Alan Eddy

I"m only halfway through this film and decided to go to bed rather than stay up. The pace of this film has been pedestrian so far. Was gonna give it two stars but that's unfair till I see the end. The chemistry feels flat. I would have ramped up the love scenes and the passion. Feels like it might be a lemon. I hope Ridley isn't losing his edge. Was he ill while directing this? After watching the rest I feel it deserves more praise. Whatever the chemistry between the actors it still feels flat. However the battle of Waterloo was pretty good...not as great as the battle scene in Gladiator. Interesting to learn how he lost half a million troops invading Russia. Every country that ever tried that failed...right up to Hitler. On reflection I will watch this again but will wait for the director's cut. If only Ridley had made the passion way more powerful. There are stories of him asking Josephine not to wash before he ravished her. There should have been shots of him sucking her toes in sweaty passionate sex. The score felt a bit empty in places too. I would have upped this. This s one of Joaquin's most reserved performances and it is gonna become an acquired taste. Well worth watching.