DVD
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