27 votes

Napoleon | Official trailer

14 comments

  1. [2]
    AlienAliena
    Link
    Crazy how this is edited to make a 2h30m Napoleonic war epic look like an action romp. I don't watch trailers anymore specifically because they misrepresent the feel of the movie 99% of the time....

    Crazy how this is edited to make a 2h30m Napoleonic war epic look like an action romp. I don't watch trailers anymore specifically because they misrepresent the feel of the movie 99% of the time. Poisons the well.

    I do love early Scott, I mean Alien and Blade Runner basically jumpstarted my love of films and got me into filmmaking so I have to give him enormous thanks for that, but he hasn't been hot for a long time. Last Duel and Gucci for me were disappointments that I can really hardly remember anything about even though they came out like, two years ago? This does have Joaquin Pheonix as Napolean and I did really like his performance in Gladiator as Commodus, so I'm hyped for that specifically.

    For anyone looking to scratch that Napoleonic war itch in the meantime... If you've got 7 hours to spare the Soviet version of War and Peace is a masterpiece. Part 3 has the real big battles if you just want those, but why would you want to skip the 4 hours of drama preamble? It's a spectacle, armies thousands strong, cities burning to the ground, all done practically. I doubt there's anything quite like it. That was made specifically to show-up the American version of War and Peace, the one with Audrey Hepburn, and by god does it do it.

    Also, Able Gance's Napoleon. About five hours, silent, supposed to be beautiful and have one of the best scores ever written for a film. I haven't watched it yet since I need to set up three TV's next to each other to fit the 4.00:1 aspect ratio, also known as triptych or polyvision, that some parts of the film use near the end. I'm working on it, though!

    For whatever reason the story of Napoleon being told in cinema coincides with some of the most revolutionary films ever, I could probably write an article on that.

    10 votes
    1. CosmicDefect
      Link Parent
      To add, the Italian-Soviet movie Waterloo is similar in terms of spectacle and scope. Another movie with this kind of "uncompromised spirit" would be the American-Japanese film Tora! Tora! Tora!

      To add, the Italian-Soviet movie Waterloo is similar in terms of spectacle and scope. Another movie with this kind of "uncompromised spirit" would be the American-Japanese film Tora! Tora! Tora!

      2 votes
  2. [3]
    Snowblood
    Link
    Looks great, and it's exactly the kind of movie I have complete faith in Ridley Scott to pull off. Just wish the trailer wasn't done in the most generic possible fashion, the music cues and choice...

    Looks great, and it's exactly the kind of movie I have complete faith in Ridley Scott to pull off.

    Just wish the trailer wasn't done in the most generic possible fashion, the music cues and choice made it feel like a run of the mill 5/10 Sony movie.

    9 votes
    1. solemn_fable
      Link Parent
      I know that at some point, Stanley Kubrick was completely obsessed with making a film about Napoleon. He owned a huge archive of notes and material to make it, and I think there’s even a...

      I know that at some point, Stanley Kubrick was completely obsessed with making a film about Napoleon. He owned a huge archive of notes and material to make it, and I think there’s even a documentary about that. I was hoping to see a glimmer of that in the trailer.

      Instead I got “DC presents: Zach Snyder’s Captain Bonaparte”. I truly hope the trailer isn’t representative of the actual film.

      5 votes
    2. CosmicDefect
      Link Parent
      I hated the trailer, but I very much want to see the movie. The music choices bothered me the most and pulled me completely out, it just felt so out of place.

      I hated the trailer, but I very much want to see the movie. The music choices bothered me the most and pulled me completely out, it just felt so out of place.

      2 votes
  3. [2]
    cloud_loud
    Link
    I’m a fan of Ridley Scott, even though he’s hit or miss, but I really loved The Last Duel and House of Gucci back in 2021. I was weary of this project, but seeing the trailer I am so fucking hyped...

    I’m a fan of Ridley Scott, even though he’s hit or miss, but I really loved The Last Duel and House of Gucci back in 2021. I was weary of this project, but seeing the trailer I am so fucking hyped for it.

    8 votes
    1. banyan55
      Link Parent
      Ridley’s work tends to stand or fall on the script. His direction is almost always good, but if the script is lacking then the film will suffer regardless. But I agree this looks fantastic.

      Ridley’s work tends to stand or fall on the script. His direction is almost always good, but if the script is lacking then the film will suffer regardless. But I agree this looks fantastic.

      6 votes
  4. d_b_cooper
    Link
    Damn does Ridley Scott know how to do massive scale. Can't wait.

    Damn does Ridley Scott know how to do massive scale. Can't wait.

    3 votes
  5. [2]
    tealblue
    (edited )
    Link
    What do you all think of Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon? In my mind, Joaquin is a very slow and steady person, while Napoleon was fast paced and dynamic while remaining methodical.

    What do you all think of Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon? In my mind, Joaquin is a very slow and steady person, while Napoleon was fast paced and dynamic while remaining methodical.

    2 votes
    1. Thales
      Link Parent
      The second I saw that they were making a Napoleon movie, my first thought was genuinely, "They should cast Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon." He nails the look, in my mind. A little too handsome, but...

      The second I saw that they were making a Napoleon movie, my first thought was genuinely, "They should cast Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon."

      He nails the look, in my mind. A little too handsome, but that's Hollywood.

      As for personality, I understand that Napoleon was an emotionally unstable egomaniac, a role Phoenix excelled at with Commodus back in Ridley Scott's Gladiator (2000).

      This article from history.com sheds some interesting light on Napoleon's personality and how it contributed to his fall from power.


      I often find Ridley Scott's movies too long, and he takes a little more artistic license with history than I would like, but I'll definitely keep tabs on this!

      4 votes
  6. [3]
    Bipolar
    (edited )
    Link
    Looks amazing, Wished we could also get a war game set in that era.

    Looks amazing, Wished we could also get a war game set in that era.

    1 vote
  7. bl4kers
    Link
    Glad to see this isn't a Napoleon Dynamite remake/reboot. Apparently a sequel is in the works though

    Glad to see this isn't a Napoleon Dynamite remake/reboot. Apparently a sequel is in the works though

    1 vote