Napoleon Movie Review

Written by: Case Brown Photo Credit from: IMDb

Napoleon was one of the mostly highly anticipated movies of the year. Grossing $136 million worldwide, it has been extremely successful. The film tells the story of Napoleon Bonaparte, the artillery officer who became First Consul of the French government in 1799 and eventually the Emperor of the Empire of France in 1804. The film’s director, Ridley Scott, said he took creative liberties in his depiction of the famed Corsican Fiend. “... I don't think it's a history lesson,” said Scott, “I think it's a character study with violence, with action, with everything you got”. He particularly wanted to examine Josephine, Napoleon’s wife, and their troublesome relationship, which he felt had been neglected in literature. 

The film is said to have some historical inaccuracies, but Scott has reiterated that the point of his film is to immerse the audience in an era often “lost to time”. The visually stunning depictions of aristocratic mansions, colorful uniforms, and grand government buildings brings the audience into the Napoleonic Era and shows how Napoleon and the aristocrats lived. It also has great depictions of the poverty and hardship the common Frenchman went through from the monarchy, to the Revolution and Republic, then on to the consulate, and eventually, the Empire. 

Running two and a half hours, the film has an equal balance between dialogue and combat. It has been given an R rating for its depictions of strong violence, sexual content, and grisly images. Most of this comes from the war scenes which at times can be intense. There are also some scenes that depict sexual acts, especially surrounding Josephine, whom was notorious for having affairs while Napoleon was on the campaign trail. 

Overall, the Napoleon movie should be applauded for what it excels in: beautiful scenes, interesting personalities, and its ability to bring to life the eventful life of Napoleon Bonaparte. While there are some historical inaccuracies, the film is meant for entertainment. As a biography picture, it does a fantastic job at portraying, as the English back then would say, “The brute Napoleon and his obverse Josephine”.