Haydn King

A very underestimated film. It's raw, it's technically accurate and its convincing. I like that fact people hate it, because that makes me like this even more because mainstream don't have the patience. Good film if you like and anti-Hollywood film with lots of credible insights. Love it.

Phoenix is poorly cast for this imho. The moment you hear his American accent you never are convinced. Phoenix is a great actor, but just not this. Phoenix only seems to play a crazed, intense crack-head type characters. Why they thought this would be a good fit I just can't see. Kirby does her best, but I think she too didn't feel comfortable in the role. Director Scott is a legend, but his powers are not what they were. The film feels rushed from scene to the next. The key battles were good, but the big Waterloo battle that we all were looking forward to was a short and muted. Even though Scott being Englishman himself, seems to apologise for England's global power at that time. The British were a looming threat for Napoleon which the film never made good of. It was a missed opportunity to a climatic the Waterloo battle, but instead Scott just damped down the British victory that saved Europe. Disappointing.

For a start I am a Carpenter's The Thing fan always have and always will be. When I heard about the 2011 version I ignored it totally, this was the time of the "reboots". So I just put this down as just that and never watched it. Fast forward 10 years later I came round by accident to watching it. I never knew it was a prequel, yes it has CGI, but it is used in moderation (I know you can't beat practical) If you watch this before watching Carpenter's, it works. So I spent 10 years ignoring this film because I was one of the Carpenter's fanboys. Give it a chance, look out for the helicopter scene 👌