Film Summary DCCCII (Waterloo)

 

It's the Battle of Waterloo. A massive grandiose campaign of thousands of man clashing together in one last struggle for Supremacy over Europe*.

This movie captures that pretty well. Massive battle re-enactments, humongous numbers of real people, fairly good costumes and Military manoeuvres. 

All being utilized with the Soviet Army of all things. 

I was a bit hesitant with this movie at first. 

Over 2 hours long with big name Hollywood actors and the fear that half this movie would turn into an unwanted love story involving two characters I couldn't possibly give a crap about. 

But all of that stuff is just dressing on top of the ominous salad of War. 

The first half of the movie is Napoleon's exile, reconquest into France and immediate overthrow of the monarchy (bourbon).

Orson Welles playing Louis XIX.

Kind of funny in a way having Orson Welles playing the old king who really didn't command respect.

Living in the last days of relevant monarchy. Comparing with Orson Welles; A then fading star who was past his Prime in the movie world. I mean he's still a big name. 

They plastered it right on that poster even though he's in the movie for a total of 5 minutes.

Napoleon we acquire his army. First by having an engagement with blank. Whose Army willingly joins up with Napoleon before blank does likewise. 

And then he's immediately in Paris with a lot of his former power re-established and the old King of the Bourbon is kicked out the door yet again. 

Now Napoleon is on his way to Brussels for one last final engagement with Arthur Wellesley. 

Also Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher is there.  He's often omitted from a lot of historical dramas around the Battle of Waterloo. So there can be this dual mentality between Napoleon and Wellesley. 

But luckily he still present here. 

Even if his engagement is supposedly incorrect what the actual battle statistics but I really don't care one way or another about that.

In fact there's a couple of fan edits of this movie floating around out there that purposely rearrange the battle engagements to (seemingly) make it more historically accurate. 

A cool idea to be sure; but not one that really affects the film overall. 

This is more of a spectacle movie. 

Grandiose acting, massive logistical engagements and some pretty solid camera work. 

All combining to make for a very entertaining and well put-together battle film. 

The second half specially picks up after all the initial ''character'' development. If you dare want to call what this movie has character development. 

Napoleon's character is flamboyant and boisterous. But no time is giving to develop as a person. 

The film assumes that you already know about Napoleon and coming into this you just want to see Rod Steiger performance of his. 

Which is a little Hit or Miss for me sometimes. 

Now Christopher Plummer performance of Arthur Wellesley was phenomenal.
He steals the show!
And not just because of he's inevitable Victor.

He's Suave, debonair and cultured without being pretentious (though he is
imperious.)
Very difficult to do when you're playing a literal 17th century British aristocrat.

There the only two characters worthy of note to talk about. 

There's this semi romance involving this young Aristocrat lad. Green behind the ears and a little too eager for war, But nothing really comes to this story and I feel like he's only there to give the film five minutes of romance as to fill in some sort of generic Hollywood quota.

Overall it's pretty solid movie. 

I was a little hesitant in the first third as it felt like we were getting away from the main point of the film (that being the Battle of Waterloo!). 

But it gets on track pretty quick and gets you right into the action that you'd want to see from a movie of this calibre. 

It does have some internal monologue scenes where an actor's lines are superimposed over their character while they're supposedly thinking about something and that does feel a bit cheesy at points, but nothing that'll take you out of the film.

*I'm dubious that Napoleon would have been able to conquer Europe if he had won at Waterloo and established his power in France. I just can't see that grandiose vision coming back into reality.