NAPOLEAN: Set in the 18th century, this movie essays the cradle to grave life story of the French Revolutionary Napolean Bonaparte-his meteoric rise and subsequent fall resulting in his exile at St. Helena where he eventually succumbed to death. The cinematography is breathtaking and captures the look and feel of the bygone era. The battle scenes are elaborate and use of special effects is great. The movie starts with the execution of the French queen Marie Antoinette for treason leading to the rise of Napolean as the French Emperor. The movie is not suitable for children and sexual innuendos would have been sufficient in place of the erotica. Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix is superlative as Napolean and so is Vanessa Kirby who plays his wife Josephine. Aamir Khan might have taken inspiration from Napolean as he divorces his first wife Josephine, sires an illegitimate child and then reconnects with his first wife to gain her mental support during his battles. Interestingly in the war scenes, no one wears protective headgear or eye-guard. The autocratic Emperor, Napolean loses the battle of Waterloo and goes into exile. The battle scenes are not dramatized well and are kinda boring. The background gospel music is exquisite so much so that you would feel like listening to it as the end credits roll. The movie depicts Napolean as a villain citing the several lives lost during his conquests and his lack of reforms as a leader. This period movie will appeal to history aficionados especially fans of European period drama.
AninditaRoyMusings 