Paul Johnson

I saw it and it is a mixed bag. You cannot take it as a serious account of reality. If you know even a little about Napoleon there are so many ridiculous scenes. Like firing cannons at the pyramids! I could go on and on. The battle of Waterloo is somewhat accurate though. But I wish he had used CGI tech to pump up the numbers in the battle scenes which look ridiculous with only a couple of hundred soldiers in them, come on there were many thousands of soldiers. His depiction of the invasion of Russia seemed almost a token effort. Clearly the theatrical release suffers from the missing extra hour or so that will be in the streaming version. I cannot believe Napoleon was that much bewitched by Josephine. Or at least the movie does not persuade us why that should be so. It’s sort of unfair to Josephine. The problem is Napoleon did so much stuff it is actually impossible to do a good job. But the photography is excellent. The depiction of Napoleon I think people will like it or hate it with nothing in between. The actors all do a good job. The French will surely hate it. It almost seems like Napoleon is being mocked much of the time. His reforms of the French legal and governmental systems are barely there though that would be kind of dull to be sure. The Russians will be ticked off that their campaign and achievement in defeating Napoleon is given so little time. The Germans will be OK with the Prussian bit at Waterloo. The British (and Scots!) will be OK with it cause they get a tolerably accurate account and get to see how they ticked off Napoleon so much in so many ways. It’s like the British are his nemesis. There’s one scene early where he is offering the British the one chance to have a peaceful relationship. That would have been interesting to follow up on, exactly why they turned him down. A positive of the movie is it shows the Turks and other nations were also part of the great game and I like that. I think women will not be amused with the way Josephine is portrayed. Napoleon is portrayed as being obsessed with her but why exactly? The film does not make it clear. Will the longer version clear up some of these questions? Maybe. This really needed to be a mini series not a movie. But it is not boring.

Yes a classic British cozy show, nothing serious, humor is clever but low key, the leads are very likable and it’s an evening relaxing show, though for people of a certain age let’s be honest here. Makes me nostalgic for all those great Brit shows that became classics. You don’t get them so often now, young people have different tastes in this world where every everything moves so fast. Charming. That’s my take. I am glad the run is over after season four because I would hate to see it hang on beyond the point of excellence. It is sad but they have created a classic.

I liked it, pretty intense. Should have one episode shorter maybe.

It’s pretty dark but very entertaining. And it keeps the plot moving, never drags. Great acting.