GREGORY HOOD

I don't know how Ridley Scott could create such a vast catalog of beautifully engrossing epics and fail by so much here. I waited impatiently for opening day and had planned for 2 back to back showings so I could immerse myself in his superb cinematic craftsmanship... but was deterred after an hour. I didn't go to the movie to spend 2+ hours hearing about Napoleons self-absorbed love life when his bold exploits and tactical brilliance are what separated him from his contemporaries. We use his name to denote that Era, but this portrayal of the conqueror would have us believe he was slightly more than average militarily... and a failure in every other regard in his life. He ia almost portrayed as someone who accomplished what he did by accident, when all you have to do is look at a map to know that's not true. At Waterloo there was no mention of Nay's inept battlefield awareness and ill-advised cavalry charge, or deGrouchy chasing Blucher's army until the Prussians arrival at Waterloo won the battle for Wellington. Had Napoleon been in direct command of either operation the result would have been decidedly different. It took an act of God to save the Russians from annihilation and the errors of his subordinates to save Wellington and Blucher. This was certainly no ordinary man and he should not be depicted as such. All in all, this was a disappointing effort.