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I had to go through a battle to make my wife agree to watch it. She too remembered her teenager experience of having to sit through the long, long, looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong movie while the life was going on outside the theater - boys, ice-cream, scarce Leningrad sun, books...But last night I put on the first of the three 140 minute tapes, and before we knew it we got absorbed. Some of the best Russian actors, tons of wonderful acting, incredible battle scenes, and enough cause for argument to fill the next five years.
Yeah, we were young back then... We also still remember the movie quite well, but that didn't take much from the pleasure of watching this classic. And classis it is, even if it would never be possible to even toucht the depth of the original work in seven hours. So - true, you get just the clips, short segments of the masterpiece here and there, but each short segment can be takes as an almost complete little artwork. And I simply couldn't take my eyes off Tikhonov's face - there is that magic in its icy beauty.
Great actor after great actor, all familiar. The Russian-angel beauty of Vertinskaya (one of the most beautiful women to ever grace the movie screen) next to that incredible Trophimov...
And of course, my wife saying the actor's lines before they had any chance to...
I was already tired by the time we put it on. But two and a half hours simply flew by.
I fully realize that not being familiar with those actors the film may not pull you in right away. And the problems of Russians aristocrats may not be as pertinent as the Confederate love story, but I doubt anyone who loves movie will not find something to excite his interst in that monumental work.
Some critics have suggested that it is too long and slow - therefor falling short of great movie status. It certainly seemed that way to me back in the sixties. But yesterday, with very few exceptions, there were not scenes that I would like to fast forward. I simply enjoyed being there.
So Bandarchuk IS too old to play Pierre, and his wife, her marble Mother-Russia-sized bust nothwithstanding, doesn't look right as his... well, wife... but just accept it from the beginning and simply suspend your doubts. For there will be folks like Ktorov, who will more than compensate for these shortcomings.
The tape quality is acceptable, although you would certainly want for more. And all those uniforms, arms and costumes - oh, the sheer beauty of these...
So I am really looking forward to two more night between war and peace, even though I know exactly how it is going to end...
That tape will be available to the folks here to borrow, conditioned on promts and curtious return... Mart is the first in line.
Follow Ups:
...last night. It was wonderful.My wife, who at first didn't even want to consider watching it again, got absorbed and could not wait for the next part. It draws you in.
One word of caution - some familiarity with the book would be VERY helpful, for without it I suspect the viewer might get lost among many characters and sub-pots.
If one doesn't have fascination with Tolstoy, he might get somewhat irritated by the second part, when the progress is slow but acting beautiful. I simply had no chance of getting bored as my wife kept citing the whole paragraphs from the book - as she used to live it, not just read.
So many things have been said about the battle scenes, that it is hard to add much. They are simply unmatched in the movie world. The battle of Borodino, that DOES go for 45 minutes or so, simply makes you wonder why, after 32 years, did we have to go BACK to that Saving Private Ryan kaka.
Among the many actors cast in that film perhaps my only disappointment was with Strzhelchik as Napoleon. I love, no, make it tremendously love, that wonderful actor, and I used to think his Napoleon was great, but no longer. Perhaps the mere fact that he is WAY to tall kills the impression.
I think Bondarchuk has done much better in this later Waterloo by hiring Rod Stiger - and I simply loved that performance.
Anyway, I don't recommend this film to anyone. Make your own decision and enjoy or suffer by it - as the case might be.
Me? I am glad I bought it (even though $72 is a bit stiff for a film...).
just curious, if you don't mind me asking....So, has she formally forgiven you for sitting her down?
... err, informally but very personally prehaps?
;^>
....just my 2¢
» Mart £ «
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