Reviews

I, like all history buffs, was very excited when I learnt that Ridley Scott was directing a new film about the life of Napoleon. I went into the screening at the IMAX with very high hopes being a fan of many of Scott's films but I was bitterly disappointed. The relationship between Napoleon and Josephine was cartoonish and devoid of any emotional heart. Their relationship felt like a joke for the screen and very one dimensional. Considering it was the essence of the entire film it got boring very quickly indeed.

Some of the action sequences were well put together but it felt like the audience were just trudging through it. There was never any sense of peril because the wars and battles didn't serve the broader narrative of the film. Instead, we have ham fisted scenes in Egypt in front the pyramids just to tee off Napoleon recounting letters to Josephine and then learning about her new lover at home but because their relationship is so tedious to watch, the audience never care about it, making every boring interaction all the more frustrating.

I really, I mean really, didn't like the concept of Napoleon. It covered far too much ground, about 20 years + of history, in just over 2.5 hours and did it all by refracting every single event through the prism of a cartoonish and boring relationship.

Do not read anything about this film. Just watch and enjoy this visual masterpiece. Mind blowing. An epic saga with incredible acting from an all star cast.

This is more than just a war film. It's about radicalisation, family, honour and duty. The protagonists weave together the German, Dutch and Allied forces. It shows how savage war is and the sometimes small token efforts that people risked and in many sacrificed their lives for.

The film crosses genres with battle scenes, spying, family drama but also survival behind enemy lines.

The production values are simply stunning. I felt the atmospheric dampness of the flooded fields of the Netherlands. It transports you right to that place and time.

History nerds have complained that the film doesn't cover the whole campaign. I'm a history nerd too but the film IS NOT a documentary. It is a tale of war told through various characters. A tiny snapshot of the struggle to liberate the Dutch. As the camera pans out and we hear the rumble for gunfire and see fires rising into the sky I was left with the terrible realisation that this little snapshot was happening in every direction. Thousands of people all enduring and losing their lives. The history buffs would have this as a documentary without heart so don't listen to them. Watch it on it's terms.

The poor reviews stem mostly from people uninterested in a more visually driven piece. Probably wouldn't have had such bad reviews were it not for it's release on Prime Video. If you enjoy a old fables, mythic story telling, stunning visuals and a creepy medieval setting then this is the one for you. Dev Patel is brilliant as the lead.

Don't listen to the haters as it's well worth it.

I am a huge fantasy fan and was willing to give this film a go despite the negative reviews. I honestly thought it was just another case of critics unfairly criticising the fantasy genre. I couldn't have been more wrong.

The character development in this film is extremely poor. I did not care about a single character. The only character whose motivations were even partly fleshed out was the rebel orc and even he has little more than basic motivations for his actions in the film. All of the key emotional scenes in the film fall completely flat. This film is watchable because of some cool action sequences but beyond that it's entirely hollow. Towards the end it was a struggle to stay focused. I wouldn't recommend watching it.

Incredible how many commentators believe this film is literally a calling for the poor to kill the rich. The film is social commentary but above all it is art. Story telling that uses extremes tells us something greater about ourselves and the world around us. The film interrogates the problems of caste and poverty. It highlights the contradictions in society and how the suffering of millions is so easily obscured. His master will never truly comprehend the misery that surrounds all those in his wake. The darker conclusion of the film is that if justice is not possible at all, then how will progress ever be made. Brilliant acting throughout, thought provoking and stylish. Highly recommend.

Don't trust the bad reviews by people saying it's not a horror film. Horror films are diverse and a lack of jump scares takes nothing away from Saint Maud. A haunting tale of isolation, grief and sadness. The English seaside setting is The perfect setting for this dark and disturbed story. Lastly, it's great to have a horror film with a near enough 100% female cast. Highly recommend. Don't listen to the haters.