Napoleon

"Soldiers, you are naked and ill-fed! Government owes you much and can give you nothing. The patience and courage you have shown in the midst of these rocks are admirable; but they gain you no renown; no glory results to you from your endurance. It is my design to lead you into the most fertile plains of the world. Rich provinces and great cities will be in your power; there you will find honour, glory, and wealth. Soldiers of Italy! will you be wanting in courage or perseverance?" - Napoléon Bonaparte, Address to the Army at the Beginning of the Campaign, March, 1796.Absolute cinema. People who are afraid to watch this because of its length are genuinely missing out, especially if you’re into war films. As a cinephile with a special interest in the Napoleonic Wars, as well as Napoleon himself, this has won my heart as the best film I have ever laid eyes on. The artistic beauty of it, blended with historical accuracy… the scenery, the dramatic music, the symbolism… utterly PEAKK. Napoleon was thoroughly humanised throughout, as you see him on the battlefield front lines defending his country you see his hardships as a child, and the overall struggles and events of his life (up until the Italian campaign). Napoleon is truly different, and genuinely loved France, he wanted the best for the country. A hard working man worthy of praise, who has put his life on the line… truly selfless. As I felt the intensity of it all, this film proved itself to be truly underrated, and a genuine gem when it comes to war films. Vive Napoléon!