War and Peace
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Movie Reviews of War and Peace
Movie Review: It should have and could have been so much better....
Summary: 4 Stars
It has been almost 50 years since this film first appeared, allegedly based on Tolstoy's novel and stolidly directed by King Vidor. Since then, of course, there have been dozens of other epic films whose special effects were aided and enhanced by technologies then unavailable to Vidor and his crew. However, given the scope and depth of Tolstoy's examination of Russia in the 1805-1815 time period, even a film produced today could not possibly do full justice to his novel. My rating takes into full (and respectful) account when this film was made; also, I admit being charmed by Audrey Hepburn's style and grace in the role of Natasha. However, Vidor's direction seems to me uninspired, at times listless, and Henry Fonda (one of my favorite actors) is woefully miscast as Pierre. However, there are several magnificent, truly memorable scenes. The cast and crew are inevitably multi-national, adding at least some seasoning to a bland screenplay. Strong performances in a supporting role are provided by Vittorio Gassman (Anatole), Oscar Homolka (General Kutuzov), and Herbert Lom (Napoleon). Jack Cardiff and Aldo Tonti's cinematography is first-rate. "All things considered," the film is often entertaining despite a running time of 208 minutes. It is what it is...but not what it could have been. Hence my rating of Three and One-Half Stars to which I add half a Star in special appreciation of Audrey Hepburn's performance.Movie Review: War and Peace (Abridged by Hollywood)
Summary: 4 Stars
This is your reader's digest version of Tolstoy's novel on screen. At almost 4 hours the film conveys the main aspects of the novel, but cuts out many supporting characters, concentrating instead on the main themes of the book. What makes it work is Audrey Hepburn, and to some extent Henry Fonda. Hepburn is a charming Natasha, perhaps the best on screen version. Fonda plods along as Pierre, Mel Farrier makes an effort to be the Byronic Hero that was Prince Andrei. The production quailty is pretty good. This is deffinitely more you romantic version of the story. Battle scenes are pretty much limited to a fairly impressive, albeit short Borodino sequence. The one gripe I have is that all French infantry are shown as Imperial Guard!! The Retreat scenes are not bad, and convey well how the Grande Army fell apart. This is the version I would recommend to introduce someone to the basics of the story. I would then move on to the Russian and BBC versions to see the plot and characters more fully developed. Let's face it, this is War & Peace lite! The DVD has beautiful picture quality, and a few interesting behind the scenes production notes. I think of all screen versions of Tolstoy's immortal novel this is the best known. This is the more romantic version, while the Russian one is more your military history epic.Movie Review: Good Entrainment with a Few Flaws
Summary: 4 Stars
Great Cast with a great story is not always the best combo, but this DVD is a keeper. Audrey Hepburn as Natasha does the best with her multi expressions & cute dialogue during the many courtships throughout the film. Henry Fonda as Pierre comes in a close 2nd, but at 1st he seems out of place, too passive. Later this lack of emotion or evolvement shines forth as he goes though many hardships as a prisoner of Napoleon. Mel Ferrer as Prince Andrei, then Audrey Hepburn's real husband, has the same problem as Henry Fonda, he drifts in & out of character. I believe the problem with the main male actors is that they played it too straight. The woman who played Prince Andrei's 1st wife did the worst, she over acted like a silent movie star. The supporting cast does a great job, specially the actor playing Nepoleon. This is exactly what I think Nepoleon looked & acted like in the early 19th century. The phyical height & size for the French emperor are perfect, & the letting of free opinion to be express, yet at the same time having the over powering will to bring Europe to his knees. Desite the flaws, this version of "War & Peace" will give you a short stroll, with a "to the point" idea of a western classic with great photography & sound. I try not to watch it too many times because I don't want to wear it out.Movie Review: Natasha is Audrey Hephburn The question of how we 'picture' characters from books and movies
Summary: 4 Stars
'War and Peace' is a book I in my teen years loved to read, sensing that it gave a picture of life as something 'large' and 'deep ' and beyond anything I had known in my own experience. The movie so oddly constructed, and of course so poor in language and feeling as if not to be spoken of in the same breath with the book, nonetheless has its virtues. Its picture of the opening ball, its world of bright color and costume enabled me to 'image' in my own mind its world as I had not been able to in reading the book.
One of the things which most struck me in watching the film was my sense of comparison of the images on the screen, with the images in my mind of the characters as I had somehow 'thought of them' from reading the book.
Henry Fonda was certainly not 'Pierre'. He was too thin and did not have the overall bearish strength , the Tolstoyan power that the book makes Pierre have. On the other hand , Audrey Hephburn as Natasha in the film replaced any picture I might have had in my mind, and became 'Natasha'. So this at least the film gave me.
The film is too long, and confuses at times. But it does have as I have said, a picturesque, colorful quality which makes it more enjoyable as spectacle than as anything else.
Movie Review: A fine film with one flaw - Henry Fonda
Summary: 4 Stars
For the most part, this is a fine movie. Audrey Hepburn is perfectly cast, but Henry Fonda does not belong. No one can in a million years could believe Henry Fonda as a Russian in the 19th Century or any century for that matter. John Wayne or Gary Cooper might as well been cast in the role of Pierre. I doubt if anyone would have noticed. Where was Laurence Olivier? He would have been a perfect Pierre. Other than the miscasting, this movie is strong in just about every other respect. The battle scenes are superb, some of the best in cinema history. However, the soldiers didn't seem to object to Fonda's presence at the battle outside of Moscow. It's surprising that no one told him to get out of the line of fire. Napoleon's retreat from Russia is also very unforgettable. You can just imagine the brutal hardships of that long march back to France. Overall, one of the best of the historical epics.