Search - Waterloo on DVD

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 10/25/2023...

Dino Laurentiis directed this with actors Rod Steiger, Orson Welles and Christopher Plummer. Strong start only to weaken and with a strong ending.

Panoramic and massive in scale - UNMISSABLE.

DH | 06/10/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Waterloo, directed by Sergei Bondarchuk is a spectacular depiction of the Battle of Waterloo and the immediate events leading up to it. Rod Steiger plays Napoleon and gives an intense performance and a vivid insight into the personality of this dictator. Wellington is played by Christopher Plumber who likewise, gives of his best in portraying this brilliant commander. The movie weaves an intriguing story, playing off Wellington's arrogance towards his rank and file against his skill in strategy and tactics. The other main actors, Orson Wells, Jack Hawkins and Dan O'Herlihy all give fantastic performances. The movie has been criticised for its glorification of war. With very little blood seen in the movie despite a plethora of death and destruction, it's a correct observation, but I don't think you will be watching this movie if you are at all concerned with the rights and wrongs of war. This movie deals with a period of warfare, which was colorful and fought with massive armies. This has captured the imagination of military and historical buffs despite it's relatively short period. The movie Waterloo has suceeded admirably in conveying this granduer. Let me say at this point, that this movie is huge in scale and panorama. The battle scenes of which there are many, are pure eye candy. No CGI here folks. This is massive, classic movie making in its prime, and we won't see films made like this again. Battlefields are littered with casts of thousands. The costumes (uniforms) are excellent and one wonders at how long it took to sew these all together. I understand many of the cast were supplied by the Polish army. Watching the movie, you are left in no doubt that the majority of rank and file cast are real soldiers. To co-ordinate that many extras without military training would have been near impossible. The cavalry charges are simply stunning and you can't help wondering how many horses were injured in the making of this movie, let alone actors. The aerial view of the massed French cavalry charge against the British squares, towards the conclusion of the battle, truly lets you understand the scale of this production. This is an utterly unmissable scene in the history of war movies. There are many other scenes from the movie which truly capture the imagination. For example, Napoleons reunion with his devoted troops after his exile, is tense and dramatic, while set in an insignificant part of the French countryside. Adding to the quality of the movie, most of the lines spoken are actual quotes from the historical figures themselves. I am fortunate to own the DVD version of the movie, and while it doesn't have many special features I would recommend the DVD version version over VHS if you can find a copy, as this movie is one you will want in your collection for a very long time. I loved this movie from beginning to end. It won't be to everyones taste, but is an essential purchase for military and history buffs, and especially those who like movies made in the "good old way". Outstanding."

A Military Classic

R. A Forczyk | Laurel, MD USA | 08/16/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Waterloo is probably the best "battle" film ever made, depicting the famous clash of Napoleon versus Wellington in June 1815. Although there are quirks and omissions in this film, overall it does a magnificent job of encapsulating the pathos of Napoleon's Hundred Days. Rod Steiger as Napoleon and Christopher Plummer as Wellington are both very convincing in their roles, and the director's use of "inner thought" to hear what these two are thinking at key moments is very interesting. The film covers the Hundred Days, from Napoleon's return from Elba to his defeat at Waterloo, with some attention given to the events preceding the final battle. Unfortunately, the Battles of Quatre Bras and Ligny just prior to Waterloo are given scant attention, and the Prussian role is minimized. The presence of Dutch, Belgian, Brunswick and King's German Legion troops in Wellington's force, as well as the role of the Prince of Orange, are ignored. Although Ney and Picton are major characters, the primary focus is on Napoleon and Wellington. In the battle itself, the opening attack on Hougomont (led by Napoleon's brother Jerome, who is not shown in the film) and Napoleon's basic tactics are covered fairly well. However, D'Erlon's main attack and the impromptu British cavalry attack is muddled and confused. The desperate defense of the La Haye Saint farmhouse is only briefly shown, which further muddies the depiction of the battle. On the other hand, the director spares no effort in depicting the massed French cavalry attacks and the British infantry squares that defied them. The final assault by the Imperial Guard and the arrival of the French flows rather quickly, without depicting the desperate actions by the Young Guard to hold off Blucher. There are very few films that cover an entire battle because it is actually a very difficult task. Waterloo does not cover every key event or participant, but it does convey the flavor of this famous battle. Viewers should appreciate the effort and forgive the omissions."

Waterloo

Lincoln Cheng | Singapore | 04/09/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Widescreen DVD please! This is definitely one of the best epic war movies ever filmed with sweping battle scenes and cast of thousands. It goes into great realistic details about the strategy for such an important battle. The cinematography, the acting, the costume and the score is absolutely fantastic. Why it is still not available in widescreen DVD is beyond me. I am sure this DVD will be snapped up like hotcakes. Many people missed it during its theatrical release. Waterloo would go down in the annals of film making as one of the best epic battle movies of all times."