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Like Gods and Generals - very long and not much action

posted 12 years ago by scheelj1
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A very long movie that reminded me a lot of “God’s and Generals.” Definitely more of a historical movie than an action movie. It’s hard to stay entertained when a war movie is two hours long but a shot isn’t fired until an hour and 20 minutes into the film. Still, once the actual battle of Waterloo begins, the cinematography of the battlescape is spectacular with the thousands of soldiers in their colorful uniforms lined up in their formations. It is beyond me how they found so many extras. Starring Christopher Plummer and Rod Steiger as Napolean, this is a good movie, but it would be a mistake to watch it expecting an action movie. 2 action rating

(actionrating.com)

[–] pelopen3bc 12 years ago

A very long movie that reminded me a lot of “God’s and Generals.” Definitely more of a historical movie than an action movie.

I'd say it reminded me a lot of Gettysburg (1993), the film prior to Gods and Generals. It was focused around one battle and the commanders who participated in it. Gods and Generals was not as well received, and I agree that it wasn't very memorable, unlike, in my opinion, Waterloo and Gettysburg.

It’s hard to stay entertained when a war movie is two hours long but a shot isn’t fired until an hour and 20 minutes into the film.

I disagree. I think it would have been a major mistake to try to cut to the chase, seeing as the average human being is not at all familiar with the back-story of Waterloo. In fact, you'd be surprised how many random people on the street can't actually say who commanded the Anglo-Allied Forces (most people having heard of Napoleon).

Jumping ahead and not explaining why the battle occurred would decrease all of the tension, build-up, and character development. It would just be disembodied scenes and wouldn't be in the least interesting.

It is beyond me how they found so many extras.

It was 17,000 Soviet soldiers, given to director Sergei Bondarchuk. Sergei Bondarchuk had previously directed the largest battle scene ever (in terms of extras) with 1967's Voyna i mir (War and Peace). Supposedly 120,000 Soviet soldiers reenacting the Battle of Borodino (September 7, 1812). The man had established a resume and knew what he was doing.

[–] franzkabuki 12 years ago

Yeah - historical movie with broad and hammy acting, frequently ridiculous dialogue as well as rather poor pacing (the set-up for the actual battle´s particularly badly botched, being sometimes too plodding and at other times too rushed without really giving much of a sense of any character, including Napoleon... or the political/military storm ominously gathering). And yes, the action, although more or less decent, could also have been more ferocious. Quite a bad misfire, and, as if that wasn´t enough, its failure also played a prominent role in shooting down the possible Napoleon film by Kubrick... which, of course, never did materialize.

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